Best Places Northern California: Restaurants, Lodgings, Touring

Rating:
Summary: A fine guidebook, but only for those with fat wallets
Review: I have been a big fan of the "Best Places" series for years, and have enjoyed awesome trips in San Diego and the Pacific N.W. thanks to these guidebooks. But I was disappointed in the "Northern California" edition. I know, it's a guide to "best" places and as such will probably lean heavily toward the pricier establishments. And Northern California tends to be a pricey place. But while most of the other "Best Places" books include a wide range of places, from great ethnic hole-in-the-wall eateries to five-star dining experiences, this particular volume just piles on the five-star recommendations. You'll be hard pressed to find, for example, a basic breakfast hangout, a good sandwich joint, and ESPECIALLY a lodging [for a reasonable price]. If all I want to do is patronize the trendiest and priciest, what do I need a guidebook for? Anyone can find the chic places; a guidebook should help a visitor nose out the less-discovered treasures. Also, the oh-so-trendy, oh-so-chic, been-there-done-that-seen-it-all-eaten-it-all tone of the writing gets a little wearing after awhile. Buy some of the other Best Places guides, but look elsewhere if you want something more comprehensive for Northern California.

Rating:
Summary: A candid guide to all the amenities to be offered
Review: Top restaurants and lodgings throughout Northern California are rated and reviewed and range from lodgings and restaurants to tourist opportunities. Best Places Northern California features some of the truly best places in the state and provides a candid guide to all the amenities to be offered in its places. Highly recommended; if only one guidebook to the state were to be selected, Best Places Northern California should be the 'Bible' of choice.