California

by Lonely Planet, Andrea Schulte-Peevers, Tom Downs

Tempt vertigo on the hills of San Francisco and rub elbows with a star in an LA boutique. Sample syrahs in the Wine Country, cruise cliff-hugging Hwy 1 or hike in the heat of Death Valley. Whether you're a city slicker, road tripper or adrenaline junky, grab this in-depth, cheeky guide and let our local authors steer you to the treasures of the Golden State. PLOT YOUR ROUTE - 120 detailed maps and seven handy itineraries help you navigate and plan your adventure TAKE IT OUTSIDE - surfing Steamers Lane, climbing Half Dome, skiing Tahoe, diving San the scoop on the hottest California activities EAT YOUR HEART OUT - hundreds of restaurant reviews, from tasty taquerías to celebrity-chef bistros SLEEP EASY - the best places for California dreaming, from mountaintop campgrounds to oceanfront resorts CROSS THE BORDER - expanded Las Vegas chapter shows you how to hit the jackpot in flirty, fabulous Sin City, plus tips on heading south to Mexico

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference, The United States Of America

752 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

OUR STORY
A beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end – broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies and Lonely Planet was born. One hundred million guidebooks later, Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel guide publisher with content to almost every destination on the planet.

Reviews

[Andrew Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was supplied by the company I used to book my fly-drive holiday. In truth I didn't refer to it often opduring the trip. It has a lot of detail on places to stay and eat etc, but I tended to use the Internet for this sort of information - I found the added dynamic of up to the minute reviews and ratings preferable.

I'm really wondering where the future lies for these books. There seem to be better ways of getting the information you need and they are heavy and bulky to carry around. I don't think I'll bother for future trips.

[lou. · Rating 1 out of 5]

A prescindere dalla pessima qualità, RONF.

[Marco Delgado]

California, babe!

[stephanie suh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horace Greeley, founder and editor of the New-York Tribune, writer, and statesman whose ingenious wit melded with erudition and humanity endeared him to the American public urged the people on the East Coast, especially educated unmarried women in the east – to move to California: “Fly, scatter through the country, go to the Great West, anything rather than remain here.” Also, Henry David Thoreau described California as a pristine land where a terrestrial River of Lethe flew the Lethe of the Pacific. The collective literary rhapsody comes to life in this world-famous travel book with its signature vivid colorful pictures and detailed, itemized information on the region in suavely offhand writing style laced with a convivial narrative that entices you to love California at first sight.

Abundant with its rustic and restive natural beauty unsurpassed by glamour of tinsel cities and its unique melding of multifarious cultures and rich history, California is a sun-kissed prize of the States. Take a hiking in Mt. Shasta, and this awe-inspiring mountain will stir your imagination and makes you believe it a home of a sky-spirit as the native tribe believe. If you are in mood for being in touch with the caress of the blue waves in solitude, you can elope with your beloved or with your own weary self to Big Sur. Nested against mysterious-looking redwood forests, the Big Sur Coast has all the elements for being a lovers’ paradise where you can be in your least unguarded self and be a Phoebe Cates or her lover in movie Paradise. On the next day, a visit to Santa Barbara will be quite a cultural feat by visiting the 18th century villas, shops, and churches built by Spanish conquistadors and priests. Or you and your fido friend can do some super-fun splashes or even venture surfing at Huntington Beach on weekends. And of course, there are Disneyland and Universal Studio if you want to meet your favorite characters from childhood and roll with what the best amusement parks can provide to at the best.

This book is a comprehensive overview of the places and history of California in addition to helpful information on the rates of currency and estimated expanses expected of traveling the region when you are from a different country. Written by several veteran globe trotters and well-traveled Californians in compilation, reading the book will give you a sensation of listening to your friend’s travelogue or an amiable cicerone’s guide tour all to yourself for free and will be equipped with knowledge of the region, so that when you actually go there, you will appreciate the beauty of the region like never before.

[Kaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since we cannot travel around as freely as before, reading a travel guidebook could be another type for relaxing reading. I found out many authors and stories were born and raised in California, such as Steinbeck's classic The Grapes of Wrath and Philip K Dick's Blade Runner. And yes, under the #orangesky, San Francisco exactly looked like Blade Runner world!

[Chad Hintsala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reference. Helped us out on our trip to California.

[Richard Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice overview.

[Michael]

Hervorragender Reiseführer: Schon 1992 wurde ich in einem Reisebüro auf die Lonely Planet-Serie aufmerksam. Damals war das in Deutschland noch eher ein Geheimtip. Einige scheuen vermutlich auch englischsprachige Reiseführer, was erläutert warum es auch deutschsprachige mehr oder weniger deutlich abgekupferte Versionen der Lonely Planet Serie gibt. Heute findet man die Serie in jeder besseren Buchhandlung. Vor dem Erwerb des California und Nevada-Bandes habe ich schon Exemplare von Brasilien, Indonesien, Phillipinen, Iran, Arab Gulf States, Indien und Vietnam, Laos und Cambodia verwendet und ich wurde nie enttäuscht. Die Bücher sind immer up to date und mit vielen Karten und Ideen, wo man Übernachten und Essen kann (inkl. Gruppierung zur Preisvorstellungen). Man hat immer eine gute Vorstellung von allem und oft mehr Hintergrundinfos als die Leute die dort leben. Leider kamen die Bände für die USA erst vor einigen Jahren, weshalb ich einmal für den Südosten auf einen Iwanowski-Guide ausgeweichen mußte; dieser war grottenschlecht und gar nicht hilfreich!!!! Mit Lonely Planet kann man nichts falsch machen, daher auch einfach über das Internet bestellen.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive and informative guide to California. Browsing the attractions mentioned in this book is joyful. Imaging all the fun possibilities is relaxing. It gave me lots of inspiration and good idea for local exploration and staycation!

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an update of my beloved old Lonely Planet California guide. It looks really good, just like the old one but with updates. The only drawback with all the Lonely Planet guidebooks were the illustrations and the maps. They are better in this but the maps could still be improved a bit.

[Hydra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm planning our summer vacation & always look to Lonely Planet for tips. Here we come San Diego, LA, and Santa Barbara. I can't wait.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

some are more adventurous than me. CA is such a big state and there is never enough time so this helped with planning things.

[Jshapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fact of the day: "sourdough" was slang for "prospecters" during the gold rush.

[Andy]

I used this extensively and actually have the newer edition too. Great book as always.

[Theut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completa, ricca di informazioni, finalmente una Lonely all'altezza :)

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an older edition so some things have changed. However I liked reading about the geology, history, and natural resources of the state.

[Dione]

Good travel guide. I was surprised at some of the language. I suppose I expected it to be LESS laid back. But I actually went to most of the places that were in the Los Angeles section. I would recommend it.