Product Description

California's picturesque villages and small towns and its stunning landscape, from rugged sierras and fog-laced headlands to golden sand beaches and rolling oak-studded ranchland.

California is nicknamed "The Golden State," and though the name applies literally to the color of its state flower, the golden poppy, it is also a metaphor for the hopes and dreams that have lured generations of settlers. There are villages that grew up around the famed Spanish mission trail, and communities that boomed because of Gold Rush fever. There are places whose natural beauty nurtured artists and writers, and fertile valleys that were home to vintners and cattlemen.

The state is known for reinventing itself, yet a surprising number of its towns and villages still offer charming glimpses into its history and heritage. Their architecture may be quaint, historic, or gracious and their physical settings may take the breath away, but they are also vital communities, prized for their small-town values, their lifestyle, food, and wine. This book showcases the most beautiful villages and towns of California in Nik Wheeler's stunning photography and Joan Tapper's perceptive commentaries. These evoke not just historic houses, but also streetscapes, parks, and physical surroundings.

The book is divided into four regions: Northern California Coast, Northern California Mountains and Valleys, Central and Southern California Coast, and Central and Southern California Mountains and Valleys. In addition, there are photographic essays on the wine country, missions, and ghost towns, plus essential information for tourists on places to stay and to eat. 323 color photographs.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83032 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

About the Author
Joan Tapper was the founding editor of National Geographic Traveler and editor of Islands Magazine. Nik Wheeler is the cofounder of the award-winning Insiders Guide series of illustrated travel guides. Both live in California.

Customer Reviews

Beautiful book
I purchased this book as a "thank you" gift for a friend in Germany who had visited many of the Coastal towns of California during a vacation long ago. He loved the book and marveled at all the places he remembered from time spent in "The Golden State". Plus, pictures of towns that he hadn't visited were so interesting to him that I'm sure they'll give him ideas for any upcoming visits he may be planning.

The photographs are beautiful and the commentaries interesting. While it doesn't highlight the rugged beauty of places such as Yosemite or the California Coast, it serves to reinforce the down-to-earth beauty that can be found in simple, every day towns.

Beautiful lush photography but...
This book is filled with colorful lush photographs of California towns and villages. It is for memories and admiration, not information. The photos are carefully posed for the most romantic interpretation and atmosphere. Some of them present an illusion.

I live in one of the towns and had to laugh. In one group of photos, if the photographer had simply turned 180 degrees you would have seen a 4 lane boulevard heavy with semis, trucks and cars on weekdays and tourists on weekends. In another series of pictures just up the road, the 101 freeway was less than 50 feet behind the photographer. It is choked with cars at all times of the day and night and comes to a standstill if there is an accident.

Still, the book presents a lovely picture of a California that exists as a Shangri-la. It is enjoyable with the above caveat for those of us who live here.

Beautiful..Unique..
Great coffee table book. Very unique and beautiful images, a great showcase of pictures throughout California. It also has a great index to all the finest hotels and restaurants..