Ireland: History and Landscape
Author: Brian Solomon
Ireland is a country with a long history and a strong identity. It is much loved around the globe not only because of the large number of nineteenth and twentieth century economic migrants who remember the homeland they left behind, but because anyone who has visited this enchanted island is captivated by the serene green beauty of much of the countryside.
From the harsh Atlantic breakers of the craggy West Coast to the less obviously turbulent Irish Sea in the east; the Giant’s Causeway on the Antrim coast a stone’s throw from Scotland, to the famous Blarney Castle in the south, Ireland is one of the few major European countries largely unspoiled by technological progress; a land where the atmosphere of history is redolent around every corner—Celtic, Viking, Norman, English, Scottish, and Irish sites can be found all over the Emerald Isle. Time, it seems, almost stands still around the misty lakes and mountains of Ireland, where ruined castles sit next to prehistoric sites, and somnolent market towns. Rooted in the past, twenty years ago Ireland could be a difficult country to travel around.
In recent years, however, this atmosphere has changed subtly. Today, with a more stable political future seemingly assured, and thanks to the “Celtic Tiger” economic revival spurred on by close ties with the European Economic Community, Ireland is a vibrant country that cleverly mixes the ancient and the modern to be a wonderful destination popular with all its visitors. From the Newgrange passage tomb—5,000 years old, built before the pyramids, one of the most remarkable prehistoric sites in the world—to Ian RitchieArchitects’ spectacular Monument of Light on O’Connell Street in Dublin—the world’s largest sculpture—today’s Ireland has a complex variety of sights for the traveler.
Ireland: History and Landscape shows off this variety of Irish heritage and lush landscape within a stunning 400-page book based on over 350 beautiful large-format photographs—many of them double-page spreads or full pages—that sum up the cultural history, atmosphere, and unforgettable landscape of Ireland.
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Fodor's Northern California 2009: With Napa, Sonoma, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe
Author: Fodors Travel Publications Inc Staff
Fodor’s. For Choice Travel Experiences.
Fodor’s helps you unleash the possibilities of travel by providing the insightful tools you need to experience the trips you want. Although you’re at the helm, Fodor’s offers the assurance of our expertise, the guarantee of selectivity, and the choice details that truly define a destination. It’s like having a friend in Northern California!
•Updated annually, Fodor’s Northern California provides the most accurate and up-to-date information available in a guidebook.
•Fodor’s Northern California features options for a variety of budgets, interests, and tastes, so you make the choices to plan your trip of a lifetime.
•If it’s not worth your time, it’s not in this book. Fodor’s discriminating ratings, including our top tier Fodor’s Choice designations, ensure that you’ll know about the most interesting and enjoyable places in Northern California.
•Experience Northern California like a local! Fodor’s Northern California includes choices for every traveler, from skiing the Southern Sierra and hiking the North Coast to vineyard hopping in Sonoma and relaxing in San Francisco’s trendy cafés, and much more!
•Indispensable, customized trip planning tools include “Top Reasons to Go,” “Word of Mouth” advice from other travelers, and tips to help save money, bypass lines, and avoid common travel pitfalls.
•Fodor’s Northern California includes a pulloutmap!
