Trip IdeasFodor's California 2010
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About This Book
California is one of America’s most popular vacation destinations, and for good reason — the state is so diverse that it draws every type of traveler, from shopaholics and spa junkies to mountain bikers and surfers. Whether you plan to tour wineries in Sonoma County, hike the Southern Sierra, or max out your credit cards on Rodeo Drive, Fodor’s California 2010 is there every step of the way, with savvy recommendations and helpful tips. Now in full color, it covers the state with both substance and style. Features include:
•More than 300 color photographs and easy-to-read color maps that illustrate the beauty of California and help you choose what to see
•Evocative, photo-filled features on quintessential California experiences, including road-tripping on the Pacific Coast Highway, touring the Wine Country, and experiencing the real Hollywood
•In-depth coverage of California’s eight national parks, from Joshua Tree to Redwood
•Up-to-date restaurant reviews for every part of the state, and extensive coverage of the dining scene in California’s cities
•Orientation maps and planning pages at the beginning of each chapter to help you get your bearings, pick your destinations, and plan your trips
Fodor’s. For Choice Travel Experiences.
•More than 300 color photographs and easy-to-read color maps that illustrate the beauty of California and help you choose what to see
•Evocative, photo-filled features on quintessential California experiences, including road-tripping on the Pacific Coast Highway, touring the Wine Country, and experiencing the real Hollywood
•In-depth coverage of California’s eight national parks, from Joshua Tree to Redwood
•Up-to-date restaurant reviews for every part of the state, and extensive coverage of the dining scene in California’s cities
•Orientation maps and planning pages at the beginning of each chapter to help you get your bearings, pick your destinations, and plan your trips
Fodor’s. For Choice Travel Experiences.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Experience California............10
What’s New in California............ 12
What’s Where in Southern California............ 14
What’s Where in Northern California............ 16
California Planner............ 18
When to Go............ 19
California Today............ 20
California’s Top Attractions............ 22
California’s Top Experiences............ 25
Quintessential California............ 26
If You Like............ 28
Great Itineraries............ 30
Chapter 2: San Diego............39
Welcome to San Diego............ 40
San Diego Planner............ 42
Exploring San Diego............ 46
Where to Eat............ 75
Best Bets for San Diego Dining............ 76
Where to Stay............ 86
Best Bets for San Diego Lodging............ 87
Nightlife and the Arts............ 97
Sports and the Outdoors............ 102
Shopping............ 110
Side Trips to North County............ 111
Chapter 3: Orange County and Catalina Island............119
Welcome to Orange County and Catalina Island............ 120
Orange County and Catalina Island Planner............ 122
Disneyland Resort............ 124
Knott’s Berry Farm............ 136
Coastal Orange County............ 140
Catalina Island............ 153
Chapter 4: Los Angeles............159
Welcome to Los Angeles............ 160
Los Angeles Planner............ 162
Exploring Los Angeles............ 168
Where to Eat............ 201
Best Bets for Los Angeles Dining............ 203
SoCal’s South-of-the-Border Flavor............ 208
Where to Stay............ 215
Best Bets for Los Angeles Lodging............ 216
Nightlife and the Arts............ 226
Sports and the Outdoors............ 237
Shopping............ 240
Chapter 5: The Central Coast............245
Welcome to The Central Coast............ 246
The Central Coast Planner............ 248
Ventura County............ 252
Santa Barbara............ 258
Santa Barbara County............ 278
San Luis Obispo County............ 283
Big Sur Coastline............ 303
Chapter 6: Channel Islands National Park............309
Welcome to Channel Islands National Park............ 310
Channel Islands National Park Planner............ 312
Chapter 7: The Monterey Bay Area............317
Welcome to The Monterey Bay Area............ 318
The Monterey Bay Area Planner............ 320
