Customer Reviews

Golden Gate Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Walk and Bike in San Francisco and Marin

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Of the three books we took to San Francisco, this was the one we had most fun with. It had by far more photos and for organization alone they deserve five stars. Walking was the way to absorb the real flavor of the big city and coastal towns. Alcatraz and Angel Islands are must sees. We found it very worthwhile having this book to refer to.

My idea of one of the best guidebooks for the area. For content alone - this one has 300 hiking trails and 200 bike riding routes - it outdoes all the others. We live in San Francisco and frequently spend our weekends camping in Marin County. Our kids are 13, 10 and 7 and we've reached the stage where all can keep up. One of the nicest features is the book's layout. Trails are all grouped together and keyed to large maps that portray the streets and highways. The kids choose where to go by using the photos. Winter and summer, we're out there, life is good.

I've lived in San Francisco since 1995. It was a real shock when I first opened this book last week and found all the walks I was missing. Even though I consider myself a local by now I had never been to Alcatraz or Angel Island or Kirby Cove, a little beach right under the bridge that no one knows about. It even lists little out of the way places in Golden Gate Park, my stomping grounds for long runs after work. Where this book excels is its organization and straightforward presentation. It lays out all the cards in a nice simple style. And it's pretty to look at.

The collaborative work of Jerry and Jenine Sprout, Golden Gate Trailblazer: Where To Hike, Walk, Bike In San Francisco And Marin is the ideal guidebook and excursion planning manual for families and outdoor adventurers offering more than 300 hiking trails to peaks, meadows, creeks, wetlands, beaches, redwood forests, rolling woodlands, lakes, and lagoons. Also provided are some 200 city, coastal, and mountain trail bike ride routes; strolls through dozens of area cultural and historical attractions including gardens, downtown streets and ethnic neighborhoods; there are even places to to walk with a baby stroller, as well as a special "Trailblazer Kids" section. Enhanced with seventeen maps and a wealth of photographs; special sections for dog-friendly trails; contact numbers for all public agencies, visitors services, lodging, and restaurants favored by the locals, and a "Best Of" section for making sight-seeing outings and travel routes truly "visitor friendly", Golden Gate Trailblazers is the definitive guide to hiking, walking, biking, and enjoying San Francisco and Marin County.

the bike trails in this book especially along the streets of the city and up on Mount Tamalpais. Topping our list was the ride across the Bridge to Sausalito. Then the route from Ocean Beach and out through the park to the Hall of Flowers. The book provided a nice culture buzz and full plate of walking options. We reserved our hotel and bikes using their recommenations in the back. The authors are from California and don't shortchange you on driving directions which you'll definitely need if you're visiting for the first time.

Our first trip to San Francisco in June was one of the best relaxing/invigorating vacations we've ever had. For almost three weeks we explored this city and only rented a car for the last three days to see the towns and coastal villages of Marin County. We were able to get around easily riding public buses and ferries. The maps in the book were very handy and well placed and only when we were downtown did we supplement with a detailed street map.

We took the shoreline hikes in the Presidio and took a day to walk the entire length of the Golden Gate Park. People watching from various sidewalk cafes was also a pastime. My boyfriend and I saw and learned more things about the area than most locals do in a lifetime. This book was our pennypinching friend and we recommend it to you.

This time we unroughed it at the Mountain Home Inn in Mill Valley and that way avoided all the traffic. We took some major beach hikes and went into San Francisco to a different restaurant every night. Our prime time on this coast is early winter. We do all our Christmas shopping in Point Reyes and Inverness. On previous visits we tooled around on our bikes. The maps are all you need and the mix of trails they put in here, extraordinary.

A great resource and really user friendly. We loved the whole feel and layout. We parked the car in one spot and spent one entire day walking and hopping the cable cars. All the action is grouped so our time was well spent and car expenses kept to a minimum. Strongly recommended for a city fix.

Our carcamping trip to the West Coast last month was a big success. Our first stop in the San Francisco Bay Area was Muir Woods where the Trailblazer untangled the trail system for us. Our Marin campsite was a perfect staging area for our daily outings.

This book is fully illustrated with photos and locater maps and they've even included a little California history to spice it up. Clean graphics, well organized. You can dip in and out of the pages and get clued in on the fly. The route from Fisherman's Wharf to the Golden Gate Bridge by bike provided beautiful views of the bay. For us an excellent way to see the area on a limited budget.

We just discovered this great hiking book. Our weekend trips have been put on hold and we're finding some pretty places along the Marin coastline to explore. Doubles as a tourist guide for our out-of-town friends. They look at the pictures and tell us where they want to go.

There's alot of advice and information in here and it's nicely arranged for reference. Chunky and spunky, good to go!