Frommer's Great Outdoor Guide to Southern California & Baja [Paperback]

Andrew Rice (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 25, 1999

Think of this guide as "one-stop shopping" for adventurous travelers and outdoor enthusiasts--you'd have to buy dozens of different single-sport guidebooks to find all the information that's right at your fingertips in this complete, all-purpose compendium of outdoor information.Within each region, readers will find a directory of the best things to do and the best places to do them: sea kayaking the Sea of Cortez; mountain biking to a painted Indian cave; hiking the badlands of Death Valley; chartering a yacht and exploring the Channel Islands; and rock climbing the famed walls of Joshua Tree National Park. From bird watching to big-wave surfing, there are outings here for readers of all ages and skill levels. Packed with logistical advice, detailed maps, and complete camping and lodging information for each region, Outside Magazine's Adventure Guide to Southern California & Baja will provide travelers with memorable adventures and will serve as a cherished resource, to be used again and again.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Turn to Frommers for the ultimate guides to active outdoor vacations and weekend trips! These regional, all-inclusive directories of trip-planning and in-the-field information offer a unique one-stop shopping approach to outdoor recreation for every age group and skill level.

Readers can rely on listings of the best outfitters, rental shops, ski slopes and cross-country centers, horseback-riding stables, and more, with complete details on difficulty levels, mileage, cost, and equipment. Our authors reveal their favorite beaches, lakes, fishing streams, picnic areas, hiking trails, swimming holes, bike routes, campsites, and state parksmany of them hidden gems where you can experience unspoiled nature and avoid the crowds. Whether youre a serious outdoorsman, a weekend warrior, or a parent who wants to burn off the kids excess energy, youll find the adventure thats right for you in the pages of Frommers Great Outdoor Guides.

From the Back Cover

If you like to spend your free time outside, this four-season guide will get you there—whether you want to hike through the picturesque hills around Santa Barbara, catch the waves in Malibu, camp in the backcountry in Joshua Tree National Park, or swim off the dazzling beaches of Baja California. Look inside for all the information you need to explore the finest country in Southern California and the Baja peninsula. Everything You Need to Enjoy the Outdoors:

• Evocative descriptions of hundreds of outings—with difficulty ratings, total mileages and elevation gains, and detailed directions
• The best outfitters, from major adventure-tour operators to local backcountry guides
• Where to find gear, services, and topo maps
• How to make the most of the public lands and natural areas in Southern California and Baja
• Where to pitch your tent, from car-accessible campsites to back-country spots—plus wilderness lodges, B&Bs, and inns

Find us online at www.frommers.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Frommers (March 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028618327
• ISBN-13: 978-0028618326
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,554,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is a TERRIBLE book!, October 3, 2001

By 

nonamatoll (Birmingham, AL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frommer's Great Outdoor Guide to Southern California & Baja (Paperback)

I took a 2 week road trip through Baja, so I know something about the place. Sadly, from these 2 weeks, I know infinitely more about Baja than the author of this book. It is terrible.

First of all, the title is misleading -- rather than describing both Southern California and Baja with roughly equal lengths, the author dedicates only 45 of 337 pages to Baja. Secondly, what he does describe is often incomplete, poorly presented, INACCURATE, and/ or useless. If you're going to Baja, get the Peterson's "Baja Adventure Book", which is much better.

Don't buy this book for Southern California, either, because it is equally useless in this respect. I spent a few days there, and this book didn't help me at all.

I wish that I hadn't wasted my money on this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great SoCal Outdoor Activities, February 11, 2002

By 

Chad Luckner (San Diego) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frommer's Great Outdoor Guide to Southern California & Baja (Paperback)

Since I moved to San Diego two years ago I've used this book on a regular basis. It's a great cross-section of outdoor activities for people like me who like to do a wide variety of outdoor sports. I spend a lot of time hiking plus enjoy ocean activities such as scuba diving and hanging out at the beach. This book showed me places I'd never have found otherwise.