Carmel and Pacific Grove............ 326
Monterey............ 342
Around the Bay............ 351
Santa Cruz............ 356
Chapter 8: San Francisco............363
Welcome to San Francisco............ 364
San Francisco Planner............ 366
Exploring San Francisco............ 375
Where to Eat............ 425
Best Bets for San Francisco Dining............ 426
NorCal’s Locavore Food Movement............ 428
Where to Stay............ 441
Best Bets for San Francisco Lodging............ 444
Nightlife............ 452
The Arts............ 456
Sports and the Outdoors............ 459
Shopping............ 460
Chapter 9: The Bay Area............463
Welcome to The Bay Area............ 464
The Bay Area Planner............ 466
Marin County............ 467
The East Bay............ 486
The Coastal Peninsula............ 503
Chapter 10: The Wine Country............509
Welcome to Wine Country............ 510
Wine Country Planner............ 512
The Napa Valley............ 516
The Sonoma Valley............ 554
Elsewhere in Sonoma County............ 569
Chapter 11: The North Coast............581
Welcome to The North Coast............ 582
The North Coast Planner............ 584
The Sonoma Coast............ 587
The Mendocino Coast............ 592
Redwood Country............ 602
Chapter 12: Redwood National Park............609
Welcome to Redwood National Park............ 610
Redwood National Park Planner............ 612
Chapter 13: The Inland Empire............617
Welcome to The Inland Empire............ 618
The Inland Empire Planner............ 620
The Western Inland Empire............ 623
Riverside Area............ 627
San Bernardino Mountains............ 634
The Southern Inland Empire............ 640
Chapter 14: Palm Springs............647
Welcome to Palm Springs............ 648
Palm Springs Planner............ 650
The Desert Resorts............ 655
Along Twentynine Palms Highway............ 678
Anza-Borrego Desert............ 681
Chapter 15: Joshua Tree National Park............687
Welcome to Joshua Tree National Park............ 688
Joshua Tree National Park Planner............ 690
Chapter 16: The Mojave Desert............695
Welcome to The Mojave Desert............ 696
The Mojave Desert Planner............ 698
The Western Mojave............ 701
The Eastern Mojave............ 708
Owens Valley............ 718
Chapter 17: Death Valley National Park............723
Welcome to Death Valley National Park............ 724
Death Valley National Park Planner............ 726
Chapter 18: The Central Valley737
Welcome to The Central Valley............ 738
The Central Valley Planner............ 740
Southern Central Valley............ 742
Mid-Central Valley............ 746
North Central Valley............ 753
Chapter 19: The Southern Sierra............761
Welcome to The Southern Sierra............ 762
The Southern Sierra Planner............ 764
South of Yosemite National Park............ 765
Mammoth Area............ 768
East of Yosemite National Park............ 775
South of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks............ 778
Chapter 20: Yosemite National Park............779
Welcome to Yosemite National Park............ 780
Yosemite National Park Planner............ 782
Exploring Yosemite National Park............ 786
Sports and the Outdoors............ 795
Educational Programs............ 800
Where to Eat............ 801
Where to Stay............ 802
Chapter 21: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks............805
Welcome to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks............ 806
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Planner............ 808
Exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks............ 810
Sports and the Outdoors............ 820
Educational Programs............ 823
Where to Eat............ 824
Where to Stay............ 825
Chapter 22: Sacramento and the Gold Country............827
Welcome to Sacramento and the Gold Country............ 828
Sacramento and the Gold Country Planner............ 830
Sacramento and Vicinity............ 834
The Gold Country–South............ 840
The Gold Country–North............ 854
Chapter 23: Lake Tahoe............859
Welcome to Lake Tahoe............ 860
Lake Tahoe Planner............ 862
California Side............ 867
Nevada Side............ 897
Chapter 24: The Far North............907
Welcome to The Far North............ 908
