The Monterey Bay Shoreline Guide (Volume 1) (UC Press/Monterey Bay Aquarium Series in Marine Conservation)

This is an indispensable reference to one of the most spectacular stretches of California's coastline. Beginning in the north with Point Año Nuevo and ending some 120 miles to the south at Point Sur, Jerry Emory provides a comprehensive guide to the natural, cultural, and historical riches of the greater Monterey Bay shore.

Six regional maps provide detailed information for visitors exploring by car, bike, public transportation, or on foot. Highlights of the area include the elephant seals of Año Nuevo; surfing in Santa Cruz; the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, largest marine sanctuary in the U.S.; the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium; and the breathtaking coastal mountains of Big Sur.

The coast offers beautiful beaches and dunes, excellent tidepooling and birding, glimpses of sea otters, monarch butterflies, and gray whales on their migrating paths, redwood forests and agricultural landscapes, vineyards, parklands, literary landmarks, and towns and cities to explore. Monterey Bay's human history is equally captivating and includes coastal Indians, Spanish missionaries, and Mexican rancheros.

Richly illustrated with 181 color photos, The Monterey Bay Shoreline Guide has helpful "Getting Around" sections providing public access directions and mileage and "Information" sections with useful phone numbers and website addresses.

This comprehensive guide to one of the world's most beautiful and diverse landscapes is a necessary purchase for West Coast naturalists. Emory (San Francisco Bay Shoreline Guide, Univ. of California, 1995) guides us down the coast from the elephant-seal breeding grounds of Ano Nuevo to Point Sur Lighthouse in six manageable segments, identifying wildlife from killer whales to sand dollars along the way. State parks and public beaches are explored in addition to city streets and hiking trails. Each segment has its own detailed map, sections on wildlife, local history, coastline characteristics, and geography as well as lists of contacts for additional information. Emory's chatty style is nicely offset by Frank Balthis's photographs. Whether the destination is funky Santa Cruz, historic Monterey, or quaint Carmel, this book will enrich the visit. Emory doesn't include information about lodging and dining, but that's easily obtained from other sources. Highly recommended.AJanet N. Ross, Washoe Cty. Lib. Sys., Sparks, NV
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

"A handsome volume in both concept and execution; not only a guidebook, it's an encyclopedia of coastal lore." --San Francisco Chronicle nature book roundup, 12/16

"Healthy oceans are critical to the future of all life on Earth, yet by and large the underwater world remains hidden to us, unknown and mysterious. The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans, and this series of books is intended to further that goal. By helping people discover their connection with the natural world, we hope to foster a lifelong commitment to learning about and caring for the oceans on which all life depends."Julie Packard, Executive Director, Monterey Bay Aquarium"

"Healthy oceans are critical to the future of all life on Earth, yet by and large the underwater world remains hidden to us, unknown and mysterious. The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans, and this series of books is intended to further that goal. By helping people discover their connection with the natural world, we hope to foster a lifelong commitment to learning about and caring for the oceans on which all life depends."―Julie Packard, Executive Director, Monterey Bay Aquarium

Jerry Emory is author of the San Francisco Bay Shoreline Guide (California, 1995) and several children's books, and is coauthor of Bay Area Backroads (1999). He lives in Mill Valley, California. Photographer Frank Balthis lives in Davenport, California. He specializes in wildlife, natural history, environment, and travel.