Fort Ross (Форт-Росс) has been beautifully restored since my last visit, for the 200th anniversary in 2012. When the state parks were in financial trouble, several Russian billionaires stepped in and created a foundation to restore and maintain this outpost of the Russian-American Company, occupied from 1812-1842. (Imagine the isolation of this spot, thousands of miles south of the nearest Alaskan town.)

Not pictured: Russian-American Company flags prominently on sale in the gift shop.