This little book pays for itself with the first recommendation one chooses to visit. All of the recommendations for restaurants regardless of price range reflect that the author has actually eaten there. Accommodation recommendations turn San Francisco into both and enjoyable and affordable experience. Using this guide allows one to spend their money fulfilling expectations rather than the too typical vacation experience of financing disappointments. As my heading clearly states, "other investment purchases should be so good!"

In a city where just a cup of coffee can cost you $5, this book will show you where to get an entire meal for half that. $200 a night to stay near Union Square? Not with this book in your pocket. It won't be the Hilton, but for $45, who cares?

We've never had a bad experience at any of the places in these books. Note that in order to give the best possible coverage of the subject, restaurants rotate, so buy as many editions as you can ... just because a restaurant is not in the current edition does not mean it's gone out of business.

Where was this book when my kids were smaller?! This is the resource I wish I'd had then. Every parent, or anyone who spends time with kids, should have one. It's complete, fun, and indispensable.

Ever wondered where to go, with or without kids, for fun in the greater South SF BAy area (San Jose / Santa Clara region, 5 counties)? This handy little book has all the answers: attractions, sports & rec, parks etc., music, b'day party ideas, beaches, free & rainy day activities...you name it! The perfect resource for teachers, GS leaders (field trips), parents, grandparents (got the kids for the weekend?), etc...anyone who likes to explore and have fun. It even tells you if you need special clothing, or reservations, or water bottles...they've thought of everything

There is no other guidebook focusing on the coastal mountains immediately south of the city of San Francisco, a rich mosaic of open-space preserves. Taber's diligent research and love of the area make this an essential reference

This is a great book for people living (or intending to visit) the bay area, who like to go hike, bike, picnic and camp.

I've bought several books in the past, but this one covers a lot more of the trails in the area and with better detail. It tells you if trails are open to bikes and/or horses, talks about the camping facilities, details how long a walk you will have and the types of things you can expect to see out there.

There are also little sections on the local history, how the geology stuff works and many more useful snippets of info.

Definately the best book I've found for picking places to go walk, but then, it is somewhat targetted to the area where I live.

This is an excellant book for serious fans of the Santa Fe Railroad. The book has a large number of pictures, but don't be fooled into thinking that this is another "coffee table" picture book. There is a great deal of well-researched textual information contained between the covers. Think Lucius Beebe or Don Ball and you'll have a good idea of the quality of both the pictures and the text. There are a great number of black and white photos of early Santa Fe equipment, towns, and territory; including many not found in other works. This is an expensive book, but very well worth the price of admission.

This is volume 1 of a three volume set telling the story of the Santa Fe Railway as written by Santa Fe railfan and historian Donald Duke. Although the book is illustrated with 474 photos and illustrations, it is not a coffee table photo book but a history book telling the story of the Santa Fe from Chicago to Los Angeles and down the coast to San Diego. The major portion of the book deals with the Santa Fe in California with photos and details of otherwise obscure stations along the way. Photos range from 1880 to 1980, but photos from the 40s and 50s dominate. This book is a "must have" for the Santa Fe railfan.

St. Paul island, one of the remote Pribilof Islands far off the coast of mainland Alaska, is just 14 miles long and eight miles wide. For over a decade, the author worked, lived on, and came to love this place, its fierce weather, its wildlife, and its people. Her spare, imagistic prose illuminates the darkness and beauty of the subarctic landscape.

Alaska's Pribilof Islands are incredibly beautiful and surreal. Seven Words for the Wind captures a piece of that beauty through a series of essays and field notes. Having lived in the Pribilofs for four years I was most impressed by the thoughtful nature of this book as well as the insights provided by the author. I would highly suggest this book for anyone intending to visit the islands, see the seal or bird rookeries or just interested in learning about a different culture.

There was a time in history when men could escape from lives as farm or mill laborers by going to sea to seek their fortunes. Some were fortunate and became owners of their own ships. Others were crippled or lost as the sea exacted its toll from those traveling its domains. This book provides a detailed account of shipwrecks on the Washington, Oregon, and California coasts between 1550 and early 1962 (I am looking at a second edition). Photos are included for some of the more recent shipwrecks. It covers wrecks caused by weather, poor navigation, collisions, or other misadventures. While copies may be hard to find, it is well worth searching for as it provides an essential reference for those people seeking information on nautical commerce along the U.S. Pacific coast. It gives a good overview of the hazards of going to sea.

