Walkabout California in the Media

* A book review by Bay Nature

Walkabout Northern California: Hiking Inn to Inn

Reviewed by Sue Rosenthal — published October 01, 2011

By Tom Courtney, Wilderness Press, 2011, 234 pages, $16.95.

Imagine hiking from inn to inn carrying only a day pack, following a beautiful trail with a nice meal and room at its end. The Alps or the south of France? Perhaps. But you could also be in Northern California: Think Point Reyes or Monterey Bay.

Avid hiker Tom Courtney, inspired to extend a Marin Headlands hike all the way to Olema, traversed 38 miles in four days. That first "walkabout" led to many more, and Courtney describes 12 of them in Walkabout Northern California. Ranging from easy coastal strolls to strenuous mountain treks, these inn-to-inn hikes involve walking 14 to 56 miles over two to five days. Courtney's engaging descriptions include natural and human history and stories of quirky locals. He also provides route information, lodging recommendations, trailhead directions, sources for trail maps, and tips on gear and safety.

Although the walking part is free, these walkabouts are not always designed for thrift; lodging sometimes runs $200 or more per night (though Courtney includes cheaper options like hostels when available). Instead of frugality, the book offers rich experience: car-free rambles rewarded with creature comforts--perfect for aging backpackers, carbon-conscious travelers, and anyone interested in slowing down to appreciate nature and hospitality.

Bay Nature Contributing Editor Sue Rosenthal is active in the California Native Plant Society and Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden.

* Walkabout Northern California is a Sunset Magazine Editor's Pick - June, 2011 ~ page 26.

*A review from the San Francisco Examiner

Hiking inn to inn: Best of both worlds

Susan Alcorn, SF Hiking Examiner

August 11, 2011

If you like to hike and enjoy spending a day on the trail, then no doubt you have run into situations where you wish you could continue on, but you have run out of time or energy. There are some answers to your dilemma. One possibility would be to spend the night camping. Tom Courtney, author of the newly released Walkabout Northern California – Hiking Inn to Inn, has another, more comfortable, scenario. He writes, “Leave the car behind, explore stunning wilderness, and end each day with a comfortable bed, a glass of wine, a good meal, and maybe even a soak in a hot springs.”

In Walkabout Northern California, Courtney describes twelve multi-day, multi-destination Northern California vacations with hikes that range from 5-15 miles a day. Some of the walks are leisurely; some are strenuous. Some of the evenings’ meals will be taken in a pub, some in gourmet establishments. It’s guaranteed that you will sleep well whether your lodging is in a cottage with woodstove or an historic inn with 300-count linens.

Hikers who want to explore in greater depth such incredibly beautiful places as the Marin Coast, Monterey Bay, and Lassen National Park, will enjoy Courtney’s book. It’s a handy guide to the routes you’ll be taking and he enriches your journey as he describes the natural and cultural history of the land.

Courtney, who has been touring the Bay Area, is giving one more presentation this month. On Thursday, August 17, 2011, 7:00 p.m., he’ll be giving a digital presentation of walkabouts from the Marin Headlands to Point Reyes National Seashore, on the Mendocino Coast, and on part of the Emigrant Trail in the Sierra.The event will be at the REI Concord store, 1975 Diamond Blvd Ste B100. (The Willows Shopping Center), Concord, CA 94520. Phone: (925) 825-9400

Reservations for the free event are required, click here. Seats will be held until the start time. Seating may be available at the door, even if registration is closed. You’ll get the details on how to plan your trip – including what gear to bring in your daypack and hear about great places to stay.

Tom Courtney's website, has more to share on where to hike inn-to-inn here and abroad.

* Review in the Contra Costa Times ~ Seeking Guidance: 'Walkabout Northern California'

By Ann Tatko-Peterson

Posted: 07/09/2011

"Walkabout Northern California: Hiking Inn to Inn" by Tom Courtney ($16.95, Wilderness Press, 233 pages)

In Europe, walkabouts are not a novel concept. Hikers of all levels traverse the extensive network of trails that connect inns and hostels from city to city and even country to country, turning hiking into a multiday, multidestination vacation.

On a hike in his own backyard, Tom Courtney of Oakland wondered how far he could take a hike that started in the Marin Headlands. Studying maps, he eventually devised a four-day hike that would cover 38 miles and stays in four coastal villages en route to Point Reyes.

Walkabout California, complete with a website (www.WalkaboutCalifornia.com), was born. And now comes a guide that brings readers both Courtney's savvy knowledge and firsthand experience of exploring 400 miles of California wilderness. Different from other hiking guides, this one provides readers with everything they need to turn their adventure into a true walkabout.

Courtney vividly details 10 possible walkabouts, starting off with his inaugural Marin Coast journey from the Marin Headlands to Point Reyes. He charts day-to-day hiking itineraries for each, covers the basics for transportation and provides a list of lodging options. He also weaves in suggestions for things to do and restaurants to visit along the way.

He essentially takes care of all the trip planning. Even hikers not interested in a multiday outing would find Courtney's suggestions worthwhile for day trips.

It's a practical guide but also rich in detail. Courtney allows readers to see deep inside the wilderness of each hiking segment. He brings it to life, tempting all those who love the outdoors to see it for themselves.

The black-and-white photos don't do the landscape justice. Then again, maybe that's by design, just another way to lure readers into taking a walkabout themselves.

