Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's California features detailed reviews and insider info on the state's spectacular beaches, national parks, vineyards, and more. Quite simply, this is the most reliable and comprehensive California guide you can buy. Whether you're looking for a romantic B&B in the Wine Country, the hippest new restaurant in San Francisco, or the best beaches in L.A. and San Diego, Frommer's California will show you the way. The guide is personally researched by longtime residents, and it's full of their candid opinions about the best their state has to offer. They've selected the very best places to stay throughout the state: lavish golf resorts, spas, stunning B&Bs, beachfront motels, and Yosemite's best campgrounds. With Frommer's in hand, you'll see it all -- from the desert to the towering redwoods, from Hollywood to Hearst Castle, from Sea World to Big Sur. You'll even get a color fold-out map!
Author(s): Harry Basch, Erika Lenkert, Matthew Richard Poole, David Swanson
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 756
Frommer's California 2005......Page 3
Contents......Page 5
List of Maps......Page 10
What’s New in California......Page 13
1 The Best of Natural California......Page 22
2 The Best Beaches......Page 23
4 The Best Californian Travel Experiences......Page 24
5 The Best of Small-Town California......Page 25
6 The Best Family Vacation Experiences......Page 26
7 The Best Architectural Landmarks......Page 27
9 The Best Luxury Hotels & Resorts......Page 28
10 The Best Affordable Small Hotels & Inns......Page 29
11 The Best Places to Stay with the Kids......Page 31
12 The Best Restaurants......Page 32
13 The Best Culinary Experiences......Page 33
14 The Best of the Performing Arts & Special Events......Page 34
2 Money......Page 35
3 When to Go......Page 37
4 Travel Insurance......Page 44
5 Health & Safety......Page 45
6 Specialized Travel Resources......Page 46
7 Planning Your Trip Online......Page 48
8 The 21st-Century Traveler......Page 50
9 Getting There......Page 52
10 Packages for the Independent Traveler......Page 56
11 Getting Around......Page 57
12 Tips on Accommodations......Page 60
13 Recommended Reading......Page 61
1 Preparing for Your Trip......Page 64
2 Getting to the U. S.......Page 70
3 Getting Around the U. S.......Page 71
1 Orientation......Page 77
2 Getting Around......Page 84
3 Where to Stay......Page 87
4 Where to Dine......Page 104
5 The Top Attractions......Page 122
6 Exploring the City......Page 128
7 Organized Tours......Page 134
8 Golden Gate National Recreation Area & the Presidio......Page 136
9 Outdoor Pursuits......Page 138
10 Shopping......Page 140
11 San Francisco After Dark......Page 143
1 Berkeley......Page 151
2 Oakland......Page 157
3 Sausalito......Page 161
4 Angel Island & Tiburon......Page 164
5 Muir Woods & Mount Tamalpais......Page 166
6 Half Moon Bay......Page 167
7 San Jose......Page 171
1 Napa Valley......Page 175
2 Sonoma Valley......Page 199
1 Point Reyes National Seashore......Page 211
2 Along the Sonoma Coast......Page 220
3 Mendocino......Page 227
4 Fort Bragg......Page 235
5 The Avenue of the Giants......Page 238
6 Eureka & Environs......Page 241
7 Crescent City......Page 249
8 Redwood National & State Parks......Page 250
1 Lake Tahoe......Page 255
2 Mount Shasta & the Cascades......Page 280
3 Lassen Volcanic National Park......Page 290
4 Lava Beds National Monument......Page 296
1 Yosemite’s Gateways......Page 298
2 Yosemite National Park......Page 304
3 Mammoth Lakes......Page 315
4 Devils Postpile National Monument......Page 323
5 En Route to Sequoia & Kings Canyon......Page 324
6 Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks......Page 326
1 Sacramento......Page 333
2 The Gold Country......Page 342
3 The Central Valley & Sierra National Forest......Page 362
1 Santa Cruz......Page 367
2 Monterey......Page 374
3 Pacific Grove......Page 385
4 Pebble Beach & the 17-Mile Drive......Page 390
5 Carmel-by-the-Sea......Page 393
6 Carmel Valley......Page 401
7 The Big Sur Coast......Page 402
8 Pinnacles National Monument......Page 410
1 San Simeon: Hearst Castle......Page 412
2 Morro Bay......Page 420
3 San Luis Obispo......Page 422
4 Pismo Beach......Page 427
5 The Central Coast Wine Country: Paso Robles & the Santa Ynez Valley......Page 430
6 Santa Barbara......Page 440
7 The Ojai Valley......Page 452
8 En Route to Los Angeles: Ventura......Page 455
9 Channel Islands National Park......Page 458
1 Orientation......Page 463
2 Getting Around......Page 481
3 Where to Stay......Page 484
4 Where to Dine......Page 504
5 L. A.’ s Top Attractions......Page 527
6 Exploring the City......Page 537
7 TV Tapings......Page 555
8 Beaches......Page 557
9 Outdoor Pursuits......Page 561
10 Shopping......Page 566
11 Los Angeles After Dark......Page 573
1 Long Beach & the......Page 585
2 Santa Catalina Island......Page 588
3 Big Bear Lake & Lake Arrowhead......Page 597
4 The Disneyland Resort......Page 606
5 Knott’s Berry Farm......Page 621
6 The Orange Coast......Page 626
1 En Route to the Palm Springs Resorts......Page 639
2 Get Your Kicks on Historic Route 66......Page 640
3 The Palm Springs Desert Resorts......Page 646
4 Joshua Tree National Park......Page 663
5 Anza-Borrego Desert State Park......Page 668
6 Mojave National Preserve......Page 672
7 Death Valley National Park......Page 676
1 Orientation......Page 681
2 Getting Around......Page 686
3 Where to Stay......Page 689
4 Where to Dine......Page 707
5 The Three Major Animal Parks......Page 720
6 Beaches......Page 725
7 Exploring the Area......Page 727
8 Outdoor Pursuits......Page 735
9 Shopping......Page 739
10 San Diego After Dark......Page 741
11 North County Beach Towns......Page 744
12 Julian: Gold, Apple Pies & a Slice of Small-Town California......Page 750
Index......Page 753
