People who are seriously into boating, fishing and general lake-based frolicking generally have one thing in common. More than a million of them have a tattered, dog-eared, water-stained volume of Diane and Jake Dirksen's "Recreation Lakes of California" floating around. The Aptos-based lake experts have been updating and publishing this guide, which covers more than 460 lakes, since 1973. The new 16th edition is a sturdy, spiral-bound affair, filled with black-and-white maps and updated practical information on where to dock, camp, fish and splash in Northern, Central and Southern California.

In an age of e-books -- and glossy hardbound travel tomes about places to go before you die -- this lake guide is refreshingly, endearingly retro. There's no glitz factor here, no glossy photographs other than the pretty Shaver Lake cover shot and no mention of bucket lists. But if you're looking for the lowdown on where to picnic at Lily Lake, camp at Stumpy Meadows, fish at Fallen Leaf or dock at Tahoe, this is the source.