The Far North Planner............ 910
From Chico to Mt. Shasta............ 913
The Backcountry............ 922
Travel Smart California............ 931
Getting Here and Around............ 932
Essentials............ 937
Index ............ 941
About Our Writers............956
CALIFORNIA IN FOCUS
The Ultimate Road Trip: California’s Legendary Highway 1............36
Balboa Park: San Diego’s Cultural Heart............ 55
Highway 1: Santa Monica to Big Sur............ 164
Hollywood: Where the Stars Shine............ 177
On a Mission............ 260
Highway 1: Carmel to San Francisco............ 322
Highway 1: San Francisco to Fort Bragg............ 368
Chinatown............ 379
Cable Cars............ 393
Wine Tasting in Napa and Sonoma............ 518
Eureka! California’s Gold Rush............ 841
Tahoe: A Lake for All Seasons............ 869
MAPS
What’s Where in Southern California............ 14-15
What’s Where in Northern California............ 16-17
Central San Diego and Mission Bay............ 48-49
Old Town San Diego............ 70
La Jolla............ 73
San Diego Dining and Lodging Atlas............ 80-81
Where to Eat and Stay in Anaheim............ 133
The Orange County Coast............ 141
Catalina Island............ 156
Downtown Los Angeles............ 169
Wilshire Boulevard, Museum Row, and Farmers Market ............ 174
West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Century City and the Westside............ 187
Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu............ 190
The San Fernando Valley............ 194
Pasadena Area............ 198
Where to Eat and Stay in Beverly Hills, Century City, Hollywood, Los Feliz and West Hollywood............ 202
Where to Eat and Stay in Downtown Los Angeles ............ 210
Where to Eat and Stay in Coastal and Western Los Angeles............ 212
Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties............ 254
Santa Barbara............ 267
San Luis Obispo County and Big Sur............ 285
The Monterey Bay Area............ 327
Monterey Bay............ 343
Union Square and Chinatown............ 374
SoMA and Civic Center............ 388
Nob Hill and Russian Hill............ 391
North Beach and On the Waterfront............ 399
The Marina and the Presidio............ 407
Golden Gate Park and the Western Shoreline............ 412
The Haight, the Castro, Noe Valley and the Mission District............ 417
Pacific Heights and Japantown............ 421
San Francisco Dining and Lodging............ 434-435
Marin County............ 469
The East Bay and the Coastal Peninsula............ 487
Oakland............ 489
Berkeley............ 496
Napa Valley............ 528
Where to Eat and Stay in Napa Valley............ 530
Sonoma Valley............ 558-559
Where to Eat and Stay in the Sonoma Valley............ 564-565
Sonoma and Mendocino Coasts............ 588
Redwood Country............ 603
Desert Resorts............ 653
Palm Springs............ 656
Mojave Desert............ 703
The Central Valley............ 743
Fresno Area............ 750
Yosemite Valley Floor............ 787
Western Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks............ 814
The Gold Country............ 833
Sacramento............ 835
Lassen Volcanic Natl Park ............ 926
What’s New in California............ 12
What’s Where in Southern California............ 14
What’s Where in Northern California............ 16
California Planner............ 18
When to Go............ 19
California Today............ 20
California’s Top Attractions............ 22
California’s Top Experiences............ 25
Quintessential California............ 26
If You Like............ 28
Great Itineraries............ 30
Chapter 2: San Diego............39
Welcome to San Diego............ 40
San Diego Planner............ 42
Exploring San Diego............ 46
Where to Eat............ 75
Best Bets for San Diego Dining............ 76
Where to Stay............ 86
Best Bets for San Diego Lodging............ 87
Nightlife and the Arts............ 97
Sports and the Outdoors............ 102
Shopping............ 110
Side Trips to North County............ 111
Chapter 3: Orange County and Catalina Island............119
Welcome to Orange County and Catalina Island............ 120
Orange County and Catalina Island Planner............ 122
Disneyland Resort............ 124
Knott’s Berry Farm............ 136
Coastal Orange County............ 140
