Customer Reviews

Foghorn Outdoors Tom Stienstra's Bay Area Recreation: Get Outside with the San Francisco Chronicle Outdoors Columnist and Member of the California Outdoors Hall of Fame

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Way off base. My experience with following the suggestions in this book were rattling. Detail with some opinion (good as well as bad) instead of enormity of listings would be much more valuable.

For the price, I'd recommend going to Bay Area Backroads internet site.

I really like this book. It inspired me to start hiking again. I live in a beautiful area but never explored it until I picked this up. Most hiking books about the Bay Area are written in tiny print and they are bland. The author doesn't really take a stand on what he/she likes or why. Stienstra writes well and simply and he obviously loves hiking. I have already given this book to one friend and I have bought another of his books as well. This is the first time I have ever reviewed anything online - but it's a good book, and that's worth touting.

This is not the best book for picking a primary destination hike. However, that's what the internet is for. What this book is extremely useful for though is giving you a quick rundown on that green blob you're considering making a sidetrip to now that you have some extra time, as this has a section for every significant parkland around in the bay area - what makes the area special? When should I visit? And what are the highlights and how do I see them? While it's true that the internet serves equally well for this purpose, I often find myself needing that information while driving to or from another spot, when the internet is not easily available. In addition, the directions and suggestions of this guide have so far proven accurate and extremely useful.

I must note however that the guide is best at information for hiking and fishing, as those tend to be the author's inclinations. While there is some biking information, there is very little on riding, climbing, kayaking, etc. If you are interested in detailed information on anything other than hiking and fishing (aside from a quick is it allowed and, for boating, where can I rent equipment), consider another book (or there's always the net).

Mr. Stienstra did it again...in spades! This is the most complete and helpful advice
I have seen on how to truly enjoy the Bay Area. His description of the places I know are right on target...for the many I don't know he has given me chapter and verse on which ones I want ot explore next. Who needs Montana? We've got it right here!!

Thanks Tom...

I've had the book since March and have been to about a dozen places I didn't know about. Everything has checked out fine and I like the descriptions. I went to one of his seminars and he said "There's a whole 'nother (another?) world out there." Certainly true. Be using this book for a long time.

I love this book. Thank you Tom Stienstra. I have lived in the
Bay Area for 50 years and there are countless wonderful new places I have discovered with this book. In the few weeks since I got it, I can say it changed my life in a wonderful way.

I really enjoy reading Stienstra's works, but I have to say that this one is the best of them all. I live here in the Bay Area and it's nice to have one guide to tell me everything I need to know about the outdoors and what to do.

Tom

I think that you've had this book in your head for years. You went to each place, enjoyed it with family and friends, and finally wrote it down to share it with all of us. Every place you mentioned was familiar and comfortable. I hope to see all of them someday. In these troubling times, I think its even more of a reason that we can explore the place we live in. There's really no place like the Bay Area to be. Thanks again, my friend. Its a great book.

Dee

This is a great book! Anyone griping about it doesn't know what they're talking about!

A team must write this book because there is no there there. Clarity is lacking. The author's voice is missing. I wasn't challenged and couldn't get excited about the areas described within.