Created by local writers and photographers, Compass American Guides are the ultimate insider's guides, providing in-depth coverage of the history, culture and character of America's most spectacular destinations.  Covering everything there is to see and do as well as choice lodging and dining, these gorgeous full-color guides are perfect for new and longtime residents as well as vacationers who want a deep understanding of the region they're visiting.Outstanding color photography, plus a wealth of archival imagesTopical essays and literary extractsDetailed color mapsGreat ideas for things to see and doCapsule reviews of hotels and restaurantsWinner of the Lowell Thomas Award Gold Medal for Best GuidebookAbout the AuthorJohn Doerper has been traveling the California Coast for more than 30 years, enjoying its beaches, inns, restaurants, and prime camping sites.  He is the author of four food books describing the pleasures of travel on the Pacific Coast, including Wine Country for Compass American Guides.  He has acted as editor and columnist for several publications and has published articles in Travel & Leisure and Pacific Northwest Magazine.  Mr. Doerper in the publisher and editor of Pacific Epicure, A Quarterly Journal of Gastronomic Literature.About the PhotographerGalen Rowell, one of the most prominent nature photographers in the U.S. today, is the author and photographer of more than a dozen large-format books, including Mountain Light: In Search of the Dynamic Landscape, his valuable introduction to outdoor photography, and Bay Area Wild.  A regular contributor to National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer, and Life, he is also a noted mountaineer, who has climbed in Nepal, Tibet, Alaska, and Patagonia, as well as making more than 100 first ascents in California's High Sierra.  Major exhibitions of his work have been held at galleries across the United States, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. and San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences.