Coastal California - Fodor's Compass American Guides
Written by John Doerper
Photographs by Catherine Karnow and Galen Rowell
No, it doesn't tell you the latest restaurants or the newest boutique hotels. It doesn't tell you what the cool shops are. The star of the book is coast itself; we are merely the supporting characters. Which is how it should be.
What this book does offer is page after page of mouthwateringly gorgeous photographs, suberb histories, and excellent descriptions of the wonders of the state. Trust me, You will be checking the car's tire pressure and throwing some clothes in a backpack within minutes of thumbing through this book.
Have you ever been up PCH (Pacific Coast Highway)? We were on part of it recently coming back from Ojai. We stopped just at the border between Ventura and Malibu and walked along the near-empty beach twenty minutes before sunset. I've been on four continents but, simple as it was, watching the huge orange sun drop down into the sea was one of the best travel moments in my life.
Pay attention to the guide's comments about California State Parks, too. El Capitan--a bit north of Santa Barbara--is well great. While it can get a big crowded in the summer, it's worth it to be able to wake up, take your fixin's down to the bluffs, park on a picnic table, and have your breakfast overlooking the grey, white-capped Pacific.
Oh, yes--the maps are good, too. Not as precise as what your smartphone can conjure up but going "low tech" fits the mood of a good coastal tour better anyway.
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