Amazon.com Review
Dorling Kindersley's travel guides are dazzling: not only do they tell you all about where you're going, they show you, in living color. This one is chock-full of photographs, maps, 3-D cutaways, and other graphics that create a virtual city in a book. Want to see the Golden Gate Bridge? DK not only gives you the vital information, but has a four-page spread with historical photos of the engineering feat under construction, diagrams explaining just how the suspension works, and a list of facts and figures related to the bridge. Thinking about a visit to the infamous Alcatraz Island (now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area)? You'll find a detailed illustration of the island as well as a photograph, a 3-D cutaway of the former maximum-security prison, a timeline, and even photos of famous inmates. The city is divided into eight areas (each one color-coded), with a street-by-street description of the sites in both pictures and words. DK also places a premium on orientation. Not only are there ample maps, including 3-D illustrations, but historic buildings like the Transamerica Pyramid are dissected to reveal their interiors while San Francisco's many museums have color-coded floor plans. DK also provides a pictorial history of San Francisco, with great sections on earthquakes and the city's diverse cultures. Of course, you'll find plenty of pages devoted to where to stay, eat, shop, and play, and how to get around, from cable cars to BART. As if all this isn't enticing enough, DK has suggestions for guided walks and information on sights outside the city limits, such as Oakland, Point Reyes National Seashore, and the San Francisco Zoo. While the title includes Northern California, don't expect as much detail there. Unlike San Francisco itself, Mendocino, the Napa Wine Country, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and Carmel are given minimal coverage. For the city by the bay, however, you couldn't choose a more fun and fact-filled guide.
--Lesley Reed