Jim Gibbs is simply the guru of Northwest maritime history. This book ranges up and down the west coast with fascinating tales of shipping mishaps and contains plenty of photographs. If shipwrecks interest you, ANYTHING by "Shipwreck" Jim is for you!

John C. George gives us an in-depth look at the weapons of the infantryman's war, written from the perspective of one of the men who used them. George avoids the typical characterizations of Japanese soldiers and equipment. Instead, he gives us an insightful look at the enemy soldier and his equipment. George also provides a blunt, unvarnished look at the life of a US infantryman in combat in the Pacific.

This book is a definite "must read."

This book was so well done that I read it twice. It is the most insightful essay on the weapons of war that I have read. He was a rifle champion before the war and therefore had a high interest in the weapons of both sides. There are many comparisons of the American arms vs. the Japanese arms. Some of his observations are quite surprising. For example, most of the American equipment, while superior in quality, was over built and therefore difficult to carry around. A lot of it never made it past the beaches where the troops landed. They would discard all the cubersome equipment and take only what was necessary and portable. Much of the Japanese equipment and armament was lighter and easier to get into acion. It is a fascinating examination and comparison of the cultures and their equipment. I am hoping that it will be reissued so that I can purchase copies for my friends. I reccommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the Pacific war and the armaments in use then.

The Sierra Nevada attract visitors from around the U.S. and from all over the world. They come to see the Giant Sequoias. They hike the John Muir, Pacific Crest and countless other trails. They fish, camp, hunt, ski, sightsee and just plain relax. My wife introducted me to the Sierra eight years ago. We usually returned to Eastern Sierra and particularly Lake Sabina. Recently, another camper told me about an Internet site called SierraGatewayMap.com. I checked it out and I am thrilled with it! It gives excellent descriptions, pictures and maps of 11 counties of the Sierra Nevada. I can immediately contact resort owners or pack station guides and other merchants directly through the Internet right from this web site. My wife and I used it to plan a trip to the Western Sierra area of Mammoth Pools. I have never been to this side of the mountains. We printed some maps of the area from the web site. Then I discovered there was a travel companion book, The Sierra Gateway Map Guide. This book is based on the web site, yet I can carry it with me as I travel the area. Sometimes the local folks of the area you are visiting don't want to tell you about the surrounding places you can see because they want you to stay and spend all their money with them! This book shows you what is nearby. You can stay in one spot and take daily side trips to many other closeby places. I am obviously pleased with this book and highly recommend it. It is not only good for using yourself, but it is a great gift item as well. My thanks to the authors for both the web site and the excellent travel guide!

Having visited the Sierra Nevada since the 1950s, I am pleased to have found this wonderful booklet that is filled with color pictures and detailed maps. My family and I can show others where we have visited and we can decide what other areas we will like to visit in the future. I particularly like the author's use of web site addresses and phone numbers. In today's world, it is so easy to contact a facility via the web and much less expensive too! The descriptions of the places you can visit and the things you can see and do is very good. The pictures give you a taste of the beauty you will experience. The maps give you a detailed method of traveling from one area of the Sierra to another without having to hit the "main roads". My thanks to the authors and I surely suggest this is a great book for anyone that has or is planning to visit California's Sierra Nevada.

This is a great book filled with lots of great pictures and interesting information. The authors give you a real feel for the hikes and really get you in the mood for your trip. The map you get along with the book is very pretty vauge, so a more detailed map is required to really get down to planning. But a great book to start you on your way to a fun backpacking trip. Absolutely get this book if your'e taking a 'walkabout in the Sierras.

The collaborative effort of Thomas Winnet, Jason Winnett, Kathy Morey, and Lyn Haber, Sierra North: 100 Backcountry Trips In California's Sierra is an detailed and thoroughly "user friendly travel guide to planning a hike in California's wild, rugged, and beautiful mountains. Filled with topography maps, one hundred different trips with route descriptions, information on fishing, swimming, flora, fauna, geology, and history, and much, much more, Sierra North is a highly accessible and information-packed resource which is especially recommended for vacationing nature lovers.