Lonely Planet¿s California

Since the gold rush in 1849, people have brought their dreams to California, where optimism is a religion, opportunity is an article of faith and reality can be made to order. Combine this with vibrant cities and spectacular natural beauty, and you have a traveler’s paradise.

Lonely Planet’s new edition of California & Nevada gives the inside track on all that California has to offer, from outdoor adventures to its biggest cities and best off-the-beaten track destinations. For the traveler, California has everything, with accommodations ranging from free campsites to luxury suites, and dining options range from fast food originals (like the burrito) to gourmet restaurants with celebrity chefs. And when you get tired of the Golden State, you can hop across the border and check out Nevada’s unique combination of glitz and natural grandeur.

• complete coverage of national parks, including Yosemite, Great Basin, Redwood and Death Valley • restaurants and accommodations for every budget • the lowdown on skiing, river rafting, mountain biking, rock climbing and surfing • 118 detailed maps • excursions to the Grand Canyon and Mexico