San Francisco Bay Shoreline Guide: 2nd Edition    by State Coastal Conservancy Order:  USA  Can University of California, 2012 (2012) Softcover      Reviewed by Bob Walch If you enjoy outdoor activities in the area that borders San Francisco Bay or know anyone who does, you'll want to get the new, updated, second edition of San Francisco Bay Shoreline Guide. This user-friendly guide fits easily in a backpack and his filled with information about everything from points of historic, natural and cultural interest to where to locate biking and hiking trails. You'll discover maps tracing more than 325 miles of the shoreline Bay Trail which is now open to the public, plus directions on how to locate 130 parks and wildlife preserves that are located around the bay. The book is divided into well-illustrated sections that offer maps and icons that indicate sites for suitable activities for various activities such as boating, fishing, biking, hiking, bird watching, picnicking and wheelchair riding. These individual chapters cover North Marin, South Marin, Petaluma/Novato, Napa/Sonoma and the Northeast Bay on the upper northern reach of San Francisco Bay. On the other end the South Bay, Fremont/Hayward, and San Lorenzo/San Leandro areas are covered. The remaining sections of the book look at San Francisco, North San Mateo, South San Mateo, Oakland/Berkeley, and the Richmond/San Pablo areas. This is as comprehensive a look at the greater Bay Area as you are going to find in a guide book of this nature. With 380 color illustrations, 48 black and white photos, 53 line illustrations (plants and wildlife) and 14 maps, the book is as attractive as it is a valuable resource. Since this guide was first published in 1995 an additional 150 miles have been added to the San Francisco Bay Trail. The new sections that you may enjoy visiting include a segment along Oakland's working waterfront, a restored wetland area in Sonoma and a Marin multi-purpose path. Eventually the Bay Trail will stretch for 500 continuous miles around the entire bay, though that day is still years away. But there is still much to see and enjoy in what is now open and accessible. This is the book that will not only get you to this unique urban shoreline but also explain what sights and activities will make the visit memorable. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Travel books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews