Customer Reviews

The Napa & Sonoma Book: A Complete Guide, Seventh Edition (Great Destinations)

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

 

 

This was the most useful book I purchased before my trip to Napa (and I purchased quite a few) their descriptions of the Vinyards and restaurants were perfect, and it is easy to navigate. The prices were sometimes a little under-estimated some of the restaurant costs... but they were still closer to the mark than the other books.

I have bought a number of editions of this book over the years. It's always helpful when I go. They have given it a makeover this time and I like it. It's even easier to use. I lent my sixth edition to a neighbor and it came back dog-eared and well-worn. I guess they liked it too.

This guide is admirably broad and deep. In fact, if you are MOVING to Napa County or Sonoma County, then this book will help you with all manner of stuff: finding cinemas, performing arts centers, beaches, etc.

However, if you are going to Wine Country for the first time, and only for a few days, I don't think this book will serve as a good introduction because it presupposes--in my judgment--that the reader already has an understanding of wine-tasting, wine culture, and Northern California vacationing in general. Another knock is that I find that the reviews of restaurants and inns are unsurprising, gentle, and middle-of-the-road.

On the other hand, this is the RICHEST and BROADEST-REACHING of the four guide books to Wine Country that I have scoured. For example, if you're interested in horseback riding or ice-skating or horse racing or art galleries or firefighting museums, this guide will help you out, whereas the others won't. [One glaring oversight in the present volume, however: Santa Rosa's awesome Charles M. Schulz Museum.]

In short, if you are a Wine Country veteran, or if you are relocating to Wine Country, buy this book and use it as a never-out-of-reach guide. But if you are going to Wine Country for the first time, this book is a bit too advanced and ingrained for you.

This book was the most helpful of all the Napa travel guides I have purchased.