Fodor's Northern California 2015: with Napa, Sonoma, Yosemite, San Francisco & Lake Tahoe

by Fodor's Travel Publications Inc.

Northern California is filled with rugged redwood forests, pristine stretches of Pacific Coastline, and towering mountains. But it also has more than its share of creature comforts, from Napa Valley's wineries and spas to San Francisco's destination restaurants and exclusive boutiques. Packed with in-depth insider information, illustrated cultural features, and spectacular photography, Fodor's Northern California showcases the best the region has to offer.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: The only annually updated guidebook to Northern California.
EXPANDED COVERAGE: New hotels and restaurants are covered throughout the state. A revised “Top Attractions” section drills deeper into the top places to see. The United States’ newest national park, Pinnacles, is also covered.
ILLUSTRATED FEATURES: Features on San Francisco's cable cars, the Wine Country, Lake Tahoe, driving the Pacific Coast Highway, historic missions, Gold Country, and more give travelers an unparalleled sense of Northern California.
INDISPENSABLE TRIP PLANNING TOOLS: Each chapter opens with an orientation spread that includes a map, short descriptions of each region, and the "Top Reasons to Go." Seasonal travel tips and tips on outdoor activities (hiking, biking, even ballooning!) give readers the tools to immerse themselves in the region's land. A pull-out map of Northern California helps readers navigate through the area.
DISCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS: Fodor's Northern California offers savvy advice and recommendations from local writers to help travelers make the most of their time. Fodor's Choice designates our best picks, from hotels to nightlife.
PULLOUT MAP: A handy take-along map provides added value, giving travelers essential information about top attractions and nearby dining so they can travel with confidence.
INCLUDES: San Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Mendocino, Redwood National Park, and more. 
ABOUT FODOR'S AUTHORS: Each Fodor's Travel Guide is researched and written by local experts.

Genres: Travel, Reference, Nonfiction, Guidebook

616 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 2, 2004

About the author

Fodor's Travel Publications is a United States-based producer of English-language travel guides and online tourism information. It was founded by Hungarian Eugene Fodor in 1936.
Fodor’s was acquired by Random House in 1986 and sold to Internet Brands in 2016.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helpful to prep for our trip and see all the best bits!

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great all-around guide to travel in Northern California -- transportation, lodging, restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities -- it's all here. It's possible to plan a good trip these days just using the internet, but I've found that the book provides a good overview of an area and that browsing through the pages suggests possibilities that a focused internet search might miss.

[L Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Making plans for a trip with BFF Jennifer Lanteigne!

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's Get Exploring

Looking to explore Northern California? Look no further than this travel guide!

This book has everything you need to plan the perfect trip, whether you're looking to experience the wine country of Napa and Sonoma, explore the natural beauty of Yosemite, or take a scenic road trip along the coast.

With detailed information on the region's top attractions, including insider tips and recommendations from local experts, you can be sure that you won't miss a thing. The book also includes information on the best places to eat, sleep, and play, making it a one-stop-shop for all your travel needs.

The section on Yosemite is particularly of interest to me, and I was taken with the detailed maps and hiking guides. And if you're looking for a scenic drive, the book offers a variety of road trip itineraries that will take you through some of Northern California's most stunning landscapes.

Overall, Fodor's Northern California is a must-have for anyone planning a trip to the region. The writing is engaging and informative, and the book is filled with beautiful photos that will inspire you to hit the road and start exploring. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, this guide is sure to enhance your Northern California experience. Highly recommended!

4.6/5

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great guide. I haven't had a chance to check out Lonely Planet's version so I can't say if I'll end up buying this one or not but I wouldn't be disappointed if I did.

The book comes with two pull out maps and has plenty of them inside the book as well. They provide itineraries for each region as well as Northern California in general. There's also a useful feature at the start of each section about why one should visit that particular region of Northern California. A highlights reel if you will.

I would choose Lonely Planet over Fodor's if it included info about campsites (which Fodor's does not) and had more affordable options for lodging and food (I'm still at a Lonely Planet vagabond stage in my life).

Fodor's includes lots of websites and a handy section in back about weather, car rentals, road conditions, etc. The Moon guide I reviewed didn't have that information handy.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have your Google maps ready to mark because there is loads of information in here! I received tons of great tips, from how to use the Bart line to where to find the flower conservatory. There is something in here for every kind of traveller.
However, this book is super repetitive. I was hoping to find hidden gems, but it's only filled with touristy places which keep getting mentioned over and over and over again. The restaurant section is also a hit or miss, make sure to look up reviews on Google maps instead of relying on the book's recommendations.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read the sections about Lake Tahoe, which were helpful and pretty useful before a weekend trip there. The resturant recommendations came in handy, although I think they may have had the street numbers wrong for a few of them.

[Geanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. I wish it went north to south instead of south to north, and I wish it included more in its north section, but overall, it's very cumulative and helpful. Also, having color photos is a nice touch. The map in the back is also helpful.

[Melody Swain · Rating 4 out of 5]

love the layouts of Fodor's travel books. found this really helpful for my trip to san fran and the bay area coming up. going to look for a san fran specific one next time i'm at the library... would recommend for anyone trying to plan anything from Monterey to the Redwoods

[William Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

This guide was pretty decent. The nature in NOR CA was excellent, but the valley cities and towns were disappointing. It's hot, dry, and isolated. Stick with the coast and way north. San Fran was a beautiful city worth seeing too.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your Yosemite Mate

This was a great book on the Yosemite area.

I got a lot of great tips and highlights to go to.

Fodors is always a great publication, and this was a good one!

Check it out if you are interested!

4.6/5

[RinTinTin]

Quite a useful guide to Northern California.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good updated guide to travel in Northern California