Catalina Island............ 153
Chapter 4: Los Angeles............159
Welcome to Los Angeles............ 160
Los Angeles Planner............ 162
Exploring Los Angeles............ 168
Where to Eat............ 201
Best Bets for Los Angeles Dining............ 203
SoCal’s South-of-the-Border Flavor............ 208
Where to Stay............ 215
Best Bets for Los Angeles Lodging............ 216
Nightlife and the Arts............ 226
Sports and the Outdoors............ 237
Shopping............ 240
Chapter 5: The Central Coast............245
Welcome to The Central Coast............ 246
The Central Coast Planner............ 248
Ventura County............ 252
Santa Barbara............ 258
Santa Barbara County............ 278
San Luis Obispo County............ 283
Big Sur Coastline............ 303
Chapter 6: Channel Islands National Park............309
Welcome to Channel Islands National Park............ 310
Channel Islands National Park Planner............ 312
Chapter 7: The Monterey Bay Area............317
Welcome to The Monterey Bay Area............ 318
The Monterey Bay Area Planner............ 320
Carmel and Pacific Grove............ 326
Monterey............ 342
Around the Bay............ 351
Santa Cruz............ 356
Chapter 8: San Francisco............363
Welcome to San Francisco............ 364
San Francisco Planner............ 366
Exploring San Francisco............ 375
Where to Eat............ 425
Best Bets for San Francisco Dining............ 426
NorCal’s Locavore Food Movement............ 428
Where to Stay............ 441
Best Bets for San Francisco Lodging............ 444
Nightlife............ 452
The Arts............ 456
Sports and the Outdoors............ 459
Shopping............ 460
Chapter 9: The Bay Area............463
Welcome to The Bay Area............ 464
The Bay Area Planner............ 466
Marin County............ 467
The East Bay............ 486
The Coastal Peninsula............ 503
Chapter 10: The Wine Country............509
Welcome to Wine Country............ 510
Wine Country Planner............ 512
The Napa Valley............ 516
The Sonoma Valley............ 554
Elsewhere in Sonoma County............ 569
Chapter 11: The North Coast............581
Welcome to The North Coast............ 582
The North Coast Planner............ 584
The Sonoma Coast............ 587
The Mendocino Coast............ 592
Redwood Country............ 602
Chapter 12: Redwood National Park............609
Welcome to Redwood National Park............ 610
Redwood National Park Planner............ 612
Chapter 13: The Inland Empire............617
Welcome to The Inland Empire............ 618
The Inland Empire Planner............ 620
The Western Inland Empire............ 623
Riverside Area............ 627
San Bernardino Mountains............ 634
The Southern Inland Empire............ 640
Chapter 14: Palm Springs............647
Welcome to Palm Springs............ 648
Palm Springs Planner............ 650
The Desert Resorts............ 655
Along Twentynine Palms Highway............ 678
Anza-Borrego Desert............ 681
Chapter 15: Joshua Tree National Park............687
Welcome to Joshua Tree National Park............ 688
Joshua Tree National Park Planner............ 690
Chapter 16: The Mojave Desert............695
Welcome to The Mojave Desert............ 696
The Mojave Desert Planner............ 698
The Western Mojave............ 701
The Eastern Mojave............ 708
Owens Valley............ 718
Chapter 17: Death Valley National Park............723
Welcome to Death Valley National Park............ 724
Death Valley National Park Planner............ 726
Chapter 18: The Central Valley737
Welcome to The Central Valley............ 738
The Central Valley Planner............ 740
Southern Central Valley............ 742
Mid-Central Valley............ 746
North Central Valley............ 753
Chapter 19: The Southern Sierra............761
Welcome to The Southern Sierra............ 762
The Southern Sierra Planner............ 764
South of Yosemite National Park............ 765
Mammoth Area............ 768
East of Yosemite National Park............ 775
South of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks............ 778
Chapter 20: Yosemite National Park............779
Welcome to Yosemite National Park............ 780
Yosemite National Park Planner............ 782
Exploring Yosemite National Park............ 786
Sports and the Outdoors............ 795
