Stuart Thornton fell in love with California while working the Big Sur Ranger Station after college. At work, he provided visitors with all sorts of information about the region, from the best places to camp to the best meal in the area. On his days off, he took his own advice and regularly sought out the top spots for hiking, backpacking, surfing, and snorkeling along that striking coastal region. Stuart later moved to nearby Monterey to become a staff writer for the Monterey County Weekly, where he is still a contributor. He is the proud author of Moon Coastal California, Moon Santa Barbara & the Central Coast, and Moon California Road Trips. In addition, Stuart has contributed to National Geographic Education, and Relix Magazine. Stuart spends his time off searching for the next secluded beach, uncrowded wave, or mountaintop vista. Learn more about his adventures and projects by visiting stuartthornton.com. Kayla Anderson is a freelance writer based in Northern California. She grew up in Redding, graduated with a degree in journalism from California State University-Chico, and now lives in North Lake Tahoe. For the last 20 years, she has been writing about people, places, and products all around The Golden State and beyond. She regularly contributes to Enjoy Northern California Living magazine, Sierra Nevada Ally, Tahoe Quarterly, and Tahoe magazine; and is continually impressed by what she discovers in the places she loves. You can find her work at www.kaylaanderson.org.
