What do you think?
Rate this book
Very California: Travels Through the Golden State
A fisherman on the Santa Monica Pier. The vineyards of Napa Valley. Surfers in Malibu. An Indian village in Yosemite and the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. Artist Diana Gessler captures the color and character of our third largest and most populous state. In lively watercolors, sketches, and stories, Gessler shares her adventures on the road, driving from north to south--Sonoma to San Diego and beyond. She and her husband, Paul (designated driver and food lover), stop when curiosity or hunger seizes them.
With pen and brush, Gessler works on the spot, bringing to life the cities, towns, and countrysides as well as the details that make them special. A great horned owl. A local farm stand. A woman making tortillas on a sidewalk cart. A bunkhouse in the redwoods. Crab traps along the bay. Her intimate journal is filled with colorful people, beaches, flowers, architecture, animals, trails, memorable meals, and movie stars (at least the gates in front of their houses).
Very California is organized by region, and each chapter opens with a map and driving route of the area. Peppered throughout are amusing tidbits about all the things that make California so very California. Diana Gessler has created a memento for tourists and an enchanting book for those who appreciate the pleasures of the West Coast.
With pen and brush, Gessler works on the spot, bringing to life the cities, towns, and countrysides as well as the details that make them special. A great horned owl. A local farm stand. A woman making tortillas on a sidewalk cart. A bunkhouse in the redwoods. Crab traps along the bay. Her intimate journal is filled with colorful people, beaches, flowers, architecture, animals, trails, memorable meals, and movie stars (at least the gates in front of their houses).
Very California is organized by region, and each chapter opens with a map and driving route of the area. Peppered throughout are amusing tidbits about all the things that make California so very California. Diana Gessler has created a memento for tourists and an enchanting book for those who appreciate the pleasures of the West Coast.
- GenresTravelArtNonfiction
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
3 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Diana Hollingsworth Gessler
9 books15 followersDiana Hollingsworth Gessler is the author and illustrator of Very New Orleans, Very Charleston, and Very California. Her watercolors and oil paintings are represented by Shaw Gallery in Naples and Bonita Springs, Florida. She and her husband live in Melbourne, Florida, when theyre not traveling."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 9, 2021
Didn’t love her use of the word Indian to mean Native American. Also did not love her use of the term cross dresser. Quaint watercolors, some recipes, repeated facts of local interest, etc.
July 7, 2021
Charming little book with lovely watercolors.
July 12, 2011
Not the best book if you want a travel book, but I loved the sketches and the comments on the different areas the author and her husband visited.
May 9, 2012
Lovely travel sketchbook. Although I prefer the more exotic, She does a lovely job of showing the beauty of California.
October 14, 2014
Perfect! Everything I wanted it to be. Wished it were longer.
February 10, 2016
Wonderful artwork and insights into California gems.
I loved her book onNew Orleans and this is just as good. To be enjoyed for its sketches or for its travel delights.
I loved her book onNew Orleans and this is just as good. To be enjoyed for its sketches or for its travel delights.
August 25, 2015
Delightful watercolor illustrations. Sweet little travel log.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews