Exploring Series – serie

As Spanish authorities colonized Alta California, they established twenty-one Franciscan missions and four forts, or presidios, to bring the native inhabitants of the region under control and to provide for security and defense. Today, the missions and presidios are among California's most popular historic landmarks, and enduring reminders of California's Spanish and Mexican past. A FalconGuide to California's Missions and Presidios is a fun and fascinating tour of the missions and presidios for vacactioners and history buffs alike. This guide includes beautifully descriptive text, a brief history of each site, key festivals, plus information on nearby attractions. Other books in the Exploring series include Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Canyonlands and Arches National Park, Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores, Dinosaur National Monument, Florida's Atlantic Coast Beaches, Florida's Gulf Coast Beaches, Glacier National Park, Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Hawaii's Parklands, Mount Helena, Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Southern California Beaches.

A visit to Death Valley National Park in California does not have to stop with a quick walk to Badwater, the lowest elevation in the Western Hemisphere. Biking, bird watching, camping, rock climbing, hiking, and scenic driving tours abound in this remarkable and ancient landscape. The authors use their years of experience at Death Valley to guide readers to the best recreational opportunities and provide an appreciation of the monument's natural history.

A FalconGuide® to the Mount Baker-Mount Shuksan Area leads you to ancient forests draped in mosses, subalpine meadows awash in wildflowers, and skyline ridges ending at the toes of icy glaciers. Explore Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, and the 400-square-mile area surrounding them--a mecca for nature lovers, mountaineers, kayakers, skiers, and snowboarders.

This guide covers the extensive trail networks within the Tucson Mountain and Rincon Mountain units of Saguaro National Park, along with the Pusch Ridge Wilderness and the Santa Catalina Mountains in the Coronado National Forest. Camping, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, rock climbing, and mountain biking are also covered.

A visit to Dinosaur National Monument, which straddles the Colorado-Utah border along the Yampa River, does not have to stop with viewing the excavated fossils in the quarry. Biking, bird watching, camping, rock climbing, hiking, cross-country skiing, and paddling possibilities abound in this remarkable and ancient landscape. The authors use their years of experience at Dinosaur to guide readers to the best recreational opportunities and provide an appreciation of the monument's natural history.

This comprehensive guide provides general logistical information for park visitors plus interpretive information about Theodore Roosevelt National Park and its features, from its famous painted canyons to its petrified forests. Information on driving tours, suggested hikes, stories and legends about the life of Theodore Roosevelt, and nearby cultural and recreational opportunities round out this guidebook.

This is the ultimate guide to discovering the vast "River of Grass" ecoregion of the southern Florida mainland. Packed with photographs, maps, and informative text, this guide will help outdoor enthusiasts appreciate the landscape and varied flora and fauna of the watershed whether they have a day to spend in the effort or a lifetime. This edition includes new routes in the Biscayne National Park. Whether traveling by canoe or by foot, this guide will enhance the next journey into the remarkable Everglades.

Stretching along the length of Hatteras Island, watched over by its signature black-and-white light, Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a beach paradise and outdoor adventurers' treasure. Wildlife viewing, watersports, hiking, and biking are some of the activities visitors can expect to enjoy--and this guide includes tips on what to do, where to eat, and where to sleep at Hatteras as well as nearby Cape Lookout National Seashore. Features include:· Best time of year to visit· Facilities, fees, and recreational activities· RV sites and campgrounds· Nearby points of interest· Detailed maps of each area· Travel information and natural history

Mount St. Helens, located just 50 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon, has been attracting thousands of visitors each year since its famous erruption in 1980. In 1982, Congress set aside the 110,000-acre monument to allow the volcanically-altered landscape to recover at its own pace and to provide for research, educational, and recreational opportunities. Exploring Mount St. Helens is a comprehensive guide to this world-renowned attraction, offering a close-up look at the destruction and remarkable recovery of the area. The guide includes detailed information on the natural and cultural history of the area; recreational opportunities, including 23 hiking trails; and historical, geological, and natural exhibits.

This is the ultimate guide to discovering the vast "River of Grass" ecoregion of the southern Florida mainland. Packed with photographs, maps, and informative text, this guide will help outdoor enthusiasts appreciate the landscape and varied flora and fauna of this watershed whether they have a day to spend in the effort or a lifetime.Whether traveling by canoe or by foot, this guide will enhance the next journey into the remarkable Everglades.

AFalconGuide to Joshua Tree National Park will cover the fascinating geology and natural history of this desert park, focusing on exploring the desert by foot. As a world-class climbing destination, rock climbing will not be overlooked, nor will the abundance of wildflowers, a major park attraction.

From the Carmel River to Hearst's Castle, author Barry Parr describes the region along spectacular Highway One--a region well known to motorists, who comprise the majority of the likely readers of this book. Aside from describing the parks, lore, history, and scenic riches, the author gives strong emphasis to the many day-hikes both from the coast and interior roads, and lesser emphasis on selected backpacking routes mainly in the Ventana Wilderness. There are sections on the best beaches, biking routes, equestrian opportunities, wildlife viewing (especially condors and marine mammals), kayaking and scuba, and some four-wheeling on the interior mountain roads.

A comprehensive guide to exploring the many outdoor recreation opportunities in and around Glacier National Park and Montana's Flathead Valley with an emphasis on natural history and geology.

Recognized for having the largest known cave system in the world, Mammoth Cave National Park, in southwestern Kentucky, has become a destination for nearly two million recreationalists every year. Exploring Mammoth Cave National Park, 2nd covers in detail all of the aboveground and belowground activities in this 50,000-acre national park, including hiking, biking, scenic driving, camping, paddling, fishing, and of course, caving.

This is the ultimate guide to discovering the vast "River of Grass" ecoregion of the southern Florida mainland. Packed with photographs, maps, and informative text, this guide will help outdoor enthusiasts appreciate the landscape and varied flora and fauna of this watershed whether they have a day to spend in the effort or a lifetime. This edition includes new routes in Biscayne National Park. Whether traveling by canoe or by foot, this guide will enhance the next journey into the remarkable Everglades.

Explore Bears Ears and Cedar Mesa is a comprehensive guide to 25 of the best destinations within one of America’s newest national monuments. Whether you’re a hiker or backpacker looking for the route that makes the most of the land’s natural beauty, or a day-tripper in search of the best views to photograph, this guide will take you there with comprehensive descriptions, maps, and directions. With the help of the Friends of Cedar Mesa, this guide aims to educate and lead visitors to experience some of the magic of Bears Ears with respect for its history and the fragile environment. Enjoy the awe-inspiring and delicate beauty of one of the most unique areas in the American Southwest while learning about its geology, history, and stunning natural monuments.