| Product Summary | | Format: Paperback | | ISBN: 9780470068632 | | Publisher: FOR DUMMIES | | Publish Date: 2/28/2007 | | Buy.com Sku: 202994114 | | Item#: RL4X9H | | Pages: 576 | | Edition Number: 4 |
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| | | | Travel smart at www.dummies.com Explore California the fun and easy way (R) From the redwoods to Hollywood, wine country to Disneyland, Frisco and Lake Tahoe to L. A. and San Juan Capistrano, legendary Sunset Boulevard to the spectacular Pacific coast, this friendly guide helps you soak up the sun, the sights, and the many moods of California. Discover Down-to-earth trip-planning advice What you shouldn't miss --and what you can skip The best hotels and restaurants for every budget Handy Post-it(R) Flags to mark your favorite pages
| | Read A Chapter | Chapter One Discovering the Best of California In This Chapter * Drawing a bead on California's outstanding experiences * Serving up the best of California's hotels and restaurants * Finding the best family destinations * Taking the scenic tour (even guided ones) * Making your way to California's elite museums California is really an awesome place, in the truest sense (not the surfer-dude sense) of the word. Its jaw-dropping diversity is what continues to amaze us (and we're natives, mind you) more than anything else. With two of the nation's largest megalopolises - the San Francisco Bay Area, which has grown beyond speculator's wildest dreams with the rise of Silicon Valley, and metropolitan Los Angeles, whose urban sprawl has a glamorous heart called Hollywood - California has the largest, wealthiest, and most urbanized population of any state in the nation. Yet it's also an agricultural w Click to read more... Chapter One Discovering the Best of California In This Chapter * Drawing a bead on California's outstanding experiences * Serving up the best of California's hotels and restaurants * Finding the best family destinations * Taking the scenic tour (even guided ones) * Making your way to California's elite museums California is really an awesome place, in the truest sense (not the surfer-dude sense) of the word. Its jaw-dropping diversity is what continues to amaze us (and we're natives, mind you) more than anything else. With two of the nation's largest megalopolises - the San Francisco Bay Area, which has grown beyond speculator's wildest dreams with the rise of Silicon Valley, and metropolitan Los Angeles, whose urban sprawl has a glamorous heart called Hollywood - California has the largest, wealthiest, and most urbanized population of any state in the nation. Yet it's also an agricultural wonderland with a bounty that runs the gamut from artichokes, raisins, garlic, and asparagus to some of the finest wine-making grapes in the world. And it still manages to be home to much of the country's most striking and varied wilderness - from purple mountains' majesty to arid, marvelously barren desert to coastlines of unsurpassed beauty. BEST OF THE BEST Even with all that, California is so much more - much more than we can possibly include here. So we've designed this book to highlight what we consider the best of the best of this awesome state - at least the best of the best of what we think may appeal to you. In this chapter, you get an added bonus: a quick reference to the experiences, hotels, restaurants, and more that stand out as the absolute best. In the destination chapters in Parts III, IV, and V, we discuss the places and experiences noted here (the ones highlighted in bold) in more detail; just look for the Best of the Best icon you see next to this paragraph. The Best California Travel Experiences Without taking the easy way out and suggesting that all travel experiences in the Golden State are the best, here are a few prime cuts to consider adding to your California itinerary: Strolling along San Francisco's Embarcadero to Aquatic Park: This is a quintessential San Francisco activity, ideally experienced on a sunny day. We love to begin near the baseball park, although it's more convenient to take public transportation to the end of Market Street and start there. With the water on your right and city landmarks popping up on your left, a leisurely walk past the piers, through Fisherman's Wharf, leads to Aquatic Park and the Municipal Pier. Be sure to hike all the way to the end of the pier, stopping if you will to see what, if anything, the anglers have caught. You'll be rewarded with million-dollar bay vistas and a spot-on view of the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge. See Chapter 11. Hiking in Yosemite Valley during the winter: Snow covers the ground and clings to the tree branches, the air is crisp, the sky is bright blue, and Yosemite Falls roars with snowmelt. With so few visitors in the park during this low season, you'll feel as though you have this wonderland almost to yourself. Take advantage of winter rates and stay at the grand Ahwahnee Hotel. See Chapter 16. Biking along the Monterey coastline: The Monterey Peninsula's 18-mile Recreation Trail was a brilliant piece of civic planning, a useful and beautiful path for all to enjoy. It ends (or starts, if you like) at Seal Rock past Pebble Beach and wends its way along the coast through Monterey north to Marina. The most traveled section is from Custom House Plaza past Cannery Row, the Aquarium, and on to Lover's Point; however, we suggest you carry on to Pacific Grove, stop for lunch, and dawdle on the