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Moon California Camping: The Complete Guide to More Than 1,400 Tent and RV Campgrounds (Moon Outdoors) Paperback – April 23, 2013
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About the Author
For 30 years, Tom Stienstra's full-time job has been to capture and communicate the outdoor experience. This has led him across California—fishing, hiking, camping, boating, biking, and flying—searching for the best of the outdoors and then writing about it.
Tom is the nation's top-selling author of outdoors guidebooks. He has been inducted into the California Outdoor Hall of Fame and has twice been awarded National Outdoor Writer of the Year, newspaper division, by the Outdoor Writers Association of America. He has also been named California Outdoor Writer of the Year five times, most recently in 2007. Tom is the outdoors columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle; his articles appear on SFGate.com and in newspapers around the country. He broadcasts a weekly radio show on KCBS-San Francisco and hosts an outdoor television show on CBS/CW San Francisco.
Tom lives with his wife and sons in Northern California. You can contact him directly via the website TomStienstra.com.
Tom is the nation's top-selling author of outdoors guidebooks. He has been inducted into the California Outdoor Hall of Fame and has twice been awarded National Outdoor Writer of the Year, newspaper division, by the Outdoor Writers Association of America. He has also been named California Outdoor Writer of the Year five times, most recently in 2007. Tom is the outdoors columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle; his articles appear on SFGate.com and in newspapers around the country. He broadcasts a weekly radio show on KCBS-San Francisco and hosts an outdoor television show on CBS/CW San Francisco.
Tom lives with his wife and sons in Northern California. You can contact him directly via the website TomStienstra.com.
More About the Author
Tom Stienstra is best known as the outdoors writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, and in 2008, won first place for best outdoors column in America. He is America's first Back Country Sportsman of the Year, and the only two-time National Outdoor Writer of the year.
His books include California Camping, twice awarded by Amazon as No. 1 best seller of the year, parks and recreation. His television show on CBS/CW won first place as America's best outdoor recreation show, and his radio show won first place in 2010 for best environmental feature show in America.
In 2013, he published his first novel, "The Sweet Redemption, An Inspector Korg Mystery."
Tom has hiked 25,000 miles, caught world-record fish, led dozens of expeditions and taken part in all phases of the outdoor experience. He was the fourth living member inducted into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame.
His books include California Camping, twice awarded by Amazon as No. 1 best seller of the year, parks and recreation. His television show on CBS/CW won first place as America's best outdoor recreation show, and his radio show won first place in 2010 for best environmental feature show in America.
In 2013, he published his first novel, "The Sweet Redemption, An Inspector Korg Mystery."
Tom has hiked 25,000 miles, caught world-record fish, led dozens of expeditions and taken part in all phases of the outdoor experience. He was the fourth living member inducted into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 44 people found the following review helpful
By
Laurel Johnson
on August 8, 2007
Format: Paperback
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I have been a fan of Tom Stienstra's California Camping book for over 12 years. First purchased the 8th Edition from Foghorn Press. This particular edition from Moon is not nearly as well set up as the Foghorn Press editions.
The individuals maps are not as detailed, and much smaller print is used. The gridded "Chapter Reference Map" at the beginning of the Foghorn edition has now been replaced by a "California Regions" map not as useful. Foghorn edition also had a "Chapter Features" list of each numbered and named campground on each map, this is missing in the Moon edition. The foghorn edition also had a foldout California map in the back, quite useful if you forget to bring a map and this is also missing in the Moon edition.
As the previous reviewer took exception to the "Scenic ratings" this was not an issue for me personally as this is only a subjective classification. What might be a 5 for some, might be a 10 for someone else. Beauty after all IS in the eye of the beholder. Over the years I have seen many classify McArthur Burney Falls as a beautiful place. I was there once it was hot, dusty, not much of a falls and in my humble opinion not very pretty at all. Anyway, you get my point on that, I would never visit a place solely based on someones view of it.
All in all the Moon edition is useful if you have nothing else, but I for one am glad I retained my old Foghorn Press 11th edition, and oh Tom, if you happen to read this, please go back to Foghorn, and that format for the next edition
The individuals maps are not as detailed, and much smaller print is used. The gridded "Chapter Reference Map" at the beginning of the Foghorn edition has now been replaced by a "California Regions" map not as useful. Foghorn edition also had a "Chapter Features" list of each numbered and named campground on each map, this is missing in the Moon edition. The foghorn edition also had a foldout California map in the back, quite useful if you forget to bring a map and this is also missing in the Moon edition.
As the previous reviewer took exception to the "Scenic ratings" this was not an issue for me personally as this is only a subjective classification. What might be a 5 for some, might be a 10 for someone else. Beauty after all IS in the eye of the beholder. Over the years I have seen many classify McArthur Burney Falls as a beautiful place. I was there once it was hot, dusty, not much of a falls and in my humble opinion not very pretty at all. Anyway, you get my point on that, I would never visit a place solely based on someones view of it.
