Scenic Driving California [Paperback]

This guide includes 24 eye-pleasing California rides. Travelers will discover secluded glens, soaring redwoods, plunging waterfalls, ghost towns, lava flows, windswept shores battered by Pacific breakers, elegant stands of Joshua trees, and much more.This guide includes 24 eye-pleasing California rides. Travelers will discover secluded glens, soaring redwoods, plunging waterfalls, ghost towns, lava flows, windswept shores battered by Pacific breakers, elegant stands of Joshua trees, and much more.Freelance outdoor photographer and writer Stewart M. Green is the author of many FalconGuides, including five Scenic Driving titles and six climbing guides. He lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.Pack up the car and enjoy twenty-four drives through the breathtaking mountains, spectacular valleys, rugged coastlines, and dry desert plains of the Golden State. This indispensable highway companion maps out short trips for exploring California's best scenic byways and back roads. Discover the state's multicultural history, geographic diversity, and awe-inspiring scenery, from the Smith River Canyon and the Big Sur Coast to Yosemite National Forest and the Anza-Borrego Desert. Along the way stop and go rafting on the Klamath River, enjoy wine tasting in Napa Valley, explore the caves in the Lava Beds National Monument, and do some stargazing at the Mount Wilson Observatory.Inside you'll find: Individual itineraries from 33 to 209 miles in length In-depth descriptions of attractions along the way, including historic gold rush towns, picturesque resorts, and national parks Maps outlining each route Historical information and suggested side trips Tips on camping, travel services, weather conditions, and best driving seasons