Book excerpt: With its diverse landscape, mild climate, and magnificent scenery, California is truly the Golden State for outdoor enthusiasts. Camping Northern California will guide you to the ideal spot to pitch your tent or park your RV while enjoying the myriad recreational opportunities the northern half of the stare has to offer. Featured here are hundreds of campgrounds accessible by car and managed by public agencies--everything from primitive sites for tents and self-contained RV's to plush resorts with spas, pools tennis courts, and even golf courses. Whether you're headed for the redwood forests, the High Sierra, or the San Francisco Bay area, let this book guide you to the perfect homes away from home.