Visit Fodors.com for more ideas and information, travel deals, vacation planning tips, reviews and to exchange travel advice with other travelers.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Experience Northern California ............ 7
What’s New in Northern California ............ 8
When to Go ............ 9
What’s Where ............ 10
Northern California Planner ............ 12
FAQ ............ 13
California Today ............ 14
Quintessential Northern California ............ 16
Top Northern California Attractions ............ 18
Northern California’s Top Experiences ............ 20
Great Itineraries ............ 21
Chapter 2: San Francisco ............ 25
Welcome to San Francisco ............ 26
San Francisco Planner ............ 28
Exploring San Francisco ............ 29
Where to Eat ............ 61
Where to Stay ............ 75
Nightlife & the Arts ............ 85
Sports & the Outdoors ............ 90
Shopping ............ 91
Chapter 3: The Wine Country ............ 97
Welcome to Wine Country ............ 98
Wine Country Planner ............ 100
The Napa Valley ............ 102
The Sonoma Valley ............ 137
Elsewhere in Sonoma County ............ 150
Chapter 4: The Bay Area ............ 163
Welcome to the Bay Area ............ 164
The Bay Area Planner ............ 166
Marin County ............ 167
The East Bay ............ 176
The Coastal Peninsula ............ 186
The Inland Peninsula ............ 191
South Bay ............ 193
San Jose ............ 196
Chapter 5: The North Coast ............ 203
Welcome to the North Coast ............ 204
The North Coast Planner ............ 206
Point Reyes National Seashore ............ 207
TheSonoma Coast ............ 211
The Mendocino Coast ............ 215
Redwood Country ............ 226
Chapter 6: The Monterey Bay Area ............ 235
Welcome to the Monterey Bay Area ............ 236
The Monterey Bay Area Planner ............ 238
Carmel & Pacific Grove ............ 239
Monterey ............ 255
Around the Bay ............ 264
Santa Cruz ............ 269
Chapter 7: The Central Coast ............ 279
Welcome to the Central Coast ............ 280
The Central Coast Planner ............ 282
Ventura County ............ 283
Santa Barbara ............ 288
Santa Barbara County ............ 301
San Luis Obispo County ............ 306
Big Sur Coastline ............ 323
Chapter 8: The Southern Sierra ............ 331
Welcome to the Southern Sierra ............ 332
The Southern Sierra Planner ............ 334
South of Yosemite ............ 336
Mammoth Area ............ 338
East of Yosemite National Park ............ 345
Chapter 9: Yosemite National Park ............ 349
Welcome to Yosemite ............ 350
Yosemite Planner ............ 352
Where to Stay & Eat ............ 370
Chapter 10: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks ............ 379
Welcome to Sequoia & Kings Canyon ............ 380
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Planner ............ 382
Exploring Sequoia National Park ............ 385
Exploring Kings Canyon National Park ............ 391
Where to Stay & Eat ............ 395
Chapter 11: The Gold Country ............ 403
Welcome to the Gold Country ............ 404
The Gold Country Planner ............ 406
Sacramento & Vicinity ............ 407
The Gold Country–South ............ 414
The Gold Country–North ............ 423
Chapter 12: Lake Tahoe ............ 429
Welcome to Lake Tahoe ............ 430
Lake Tahoe Planner ............ 432
California Side ............ 434
Nevada Side ............ 459
Chapter 13: Redwood National Park ............ 473
Welcome to Redwood ............ 474
Redwood National Park Planner ............ 476
Where to Stay & Eat ............ 484
Chapter 14: The Far North ............ 487
Welcome to the Far North ............ 488
The Far North Planner ............ 490
From Chico to Mt. Shasta ............ 491
The Backcountry ............ 501
Northern California Essentials ............ 511
Index ............ 525
About Our Writers ............ 544
Maps
Union Square & Chinatown ............ 31
SoMa & Civic Center ............ 35
Nob Hill & Russian Hill ............ 39
North Beach & On the Waterfront ............ 42
The Marina & the Presidio ............ 48
Golden Gate Park & the Western Shoreline ............ 52
The Haight, the Castro, Noe Valley & the Mission District ............ 56
Pacific Heights & Japantown ............ 59
Where to Eat In & Around Downtown San Francisco ............ 62—63
Where to Stay In & Around Downtown San Francisco ............ 76—77
Napa Valley ............ 113
Where to Stay & Eat in Napa Valley ............ 116
Sonoma Valley ............ 140—141
Where to Stay & Eat in Sonoma Valley ............ 144—145
Marin County ............ 168
The East Bay, the Inland Peninsula & the South Bay ............ 177
Oakland ............ 179
Berkeley ............ 182
Downtown San Jose ............ 198
Point Reyes to Fort Bragg ............ 209
Redwood Country ............ 227
The Monterey Bay Area ............ 240
Monterey ............ 255
Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties ............ 284
Santa Barbara ............ 290
San Luis Obispo County & Big Sur ............ 308
Yosemite’s Valley Floor ............ 357
Western Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks ............ 388
Kings Canyon’s Cedar Grove Area ............ 392
The Gold Country ............ 408
Sacramento ............ 410
Redwood NP Northern Areas ............ 480
Redwood NP Southern Areas ............ 481
Lassen Volcanic National Park ............ 505