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Eyewitness Travel Guides
DK California
California's dramatic landscape has inspired generations of artists and explorers - from rugged redwood-covered bluffs to idyllic sun-drenched sands, plunging valleys to snow-capped peaks. As culturally influential as it is geographically impressive, California also boasts two of the world's foremost cities, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Our updated guide brings California to life, transporting you there like no other travel guide does with expert-led insights, trusted travel advice, detailed breakdowns of all the must-see sights, photographs on practically every page, and our hand-drawn illustrations which place you inside the state’s iconic buildings and neighborhoods. Whether you want to hike to the waterfalls in Yosemite National Park, tour a winery in Napa, or ride a classic cable car in San Francisco, DK Eyewitness California is your ticket to the trip of a lifetime.
Inside DK Eyewitness California, you will
- A fully-illustrated top experiences our expert pick of California’s must-sees and hidden gems
- Accessible itineraries to make the most out of each and every day
- Expert honest recommendations for getting around safely, when to visit each sight, what to do before you visit, and how to save time and money
- Color-coded chapters to every part of California, from San Diego County to the Inland Empire and Low Desert to Wine Country to the High Sierras and everything in between
- Practical the best places to eat, drink, shop and stay in California
- Detailed maps to help you navigate the region easily and confidently
- Explore the culture of delve into the city’s iconic history, art, and architecture
- Los Angeles, South Central California, Orange County, San Diego County, The Inland Empire, and Low Desert, The Mojave Desert, San Francisco, and the Bay Area, The North, Wine Country, Gold Country and the North, Central Valley, The High Sierras, North Central California
Planning on touring the USA? Don’t forget to check out DK Eyewitness USA for a complete comprehensive guide to the States, making the most of your trip and achieving the adventure of a lifetime,
About DK
At DK Eyewitness, we believe in the power of discovery. We make it easy for you to explore your dream destinations. Filled with expert advice, striking photography and detailed illustrations, our highly visual DK Eyewitness guides will get you closer to your next adventure. We publish guides to more than 200 destinations, from pocket-sized city guides to comprehensive country guides. Named Top Guidebook Series at the 2020 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, we know that wherever you go next, your DK Eyewitness travel guides are the perfect companion.
Our updated guide brings California to life, transporting you there like no other travel guide does with expert-led insights, trusted travel advice, detailed breakdowns of all the must-see sights, photographs on practically every page, and our hand-drawn illustrations which place you inside the state’s iconic buildings and neighborhoods. Whether you want to hike to the waterfalls in Yosemite National Park, tour a winery in Napa, or ride a classic cable car in San Francisco, DK Eyewitness California is your ticket to the trip of a lifetime.
Inside DK Eyewitness California, you will
- A fully-illustrated top experiences our expert pick of California’s must-sees and hidden gems
- Accessible itineraries to make the most out of each and every day
- Expert honest recommendations for getting around safely, when to visit each sight, what to do before you visit, and how to save time and money
- Color-coded chapters to every part of California, from San Diego County to the Inland Empire and Low Desert to Wine Country to the High Sierras and everything in between
- Practical the best places to eat, drink, shop and stay in California
- Detailed maps to help you navigate the region easily and confidently
- Explore the culture of delve into the city’s iconic history, art, and architecture
- Los Angeles, South Central California, Orange County, San Diego County, The Inland Empire, and Low Desert, The Mojave Desert, San Francisco, and the Bay Area, The North, Wine Country, Gold Country and the North, Central Valley, The High Sierras, North Central California
Planning on touring the USA? Don’t forget to check out DK Eyewitness USA for a complete comprehensive guide to the States, making the most of your trip and achieving the adventure of a lifetime,
About DK
At DK Eyewitness, we believe in the power of discovery. We make it easy for you to explore your dream destinations. Filled with expert advice, striking photography and detailed illustrations, our highly visual DK Eyewitness guides will get you closer to your next adventure. We publish guides to more than 200 destinations, from pocket-sized city guides to comprehensive country guides. Named Top Guidebook Series at the 2020 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, we know that wherever you go next, your DK Eyewitness travel guides are the perfect companion.
544 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 21, 2017
A colourful, glossy book with some great photos and lots of useful (but small) maps. It has provided a lot of prompts regarding where to go and what to see on our driving holiday. It’s well set out and comprehensive in its coverage but a little short of fine detail if you're really looking to dig below the surface. Though really that's a hard criticism to make, given the fact the book already runs to over 600 pages.
