Lonely Planet’s Best Trips

This series of guidebooks from Lonely Planet will steer you to some of the best roads trips in the country.  Updated versions this year include California’s Best Trips and The Pacific Northwest’s Best Trips.

Lonely Planet stretches the definition of Pacific Northwest to include not only Washington and Oregon, but also British Columbia in this 368-page volume. The book gives detailed information on more than 30 road trips including eight designated as classics. Maps define the routes, and photos illustrate what you will see. 

Most of the road trips would take two to five days. The longest in the Pacific Northwest is a one-week trip along the Oregon coast. The authors describe the highlights of each trip and recommend places to eat and sleep.  Although a few campgrounds are included in the recommendations, this book is not where an RVer would turn to find a place to camp. But it’s a good guide for RVers or anyone looking for interesting places to travel.

California’s Best Trips outlines 35 road trips, the longest being a journey of up to 10 days along the length of the California coast from San Diego north to Redwood National Park. The advice in Lonely Planet guidebooks is always straightforward and simple. For example, here’s the book’s general advice on where to stay in San Francisco:  “The Marina is near the family-friendly waterfront and Fisherman’s Wharf. Downtown and Union Square are more expensive, but conveniently located for walking. Avoid the rough-edged Civic Center and Tenderloin neighborhoods.”  Descriptions of hotels, restaurants and other places are just as succinct, but tell the reader what it’s important to know.

The books carry a cover price of $22.99. You can also access this series on iPhones, iPads and web browsers for $14.99 through Inkling.com.  The e-book versions have interactive features, including a five-day weather forecast widget, constantly updated hotel and restaurant information and links to hundreds of websites.

Mike Ward