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Moon Northern California Road Trips

In Northern California, the natural world rules. Here, humanity’s imprints lessen and nature gets to show off. This is where coast redwoods dominate the skyline, and untainted rivers and streams crash into the mighty Pacific Ocean. It’s where Roosevelt elk, the largest species of elk, stroll the land, while the enormous California condor soars above.

The new edition of Moon Northern California Road Trips showcases the best places to experience the natural assets of the lesser populated end of the state while also recommending the region’s finest creature comforts from immersive spas to world-renowned wines to farm to table restaurants.

For this special Moon Travel Guide, I detail the coastal route through this part of California (Mendocino, Humboldt County, and more), while my co-author Kayla Anderson undertakes the inland mountainous route through iconic destinations including Lassen Volcanic National Park and Yosemite National Park. 

Click here to buy the book or learn more about it at Moon Travel Guides.

 

Moon Monterey & Carmel

What a cover image! Thankfully this book is as exciting on the inside as it is on the outside! It includes mentions of the newest hotspots on the Monterey Peninsula including the wildly popular Alta Bakery, the renovated Cooper-Molera Adobe, and the always fun Lynn’s Arcade, where you can sip the finest canned beers while playing classic pinball machines.

Since this is where I live, I go deep on my picks and include lesser-known but worthy sites.

Click here to buy the book or learn more about it at Moon Travel Guides.

 

 

Moon Northern California Road Trips

This book is the ideal guide and companion for a trip around the northern section of the Golden State. For this special Moon Travel Guide, I detail the coastal route through this part of California (Mendocino, Humboldt County, and more), while my co-author Kayla Anderson undertakes the inland mountainous route through iconic destinations including Lassen Volcanic National Park and Yosemite National Park.

While researching my part of this 600-page book, there were many personal discoveries and lifelong memories made. I learned more about the Russians in California at Fort Ross State Historic Park and enjoyed the famed beer Pliny the Elder at its source in Santa Rosa’s Russian River Brewing Company. I finally saw the magnificent natural phenomenon of Bowling Ball Beach and enjoyed community and killer food at Stewarts Point Store’s Friday pizza night. With my wingman Dan, I took in some of the largest waves I’ve ever seen from Patrick Point. We also explored Redwood National Park and State Parks’ redwood forests with Redwood Adventures Eco Tours during a memorable but wet day. 

I made so many memories while researching this book. I hope you make your own memories with Moon Northern California Road Trips!

Click here to buy Moon Northern California Road Trips online!

Moon Monterey & Carmel

Travel writer and Monterey resident Stuart Thornton offers his firsthand experience and advice on Monterey, Carmel, and beyond, from Old Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row to the nearby areas of Pacific Grove and Salinas. Thornton includes various travel itinerary ideas, including “Big Sur to Morro Bay Road Trip,” plus a run down on the area’s best hikes, and a special selection for water sports lovers. Complete with expert tips on wandering the redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains, finding hidden waterfalls in Big Sur, and sampling the savoriest of wineries in Carmel Valley, Moon Monterey & Carmel gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

Click here to buy the book or learn more about it at Moon Travel Guides.

 

Moon Coastal California

Travel writer and Monterey resident Stuart Thornton offers his firsthand experience and advice on Monterey, Carmel, and beyond, from Old Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row to the nearby areas of Pacific Grove and Salinas. Thornton includes various travel itinerary ideas, including “Big Sur to Morro Bay Road Trip,” plus a run down on the area’s best hikes, and a special selection for water sports lovers. Complete with expert tips on wandering the redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains, finding hidden waterfalls in Big Sur, and sampling the savoriest of wineries in Carmel Valley, Moon Monterey & Carmel gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

Click here to buy the book or learn more about it at Moon Travel Guides.

 

Moon California
Road Trip

Travel writer Stuart Thornton gives you advice for the road trip of a lifetime with Moon California Road Trip. The top destinations in the West are covered in this book including San Francisco, Yosemite, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and Los Angeles are within a day’s drive of one another. The guide has recommendations for the top sights, recreation, entertainment, hotels, and restaurants along with unexpected but worthwhile gems worth seeking out along the drive. Detailed driving instructions tell you how far you’ll have to drive, how long it will take, and which highways you’ll need to follow—including information on alternate routes and the best places to stop along the way.

Click here to buy the book or learn more about it at Moon Travel Guides.

 

stuart thornton writer and author of moon travel handbooks and articles for paste and national geographic education monterey county weekly and relix magazine

Moon Coastal California

This sleek and compact beauty is crammed with the latest information about one of the world’s most popular coastlines and dotted with arresting color photographs of the region’s attractions, natural features, dining options, hotels, hiking trails, and more!

At an impressive 467 pages, this companion for the road speaks eloquently about the 854 miles between San Diego and Crescent City. It is impressively fluent when describing the latest developments in locales including Humboldt County, downtown Los Angeles, the Monterey Peninsula, and Big Sur. This fine guide perfectly fits on bookshelves and in glove compartments!

 

Click here to buy the book or learn more about it at Moon Travel Guides.

