“Do you like Southern California? Well,” said the Californian, “I do love the Sunset-land. There is much to enjoy. Nature is at its best.”

Part nature documentary, part travel guide, part history book, and part cultural expose, Happy Days in Southern California presents a real-life picture of life as it existed in Southern California both during the late 19th century, and centuries before.

Originally from Massachusetts, the author Frederick Hastings Rindge and his family helped to establish the city of Malibu, California. In his text, Rindge examines the distant historical underpinnings of the Southern California region. This includes the various pre-Columbian civilizations in the region, extending down into Mexico and the Aztecs. Rindge also turns his thoughts to the present day, writing on the joys of living somewhere fresh, surrounded by the bounties of the land and sea, of viewing the world from horseback, and climbing the majestic mesas and mountains of the area.

Happy Days in Southern California is a perfect read for residents of the region who may want to know more about their own backyard. It is also an excellent read for travelers, who may want a broader appreciation for the history behind today’s sunny California.