Customer Reviews

Weird California: You Travel Guide to California's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This richly illustrated collection of the funny, bizarre, strange, and weird aspects and sites in California is an absolute delight of a book - just the perfect gift for those who share your joy of the craziness that makes life in this state so enjoyable. Mark Sceurman and Mark Moran have combed the roads and back ways of the state and have come across both tourist attractions and assorted oddities that make for a fast and hugely entertaining book. Beginning with an informative journey into California history, such as the curse of Griffith Park (a lot of curious but true facts all sculpted into a story by the fine writers!), the myth of 'La Llorna' that references the Hispanic richness of life here, and other legends, the book then takes the reader on a series of visits of the unnatural wonders, the 'unexplained phenomena', the strange beasts that inhabit both the land and the waters, landmarks that though odd are real - such as the Watts Towers, Litto's Hubcap Ranch, the Forestiere Underground Gardens, villages and houses created out of bottles, the sites of the Charles Manson murdering clan, the famous other-worldly Winchester Mystery House and the tombstones and burial grounds of the famous folk of the state (such as James Dean), and countless other fascinating concepts and places.

It would be easy to use this book as a guide to fashion a trip through the state of California, not only for visitors but also of those of us who live here and are not fully aware of the myriad extraordinary things that make this such an interesting place to live! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, December 09

What a book, tons of stories, excellent content, that will entertain all ages, I bought it for my little brother, I wanted him to get interested in reading, on how fun and exciting, even thrilling, how many times is way better than a movie. This book has definitely done that and more, He can't wait to read a new story everyday! Seems to be the most exciting thing to do for him everyday. I highly recommend this book. when my mother it saw it and herd the stories from the book, she wanted to read it too, and now she waits for my little brother to read them to her, Its just a great book. I just can't emphasize how good this book is, I herd before some comments about how to know if a book will be good read, and they said that if you grab a book and just open and read a random page that page in itself should be able to captivate you and interest you in some way, so you will know its for you! and believe any page you open here will do that for you.

My son recieved this for Christmas and while it is an interesting book with fun to look at pictures and facts, it lacks on organization and details. I would have liked to have seen more of a "guide" organized by area (for example northern, central and southern Ca) and definetely more specific directions as to how to get to those interesting places, instead you get "in San Diego..."

I love taking road trips around CA. This book is awesome and will tell you where all the cool stuff is. Last weekend I was at SLO and walked thru the gum alley. So much fun and all because of the book

WEIRD CALIFORNIA is a 'must' for any who love out-of-the-ordinary destinations in the state. From a 'mystery spot' in Santa Cruz where physics doesn't work normally to an underground world of Lizard People in Los Angeles, this pinpoints the state's local oddities and is a 'must' for any seeking the bizarre or roads less traveled.

A guidebook to the weird, spooky, and wacky places you can visit in the Golden State (as well as some caveats, good tips for some of the spookier/dangerous ones). It has a wonderful snarky undercurrent too, not too much, just enough to keep me grinning throughout. Must go check out Weird U.S. too.

Purchased this as a gift and was pleasantly surprised. Colorful graphics and pictures, pleasing format, and very interesting information!

I bought it as a gift. Later The recipient told me he absoluitely loved it and couldn't put it down. There are a few places in the book that they plan on going to see very soon.