When a weeping man in a strange costume passes their picnic spot and disappears into the nearby woods, a brother and sister decide to follow him and soon find themselves involved in the rescue of a werewolf in the 14th century.

There are few corners of California in which Tom Stienstra has not set Vibram-soled foot at one time or another.

In this information-packed guidebook, the longtime San Francisco Chronicle outdoors columnist catalogues the best (and the rest) of the Golden State's trails, combining his encyclopedic knowledge with that of another accomplished trekker, Ann Marie Brown. The two cover more than a thousand hikes that range from short jaunts to multiday expeditions, rating each walk for length and difficulty and providing notes on water sources, points of interest, permits, contacts, and other useful data. At the most demanding end of the scale, for example, is a 14-mile scramble up Mount Shasta, for which they recommend that you carry an ice ax and crampons; on the moderate side is the 10.6-mile ramble through Pine Valley, in the coastal mountains above Big Sur, with "an up-and-down course that soon becomes more down than up"; and on the easy end is a 1.2-mile round-trip amble along the Desert View Nature Trail near the summit of Southern California's Laguna Mountain. In every instance, Stienstra and Brown tell what you can expect to see and where you're likely to encounter trouble in the form of storms, predatory mammals, or crowds.

Thoroughly updated, this is by far the best single source of information on planning a hiking trip in California. —Gregory McNamee

There are few corners of California in which Tom Stienstra has not set Vibram-soled foot at one time or another.

In this information-packed guidebook, the longtime San Francisco Chronicle outdoors columnist catalogues the best (and the rest) of the Golden State's trails, combining his encyclopedic knowledge with that of another accomplished trekker, Ann Marie Brown. The two cover more than a thousand hikes that range from short jaunts to multiday expeditions, rating each walk for length and difficulty and providing notes on water sources, points of interest, permits, contacts, and other useful data. At the most demanding end of the scale, for example, is a 14-mile scramble up Mount Shasta, for which they recommend that you carry an ice ax and crampons; on the moderate side is the 10.6-mile ramble through Pine Valley, in the coastal mountains above Big Sur, with "an up-and-down course that soon becomes more down than up"; and on the easy end is a 1.2-mile round-trip amble along the Desert View Nature Trail near the summit of Southern California's Laguna Mountain. In every instance, Stienstra and Brown tell what you can expect to see and where you're likely to encounter trouble in the form of storms, predatory mammals, or crowds.

Thoroughly updated, this is by far the best single source of information on planning a hiking trip in California. —Gregory McNamee

One of the most popular stories ever told, Dracula (1897) has been re-created for the stage and screen hundreds of times in the last century. Yet it is essentially a Victorian saga, an awesome tale of thrillingly bloodthirsty vampire whose nocturnal atrocities reflect the dark underside of a supremely moralistic age. Above all, Dracula is a quintessential story of suspense and horror, boasting one of the most terrifying characters in literature: centuries-old Count Dracula, whose diabolical passions prey upon the innocent, the helpless, the beautiful. Bram Stoker, who was also the manager of the famous actor Sir Henry Irving, wrote seventeen novels. Dracula remains his most celebrated and enduring work — even today this Gothic masterpiece has lost none of the spine-tingling impact that makes it a classic of the genre.

Grand Teton National Park may be one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring parks of the Rocky Mountains. The craggy Teton peaks reach as high as 13,770 feet, forming a bony ridge through Wyoming along the Continental Divide. Fronting the Teton Range lies the twisting and curving Snake River, winding its way down the Jackson Hole Valley. The reflections of the Tetons gently ripple across the river¿s serene water.