 

 

moon monterey carmel travel guide book by author stuart thornton

Moon Monterey & Carmel

Travel writer and Monterey resident Stuart Thornton offers his firsthand experience and advice on Monterey, Carmel, and beyond, from Old Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row to the nearby areas of Pacific Grove and Salinas. Thornton includes various travel itinerary ideas, including “Big Sur to Morro Bay Road Trip,” plus a delicious wine-tasting adventure, and a special selection for water sports lovers. Complete with expert tips on wandering the redwoods in the Santa Cruz mountains, finding hidden waterfalls in Big Sur, and sampling the savoriest of wineries in Carmel Valley, Moon Monterey & Carmel gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

Click here to buy the book or learn more about it at Moon Travel Guides.

Click here to see the promotional video for Monterey & Carmel

 

moon publishing travel books california road trip by author stuart thornton grand canyon las vegas los angeles pacific coast highway san francisco drive roadtrip western united states us u.s.a.

Moon California
Road Trip

Gold Medal Winner for Best Travel Guidebook from the 2016 Independent Publisher Book Awards

Travel writer Stuart Thornton gives you advice for the road trip of a lifetime with Moon California Road Trip. The top destinations in the West are covered in this book including San Francisco, Yosemite, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and Los Angeles are within a day’s drive of one another. The guide has recommendations for the top sights, recreation, entertainment, hotels, and restaurants along with unexpected but worthwhile gems worth seeking out along the drive. Detailed driving instructions tell you how far you’ll have to drive, how long it will take, and which highways you’ll need to follow—including information on alternate routes and the best places to stop along the way.

Click here to buy the book or learn more about it at Moon Travel Guides.

 

moon mendocino and redwood coast spotlight guidebook travel writer and author by stuart thornton

Moon Spotlight Mendocino & Redwood Country

Moon Spotlight Mendocino & Redwood Country is an 86-page compact guide covering one of the most picturesque towns on the California coast and the stunning redwood forests. Author Stuart Thornton offers his seasoned advice on must-see attractions, and includes maps with sightseeing highlights so you can make the most of your time. This lightweight guide is packed with recommendations on sights, entertainment, shopping, recreation, accommodations, food, and transportation, as well as easy-to-read maps, making navigating this naturally beautiful region uncomplicated and enjoyable. This Spotlight guidebook is excerpted from Moon Coastal California.

Click here to buy the book or learn more about it at Moon Travel Guides.

 

stuart thornton writer and author of moon travel handbooks and articles for national geographic education monterey county weekly and relix magazine

Moon Coastal California

Travel writer and longtime California resident Stuart Thornton covers the best of Coastal California, from hiking through redwoods in Big Sur to surfing the waves at Black’s Beach in San Diego. Thornton is the perfect tour guide, offering unique trip ideas for a wide variety of travelers, including Pacific Coast Road Trip and Romantic Getaways. Packed with Thornton’s expert advice on everything from choosing the best beaches to whale-watching to planning a fun side trip to Disneyland, Moon Coastal California gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

Click here to see the promotional video for Coastal California

Click here to buy the book or learn more about it at Moon Travel Guides.

 

Moon Santa Barbara & The Central Coast

Travel writer Stuart Thornton introduces you to the best of Santa Barbara and California’s Central Coast, from Santa Barbara’s stunning Spanish architecture to Ventura’s treasure-filled thrift shops. A longtime resident of the Central Coast, Thornton has plenty of unique trip strategies to offer, as well as helpful tips on the best beaches, affordable eats, campgrounds, and more. Complete with inside information on enjoying the California Avocado Festival, sipping wine at the 16 wine tasting rooms on the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail, and catching some rays on Pismo Beach, Moon Santa Barbara & the Central Coast gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

Click here to see the promotional video for Santa Barbara & The Central Coast

Click here to buy the book or learn more about it at Moon Travel Guides.

 

Moon Spotlight Cambria & San Simeon

Moon Spotlight Cambria & San Simeon is a compact, 73-page guide covering the seaside town of Cambria, historic San Simeon, vineyard-studded Paso Robles, beautiful Morro Bay, and world-famous Hearst Castle. Author Stuart Thornton offers seasoned advice on must-see attractions, and he includes maps with sightseeing highlights so you can make the most of your time. This lightweight guide is packed with recommendations on sights, entertainment, shopping, recreation, accommodations, food, and transportation, as well as helpful maps, making navigating this lovely stretch of California’s Central Coast uncomplicated and enjoyable.

Click here to buy the book or learn more about it at Moon Travel Guides.

 

Piers of the California Coast

Travel writer Stuart Thornton contributed 13 write-ups on the Golden State’s piers and wharves to Piers of the California Coast, a soft-cover coffee table book spearheaded by photographer/publisher Ed Grant. His entries include informative pieces about popular piers including the Central Coast’s Cayucos Pier and the Point Arena Pier, which serves as a unique community-gathering place for inhabitants of the remote North Coast community of Point Arena. The book also features wonderful photos and essays by notable individuals including famed surf writer Sam George and pro surfer Grant Washburn.

Click here to read the nice article the Monterey County Weekly did on the book.

Click here to buy the book or learn more about it at the Piers of the California Coast webpage.