Customer Reviews

Weekend Adventures in San Francisco and Northern California (Weekend Adventures in San Francisco & Northern California)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One can have the time of their life every weekend in California if they know what they're doing. Now in a newly updated and expanded ninth edition, "Weekend Adventures: In San Francisco & Northern California" is a guide to vacationing or just enjoying oneself throughout Northern California. Drawing on the author's immense experience throughout the state, "Weekend Adventures" outlines the countless activities, fine and not-so-fine lodgings, and much more. "Weekend Adventures" is for readers pursuing anything from a cup of coffee to a long-term getaway in Northern California.

My husband and I bought this book along with several others after living in the Bay area for a while. We were hoping to get ideas on things to do on weekends, and we have found that this book has been incredibly useful and has inspired us to go much farther and really take advantage of the interesting destinations in the area. We usually pick a direction that looks interesting, plan a few stops along the way and take off for a fun day trip or (occasionally) overnight trip, and she never leads us astray. While we are budget travelers and thus some of her suggestions are out of our price range, especially for hotels, we've enjoyed many of the restaurants, specialty shops, museums and factories in the area and learned a lot about what Northern California has to offer thanks to this book. I highlight places as we go there and write notes in the margins- and my book is getting pretty marked up! I absolutely love this book, and think it's perfect for adventurous couples of all ages. It was the best travel book purchase I think that I have ever made, if you measure it by frequency of use and enjoyment. One thing I think could be improved on is the complete lack of maps- just having this book is not enough- You MUST also bring along road maps, and printing out some google maps pinpointing specific destinations is extremely helpful. I can't tell you how long it took us to find the Ace Cider Pub in Sebastapol- we had to ask a local for directions. Otherwise though, fabulous book.

-happy grad student traveler

I love this guide, so much in fact that when i lost it a year ago I bought another copy. The advice is useful, though you'll need a more detailled map to accompany it, and it hits the bright spots of each little town without leaving out much. Great if you are new to the Bay Area and want to explore without feeling like a tourist.

I was born in San Francisco, and I still live in the Bay Area. This guidebook is the best I've ever found for the Bay Area -- I always check them out because I like to have a good guidebook available in our guest room. If you live near San Francisco, you get lots of houseguests! This guidebook is so good that my husband and I use it to explore our own surroundings. Written with candor and freshness by Carole Terwilliger Meyers, it's fun to read, full of useful info -- just delightful and invaluable. We rely on it. If you're looking to visit the SF Bay Area, this is the best book for your money. Trust me, I've lived here for decades. The next best thing to having a longtime native show you around.

Really good suggestions and help for a family that's just moved here. All the things we've tried from this book have been a success!

I was very disappointed with this book. It is obvious that the author lives in the city and she seems to describe activities within the city quite well. However, as a Marinite, I was deeply disappointed by her lack of relevant information for the area and Sonoma county as well. I would have thought that if she intended to write a book like this and include areas around SF that she would have taken the time to actually research and explore those other areas so that she could provide complete, useful information. Unfortunately this is not the case. There are several great towns and fun activities in Marin/Sonoma that were not listed at all and many that had only a one line description that wasn't useful or guiding the reader in any way. It seems to me she's not spent much time at all in the North Bay or Marin and it clearly shows.

If you want things to do in the city and East bay then go for this book. If you;re seeking a book offering a rich selection of great activities around the Bay area as a whole (including Marin/North bay) look elsewhere.

Actually, I had run out of new ideas myself. As a long time transient/contract worker in the Bay Area, I have done my share of touristy things... but have fallen into some kind of a rut. Since I wasn't really seeing new things, I was probably being a killjoy. Then I remember seeing this book (or actually its first incarnation), and I sought it out. There's a wealth of ideas, and just enough hinting that you still need to go out and look on your own. It's well organized, and a great resource for brainstorming to see what "might sell" on the next weekend or two. I can see that there have been several editions - get the current one.

I have quite a few "stuff to do" books. This one is the best of the lot. It is thick and covers alot of territory with refreshing, unique, in-the-know ideas. Glad I bought it. My go-to book for ideas for the wife's birthday and anniversary excursions.

Informative and fun, great tool for planning short notice weekend trips. Perfect for people that want to explore the Bay Area and it's gems.

Missing Nick's Cove Restaurant in Marshall...one of the best restaurants in that area. Not sure how the author could have missed that one.