Our California

Takes the reader on an imaginary trip through California while offering information about the history and geography of the major cities and towns.

The grand and varied state of California is home to spectacular ocean views, remarkable redwoods, snow-capped mountains, and exciting, world-famous cities. As a result, California is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. "Our California" is a stunning visual guide to beautiful sites around the state, including national parks, vineyards, and mountain and coastal vistas. Portraits of such popular spots as Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, and Napa and Sonoma Counties, and the vibrant cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, are presented. Resplendent photography from the region's best photographers captures the breathtaking landscapes and magical spirit of the Golden State and makes this a cherished keepsake for all who visit or call this area home.

Re-illustrated and re-designed, OUR CALIFORNIA (previously CALIFORNIA, HERE WE COME!) is a lively tour of award-winning author Pam Muñoz Ryan's home state. Spirited poems celebrate California's major cities and regions. Backmatter includes state symbols and additional information about each place. Bold paintings by illustrator Rafael López capture the spirit of the land.

What did California look like before Hollywood? Before the Gold Rush? Before the missions? Brian Fagan, the best known popular archaeology writer in America, is your tour guide on a fascinating trip across the Golden State before the arrival of Europeans. Fagan tells of the first groups who drifted into the state over 13,000 years ago and how their descendants used the land and sea to survive in a fragile environment subject to earthquake, drought, and flood. On your tour, you will visit the shellmounds of San Francisco Bay, salmon trappers of the northern streams, acorn gatherers of the Central Valley, Chumash villages on the Santa Barbara coast, and shamans who painted mysterious figures on stone. Fagan shows how archaeologists scientifically reconstruct this lost history from fragments of bone, shell, and stone, from travellers' and scholars' descriptions of vanished peoples, and from the stories told by the tribal members themselves. Join a famous archaeologist on this captivating journey and find out what important lessons this story has for California's future.

In this authoritative and immensely readable insider’s account, celebrated cookbook author and former chef Joyce Goldstein traces the development of California cuisine from its formative years in the 1970s to 2000, when farm-to-table, foraging, and fusion cooking had become part of the national vocabulary. Interviews with almost two hundred chefs, purveyors, artisans, winemakers, and food writers bring to life an approach to cooking grounded in passion, bold innovation, and a dedication to "flavor first." Goldstein explains how the counterculture movement in the West gave rise to a restaurant culture characterized by open kitchens, women in leadership positions, and a surprising number of chefs and artisanal food producers who lacked formal training. The new cuisine challenged the conventional kitchen hierarchy and French dominance in fine dining, leading to a more egalitarian and informal food scene. In weaving Goldstein’s views on California food culture with profiles of those who played a part in its development—from Alice Waters to Bill Niman to Wolfgang Puck—Inside the California Food Revolution demonstrates that, while fresh produce and locally sourced ingredients are iconic in California, what transforms these elements into a unique cuisine is a distinctly Western culture of openness, creativity, and collaboration. Engagingly written and full of captivating anecdotes, this book shows how the inspirations that emerged in California went on to transform the experience of eating throughout the United States and the world.

California Plants is an essential resource for outdoor enthusiasts. With his vibrant photographs and lively writing, Matt Ritter takes the reader on a journey through the Golden State's iconic landscapes and abundant plant life. This definitive guide features more than 500 species, along with detailed descriptions, fascinating natural history stories, and handy tree and wildflower color identification charts.