The Couple’s Adventure: Over 200 Ideas to See, Hear, Taste, and Try in California by Kvaala is a travel guide of the Golden State for both those who live there and those with an interest in visiting. The book is broken down between the see, taste, and try portions with separate parts for Northern and Southern California, a necessity given that the length of the state is over 850 miles from tip to toe. The section on what to hear—ie: the ringing of San Francisco's famous trolley cars—is combined with north and south. The collection ranges from sights such as the sulfur pits at Lassen National Park and the abandoned former mining ghost town of Bodie State Historic Park. The tastes cover such restaurants as Yountville's Michelin-starred French Laundry and Hollywood's own couture hot dog cuisine at Pink's. Finally, the try sections include adventures such as aquatic interaction experiences at the Monterey Bay Aquarium to surf lessons at Venice Beach.

Kvaala has a few The Couple's Adventure books but I chose their California edition because my wife was born and raised in San Francisco, and as a Brit, the state always felt wonderfully warm and free. The stereotypes quickly fall away after the first visit and as is the case with most travelers, this is when the desire to seek out special experiences begins to really take shape. I think this book does an excellent job in providing a launching point for a California escape, and would especially see it working well on a road trip. I did find the lack of a proper table of contents to be a slight headache as it lists an entire section without the different places that are in the section itself. I am of the opinion that this is a good book to add to a reader's travel collection.

California is a large, magnificent state with amazing natural sites and manmade attractions. In the nonfiction travel guide, The Couple’s Adventure – Over 200 Ideas to See, Hear, Taste, and Try in California, written by Kvaala, a variety of fun-filled suggestions are made. The book is divided into the areas of Northern California and Southern California, in the four categories listed in the title. Necessary information such as website links, social media accounts, and addresses are included after the description of each idea. Additionally, a Covid-19 Disclaimer is included, as some sites may be temporarily closed, open on limited days and times, or have other restrictions.

The tone of this travel book is light-hearted and encouraging. The reader is reminded that having adventures and doing activities together can be enriching for relationships. From touring a fortune cook factory to stunning hiking trails to luxurious spas, there is something for everyone. One of the most unique features of this book is the “hear” section; this is generally not a focus of travel books but should be. While California has a huge array of restaurants, the selections in this book mostly focus on those with romantic characteristics. Can any restaurant in the world outshine a world-renowned French restaurant in Napa Valley for a romantic evening? Kvaala has presented a wonderful guide to the wonders of California The Couple’s Adventure – Over 200 Ideas to See, Hear, Taste, and Try in California. This is the perfect handbook for a day trip, a weekend getaway, or a week-long vacation!

Did you know there was a computer history museum in California? Well, I suppose it would make sense since it is the epicenter of computer technology and home to Silicon Valley. And there are some original gold mines to explore. Wouldn’t it be cool to actually find a nugget or two? Or, how about a guided tour of the infamous prison of Alcatraz? Would you be able to escape if locked inside? I don’t think I’d want to chance it. There are so many interesting things to see, do, and, yes, taste, in California, both north and south.

Kvaala’s travel guide, The Couple’s Adventure – Over 200 Ideas to See, Hear, Taste, and Try California: Make Memories That Will Last a Lifetime in the Great and Ever-changing State of California, is a great way to explore the possible adventures available in the Golden State, or, if you live close enough and are not restricted from traveling to California, you may explore this area in person, following Covid restrictions. The book is conveniently divided into seven sections, following the theme of the senses: see, hear, taste, and try. Each sense is highlighted for either Northern or Southern California, the only variance being that the theme of hearing is covered for the entire state. The last theme may not be a sense, but it does make sense to put a little spice and adventure into your travel plans. Traveling to a new place is cause for creating memories. In order to highlight our memories, we need to challenge ourselves to be adventurous and be willing to try something new and different. Although this book has no illustrations, it is an interesting guide, complete with Covid restrictions and websites to assist safe and thorough planning, all to help you plan and enjoy a visit to California.

The Couple's Adventure by Hainan Kvaala captures the sights and sounds of California and takes readers on a magnificent journey where they can explore the places of interest that make California the place it is. California, the golden state of America, has a varied landscape and there are 200 incredible things there that can be tried, heard, and tasted. Many spots in a place cannot be found online or on any social media platform because they are locations that only a local can tell a traveler. The details provided in this book will enthrall any couple and enable them to enjoy their adventure and exploration of the place. Let us read on and see where the author takes readers to show them what California is known for.

The Couple's Adventure is engaging and informative and gives readers interesting details about the place. It will encourage them to travel and discover the sights there. The suggestions by the author are good for any couple to plan a romantic getaway where they can see and do exciting things. The author tackles the topic in detail and couples will realize there are so many fascinating things to do when visiting the state of California. The book also gives couples a wide range of options to choose from when they plan their trip to California. The categories in the book, the things to hear, taste, and try, give good insights about the place and what it can offer while visiting.