The Moon Handbook series is extensive, and growing. The trend is to break up the massive original works (such as South Pacific and Hawaii) into smaller units. Bisignani died a couple of years ago, but his work has been preserved in the continuously updated editions by Robert Nilson. Stanley is still out there, a world class traveller, moving anonymously around the Pacific. A whole crowd of others have been recruited to cover every one of the western states.

The handbooks all follow a common plan. There is first a lengthy introduction, covering the geography, history, and culture. Then general information on shopping, museums, how to get there, getting around, activities, and what to take. Next comes a detailed survey, area by area, each with sections on sights, accomodations, food and shopping.

The quality varies a bit, but the range is from good to excellent. The maps tend to be small and schematic, but new editions have better maps, including color (a couple of my former students are working on this).

I always take a Moon Handbook when I travel. I have particularly enjoyed Stanley's South Pacific, Bisignani's Hawaii, and Hempstead and King's British Columbia.

Alaska and Canada

Alaska-Yukon (7th ed.), by Don Pitcher

Alberta and the Northwest Territories, Including Banff, Jasper, and the Canadian Rockies (4th ed.), by Andrew Hempstead

Canadian Rockies (2nd ed.), by Andrew Hempstead

British Columbia (5th ed.), by Andrew Hempstead, Jane King

Vancouver (1st ed.), by Andrew Hempstead

Atlantic Canada (2nd ed.), by Mark Morris

Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains

Washington (6th ed.), by Don Pitcher

Oregon (5th ed.), by Stuart Warren, Ted Long Ishikawa, Brian Litt

Columbia River Gorge, Including Complete Coverage of Portland, by Stuart Warren, Brian Litt

Idaho (3rd ed.), by Don Root

Montana (4th ed.), by W.C. McRae, Judy Jewell

Wyoming (4th ed.), by Don Pitcher

Yellowstone / Grand Tetons (1st ed.), by Don Pitcher

Colorado (4th ed.), by Stephen Metzger

California

California, by Kim Weir

Northern California (3rd ed.), by Kim Weir

Tahoe, Including Reno and Carson Valley (3rd ed.), by Ken Castle

San Francisco (1st ed.), by Kim Weir, Pat Reilly

Silicon Valley (2nd ed.), by Martin Cheek

Coastal California (1st ed.), by Kim Weir

Southern California, Including Greater Los Angeles, Disneyland, San Diego, Death Valley, and Other Desert Parks (2nd ed.), by Kim Weir

Southwest

Nevada (5th ed.), by Deke Castleman

Utah (6th ed.), by Bill Weir, W.C. McRae

Arizona (8th ed.), by Bill Weir

New Mexico (5th ed.), by Stephen Metzger

Santa Fe / Taos (1st ed.), by Stephen Metzger

Mexico

Mexico (2nd ed.), by Joe Cummings, Chicki Mallan

Baja: Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas (4th ed.), by Joe Cummings

Cabo: La Paz to Cabo San Lucas (3rd ed.), by Joe Cummings

Northern Mexico (2nd ed.), by Joe Cummings

Puerto Vallarta (3rd ed.), by Bruce Whipperman

Mexico City (1st ed.), by Joe Cummings, Chris Humphrey

Yucatan Peninsula (6th ed.), by Chicki Mallan

Cancun (5th ed.), by Chicki Mallan, Oz Mallan

Archaeological Mexico (1st ed.), by Andrew Coe

Colonial Mexico (1st ed.), by Chicki Mallan, Oz Mallan

Hawaii

Hawaii, by J.D. Bisignani, Robert Nilsen

Kauai (3rd ed.), by J.D. Bisignani

Oahu: Honolulu, Waikiki and Beyond (4th ed.), by Robert Nilsen

Honolulu (3rd ed.), by J.D. Bisignani, Robert Nilsen

Maui (5th ed.), by J.D. Bisignani, Robert Nilsen

Big Island of Hawaii: Including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (4th ed.), by Robert Nilsen

Pacific Islands

Moon Handbooks South Pacific, by David Stanley

Moon Tahiti (Moon Handbooks) by David Stanley

Moon Handbooks Micronesia by Neil Levy

Tonga-Samoa (1st ed.), by David Stanley

Moon Fiji (Moon Handbooks), by David Stanley