beach on your way back. If you're more than just a recreational cyclist, you may want to carry on through the 17-Mile Drive. See Chapter 18. Sitting on a beach in Southern California: This activity's not so active, but there has to be a reason for all those Beach Boys songs, right? You could surf, too, and you probably should get your feet wet in the Pacific. But really, it's all about the imagery, the girls, the boys, the sand, the surf, the sun, the palm trees, and did we mention that it's January? See Part V. Cruising Sunset Boulevard: It's the way to best see all that L.A. has to offer in a short amount of time, as you drive this iconic boulevard from its origins at Olvera Street (L.A.'s oldest) through ethnic neighborhoods, bohemian enclaves, dumps and dives, the dregs of Hollywood, the spick-and-span wealth of Beverly Hills, the subdued hush of Bel Air, past scenes of crime and shame (John Belushi and River Phoenix each died within steps of the street, and the infamous O.J. murder case happened blocks away), and catch glimpses of the Hollywood sign and stars on the sidewalk, all the way to the end at the Pacific Ocean. We love L.A., and this drive is one of the reasons why. See Chapter 23. Getting within 6 feet of a star: We can't promise you'll spot any celebrities while in L.A. (keep your eyes peeled), but we can promise you proximity to some of the biggest names of the past ... by visiting their graves. Forest Lawn, Hollywood Forever, and Westwood Memorial Park are just some of the resting spots of Gable, Monroe, Disney, Valentino, and more. See Chapter 23. California's Best Hotels When vacationing in California, swimming is nearly always an option - for the kids and the adults. So if you're looking for the best hotel pools - or the best hotels for a romantic getaway or for a decidedly unromantic stay with the kids - this section is the right place. Best all-around family hotels Traveling with the kids? We know from experience that a good kid-friendly hotel can make all the difference between a classically good vacation and a classically bad one. The following are our favorite family-friendly hotels in the state: The playful Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco shares lobby space with the Maritime Museum, and its enviable location next to the Cannery near Fisherman's Wharf means you'll be close to many kid-pleasing attractions. See Chapter 11. The moderately priced Hotel del Sol in San Francisco has a heated outdoor pool, treats for the kids, and a few units with kitchenettes. Plus, the parking is free! See Chapter 11. Up in Calistoga, the enormous mineral pool at Indian Springs is all that your kids need for happiness. The easygoing resortlike atmosphere is relaxing for the grown-ups as well. See Chapter 12. The new Treebones Resort in Big Sur offers an alternative to both hotels and camping by housing guests in gorgeous yurts. Reserve the yurt with the ping-pong table and then try to get the kids outside to hike. See Chapter 19. Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove resembles an organized camp with better sleeping accommodations. Find the kids on the beach or playing ping-pong. See Chapter 18. Best hotels for a romantic weekend Not traveling with the kids? Ahh, you're in for a treat at these fine destinations for two: In San Francisco, romantics have a couple of choices. The new Hotel Vitale on the Embarcadero has a small spa with two semi-secluded outdoor baths and rooms with knockout views of the bay. If you need to duck the paparazzi, the St. Regis Hotel is a self-contained oasis you and your partner won't want to leave. See Chapter 11. Cocoon at the ultracomfy and chic Milliken Creek, convenient to the town of Napa but providing a sense of being somewhere much more glamorous. If you'd rather really be in the relative country of the Sonoma Valley, hide away at the beautiful Kenwood Inn and Spa, our pick for honeymooners. See Chapter 12. Mendocino is a popular romantic getaway. Lots less fancy than Kenwood, but private, relaxed, and well tended, is the village's Alegria Oceanfront Inn & Cottages. The beach access and excellent breakfast make it extra nice. If you're seeking a Mendo retreat with all the extras, wonderful Stanford Inn by the Sea has more comforts than you'll find at home, plus on-site spa services and a very good vegetarian restaurant. See Chapter 13. Our northernmost pick is Ferndale's Gingerbread Mansion Inn. We've never seen anything quite like the over-the-top Romanesque (as in Caesar) Empire Suite. See Chapter 14. For pure pampering and four-star dining, Chteau du Sureau in Oakhurst will not disappoint, plus you'll be close enough to Yosemite to enjoy a day in the park. See Chapter 16. There's nothing like endless ocean views to stir the senses and you'll find them, as well as a splendid breakfast and unobtrusive service, in Monterey/Pacific Grove at the Grand View and Seven Gables inns. See Chapter 18. It's tough to choose between Big Sur's Post Ranch Inn and Ventana Inn & Spa - both are splendid examples of luxury properties. Post Ranch is smaller and has the ocean view; Ventana is friendlier. See Chapter 19. Santa Barbara's Four Seasons Biltmore is right on the beach and is a divine old (built in 1927) hotel run by the most pampering of hoteliers in the country. See Chapter 22. When in L.A., consider the Chateau Marmont, where the Art Deco and Beaux Arts castle-style main building and individual bungalows remind us of the noir days