Staycation Guides

Check out these two local travel books for tips on having a great trip close to home.

Us Californians have got it made. We’ve got sunny beaches, snowy mountains, desert landscapes and acre after acre of wine country all rolled into one great expanse of a state. Glorified in song by artists as different as the Beach Boys and 2pac, it’s no wonder visitors flock from out of state and out of country to experience California’s diverse offerings. Unfortunately, as California natives or longtime residents, we sometimes get complacent at our home base and never venture out to explore our own backyard or the outer edges of the Golden State. 

Here are two guidebooks that may inspire you to start gassing up the car, saving up those sick days, and making up convincing excuses for your child’s school attendance office. Both books were written by California natives, which means they include an appreciation for the area as well as insider tips and advice, but they differ in scope. Moon Handbooks California gives you ideas for traversing the entirety of the state, while Weekend Adventures in San Francisco & Northern California focuses on the Northern end of California. We’ve broken up each book to discuss the general layout and the pros and cons of each guide, so the only hard labor involved on your part is thumbing through the pages before putting some road under your tires.

Layout: Organized by region, then gives for a few options for each sub category (sights, entertainment and events, shopping, sports and recreation, accommodations, food, information and services). Also offers a brief history of the area and suggestions for planning your time.

Areas covered:
  •    San Francisco and the Bay Area
  •    Wine Country
  •    North Coast
  •    Lake Tahoe and the Northern Sierra
  •    Sacramento and Gold Country
  •    Yosemite
  •    Central Coast
  •    Los Angeles and Orange County
  •    The Deserts
  •    San Diego

Pros:
  •    Starts the book out with a selection of sample trips based on the experience you’re looking for, from road tripping the pacific coast to an all-encompassing  “Best of California,” giving you both a list of destinations and a suggested time allotment for the trip.
  •    “Can’t miss” sights and events are highlighted at the beginning of each section, and then later flagged and described in more detail under their appropriate sub category.
  •    Caters to a variety of ages and price ranges.

Cons:
  •    May skimp a bit outside of the major metropolitan areas, but when you’re covering all of California, sacrifices have to be made to keep the guidebook shorter than a Tolstoy novel.

Trip to try: California deserts. The desert that encompasses Palm Springs and Joshua Tree is sometimes forgotten, with appealing beaches and prime skiing so accessible in the state. Those who remember Palm Springs are rewarded with a myriad of great golf courses, a number of day spas, and the natural craggy beauty of the desert just a short drive away. There are few other places where you can ski, sunbathe, and spot a meerkat. Palm Springs makes a perfect trip for those who want to experience some of the perks of Northern California’s wine country, without the pesky obligation of touring wineries and pretending to know the difference between a Chablis and a Chardonnay. The city area has also become known for its thriving gay and lesbian nightlife scene, which may be a welcome change of pace from the San Francisco scene.

Side note: Moon also publishes specific California guidebooks, ranging from recreational lakes and rivers to bay area biking.

More information: Go to moon.com/books/moon-handbooks/moon-california-second-edition 

Layout: Organized by region or general area covered. Begins with a brief paragraph or two of background, then gives options for what to do, where to stay, and where to eat. Also has sections organized by type of activity or trip (i.e. skiing, camping, etc.).

Areas Covered:
  •    Santa Cruz mountains
  •    The coast, from Morro Bay to Eureka
  •    Wine Country
  •    Russian River
  •    Sacramento and the Delta
  •    Highway 101 North and South
  •    National parks
  •    Gold Rush Country
  •    Lake Tahoe
  •    Mt. Shasta area

Pros:
  •    9th annual, so the author’s had to time to revise, discover and perfect the listings in the book.
  •    Focuses on just one half of California so less cursory, more in depth
  •    Has an annual events index listing events by month and location.

Cons:
  •    Weighs in at almost one and a half pounds, which means it isn’t exactly something you can just slip into your back pocket.
  •    Geared toward families, so may not be the best guide for young singles or couples with older children.

Trip to try:

Side note: Author Carole Terwilliger Meyers also wrote Miles of Smiles: 101 Great Car Games & Activities, in case you are hard pressed to find activities to keep the kids occupied during the drives.

 More information: Go to carousel-press.com/weekend.html