Title: More Bay Area Backroads Informative Read … Highly Recommended … 5 stars

The Review

The narrative is a guidebook, not a storybook. Writers’ Graham appeared on local, to Bay Area residents, TV for over twenty years and produced a number of guidebooks listing little known, out of the way and fascinating sites to visit in and around the San Francisco region. More Bay Area Backroads is delivered over 214 pages which are divided into sections including: North Bay, South Bay, East Bay, and Beyond the Bay. ‘North Bay’ encompasses Marin, Sonoma, and Napa Counties. San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties are presented in the section titled ‘South Bay.’ ‘East Bay’ includes Alameda County, Contra Costa (my birthplace) and ‘Yolano’ Counties. The Central Valley, Gold Country, Eastern Sierra, Lake Tahoe, Mendocino County, the Redwood Empire, Shasta, Clear Lake, Central Coast and Backroads to Los Angeles are offered in the section titled ‘Beyond the Bay.’ Included in each section is an overview line drawing map of the region and a number of interesting locales to visit. Things to see, eat, buy, play and wear are included. From Ostrich Farms in Sonoma County to The Smothers Brothers winery, Slot Machine Heaven in San Mateo County and Santa Cruz’ Covered Bridge the reader is treated to interesting locales to visit. The Borges Ranch in Contra Costa County, State Railroad Museum in the Central Valley and Vikingsholm near Lake Tahoe are detailed for the traveler. ‘Yolano’ County… there is none in California, the word is a localism used to designate Yolo and Solano Counties where travelers may visit the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, Grizzly Island and the Davis Farmers’ Market.

Now I’m homesick! More Bay Area Backroads is a must have for the locals and visitors to California. Locals will find details regarding little known spots to visit near home. Tourists will miss much if they only take a peek at Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown. There is so much to see in the area and so much to do beyond the obvious. History buffs and the curious alike will find more than enough to engross and interest themselves during a trip to the area. Writers Graham traveled and wrote about the expected and unexpected visitors might encounter. At the top of the list of unexpected is a forty seven acre working farm nestled below the freeway in Santa Cruz, where children can pick an apple from a tree rather than choosing one in a box at the local computer store. Wineries abound all over the area, and whether you enjoy wine or not the history surrounding the beginnings of many alone is worth traveling to some of them and taking the tours. Wine tasting is available for those who enjoy. Where to find wonderful food items from working dairies to pick your own fruit from orchards to great fried chicken are all provided. Blasting from San Francisco to Los Angeles along Highway 5 will certainly get you from one city to the other. On the other hand if you enjoy a more leisurely, ‘lets stop and take a look at THAT dear’ type journey then More Bay Area Backroads is the guide book for you.

More Bay Area Backroads is a book for a displaced Californian to savor, and reminisce over on a hot summer Oklahoma day. It is an excellent travel guide for those who are planning their first trip to ‘The City By The Bay,’ and it is a take along for those who live in California and jaunt up to San Fran on a regular basis.

I see value in this work for the Social Studies/Geography teacher of middle and high school grades. I plan to use the book with my fourth grade during the upcoming term.

Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend. More Bay Area Backroads is very clear, easily read and bulging with information you don’t often find in other travel books. I was born in Martinez, raised in the San Joaquin Valley and often visited the Bay Area and environs before moving to the middle of the continent. Sitting in the shade, under a huge tree and turning the pages of this book transported me home as I burbled to husband re places I had visited and others I will certainly keep in mind when next I return to visit one of the more wonderful spots on earth.

Genre: Guidebook/Travel book Author: Jerry and Catherine Graham www.bayareabackroads.com. Line/Publisher Perennial Library Harper & Row, 10 East 53d Street, NYC, NY 10022 ISBN: 0 06 096452 9

MOLLY’S REVIEWS