Thomas Guides are a reliable resourceAre you looking for some great FREE things to do? Do you want to hone in on the really weird stuff in California? Or maybe you want to find something cool to do with the kids?
If we don't have it here on this site, there's a good chance you'll find what you are looking for on one of these guides.
PRINTED MATERIAL
California Atlas & Gazetteer by DeLorme
Because of California's size, it takes two book maps to cover all of California. In the front of the book you'll find sections on Redwoods, Parks/Forest/Recreation Areas, Wilderness Areas, Beaches, Art Museums/Science Centers, Historic Sites/Museums, Amusements, Unique Natural Features, Hiking, Wildlife, Downhill Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Bicycle Routes, Campgrounds, Whitewater, Scenic Drives, Fishing Piers, Freshwater Fishing, Excursions, Botanical Gardens, and Wineries. Whew! There are very brief paragraphs providing info and coordinates. It's one of the best kept secrets for finding just what you are looking for in your area.
City of Santa Clarita Tourism Guide
A great local guide to the Santa Clarita Valley.
Free L.A.
This is a great little guide. It's possible to set your sites on seeing everything free here in the LA area. You can get into museums (some on particular days), attend concerts, visit historic sites and landmarks, watch free movies, and even go on free tours. This is a book that can save you some serious money, and it's compact enough that you can slide it into your purse or diaper bag.
Fun and Educational Places to Go with Kids and Adults in So. California
Yup, the title is a long one, but this is a great book! It's divided into counties, has a key code for how much things will cost, and even a time code to let you know how much time to allow to see the particular destination or attraction. You can look up things by subject (such as "Science"), by city (such as "Santa Clarita"), or even by price (such as "Free")! If you know you'll be home in June, you can even look up events that may be of interest to you--such as the
Valley Fair
right here in Santa Clarita!
Weird California
If the secret Nazi camp in Los Angeles or the sighting of Big Foot at Devil's Punchbowl intrigues you, pick up this hard backed coffee table book. It's divided into categories: Local Legends, Ancient Mysteries & Unnatural Wonders, Fabled People & Places, Unexplained Phenomena, Bizarre Beasts, Local Heroes & Villains, and more. Really cool!
Thomas Guides
Most Southern Californians keep this tucked in their car, as it is the most detailed guide to Southern California. Each county is purchased individually, or combined with another nearby county: such as Los Angeles and Orange County. In fact, these are so popular in this area that if you are reading about a destination and see a code that reads something like "586 A2," that's a Thomas Guide page number and coordinate...not a secret language.
