Frommer's California 2003

My wife and I bought this book in preparation for a week-long trip down the California coast in August 2006. We started with a couple of days in Napa and Sonoma and visited a number of wineries, including several recommended by Frommer's. The recommended ones (including Schramsberg, Artesa and Chateau St. Jean) were all highlights of our visit, and we found ourselves wishing that we had gone to some of Frommer's other starred wineries instead of less impressive ones that had been recommended by friends, magazines, etc. Frommer's restaurant listings were also dead-on: the recommended ones were all fantastic, while we agreed with the "overrated" assessment of another. From then on, having realized that we could trust the book's advice, we found ourselves relying on Frommer's more and more when choosing restaurants and other attractions. From a small Chinese restaurant in Carmel to an outstanding barbecue place in San Luis Obispo, we never had a bad meal while following the book's suggestions. We also felt that the section on Big Sur, though a bit brief, steered us to the most spectacular sights and hikes and helped us make the most of our drive down that wonderful stretch of coastline. The hotels we stayed at in San Simeon and L.A., again at the book's recommendation, were just what we were looking for. Finally, at the end of our trip in L.A., Frommer's guided us to the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo, a fascinating and worthwhile attraction that we would not have known about otherwise. Because this was the only book we brought on our trip, I have no basis for comparison with other California guidebooks. I am sure there are other books that are equally accurate, but as someone who travels a lot and has used many different guidebooks--both good and bad--I was genuinely impressed with the amount of accurate and helpful information that Frommer's managed to cram into this book. From fine dining to cheap take-out, luxury hotels to motels and B & Bs, and big-name attractions to off-the-beaten-path finds, this book guided us through a well-rounded California vacation while helping us avoid tourist traps. Highly recommended.

This book covers the entire state in one easy-to-carry book. Whether you're looking for romantic bed and breakfasts in the Wine Country, the hippest restaurant in San Francisco, or the best beaches in LA and San Diego, this book is all you'll need. It covers hotels ranging from a beach front motel in Santa Monica to the best places to stay in Yosemite's camp grounds.