Moon Handbooks: Southern California 2 Ed: Including Greater Lost Angeles, Disneyland, San Diego, Death Valley, and other Desert Parks [Paperback]

Kim Weir (Author)

Book Description

Series: Moon Handbooks Southern California | Publication Date: December 10, 2001

Opinionated, insightful, and entertaining, Moon Handbooks are more than just travel guides-they're reference tools, ideal for independent travellers who desire complete immersion in the culture of their destination. The only guidebooks to win Lowell Thomas Awards from the Society of American Travel Writers for six years in a row, Moon Handbooks deliver a wealth of practical advice, as well as in-depth coverage of each region's history, geography, people, arts, politics, and social issues.

Product Details

• Paperback: 750 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; 2nd edition (December 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566913330
• ISBN-13: 978-1566913331
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,950,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excelent for exploring Southern CA..., April 22, 2005

By 

S. burkhardt "burkeys" (CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Moon Handbooks: Southern California 2 Ed: Including Greater Lost Angeles, Disneyland, San Diego, Death Valley, and other Desert Parks (Paperback)

I have lived in CA for the last 20 years. With this book I have found and explored many places that I had never heard of before. The information is very useful and easy to understand. I am unsure what the other reviewers "political" issues with this book were but I did not have the same experience. This book lives in my car in case we find ourselves on an impulse trip and need more information. I even bought a copy for my parents and they raved about it as well.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential guide for a tourist or native, June 22, 2005

By 

Jessica Lux (Rosamond, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Moon Handbooks: Southern California 2 Ed: Including Greater Lost Angeles, Disneyland, San Diego, Death Valley, and other Desert Parks (Paperback)

I bought this book when I first moved to Southern CA, and it's a staple for referencing any trip I want to take in the area. I am confused about any "political" leanings that the other reviewers have mentioned. I use this for any attraction or site I am considering visiting, and I don't dwell on Ms. Weir's personal views on the Southern CA area, ecology, or business. This is a wonderful part of the country, and don't let a few not-so-positive remarks ruin your visit. Focus instead on the practical information found in this guidebook.

When friends have seen me using this book, they've liked it so much that they go out and buy their own copy.

For each area, in addition to major attractions, the book covers little holes-in-the-wall in the form of restaurants and clubs, or seldom mentioned LA landmarks. I've learned a lot of history from this book, and it makes me a better tour guide when I have friends visit. This book is exhaustive on the subject of Southern CA, covering any area I can dream of wanting to visit. It would take years to visit all the places mentioned in here.

5 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Unreadable guide to California, June 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Moon Handbooks: Southern California 2 Ed: Including Greater Lost Angeles, Disneyland, San Diego, Death Valley, and other Desert Parks (Paperback)

I've used Moon Handbooks as a guide for my last few vacations, but Southern California by Kim Weir is the last one I will ever buy. The author's bias and political views are inappropriate for this type of book and laid on so thick that it's almost impossible to read more than a few pages at a time without retching. The background information doesn't even make California sound like a desirable place to visit!

The only saving grace may be Moon's rich catalog of things to see and do, but this information is rendered untrustworthy due to the extreme bias.

This guide does a disservice to California and anybody who reads it. Do not buy this book.