Educational Programs............ 800
Where to Eat............ 801
Where to Stay............ 802
Chapter 21: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks............805
Welcome to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks............ 806
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Planner............ 808
Exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks............ 810
Sports and the Outdoors............ 820
Educational Programs............ 823
Where to Eat............ 824
Where to Stay............ 825
Chapter 22: Sacramento and the Gold Country............827
Welcome to Sacramento and the Gold Country............ 828
Sacramento and the Gold Country Planner............ 830
Sacramento and Vicinity............ 834
The Gold Country–South............ 840
The Gold Country–North............ 854
Chapter 23: Lake Tahoe............859
Welcome to Lake Tahoe............ 860
Lake Tahoe Planner............ 862
California Side............ 867
Nevada Side............ 897
Chapter 24: The Far North............907
Welcome to The Far North............ 908
The Far North Planner............ 910
From Chico to Mt. Shasta............ 913
The Backcountry............ 922
Travel Smart California............ 931
Getting Here and Around............ 932
Essentials............ 937
Index ............ 941
About Our Writers............956
CALIFORNIA IN FOCUS
The Ultimate Road Trip: California’s Legendary Highway 1............36
Balboa Park: San Diego’s Cultural Heart............ 55
Highway 1: Santa Monica to Big Sur............ 164
Hollywood: Where the Stars Shine............ 177
On a Mission............ 260
Highway 1: Carmel to San Francisco............ 322
Highway 1: San Francisco to Fort Bragg............ 368
Chinatown............ 379
Cable Cars............ 393
Wine Tasting in Napa and Sonoma............ 518
Eureka! California’s Gold Rush............ 841
Tahoe: A Lake for All Seasons............ 869
MAPS
What’s Where in Southern California............ 14-15
What’s Where in Northern California............ 16-17
Central San Diego and Mission Bay............ 48-49
Old Town San Diego............ 70
La Jolla............ 73
San Diego Dining and Lodging Atlas............ 80-81
Where to Eat and Stay in Anaheim............ 133
The Orange County Coast............ 141
Catalina Island............ 156
Downtown Los Angeles............ 169
Wilshire Boulevard, Museum Row, and Farmers Market ............ 174
West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Century City and the Westside............ 187
Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu............ 190
The San Fernando Valley............ 194
Pasadena Area............ 198
Where to Eat and Stay in Beverly Hills, Century City, Hollywood, Los Feliz and West Hollywood............ 202
Where to Eat and Stay in Downtown Los Angeles ............ 210
Where to Eat and Stay in Coastal and Western Los Angeles............ 212
Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties............ 254
Santa Barbara............ 267
San Luis Obispo County and Big Sur............ 285
The Monterey Bay Area............ 327
Monterey Bay............ 343
Union Square and Chinatown............ 374
SoMA and Civic Center............ 388
Nob Hill and Russian Hill............ 391
North Beach and On the Waterfront............ 399
The Marina and the Presidio............ 407
Golden Gate Park and the Western Shoreline............ 412
The Haight, the Castro, Noe Valley and the Mission District............ 417
Pacific Heights and Japantown............ 421
San Francisco Dining and Lodging............ 434-435
Marin County............ 469
The East Bay and the Coastal Peninsula............ 487
Oakland............ 489
Berkeley............ 496
Napa Valley............ 528
Where to Eat and Stay in Napa Valley............ 530
Sonoma Valley............ 558-559
Where to Eat and Stay in the Sonoma Valley............ 564-565
Sonoma and Mendocino Coasts............ 588
Redwood Country............ 603
Desert Resorts............ 653
Palm Springs............ 656
Mojave Desert............ 703
The Central Valley............ 743
Fresno Area............ 750
Yosemite Valley Floor............ 787
Western Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks............ 814
The Gold Country............ 833
Sacramento............ 835
Lassen Volcanic Natl Park ............ 926
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