4 comments about Day Trips with a Splash: Northeastern Swimming Holes (Day Trips With a Splash).

1. This book will be popular with hikers and anyone wanting to discover new nature sites. I found out about it from Reader's Digest. The author lives out of his truck and travels around searching out these places. He has 4 books out already.
   This brings back memories of swimming in the creek as a kid.
   He used icons to denote if it's an easy hike or a 3 hour expert trek to the spot. Other icons alert you to which ones are suitable for the whole family, if it's crowded, if you can take your dog, or if it might be private enough for skinny dipping.
   Here's how he ranks the sites:
   Fair - A swimming hole rated as fair just makes the basic requirements of being reviewed -- at least six feet deep and no man-made structures visible. It probably has a low expectation of privacy.
   Good - This is a place that, although it has merits, it's also got some liabilities like heavy visitorship or little vertical description.
   Excellent - To get an excellent rating a swimming hole must have some compelling vertical feature like a fall or a jumping rock. Privacy is likely, which suggests the most you would expect to find is one other group.
   Classic - This is a place that possesses the Holy Trinity of height, depth and privacy. Tall, vertical rock gives a sense of enclosure above the waterline and produces a fat deep end.



2. A great guide revealing some of the best of the last uncrowded places in the Northeast. I've been to about thirty of the swimming holes in the book, and it amazes me how often I'll have these incredible places to myself.
   
   The quality of the book is pretty good. Pictures give you an honest picture of the quality of the swimming hole, and each one is rated on a scale by the author, which helps to easily identify the cream of the crop.
   
   I own the other Day Trips with a Splash editions as well (California, Southeast, Southwest, etc.). All very good.



3. The title is misleading. For a book that claims it provides trails for the North East, it does not include the following states: Mass, Conn, RI, NJ, DE, and MD.
   
   Secondly, pages numbers in the index are incorrect. Some of the referenced pages do not exist.
   
   The format of maps are inconsistent.
   
   The poor is poorly organized and information is not provided in consistent manner.
   
   Overall, the concept is good, but the execution is poor. I'm surprised the editor and/or author did not catch mistakes that I noticed in the 1st 10 minutes of opening the book.



4. I loved the idea of taking our family on a few day trips to swimming holes in our area (central Mass). Sadly not a single place listed is less than three hours drive from here! Not one swimming hole is listed in Mass., Conn., R.I. (I wish I had read the reviews more carefully as another reviewer mentioned this!) There is a lot of water here in Mass, and I have to think it shouldn't be a six hour round trip to find swimming hole!
   
   The maps are terrible! They are black and white - which in itself would be fine except that a good portion of the background is dark gray so you have to read the black topographical lines on the dark gray background. They give GPS coordinates and little else to guide you. Many of the maps have no labeled roads.
   
   The book covers a large geographical area (from southern W. Virginia to Maine), but not very thoroughly. My guess would be that no matter where you live, at most 8-10 of the 100 listings are a day trip for you.

1 comments about The Rough Guide to the Lake District 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. I used this book extensively both in preparing for a week spent in the Lake District. It proved to be very detailed and accurate, as well as very up-to-date as regards prices / website addresses, etc. I have been to the area several times in the past, and this guide really brought back all the memories and had me chomping at the bit to return. While there, I used it constantly, and not once did it provide any inaccurate information. A good guide book is essential for any trip - and this is one of the best I have ever used.

1 comments about A Traveller's History of Oxford (The Traveller's History Series).

1. A Traveller's History Of Oxford by Richard Tames (Lecturer for the London Programs of Syracuse University and the American University) is an superbly researched, accessibly written, deftly informative guide to exploring and appreciating one of Britain's most famous and provincial cities. Featuring Oxford's history, museum highlights, recommendations for bicycle, car, train and bus trips, this handy and "user friendly" volume is enhanced with sections devoted to sports, walking tours, a bibliography, glossary, and an index. A Traveller's History Of Oxford is especially recommended for on-site vacationers and is ideal for "armchair travelers" wanting to know more about the history and attractions of this venerable English city.

1 comments about Everything Family Guide to New England: Where to eat, play, and stay in America's scenic and historic Northeast (Everything Series).

1. I'm planning a 2008 trip to New England for my family which includes my wife, and my 9-, 13-, and 17-year-old children. The book is written as a state-by-state guide showcasing must-see activities for each state, then laying out recommended attractions, places to eat and stay, and other miscellaneous items by region within the state. I would guess over 95% of the items in the book include web addresses where one can do more research. This book was my primary tool for creating our itinerary while Frommer's encyclopedia-like approach and Insight Guides' many pictures provided additional reference information. The only slight knock I have is that not all items found in the book are listed in the index, so sometimes you have to recall where it's at and hunt it down via page-flipping. However, the book isn't overly large and the type is easy to read, so this isn't difficult. If you're planning a trip for your family, I can't recommend it enough. It was just updated for 2008.

3 comments about Chow Maine: The Best Restaurants, Cafes, Lobster Shacks & Markets on the Coast, Second Edition.

