California Senior Citizens

The Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of California

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.

Reviews

Rating: 4 / 5
Date: 2010-01-17
Summary: "Excellent"

This is an excellent book, bought as a present for family who have moved to California. The photo's are lovely and it is a much larger book than I was expecting, and is definitely worth the sale price! My family were thrilled with it and are looking forward to going exploring the places in it!

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2009-09-12
Summary: "Lovely villages"

This is a beautiful book that would make a perfect gift for a California resident or want-to-be resident.

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Rating: 3 / 5
Date: 2009-04-15
Summary: "Nice but missed the mark"

I agreed with the author about the towns spotlighted in the books, they can be very pretty and interesting looking. However, it would have been nice to have included actual photos of the towns. For example, for the town of Julian, there is not a single photo of the town. Kind of the same for St Helena, there are several photos of things around town but from this book you will have no idea what the town looks like.

Overall, it's a great pictorial of some of California's pretty sites but not really a great pictorial of towns and villages.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2008-12-05
Summary: "The Natural Beauty of California - outside the metro areas"

California is beyond just San Francisco and Los Angeles - there are plenty of beautiful coastal and central towns in the state that are plentiful in physical beauty. This picture books gives a view into other locations in California that reflect the geographic splendor for natives and visitors alike. California shares the choice destination distinction with Hawaii as one of the most desired places in the US to be in. This book shows you why.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2008-07-15
Summary: "A SUPER PHOTO BOOK"

TRULY WORTH THE PRICE. AN EXCELLENT BOOK OF CALIFORNIA PHOTOS AT AN EXCELLENT PRICE AND FAST DELIVERY- THANKS !