The California Coast: The Most Spectacular Sights & Destinations (Hardcover)

by Karen Misuraca (Author)
Key Phrases: coastal trail, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, San Diego (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
A veteran travel writer of guides to San Francisco and Northern California, with at least four titles in multiple editions, Misuraca has expanded her territory by heading south from the Redwoods down the coast to San Diego. In this colorful portrait of the West Coast, she describes the environment, towns and cities, and attractions that make this 1200-mile coastline an exciting place to explore. The ten essays, providing both current and historical perspectives, are accompanied by over 120 color photographs that are sure to stimulate any armchair traveler's imagination. This is not a traditional travel guide, as it does not provide detailed information on attractions; nor does it include listings of restaurants and places to stay as does, for instance, Don Neuwirth's The California Coast: A Traveler's Companion (LJ 4/15/98). It does, however, stand alone as an excellent introduction to the California coastline for students and visitors alike. Recommended for all libraries in California as well as for libraries that wish to supplement their basic travel collections on the Golden State. John McCormick, New Hampshire State Lib., Concord
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"This is a handsome coffee-table book, with text more substantial than most, including some interesting sidebars that highlight coastal history and people."

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Voyageur Press (December 16, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089658481X
• ISBN-13: 978-0896584815
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,490 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #5 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Travel > United States > West
  #35 in	Books > Travel > United States > States > California

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Guide to Enjoy and Photograph California's Coast, August 20, 2003

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

One of my favorite things to do is to travel down sections of the California coast. I do this whenever I can, and usually have an opportunity to revisit a favorite site at least once a year. One of the high points of being a teenager in California was taking a driving trip with my mother and sister where we covered almost the entire coast.

I was very impressed by this book. If you think you are interested in taking a trip to the California coast, I think this book is essential!

First, I couldn't find any sight that I have enjoyed visiting that was not included. For example, I have spent a lot of time near Laguna in Southern California in recent years. I found every activity that I enjoy doing in Laguna captured in the book, down the art galleries and museum I like to visit there.

Second, most books of photography cause you to have great envy for the skill of the photographer, with no idea how to take your own images. I was delighted when the book opened with a brief photographic note that explained what equipment was used for the photographs. It's all equipment that I can access and manage, which is also nice. The images of sunsets over the ocean are the best!

Third, the book brings in the environmental issues of defending the coastline from California's enormous population and heavy tourism industry. You will read about how development and wildlife are both being protected and brought together in complementary ways. Ms. Misuraca's text makes no bones about the smog and congestion near Los Angeles, and the photographs make those problems visually appalling.

Fourth, the writing is way above what I've come to expect for travel-related books. I thought that Jean-Michel Cousteau's Foreword was especially eloquent. "California is a fabled land . . . . From small, Hispanic-influenced farming towns to the cosmopolitan bustle of San Francisco and Los Angeles, it is host to a blend of cultures not seen since the days of ancient Rome."

Fifth, there's a balance in the subject matter that I found helpful. Many areas of California offer seasonal festivals related to fishing, harvesting or simply cultural history. Anyone who loves California enjoys visit those festivals. The book is quite complete in telling you about those activities. At the same time, you get ideas of where the architecture, hiking, photography, swimming, surfing, and nature observing are good.

This is probably the only book about California's coast that I have seen that both residents and potential visitors will treasure equally.

After you have finished enjoying this remarkable book, I hope you will plan to visit some of California's lesser known but remarkable locales. I particularly recommend the section of Route 1 that goes south from Carmel through Big Sur, the Lost Coast, Fort Ross, Muir Woods, Point Reyes, Drake's Bay, Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Preserve, Morro Bay, Catalina, and Torrey Pines.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, March 2, 2006

By	Dusty Roads (Seattle) - See all my reviews

What an excellently written book. If a picture is worth a thousand words, the authors words are worth a thousand (mental) pictures. But there are very nice photo's as well. Covers nature, towns, and cities with the type of information a tourist or native would appreciate. And if you can't actually do such a trip, you definitely can from your armchair while reading this book. A real pleasure.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The California Coast, September 18, 2005

By	S. M. Pierrot (Olney, MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Stunning photographs!! A beautiful book! Text is most interesting & informative too. Well written. You wish you could jump into the page & pictures themselves. I once lived in California - wish I had this book - years ago! SM Pierrot Olney, MD