Get free California road trips guide

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- If you're planning a vacation in California this summer, you may want to get a copy of a free new guide called "California Road Trips 2008," published by the California Travel and Tourism Commission.

The guide includes maps, itineraries and ideas for places to stop, including historic sites, wineries, parks, beaches and lakes. You can order one by calling (877) 867-3748 or view an electronic version at www.VisitCalifornia.com/roadtrips.

New this year, the guide divides the state into 12 regions and list things to do and see along suggested three-day driving routes.

Featured attractions include waterfalls and rivers in the Shasta Cascade area, eco-friendly attractions along the North Coast, a family guide to San Francisco, splashing otters in the Central Coast, the natural beauty of the High Sierra, and exploring the history of gold and mining in Gold Country. Stops in Central Valley include places to sample fresh produce, while other sections of the guide cover Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, the state's desert region and the rugged landscape of an area called the Inland Empire.