Moon Coastal California

Make Your Escape with Moon Travel Guides!

From foggy cliffs and towering redwoods, to warm sands and legendary surf, explore the best of the golden coast with Moon Coastal California. Inside you'll find:

• Strategic itineraries for every budget and travel style, including adventurous getaways, family vacations, romantic weekends, and a two-week trip covering the whole coast
• How to plan a Pacific Coast road trip, with detailed mileage, driving times, and side trips to timeless California hits like wine country
• The top beaches for surfing, wildlife viewing, solitude, scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, and more
• Unique activities and can't-miss highlights: Catch a wave in a classic surf town, explore sea caves by kayak, or hike winding coastal trails, set up camp, and watch the sun set over the Pacific. Feast on local Dungeness crab, sample stouts at a coastal microbrewery, or find the best fish tacos this side of Baja. Spot wild elk, soaring condors, and migrating gray whales. Soak up Hollywood's glitz and glamour or the laid-back charms of Santa Barbara. Admire world-class galleries in San Francisco, or check out the thrill rides on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
• Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout
• Expert advice from California local Stuart Thornton on where to stay, where to eat, and how to get around by car, train, and public transportation
• Handy tips for international visitors, seniors, LGBTQ+ travelers, and travelers with disabilities
• Background information on California's landscape, plants and animals, history, and culture
• Full coverage of San Francisco and the Bay Area, the North Coast, Monterey Bay, Big Sur and the Central Coast, Santa Barbara and Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange County, and San Diego

With Moon Coastal California's myriad activities, local insight, and expert know-how, you can plan your trip your way.

Hitting the road? Try Moon California Road Trip. Headed to the national parks? Check out Moon Death Valley National Park or Moon Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon.

Stuart Thornton fell in love with California while working the Big Sur Ranger Station after college. At work, he provided visitors with all sorts of information about the region, from the best places to camp to the best meal in the area. On his days off, he took his own advice and regularly sought out the top spots for hiking, backpacking, surfing, and snorkeling along that striking coastal region.

Stuart later moved to nearby Monterey to become a staff writer for the Monterey County Weekly, where he is still a contributor. He is the proud author of Moon Coastal California, Moon Santa Barbara & the Central Coast, and Moon California Road Trip. In addition, Stuart has contributed to National Geographic Education, and Relix Magazine.

Stuart spends his time off searching for the next secluded beach, uncrowded wave, or mountaintop vista. Learn more about his adventures and projects by visiting stuartthornton.com.