"A guide to the back roads of the Greater Bay Area. Twenty-eight trips that can be made in a day or less. Each trip has a detailed map, one or more photos, historical background, and often quotations from early travelers"--Provided by publisher.

Glorious photographs and detailed descriptions offer journeys through exquisite coastal landscapes, from sleepy fishing villages to historic landmarks, fabulous fishing streams to pristine beaches.

A guide to exploring the natural beauty and historic sites of the Pacific coast via a selection of lesser-known scenic routes throughout California. From sprawling beaches to dramatic cliffs, the landscapes carved out by the mighty Pacific Ocean have been a destination for adventure and discovery since the earliest Spanish explorers arrived in the 1600s. While here and there the coastal wilderness has given way to California’s largest and most cosmopolitan cities, the backroads and mountain lanes afford countless opportunities to experience the quiet of nature or explore the history of centuries-old communities. Visit sleepy fishing villages and historic landmarks of the Old West; hike through lush wilderness and fish in clear mountain streams; or catch some waves at one of the many pristine beaches along California’s glorious coastline. With glorious color photography and detailed descriptions, maps, and directions, Backroads of the California Coast offers two dozen fascinating and scenic journeys through some of the nation’s most glorious landscapes.

Join fine-art photographer David Skernick as he explores the rambling back roads of Northern California. This timeless tribute to the natural landscape captures the sublime beauty of settings such as Shasta Trinity National Forest, Napa Valley vineyards, Redwoods National Park, Route 1 and the Pacific Coast, and Yosemite. Skernick, who leads photography workshops nationwide, lets us in on his strategies with an appendix listing exposure, equipment, and panorama statistics for each image--enough to satisfy even the most technology-minded photographer.

"24 leisurely drives; scenic routes, charming hotels, authentic regional cuisine"--Cover.

His first original book in nearly thirty years, but also sadly his last, Back Roads to the California Coast is Earl Thollander's final tribute to the back roads in his beloved home state. "One can live a lifetime in California and not know it," Thollander said, and then he set out with traveling partner and co-author Herb McGrew to depict fifteen of the state's most enchanting scenic byways, those that travel to and along the coast. With full-color illustrations throughout in Thollander's inimitable style, and described with engaging narrative by McGrew, these drives are through country that is stunning and dramatic: the mystical Ojai Valley to Ventura; Carmel Valley to Big Sur; and the wine-lover's favorite, Highway 128 through Napa Valley to Mendocino. No other California guidebook is organized using roads to the coast, which makes this the perfect gift for anyone devoted to the enjoyment of meandering about the Golden State.