* Walkabout California is featured in the July, 2009 edition of Sunset Magazine ~ page 15.

* Sunset originally wrote a short but sweet article about Walkabout California in the California edition of the March, 2009 issue:

"Hike Inn to Inn
It seems like such a simple idea: Start off on a hike and go until you find a cozy inn. Next morning, do it again. But who actually does that? Tom Courtney did. He did it in Marin and on the Mendocino Coast. More important, he took along a pen, then came home, wrote up his trail notes and inn recommendations - laid out the whole plan - and posted them on his website for anyone with $5 to print out and stuff into a day pack. So, what's your excuse now? walkaboutcalifornia.com - Lisa Trottier"

* One of our favorite sources of Northern California hiking info, Weekend Sherpa, wrote about Walkabout California on July 16th:

Hiking Inn Style

Does your ideal multi-day hike end with a good meal, a glass of wine, and a comfortable bed? Check out Walkabout California, an itinerary planning site for hikers who want to travel light and stay at inns along the way. Father and daughter hiking dynamos Tom and Emily Courtney were inspired by Europe's flair for inn-to-inn walking vacations, so they created Walkabout for the California crowd—featuring plans and maps for some of state's best inn-to-inn treks. Routes include a four-day trip along the Marin coast—from the Headlands to Point Reyes, with overnights at charmers like the Pelican Inn and the Olema Inn, where arriving just in time for happy hour is part of the agenda. All inn for a good time! TIP: Walkabout California also offers inn-to-inn hike itineraries in the Sierras, Lassen Park, and the Mendocino Coast. For more information, visit www.walkaboutcalifornia.com. Itineraries cost $5 per download.

* Also on July 16th, Apartment Therapy gave Walkabout California a genuine recommendation:

The Little River Inn in Mendocino, photographed by Tom Courtney...
imagine coming upon this sight at the end of a long day's hike!
In our household we love to hike, but one of us (psst—it's my husband) doesn't love the hassle of backpacking and would rather sleep in a warm bed than a cold tent. Inn-to-inn hiking trips seem like the perfect compromise, don't they? You wake up in your comfy room, eat a delicious breakfast, set off for the day through the beautiful wilds, and make it to the next lodging in time for cocktails. This type of traveling is fairly common in Europe, but not as popular here in the States. Fortunately, Tom and Emily Courtney, a clever dad-and-daughter pair, have recognized that Northern California is perfect for inn-to-inn escapes, and they've developed itineraries to assist willing hikers...

Tennessee Cove, a stop on the Marin Coast Walkabout
It might seem daunting to plan an inn-to-inn trip yourself, but the Courtneys offer detailed itineraries, complete with trail notes, suggested stops, lodging recommendations, and the like. All of the current available guides are for hikes in Northern California, including Lassen Volcanic National Park, the Mendocino Area, and Monterey Bay. How to choose?? The PDF itineraries are available for download at Walkabout California for $5 apiece. The site also hosts community forums where those who've done inn-to-inn hikes can describe their trips and offer helpful advice. Walkabout California is featured in this month's Sunset, as well as in this week's edition of the fabulous Weekend Sherpa.
(Images: Tom Courtney)

* In May the crew at Ideal Bite shared a green living tip on Walkabout California.

"Walking Tour - Walk of (No) Shame The Bite:
You've done the head down, makeup smeared, high heels in the hand thing. Erase the memory with a different walk: some fresh air and some of NorCal's most breathtaking foot trails (and assurance that a cozy inn awaits you when your dogs start barkin') with Walkabout California's downloadable PDF guides. They list vitals like trail difficulty, which end points have hot tubs, local flora and fauna (like the photo worthy Tiburon Mariposa Lily), and packing lists for adventures from 4 nights to 1 night (stand).
Why Care?: Hiking from inn to inn is great exercise (hello, supercalves) and is much more Earth-friendly than driving or even public transportation. And let's get real - the cred earning potential is tops. You can plan an adventure for up to 4 days (and end up in point Reyes) but we started small with a 1 day/1 night hike in the Marin Headlands.
Wanna Try: Walkabout California. Digital trail guides, $5/trail."

* In February our cousin Adam Browning, Executive Director of Vote Solar, gave us a shout out in Grist:

"Walkabout California: The benefits of a carbon-free vacation
This is my cousin Tom’s idea of a vacation: He takes a bus across the Golden Gate Bridge to Rodeo Beach. He’s wearing hiking boots, jeans, and a windbreaker. He carries a small backpack, volume of John Muir inside. And a sandwich. He hikes up the Coastal trail to Wolf Ridge, bundled against the morning fog, then down to Tennessee beach. Seagulls caw and whirl. Sandwich, book, nap on the beach to the sound of crashing waves on California’s north coast. Stretches, shakes the sand out of his hair, hikes over the ridge to Pirate’s Cove, then down to Muir Beach. Checks into the Pelican Inn. Has a cold Lagunitas Lager and reads a few pages of Muir, soaking in the clawfoot tub. Down to dinner, then a nightcap with locals. Really, Jerry Garcia used to play here? And you filled in on harmonica? Nip of night air and impossible stars before turning in. And that’s just day one. There are three more days until Olema. A carbon-free vacation sounds pretty good, don’t it? He’s got tips, trail maps, and community here."

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