All in all the Moon edition is useful if you have nothing else, but I for one am glad I retained my old Foghorn Press 11th edition, and oh Tom, if you happen to read this, please go back to Foghorn, and that format for the next edition
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41 of 42 people found the following review helpful
By
Fritz R. Ward
TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on May 9, 2007
Format: Paperback
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Tom Steinstra is one of the most enjoyable outdoor writers California has produced. Reading his work is simply a treat. He is at once amusing, self deprecating, and, most important, thorough and accurate. This new edition of California Camping combines the best of his writing in one volume and should be your first resource when looking to camp throughout the state.
Besides a must read introduction covering such topics as how to avoid getting blisters and getting lost, strategies for keeping camping costs down, and how to limit bear access to your precious food supply, this book covers nearly every campground in the state from the Redwoods in Northern California to the Anza Borrego Desert in San Diego County. The book is divided into chapters, each of which covers a unique geographical province of the state. (These provinces match those found in Steinstra's popular book 'California Hiking' coauthored by Ann Marie Brown.) Each campground description includes a set of icons detailing nearby activities such as fishing, hiking, hunting, mountain biking, and swimming. The description also includes a list of scenic highlights near each camp. Finally, driving directions and the fees you can expect to pay are included. (Note: fees at state parks in particular go up regularly. Some prices listed will be outdated shortly after publication.)
Some people have had a few problems with previous editions of this book. There is, for example, considerable disagreement over the "scenic" ratings Stienstra assigns to each campground. I think these are for the most part accurate, though one could always quibble with the details. (In Humbolt Redwoods State Park, for example, I would rate Burlington an 8 and Albee Creek a 7: Steinstra reverses these ratings.Read more ›
Besides a must read introduction covering such topics as how to avoid getting blisters and getting lost, strategies for keeping camping costs down, and how to limit bear access to your precious food supply, this book covers nearly every campground in the state from the Redwoods in Northern California to the Anza Borrego Desert in San Diego County. The book is divided into chapters, each of which covers a unique geographical province of the state. (These provinces match those found in Steinstra's popular book 'California Hiking' coauthored by Ann Marie Brown.) Each campground description includes a set of icons detailing nearby activities such as fishing, hiking, hunting, mountain biking, and swimming. The description also includes a list of scenic highlights near each camp. Finally, driving directions and the fees you can expect to pay are included. (Note: fees at state parks in particular go up regularly. Some prices listed will be outdated shortly after publication.)
Some people have had a few problems with previous editions of this book. There is, for example, considerable disagreement over the "scenic" ratings Stienstra assigns to each campground. I think these are for the most part accurate, though one could always quibble with the details. (In Humbolt Redwoods State Park, for example, I would rate Burlington an 8 and Albee Creek a 7: Steinstra reverses these ratings.Read more ›
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By
kur-v
on February 16, 2010
Format: Paperback
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I have completely worn out several earlier editions of this book. There are not long descriptions of each
campground. Nor does it tell you the best sight in individual campgrounds. But it has every campground in California as far as I can tell. It does have scenic ratings which is important to me. Tom Stienstra is utterly thorough. The only problem is the california economy, It now costs 35 to 50 dollars a night to camp in a state park. That certainly isn't the fault of the book though, and the book might just help you avoid one of those overpriced overcrowded place. Stick to national parks and forest, or locally run parks.
campground. Nor does it tell you the best sight in individual campgrounds. But it has every campground in California as far as I can tell. It does have scenic ratings which is important to me. Tom Stienstra is utterly thorough. The only problem is the california economy, It now costs 35 to 50 dollars a night to camp in a state park. That certainly isn't the fault of the book though, and the book might just help you avoid one of those overpriced overcrowded place. Stick to national parks and forest, or locally run parks.
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By
Cali Hiker
on May 26, 2010
Format: Paperback
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The author mentions the trails to, from, and around the sites. Rarely was I able to find information about the length of hikes that were referenced in the book. For example, the "Fisherman's Hike In" on p. 781 says "Get here and you join the 5 percent club......it's worth the significant effort to get here." How many miles is it? What can I expect? "Difficult" and "significant effort" are subjective. For one to plan their trip, they'd need factual, verifiable information. This is completely unacceptable and insufficient.
The title of the book is hugely misleading. The primary emphasis is on RV "camping" and RV campgrounds. When perusing the LA and San Diego areas, I only found a handful that were for ONLY tent camping/hiking. And those that are listed often don't give you the mileage. (As I referenced in my second point.)
I was disappointed with this purchase. I'd return it, but the shipping would be almost as much as the book.
The title of the book is hugely misleading. The primary emphasis is on RV "camping" and RV campgrounds. When perusing the LA and San Diego areas, I only found a handful that were for ONLY tent camping/hiking. And those that are listed often don't give you the mileage. (As I referenced in my second point.)
I was disappointed with this purchase. I'd return it, but the shipping would be almost as much as the book.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By
Joan G. Zakrzewski
on April 17, 2009
Format: Paperback
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This gives valuable information on camp grounds you might not hear of. I needed more campgrounds around the Big Sur than the travel sites were telling me. Most of the popular ones are filled way ahead of time. So this book is needed. He also gives great advise on camping and survival. A must book to have.
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