Frommer's Napa and Sonoma Day by Day (Frommer's Day by Day - Pocket) [Paperback]

Avital Binshtock (Author)

Book Description

Series: Frommer's Day by Day - Pocket | Publication Date: January 26, 2010

• Sonoma Day by Day features 30 smart itinerary ideas for your trip, all with gorgeous color photos and maps.
• We've included an itinerary to meet almost every need, from "Wine Country for Romance" to "Wine Country on a Budget" to even "Wine Country for Nondrinkers," plus Napa & Sonoma itineraries in 1, 2, or 3 days. You'll find lists of the best dining, accommodations, and wineries, details on the area's "most charming towns," outdoor hiking itineraries -- plus a chapter devoted to San Francisco itineraries.
• Our author is a California native to the core; she was educated at Stanford and UCLA, and was associate editor at the Los Angeles Times. She's done all the nitty-gritty updates needed for this second edition, as well as the not-as-difficult frequent tastings of these wines on site.
• Frommer's Napa & Sonoma Day by Day also includes a color fold-out map.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

30 Self-guided Tours. 39 Maps. One Great Trip.

At last, a travel guide that tells you how to see the best of everything—in the smartest, most time-efficient way.

• The best of Napa & Sonoma in one, two, or three days

• Thematic tours for every interest, schedule, and taste

• Walking tours of the region's most charming towns

• Hundreds of evocative color photos

• Bulleted maps that show you how to get from place to place

• Hotels, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife for all budgets

• A tear-resistant foldout map—enclosed in a handy plastic wallet you can also use for tickets and souvenirs

About the Author

Avital Binshtock is Sierra magazine's lifestyle editor and a regular contributor to the Los Angeles Times Travel section, Frommers.com, and The Huffington Post. She lives, works, and trains for marathons in San Francisco. Read her blog and subscribe to get daily green-living tips at www.sierraclub.org/greenlife. A California native to the core, Avital was educated at UCLA and Stanford University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Frommers; 2 edition (January 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470503793
• ISBN-13: 978-0470503799
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.6 x 7.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > Travel > United States > Regions > West

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FABULOUS BOOK, May 16, 2007

By 

Adventure California (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frommer's Napa & Sonoma Day by Day (Frommer's Day by Day - Pocket) (Paperback)

More than just a regional guide, this concise book is VERY well researched and very well written with clarity and obvious firsthand knowledge. The author has led us to many fun and memorable experiences in the wine country. Both her enthusiasm and direction to some of the more unique destinations and activities in this region have made for unforgettable moments for 2 different groups of French visitors. Pay attention to the tips and notes; every time the advice is right on. Extremely helpful and user-friendly, we would definitely trust any recommendations in this book when planning an excursion or making a reservation in Napa or Sonoma.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars juiciest grape of the bunch, March 22, 2008

By 

Judge Knott "judge_knott" (Upper West Side, NY, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frommer's Napa & Sonoma Day by Day (Frommer's Day by Day - Pocket) (Paperback)

I have (quite happily!) spent two great vacations in Napa and Sonoma Counties. This is the best guidebook I have found for that region.

There are a few things that make this guide very helpful. First, the author makes sure this guide is very user-friendly for first-time visitors. In other words, you get a true introduction to the Northern California area and what's special about it. You also learn which highlights are worth hitting, and what's worth ignoring.

Second, the visual aspect of the book is great: super-colorful, great layout, things rated from one to three stars, lots of little neighborhood maps, color photographs, etc.

Third, it's clear the author knows what she's talking about at all times.

Fourth, the book comes with a little map that--although it looks a little geeky--is actually quite helpful for finding wineries as you drive along.

Fifth, there's a nice little guide to San Francisco that is the last chapter. It's very well done.

Caveats: if you are a Wine Country veteran, you are too advanced for this book and should skip it. Also, you'll need a road map (such as the paper folding ones that you can buy in a gas station) as a supplement to the maps in this book, because the book's maps don't get the job entirely done.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book for my Calif trip, October 19, 2007

By 

ELF (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frommer's Napa & Sonoma Day by Day (Frommer's Day by Day - Pocket) (Paperback)

This pocket (or purse) size little book was far and away the most helpful of the many references I consulted for my recent trip to the wine country. Concise reviews of wineries, restaurants, hotels, and other attractions were on the money. Chapters for history buffs, non-drinkers, foodies, etc. were fun and revealed much more than the run-of-the-mill tourist traps. Helpful map as well. Added bonus - a great chapter on SanFrancisco! Used that instead of the specific SanFran guides for city part of the trip. Great value.