Rating: 
Summary: A camper nut
Review: I have a couple editions of these books. The new one is a lot better than the one from just a few years ago. The biggest changes are the directions are completely redone, and all new maps, and all the new notes. Now that that fat guy in Iraq is gone, I'm going to go back to enjoying myself. This book is the best one out there to find the spots.
Rating:
Summary: Whatta guide
Review: I have looked at um all and this is by far the best camping guide i have found. Complete details about each area plus maps and all the information you will need. How to reserve ,dates,and even directions. An excellant guide! Being a advid trout fisherman take my word. Don
Rating: 
Summary: A love/hate relationship
Review: I have mixed feelings about this book. As other reviewers have mentioned, it IS the Bible of California camping. I have found no other book in its league. But I do find most of the pricing guides and many of the directions to be inaccurate. I keep buying the newest version in hopes that I get the up-to-date information, but it seems that the minute the book is off the press, it's outdated. This might not be Tom's fault, but it is certainly annoying. The sites listed as free are rarely still free, which is a real let down when I drive five or ten miles down a rocky fire trail to get to it. But the directions given in the book are often innaccurate, ranging from minor mileage errors to completely incorrect road names and exit information. I thank god that this book is available, as it is an invaluable source for campground information. But don't be surprised when you find that the campground was on the south side of the lake instead of the north, or that when the book says take the northbound I5 exit a few miles from town, the exit is actually on the southbound side, and there isn't a turn-around for another 20 miles.
Rating:
Summary: Can't find a good spot?(!)
Review: I have used this book for several years, have a couple editions, and believe the latest incarnation is the best outdoor book I have ever used. So, in response to the guy who said he couldn't find any good spots! HAH! Since all the spots are here, you'd have to be clueless not to be able to find ones that fit what you want. My husband and me would never go out on a trip without this book in our car.
Rating:
Summary: New edition is easy to use
Review: I've bought many editions of this guide over the years and this new edition is the best. It's easier to navigate. You can find a campsite by name, by a surrounding geographic place (like Shasta Lake or Plumas National Forest) or you can look up a site on the regional and detail maps. Everything is cross-referenced to the page number where the campground is described. I like Tom Stienstra's picks for best campgrounds for families, rafting, fishing, etc. Tom promises that you'll always find a great camp spot with this book and I agree. I recommend this new edition.
Rating:
Summary: tons of detail
Review: I've found no more comprehensive resource for California campgrounds than this book. Websites don't compare either. This book has details you won't find anywhere else!
Rating:
Summary: Best Outdoor Book I've ever seen
Review: I've had the new edition for a month now. That makes four weekends. It is simply great! There's so much info it's stunning. So far, we've checked out about 15 spots we didn't know about. My husband doesn't like to consult books. But even he is reading this book with a smile. It's going to make our life a lot better and more fun. Let the summer start!
Rating:
Summary: New Edition Is Golden
Review: Is there a man who knows California's campgrounds better than Tom Stienstra? Nope. And this new edition proves it in so many wonderful ways. The book's got everything a novice weekend camper or grizzled outdoorsman needs to know in order to navigate through California's camping options. I wore out two earlier editions of this book, and am glad I picked up the updated volume -- even though I moved from California to New Jersey last year. This book keeps me in touch with my home state and helps me plan my outdoor trips West. Not only does this book have a great batch of new entries, it's filled with Tom's concise, colorful writing style. Of Rogers Cow Camp he writes: "You want quiet, you got it. You want water, you bring it yourself." And I always enjoy reading about Tom's adventures with Rambob, Foonsky and his dad. Well, I've yakked enough here. Time to pick another camping destination with the help of ol' Tombo.
Rating:
Summary: California Camping Rocks!
Review: My husband and I have been using Tom's book for years. In fact, we have a 1998 edition we're just about to upgrade this year so I don't know what these other reviewers are on about, but we've found very few errors, even now! We have camped all over Northern and Central California with this book. If it wasn't for Tom we never would have seen 1/2 of these places. Little out-of-the-way places you just can't find on the Internet! My copy is just becoming out-of-date now, with all the changes in the State Park system, after 4 years. I recommend it to anyone who loves to camp.
Rating:
Summary: A great investment!
Review: My husband and I were longing to spend our weekends introducing our two children, ages four and two, to the great outdoors. I turned to the web to research our options and find out about the campgrounds in our area. My search led to frustration as I found scattered details here and there and no comprehensive information that would aid in my choosing our weekend destinations. After many dead ends I finally hit the jackpot with my web search, a site that recommended Tom's book! I purchased the book and was so impressed with all of the information that less than 24 hours after it first hit my hands, I felt compelled to write to Tom and thank him for providing such a wonderful resource to those looking to camp in California. Camping with two small children, I need specific details on campsites and the activities surrounding them. This book has provided that and much, much more. I feel like our camping opportunities have been vastly expanded, and this book was well worth the investment. I highly recommend this book! Thank you again Tom!
|
