CALIFORNIA - TRAVEL GUIDES

“Soon it got dusk, a grapy dusk, a purple dusk over tangerine groves and long melon fields; the sun the color of pressed grapes, slashed with burgundy red, the fields the color of love and Spanish mysteries.”
- Jack Kerouac, On the Road

TRAVELING TO CALIFORNIA

California is simply an amazing place with beautiful beaches, remarkable national parks, two phenomenal cities, and world-class food and wine.  There are many choices, even for travelers who have blocked some meaningful time to really explore the state.  Here are recommendations on the best travel books for travel throughout California
photo of Golden Gate Bridge at sunset
San Francisco Bay Area
photo of 12 bottles of red wine
Napa / Sonoma
photo of palm trees against purple sunset
Southern California

A5 RECOMMENDATIONS

California's Best Trips: 35 Amazing Road Trips

California is a large state, and some of the best scenery and sightseeing comes from hitting the road.  We highly recommend a drive down the beautiful Pacific Coast.  Lonely Planet publishes a specific guidebook series focused on roadmaps, and the California version is especially good.  Each edition has beautiful photography, recommendations on itineraries, full-color route maps, and all the quality insider travel information expected from the world’s largest travel guide publisher.  

Fodor's Travel: California

One of the better travel guides for an extended trip around California comes from Fodor’s, one of the classics in modern guidebooks.  It is just a nice, complete guide with solid basic information on what to see and do, backed by local experts who put in a lot of research to make their recommendations.  Fodor’s does a very nice job with all of California’s national and state parks. 

Yosemite: The Complete Guide

The most comprehensive guide for those visiting Yosemite is written by Josh Kaiser.  There is a lot to see and do in Yosemite, and this book makes it easy to plan for the best trip.  Picking the "right" hike is very important, and Kaiser provides all the detailed information possible.  There are colorful maps, a number of beautiful photographs, and interesting background chapters on the history, wildlife, and geology of this wonderful national park. This book also makes for a great souvenir.