Join Dr. Ellis-Lai for a Study in America program designed to take Texas State University students to the Central Coast of California, visiting towns like Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey, Salinas, Watsonville, and Santa Cruz. Students will explore the literature of this region and write travel essays about the literary and cultural histories of the beautiful places that have inspired writers over the course of two centuries. By participating in this program, you will be able to earn credit for both “Travel Writing” (ENG 3311) and “California Writers of the Monterey Bay” (ENG 3340).
Travel Writing & California Writers of the Monterey Bay
Tentative Itinerary
Please note: This is a tentative itinerary for travel portion of the program: Sunday, July 16 – Saturday, July 22, 2023. All remaining coursework during the five-week Summer Session 2 will be conducted asynchronously online from the comfort of the students’ homes.
Sunday
Orientation activities on the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) campus 5-9 pm and include a tour of housing facilities, an on-campus hike through the redwoods, a group dinner at the campus dining hall with icebreaker activities, and travel storytelling activities after dinner. Welcome Movie Night featuring The Birds, shot between Big Sur and Carmel by cinematic auteur, Alfred Hitchcock, 9-11 pm.
Monday
7 am Breakfast at campus dining hall. 8 am – 4 pm, Walking tour of downtown Santa Cruz, beginning at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, moving into the Chinatown neighborhood, passing City Hall and the Water Street Bridge, Climbing the Hill to Loudon/London Nelson memorial, climbing further to tour the Santa Cruz Mission, walking through historical neighborhood and along the trail to Evergreen Cemetery, historical characters activity at cemetery. (Van transportation provided for students with mobility issues.) Picnic lunch and writing activity to be held at the Santa Cruz Mission partway through this field trip. 4-7 pm, Afternoon break at dorms and dinner at campus dining hall. 7-9 pm, After dinner evening field trip to Bookshop Santa Cruz to hear from local author, Karen Joy Fowler; to explore the travel writing, local author, and local interest section; and to speak with bookshop employees about the importance of independent bookstores in supporting local literary scenes.
Tuesday
7 am Breakfast at campus dining hall. 8 am-12 pm, Explore the University of California at Santa Cruz McHenry Library Archives and exhibits, discuss Yamashita readings and enjoy a visit by the author. Break for lunch at campus dining hall. 1-7 pm – field trip to Pajaro Valley/Watsonville to visit the Japanese Buddhist shrine, Bockius-Orr House, Borina Archive and Research Center, and Volck Museum. Dinner at campus dining hall. Movie Night in preparation for the Steinbeck Museum visit the next day, featuring portrayal of John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, 9-11 pm.
Wednesday
7 am Breakfast at campus dining hall. 8 am-6 pm, Field Trip to Salinas and Monterey, starting at Steinbeck Museum in Salinas, group lunch at Steinbeck House restaurant, tour of Monterey Aquarium and Cannery Row in downtown Monterey in the afternoon. Dinner at campus dining hall.
Thursday
7 am Breakfast at campus dining hall. 8 am-6 pm, Field Trip to Big Sur and Carmel. Visit Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for hike and to see McWay Waterfall, explore the Henry Miller Memorial Library and enjoy picnic lunch, take a tour of Robinson Jeffers’ Tor House (including an on-site poetry workshop offered by the Tor House Executive Director), explore historic downtown cottages in Carmel during a travel writing walking activity about Carmel authors. Dinner at campus dining hall. Movie Night featuring Big Sur, a recounting of Jack Kerouac’s stay in Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s Big Sur cabin, 9-11 pm.
Friday, June 17
7 am Breakfast at campus dining hall. 8 am-12 pm, Field Trip to Santa Cruz Beach/West Cliff Drive/Santa Cruz Surfing Museum/Santa Cruz Wharf. Lunch at campus dining hall. 2-6 pm Afternoon visit to Capitola Historical Museum and walking tour /travel writing photo safari activity in historic Capitola, the first seaside resort in California. Dinner at campus dining hall. Evening activities and travel writing challenge at the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 8-10 pm.
Saturday, June 19
Closing breakfast activity about 1) favorite encountered authors during the trip 2) favorite travel moments, and 3) results of travel writing challenge from yesterday’s Boardwalk activity (at campus dining hall), 7-9 am. Students pack and depart dorms before noon (arranging their own grand transportation back to the airport).
