California travel guide by Lonely Planet


Lonely Planet's California is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you.


Paddle in the Pacific, trek through desert oases, and watch fog tumble over the Golden Gate Bridge; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of California and begin your journey now!

Inside Lonely Planet's California Travel Guide:

NEW pull-out, passport-size 'Just Landed' card with wi-fi, ATM and transportation info - all you need for a smooth journey from airport to hotel

Planning tools for family travelers - where to go, how to save money, plus fun stuff just for kids

What's New feature taps into cultural trends and helps you find fresh ideas and cool new areas our writers have uncovered

NEW Accommodations feature gathers all the information you need to plan your accommodations 

NEW Where to Stay in San Francisco and Where to Stay in Los Angeles maps are your at-a-glance guide to accommodations options in each neighborhood

Color maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests

Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices

Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss

Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics Over 105 maps

Covers San Francisco, Marin County & the Bay Area, Napa & Sonoma Wine Country, the North Coast & Redwoods, the Central Coast, Santa Barbara County, Los Angeles, Disneyland & Orange County, San Diego & Around, Palm Springs & the Deserts, the Northern Mountains, Sacramento & the Central Valley, Gold Country, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite & the Sierra Nevada 

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Hike, Drive, Stayin' Alive!

by The Raven Brothers

Out of shape and unprepared, The Raven Brothers return to the road in a collection of ten quests to travel to their dream destinations against all odds! After two decades pioneering new routes across the globe, you would expect the authors of 'Driving the Trans-Siberian' to be hotshot explorers, with a sixth sense and an ability to survive in almost any situation. Think again! With virtually zero knowledge of the workings of the internal combustion engine and very limited skills of wilderness survival, Simon and Chris struggle into their hiking boots and power across three continents by river, tarmac and trail.

Venture to the top of Norway, cruise the road to Damascus, hike the Camino trail into Spain’s Wild West, row the Ganges, explore Frida Kahlo’s world in Mexico City, hangout with the dead in Sicily’s eerie catacombs, crawl deep inside Bolivia’s notorious silver mine, seek lions in Gujarat, wellness in Berlin and journey into the Naga Hills where tribal kings still rule.

Noted by Lonely Planet for their talent to portray an “accurate view of what to expect”, 'Hike, Drive, Stayin’ Alive!' signals a return to the duo writing “buttock clenching” travel comedy with the first in a series of candid stories of adventure by The Raven Brothers.