1. Well worth getting for locals and visitors alike spending time on the Maine coast.



2. I have lived in and have travelled to Maine for over 40 years and have a pretty good idea of both the local restaurant scene and the new commers. However, in a travel format I think the book should have focused more on the wonderful Seafood, Lobster Pounds and Clam shacks dotting the Maine coast. Yes they have some but give too much space to new wave cooking. If you are going to visit Maine I think you want the flavors of Maine, not spaqgheti alla carbonara.
   This book missed the mark and excluded several of Main's best well known Lobster Pounds and Clam Shacks.



3. The idea of such a guide is great...but the result is lousy not to say something worse. This is supposed to be a food guide but you have no ratings! in addition you have no signs enabling you to know at first sight if a place mentionned is a luxury restaurant, a casual lobster place or a family hamburger cafe.
   In addition to the negative side, no mention of wine list.
   Out of the tens and tens of restaurant guides I have bought, this one is certainly the worst.

1 comments about The Connecticut River Boating Guide, 3rd: Source to Sea (Falcon Guide).

1. This is a detailed mile by mile guide to the Connecticut River, breaking the river up into a series of 28 reaches (1 reach per chapter). There are maps for each reach with sufficient lat/lon indicators to enable interpolation for GPS waypoints.
   
   River conditions from flatwater to Class IV whitewater are covered in detail as are campsites, sightseeing/sidetrip opportunities and major landmarks along the river, plus a bit of history.
   
   As a 'boating' guide, it is probably most useful to paddlers in canoes or kayaks, or perhaps rafts/inflatables. Access points, particularly formal and informal access points for cartop boats, are covered in text and on the maps.
   
   The thick, coated cover of the book is excellent quality, will handle some spray, and the page edges are rounded to avoid fraying/splaying -- making this guide suitable for on-river use.

3 comments about Hiking New Hampshire, 2nd (State Hiking Series).

1. This is a fine book, with much to offer the novice and dedicated hiker alike. Pletcher's work offers guidance for hiking throughout the state of NH. He has somehow managed to narrow his analysis to 100 fine hikes, which promise adventure into all levels of hiking. While it in no way matches the depth of pure trail knowledge one finds in the AMC guide, it instead offers unique, intimate and eloquent analysis of 100 hikes. Each hike is highlighted with its own map, as well as a chart to graph elevation gains. Also, each trail's difficulty and length are assessed and special attractions unique to the hike are noted. Pletcher is clearly proficient in his knowledge of these trails and, more importantly, adept at putting that knowledge into compact summaries for the benefit of would-be hikers. A must addition to one's hiking library. Ernest M. Berube



2. Living in California, I don't get a chance to hike in New Hampshire as often as I would like. But when I do, I always take this lightweight guide along in my car and in the pack. The best part about the guide is that hikes are described in detail and directions to each trailhead are given in exhaustive detail. This is especially important for out-of-towners who aren't familiar with the back country roads. The authors have hiked each of the trails and they offer pithy comments on trail conditions, the possibility of seeing wildlife and other pertinent information.

   There is a separate section on the magnificent Cohos Trail, the 200+ mile hike which runs the length of the state. My one slight criticism is the photos, which could be of better quality, but the text, route descriptions and ancillary material are of high quality.




3. The author's descriptions of the hikes and directions to the trailheads are very good. He also has done a good job narrowing down New Hampshire's many hikes to the 100 best but you need to supplement the book with a topographical map. A few times, distances were inaccurate and the elevation changes are misleading. Also, the photos could be better.

No comments about Dayhiker's Guide Acadia National Park: Maine's Coastal Gem (Dayhiker's Guides).

1 comments about Paddling Cape Cod: A Coastal Explorer's Guide.

1. We are new kayakers, in our fifties, and have our own kayaks. We read this book cover to cover before setting out on our first expedition. The book not only details each trip with clear maps, but also tells you when to launch according to the tides, what to look for in weather reports, parking and prices, and clear maps. Since we are new, this information made us feel prepared and safe. The authors' natural history and beautifully illustrated birds and marine life helped us identify what we were seeing. Our first trip to Barnstable Harbor was a delight! We knew when and where to put in and how long a trip it would be. We tasted Sea Pickle, walked on the dunes and were prepared to watch out for motor boats. We identified egrets and saw a great blue heron. This is a great guide, not only for paddling, but as a nature guide as well. We keep it in our waterproof bag with the binoculars they recommend having on board. It also has a wonderful resource appendix for shopping or getting more information. This book is worth the low cost investment.

3 comments about Time and Tide: A Walk Through Nantucket (Crown Journeys).

1. I'm one of the author's three sons, so I won't pretend to be unbiased. But listen, this book is great, empirically speaking. Dad light-heartedly provides a fun and fascinating window into the small island so many of us love.



2. Frank Conroy speaks from the heart. Nantucket Island has gone through some dramatic changes in
   the last 30 years, most not for the better. For some of us that still live here, it`s wonderful to be able to read and remember those times when the Island felt like a place of sanctuary from all else. The stories give the reader the felling that the Grey Lady`s Skirt has been torn but her sole has not been touched.
   Thank you Mr. Conroy
   A Chef from the Rock



3. I just started this book this morning and am almost done. It made me nostalgic for my old home, the way it used to be, yes, but for those of us who have had to leave Nantucket for one reason or another, it will always be a wonderful place. Reading it I feel like I am on a wonderful visit home. It's one of those books you don't want to end but at the same time can't put down!