I think this guide works best when teamed up with Internet research (for the fine detail) and satellite navigation (for getting around). In fact, it could be argued that the new technology supersedes the need for this sort of guide.
I think this guide works best when teamed up with Internet research (for the fine detail) and satellite navigation (for getting around). In fact, it could be argued that the new technology supersedes the need for this sort of guide.
November 4, 2017
Another awesome book! I love the DK format in their travel guides. I have put this one back on my travel list of what to take when we go. Easy to read, great photos, excellent info!
May 8, 2018
If you are visiting the major cities this book is excellent. If you are exploring the natural beauty of California this book is less helpful.
July 16, 2017
Erityisen hyvä matkaopas. Runsast, selkeät kuvat, hyödylliset reittiehdotukset, kattava lista Californian enemmän ja vähemmän tunnetuista nähtävyyksistä. Kaikki tarvittava löytyi - ja vähän enemmänkin. Jopa Las Vegas Nevadan puolelta oli mukana.
January 27, 2019
Really makes me want to visit... but curiously and counterproductively has convinced me not to visit as part of a west coast road trip from Seattle...
March 17, 2019
Good enough with enough information but would recommend another if people would ask. Capitool is better for city trips then for larger areas.
December 26, 2011
I greatly enjoy the DK Eyewitness Travel series. This volume, featuring California, is another successful entry in the series.
The book begins with an introduction to California--its history, its geography (and coverage of earthquakes), a quick introduction to different regions within the state, its people (individuals and demographics). And on it goes.
There follows a discussion of different areas inside California--from the greater LA venue to Southern California (e.g., Orange County and San Diego) to the San Francisco area to Northern California (including wine country). For an illustration of what is covered in this part of the book, let's look at the Bay Area. Maps of the area (Pages 400-409) give street level coverage. Different parts of the city are covered--such as Downtown and Chinatown and Haight Ashbury. For each place, key buildings and institutions are mentioned. The various types of entertainment from opera to sports to clubs are outlined.
The final part of the book is entitled "Travelers' Needs." Want to know where to dine? Where to stay? Where to shop? Take a look at this section to get a sense of answers to these questions.
In the final analysis, this is another success story in the DK Eyewitness Travel series.
The book begins with an introduction to California--its history, its geography (and coverage of earthquakes), a quick introduction to different regions within the state, its people (individuals and demographics). And on it goes.
There follows a discussion of different areas inside California--from the greater LA venue to Southern California (e.g., Orange County and San Diego) to the San Francisco area to Northern California (including wine country). For an illustration of what is covered in this part of the book, let's look at the Bay Area. Maps of the area (Pages 400-409) give street level coverage. Different parts of the city are covered--such as Downtown and Chinatown and Haight Ashbury. For each place, key buildings and institutions are mentioned. The various types of entertainment from opera to sports to clubs are outlined.
The final part of the book is entitled "Travelers' Needs." Want to know where to dine? Where to stay? Where to shop? Take a look at this section to get a sense of answers to these questions.
In the final analysis, this is another success story in the DK Eyewitness Travel series.
July 31, 2010
I'm a big fan of the Eyewitness Travel Guides in general, but for some reason the ones devoted to U.S. states are less satisfying than the ones on cities or countries. Although The format is appealing -- a lavishly illustrated introductory section expounding on the history and key features of the city followed by color-coded sections, each devoted to a different area -- much of the material in this guide is pretty much the same as the material in the guides devoted to L.A. and San Francisco. Since the book is fairly heavy, it almost makes more sense to buy those two guides separately and dispense with this one, particularly if you're not planning to spend much time exploring areas outside the major cities.
The rear of the book is devoted to practicalities such as transportation, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment, but with so many cities involved, it's a bit more chaotic to use than for the city-specific guides.
The rear of the book is devoted to practicalities such as transportation, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment, but with so many cities involved, it's a bit more chaotic to use than for the city-specific guides.
August 28, 2009
What I learned from this book so far: California looks like a beautiful state. Since I had to cancel my trip I stopped reading the guide. However, que sera sera...
October 28, 2014
Perfect for traveling across San Francisco, Vallejo, Napa, Sonoma, Yosimite, & Sequoya National Park.
May 16, 2018
Good for reference.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews