Rating: 
Summary: great for big city tourism, weak for road trips
Review: As a photographer, I love these books because you can see more or less what you're going to get when you visit a sight. However, if you're planning a road trip through California, make sure to start with the Michelin Green Guide and its suggested driving tours. Supplement that with AAA Hidden Highways (there is one for Northern California at least) and you're set (unless you want some cultural background in which case you need Kim Weir's Moon Handbooks).Have a great trip through American's 2nd greatest state (after Massachusetts, of course)!
Rating:
Summary: great for big city tourism, weak for road trips
Review: As a photographer, I love these books because you can see more or less what you're going to get when you visit a sight. However, if you're planning a road trip through California, make sure to start with the Michelin Green Guide and its suggested driving tours. Supplement that with AAA Hidden Highways (there is one for Northern California at least) and you're set (unless you want some cultural background in which case you need Kim Weir's Moon Handbooks). Have a great trip through American's 2nd greatest state (after Massachusetts, of course)!
Rating:
Summary: Good Value for Money
Review: Being a pretty busy person, and usually hating to read travel guides, I find that the DK Eyewitness Guides are the only ones I can stand reading - in fact, I find them enjoyable. Their main force is that you don't have to imagine whether a destination would be something for you - the guide shows you what to expect, where others just tell you about it. That is the series' main force: They are very easily digestible. That said, an Eyewitness Guide can't stand alone, so my wife usually acquires a Lonely Planet guide for the place, and I read the Eyewitness Guide, and the two complement each other nicely. At 630 pages, this is the largest Eyewitness guide I have seen to date, but it also covers a very large subject: All of California, including large and comprehensive sections on both San Francisco and Los Angeles. In addition the introduction, Survival Guide and Travellers' Needs sections that are found in every Eyewitness guide, this book consists of four main sections, roughly equal in size: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Southern California and Northern California. The section on Los Angeles is the largest, and at 129 pages is in itself as much as some of Dorling Kindersley's city guides. The section on San Francisco isn't much smaller, but lots of pages are still left for the rest of California. In essence, you get two complete city guides and a nice country guide in one reasonably priced package. Although I'm satisfied with my purchase, some things could be better: Disneyland gets disappointingly dull treatment, considering that it is LA's main attraction - although 4 pages are used we don't even get an overview drawing of the park, although that's something I'd really expected from the Eyewitness guide. In more general terms, these guide are always very neutral in tone, so it's often difficult to get a feel for an attraction - it might be interesting, but is it worth the money? Is it expensive? The guide doesn't say... As a conclusion, the book gives good value for money and is an excellent preparatory tool, although its shortcomings as a travel companion becomes too evident with use - for actual day-to-day planning, we had to turn to Lonely Planet for detailed information and subjective recommendations.
Rating: 
Summary: This should be the first thing you pack
Review: Dorling Kindersley makes the best travel guides hands down. They are extremely well illustrated, have extensive and detailed maps up to date information on hotels (rates, rooms etc), restaurants (costs and reservation policies), and sites to see. The travel guides have wonderful pictures, well researched histories and facts about California (the cities and the sites), what wines to look for and taste (not just by region and vineyard but also by year), detailed walking tours, information on famous sites (The lore behind Man''s Theater in LA, the La Brea Tar Pits as well as Alcatraz and some of the top wineries to visit in Napa and Sonoma). The guide covers travel information, driving directions, the best places to shop and see celebrities in LA, where to get good deals and SOOO much more. The book give you wonderful ideas on how to best see each area in a limited time or really enjoy it if you are there for more than a few days. The book also covers things to do that many tourists might over look as well as telling you what is worth your while and what to skip. This is one of the best guides available on the market. It is perfect if you are planning to go to a few cities in a limited time or for more in depth information when planning a longer trip.
Rating:
Summary: This should be the first thing you pack
Review: Dorling Kindersley makes the best travel guides hands down. They are extremely well illustrated, have extensive and detailed maps up to date information on hotels (rates, rooms etc), restaurants (costs and reservation policies), and sites to see. The travel guides have wonderful pictures, well researched histories and facts about California (the cities and the sites), what wines to look for and taste (not just by region and vineyard but also by year), detailed walking tours, information on famous sites (The lore behind Man''s Theater in LA, the La Brea Tar Pits as well as Alcatraz and some of the top wineries to visit in Napa and Sonoma). The guide covers travel information, driving directions, the best places to shop and see celebrities in LA, where to get good deals and SOOO much more. The book give you wonderful ideas on how to best see each area in a limited time or really enjoy it if you are there for more than a few days. The book also covers things to do that many tourists might over look as well as telling you what is worth your while and what to skip. This is one of the best guides available on the market. It is perfect if you are planning to go to a few cities in a limited time or for more in depth information when planning a longer trip.
Rating:
Summary: I live in California, but....
Review: I picked up this book to see what California has to offer. Sometimes living in a place, you forget what different museums, restaurants and different things to do yet. So, this book was an excellent choice for me! It also includes lots of information on San Francisco, where I have not been yet, but really want to visit. It also has a section on Las Vegas which is pretty good too. So, if you are looking to see and do everything California has to offer, this guide is for you. It includes hotel information and restaurants according to location. This book is an excellent tool, showing you just what you'll see when you visit different locations in California. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: I live in California, but....
Review: I picked up this book to see what California has to offer. Sometimes living in a place, you forget what different museums, restaurants and different things to do yet. So, this book was an excellent choice for me! It also includes lots of information on San Francisco, where I have not been yet, but really want to visit. It also has a section on Las Vegas which is pretty good too. So, if you are looking to see and do everything California has to offer, this guide is for you. It includes hotel information and restaurants according to location. This book is an excellent tool, showing you just what you'll see when you visit different locations in California. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Great for cities, not bad for journeys
Review: I tend to agree with a previous reviewer. Eyewitness Travel Guides are great for seeing the sights in large cities. But when on the road, they are a bit less than fantastic. My wife and I used this one a few years ago on a tour along Route 1 from Calistoga to San Diego. Most of the info was very useful. The way this guide book introduces the area and its culture is one of its strongest points. Its picture-driven approach is also a big selling point. Four stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Misguiding?
Review: I went to visit 6 Flags Marine World in Vallejo, CA. When I arrived there I found to my surprise that it was closed for no special reason. The opening times in the book are wrong! Then I decided to visit Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. I was late for the last boat at 2:15 PM. In the book says the last one is at 2:45 PM... Wrong again!! Now, I have a book but I still have to call to ask and confirm any move I do. If it is not possible to be accurate with the opening/closing times, it is better not to say anything about them.
Rating:
Summary: Best Travel series: easy to use, clear, great organization
Review: This book was a great find! Now I only use the Eyewitness travel books. It is organized in sections based on region. Then each section is organized by area. So everything in the book is organizaed by area. This lets you plan your days extremely easily, if you want cultural, arts, or historical. And all the points of interest are great. Has things for the Adventrous and the Classic traveler.
| 
