"Each time I update my
guidebook to Northern California, I am surprised by the many changes taking place within the travel industry," says award-winning author Carole Terwilliger Meyers, who wrote the first edition of WEEKEND
ADVENTURES IN SAN FRANCISCO & NORTHERN CALIFORNIA (Carousel Press; www.carousel-press.com) in 1977. Here's what she noticed while preparing the most recent 9th edition:
* Lodgings have more spas and fewer tennis courts.
* Though many lodgings are now accepting pets, and even cater to them with special amenities, a hefty fee is usually involved.
* The price of a bargain bed has edged up to around $75 a night.
* A splurge has become less expensive. Many high end rooms have dropped in price.
* Everyone has a
website. They are useful in viewing lodgings before booking and often post bargain "website specials."
* Most wineries now charge $10 or more for tasting. Websites often have
downloadable coupons good for free tasting.
WEEKEND ADVENTURES has something for everyone--from weekend warriors anxious to test their mettle to world-weary slugabeds who want breakfast brought to
them on a tray. Weighing in at almost 1 1/2 pounds, the book is packed with interesting places to visit: the Santa Cruz mountains, the coast south to Morro Bay and north to Eureka, the Wine
Country, the Russian River area, Sacramento and the Delta, Highway 101 north and south, the national parks, the Gold Rush Country, Lake Tahoe, and the Mt. Shasta area. San Francisco and the Bay
Area--including the East Bay, Marin, and the Peninsula--are also detailed. Former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown says, "Ms. Meyers' love for the City and her familiarity with its abundant charms are
evident in each entry."
Travelers can sign up at the website (www.carousel-press.com) for a free Weekend Adventures Update e-letter and blog.
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EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:
1. Please contact us for a review copy or to arrange an interview with Carole Terwilliger
Meyers.
2. We would appreciate receiving a tear sheet of any resulting review or mention.