Day Hikes In Grand Teton National Park includes a thorough cross-section of 72 day hikes throughout this national park and around its perimeter. Now in its fourth edition, the guide includes all of the park¿s most popular hikes as well as a wide assortment of secluded backcountry hikes. Hikes range from easy lakeshore paths to rugged canyon hikes that gain several thousand feet in elevation (and consequently offer some of the best views). Highlights include panoramic vistas, glacier-carved canyons, tumbling creeks and waterfalls, several large lakes, old-growth forests, meadows, hot springs, historical sites, prime wildlife habitats, North America¿s largest landslide, and two hikes atop the Jackson Hole Ski Resort.

Each hike in this guide includes a detailed map, accurate driving and hiking directions, and a quick overview of distance/time/elevation. In addition, several overall maps show the hike locations in the larger area. The summaries allow hikers to choose a trail appropriate to their ability and desire.

ZAGAT 2005 TOP U.S HOTELS RESORTS & SPAS rates and reviews more than 850 of the foremost hotels, resorts and spas nationwide. Candid, no-punches-pulled appraisals are based on the opinions of the people who know best: nearly 8,000 fellow travellers who have been to these places and are happy to share their unbiased reports on what they found. Over 8,000 people have participated in this survey. The average participant spends approximately thirty-one nights per year in hotels basing this survey on 240,000 hotel room nights per year, or 660 visits per night. The participants are equally divided between men and women with 41 per cent in the 20s and 30s and 59 per cent are 40 and over.

ISBN: 1570068119 TITLE: 2007 Los Angeles/So. California Restaurants AUTHOR: Zagat Survey DESCRIPTION: Consumer based survey covering the Los Angeles/So. California area including Orange County, Palm Springs and Santa Barbara.

San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants covers 1,100 restaurants throughout San Francisco, including Wine Country, Silicon Valley, and the Monterey Peninsula, plus expanded neighborhood guides! This handy guide contains Zagat Survey's trusted ratings and reviews for San Francisco Bay Area restaurants based on the opinions of diners like you. The trademark reviews and corresponding ratings for Food, Décor, Service and Cost are organized alphabetically in a user-friendly format. Use the indexes arranged by cuisine, neighborhood and special features like In Places, Winning Wine Lists, or Romantic Places to find the perfect restaurant for any occasion.

For almost thirty years, ZAGAT has reported on the shared experiences of diners. Here are the results of the 2009 LONDON RESTAURANT SURVEY, covering over 1000 restaurants to fit all budgets. No matter the economic climate, London's appetite for lively dining destinations continues unabated, inspiring ever bolder ventures. For every notable closing, there's another restaurateur waiting in the wings, often joined by an expensive team of architects and designers and ZAGATSURVEY is always there to note the changes. So whether you are looking for the hippest restaurant, where to dine with celebs or find a London lunch bargain, the new Zagat's 2009 LONDON RESTAURANTS guide rates and reviews some of the city's best restaurants. The newest guide delivers Zagat's signature comprehensive coverage, rating each restaurant on appeal, decor, service and cost. Who will be the winner in the 2009 edition?

There is a lot to see, eat and do in one of the world's most traveled destinations. That is why Zagat uncovers the best restaurants, nightspots, hotels, shops and attractions London has to offer in the all new handy guide.

Chicago Restaurants covers over 1,000 restaurants in and around Chicago, plus Milwaukee. This handy guide contains Zagat Survey's trusted ratings and reviews for area restaurants based on the opinions of diners like you. The trademark reviews and corresponding ratings for Food, Décor, Service and Cost are organized alphabetically in a user-friendly format. Use the indexes arranged by cuisine, neighborhood and special features like "In" Places, Winning Wine Lists, or Romantic Places to find the perfect restaurant for any occasion.

America's Top Restaurants covers over 1,350 top rated restaurants in 42 major U.S. cities and regions. This handy guide contains Zagat Survey's trusted ratings and reviews for America's top restaurants based on the opinions of diners like you. The trademark reviews and corresponding ratings for Food, Decor, Service and Cost are organized alphabetically, by geography, in a user friendly format. Use the indexes arranged by cuisine and area to find the perfect restaurant for any occasion.