of Los Angeles, where a rendezvous in a dark corner seems like a very good thing indeed. See Chapter 23. La Jolla's Lodge at Torrey Pines is a dreamy, breathtaking five-diamond resort full of Craftsman furniture and luxe touches; however, as a resort, it may be a bit more bustling than you want. Best hotel pools Just when you thought a hotel pool is a hotel pool is a hotel pool, along come these two heavenly respites: Children under 16 aren't actually allowed in the spa at the Huntington in San Francisco, so the lovely, large pool, which reflects an eastward view of downtown, is the purview of the grown-ups. If we had a category for best hotel spa, the Huntington would get the nod there as well, although the St. Regis spa is magnificent, too. See Chapter 11. Many Wine Country lodgings have pools, but none as inviting as the Olympic-sized mineral pool at Indian Springs in Calistoga. The view from the deck chairs is awesome as well. See Chapter 12. California's Best Restaurants Eating out in California is not quite a competitive sport - but almost. In this section, check out some of the state's most innovative and most inexpensive - and many others in between. Best to impress Expect no surprises when looking for the meal to die for (or the restaurant to be seen). The Bay Area and L.A. offer the cream of the crop of California's trendiest restaurants. However, you can find a gem or two in other parts of the state. In San Francisco, Gary Danko runs a smooth operation from the kitchen to the front of the house. His prix-fixe menu is unusual in that guests do the choosing and it's impossible to make a mistake. See Chapter 11. Serious foodies regard the French Laundry in the Napa Valley village of Yountville as the Holy Grail of Gourmetdom; the problem is actually getting a reservation. Of course, if it were easy to get into, it would lose some cachet. See Chapter 12 for info on making an attempt. If you're near Santa Cruz around dinnertime, try booking a table at the tiny Oswald. It does everything right, but quietly, which means you may not have heard of the place. Take our word for it - the food is worth a detour. See Chapter 17. You could get into some serious arguments with Los Angeles food critics, daring them to choose between their beloved Campanile, where owner Mark Peel has long demonstrated his gift with seasonal cooking; Patina, which spawned a restaurant empire, and now in its new Disney Hall-adjacent space, regularly thrills diners; and the new Providence, whose French-influenced seafood earned a James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant, and may be the finest dining option in Los Angeles. See Chapter 23. Best for families with picky eaters We don't propose you let anyone starve (although that thought has crossed our minds on occasion); on the other hand, no one ought to be a hostage to chicken fingers in the bountiful state of California. The restaurants in this list should satisfy the dining wish list of everyone in your traveling party: In San Francisco, there's something good for everyone on the menu at Chow, which has two locations - one in the Castro district and one near Golden Gate Park. Another brilliant suggestion in the Bay Area (if we do say so ourselves) is to let everyone graze to his own taste around the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero where Market Street ends. Seafoodies can wait for a stool at the Hog Island Oyster Bar, while those in the mood for Japanese can pick up a bento box at Delica rf-1. The kids (and probably you, too) will gleefully join the lines at Taylor's Refresher, a two-restaurant chain that redefines fast food for health-conscious Northern Californians. See Chapter 11. In Monterey, Rosine's is kind of what a Denny's ought to have aspired to: a plain, let's-please-the-mainstream menu, but with mom in the kitchen and better desserts. See Chapter 18. L.A. has many options for fussy eaters. The 101 Coffeeshop (in the Best Western Hollywood Hills Hotel) has serious grown-up food alongside one of the best burgers in the area. The Farmers Market features a number of food stalls and restaurants around a central food court area, so there is something for every taste - diner food or homemade pies, doughnuts or Chinese food, deli or Greek, and more. Angeli Caf will make a simple pasta for your young diners, as well as give them a ball of dough to mash and mold before baking the creation as a take-home souvenir, all while you dine on the cafe's seasonal Italian delights. See Chapter 23. Best for a lovely, but reasonably priced dinner Not in the market for a meal to die for? You can dine just as nicely (and also trendily) at any of the following establishments: Isa is one of two San Francisco restaurants we recommend in this category. It serves absolutely delicious meals in a friendly, casual, but professional little place in the Marina. We also adore the more intimate Tablespoon on Russian Hill. See Chapter 11. In the Wine Country, Angle in Napa is run by second-generation restaurateurs and it shows, from the warm design of the lodgelike interior to the carefully crafted menu. Our hands-down favorite in Sonoma is Caf La Haye. If an eatery can be described as having clarity of purpose, this is it. See Chapter 12. (Continues...)
Excerpted from California For Dummiesby Mary Herczog Paula Tevis Copyright © 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Excerpted by permission.
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