1 comments about Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket: An Explorer's Guide, Seventh Edition (Explorer's Guides).

1. Even though I had been traveling to Cape Cod every summer for 25 years and thought I had seen it all, this book opened up a whole new world for me. There is something for everyone here, plus all of the hidden gems that are uncovered in each town. Not only is the author a good researcher and reporter, she's an excellent writer as well, which is part of what sets this book apart and makes it so enjoyable. My regret is that I didn't find it sooner; it could've changed my last decade.

1 comments about City Walks: Boston: 50 Adventures on Foot (City Walks).

1. I bought this item for a early fall trip to Boston and found that these cards were better suited for more serious walker/hikers than a casual tourist looking for cool spots in the city.

1 comments about Lonely Planet Cape Cod, Nantucket & Martha's Vineyard (Lonely Planet Travel Guides).

1. I spotted this Lonely Planet guide for the Cape at the library. Using it during a long weekend at the Cape made me realize I needed to own it. It contains a wealth of useful, interesting information about what to see and do--and every restaurant evaluation from it was accurate. This guidebook is worth every penny for a family or a couple traveling alone.

1 comments about Fodor's Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, 10th Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. FODOR'S MAINE, VERMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, 10TH EDITION is a great book about New England's northern section. In addition to where the best lodging, shopping, and dining are, it also describes plenty of outdoor activity ideas for anyone trying to look good for their significant other and/or their favorite celebrity. If any of those things are important to you, you need this book.

5 comments about James Herriot's Yorkshire: A Guided Tour With the Beloved Veterinarian Through the Land of All Creatures Great And Small And Every Living Thing, Gloriously Photographed and Memorably Described.

1. Having never been to England, this book with its wonderful pictures was a real treat. Herriot gives his own commentary on all the locations pictured. It was very enjoyable reading.



2. I put five stars here because I'm sure the hardcover edition rates it. I thought I was ordering hardcover, but got a very cheap paperback instead. This is a book that NEEDS big pages and color pictures; forget about the paperback edition. I tossed it.



3. This is the perfect book for those of us who are James Herriot junkies! I had just finished re-reading the four Herriot books in the American series, and found it great fun to read Jim Harriot's own words describing so many of the scenes in the books, and in the TV series.



4. Wonderful!It is a lovely description of the sites and it presents splendid photographs.
   I enjoyed it very much.



5. Great book, it was a gift for my father, unfortunatly the pages started falling out it, if it came in a hard bound I would have preferred that better. That is why I gave it only 2 star, because of the quality of the binding.

5 comments about Hiking Acadia National Park (Regional Hiking Series).

1. I found this book to be very helpful in planning my vacation in Acadia. I have 2 boys aged 5 and 13 and needed hikes that were doable for the youngest one. He turned out to be the best hiker of us all! This book gave me a good sense of what the trails would be like. We only did easy and moderate and one strenuous one (South Bubble Trail). You will need to buy a more detailed map (like from the AMC) but the trails are well marked. I liked the section on the authors' favorite hikes. We did most of our hikes from their recommends. Don't miss the Wonderland and Great Head trails if you go! Happy hiking.



2. For a party with kids, this book is just what we needed. The descriptions and difficulty ratings were right on. The directions to the trail heads were very clear (unlike in many hiking guides). Perhaps the best thing about it was the size. The book fit easily into my back pocket. No taking off my backpack everytime I wanted to check the map!



3. This guide is a scaled-down version of the longer "Hiking Acadia National Park" by the same authors. Included in this guide are 21 day hikes within the national park boundaries, some of which follow along the coast while others go to the more accessible mountains. Each hike contains directions to the trailhead, an adequate though not particularly detailed map, and a brief but adequate description of the hike. Length ranges from 0.5 mile to 5.8 miles, with the average falling at around 2 miles.
   
   There are a couple of things you should know before purchasing this guide. The book is only 84 pages long and only measures 6" by 4". This small size makes the book easy to carry, but at a cost. Specifically, only hikes on Mount Desert Island are included in this guide, with the rest being left on the cutting room floor from the larger version. So, if you are only planning a few days vacation to Acadia (like I did), this book will probably fit the bill. If you want a more comprehensive guide to Acadia hiking, you will want to look elsewhere.
   
   Second, the term "easy" in the title is relative. True, there are no multi-day backpack journeys described here, and the handhold rock climbs do not appear in this guide, but not everyone in even decent health will be able to hike all of these trails. For example, as an experienced day-hiker with average conditioning, I could have hiked any trail in this guide. However, my 60-something mother would have struggled on many of these trails even though she has no major health problems. My point is simply that not all of these trails are easy strolls on a level path, and I think you should know that before buying this guide. You may still need to choose a trail for your ability, and given the guide's size, your choices are somewhat limited.
   
   In summary, I gave this guide a good rating because I felt that it accomplished what the authors intended, namely a compact guide designed for short-term park visitors. However, depending on what kind of trip you are planning, this guide may not be for you, as I described above. So I recommend that you decide what kind of Acadia visit you desire and then use this review and others to choose the guide that will help you the most.



4. My wife and I just got back from Acadia. It was amazing. However, this book was useless for planning hikes. It has less information than what you can get from the park hand-out you get. We stayed at the Atlantean B&B and they had a book with a man and his 3 dogs on the front. It was excellent. I did not get the name/ISBM, sorry.
   
   However, we really enjoyed the extended Bubbles, Beehive and Goram (sp?) hikes. The beauty of this area rivals the Rocky Mts.



5. Good book and the descriptions are accurate.
   If you haven't been to Acadia, this is a good book to get.
   Acadia National Park is very big and has a lot of different areas with many options, so this book really helps you make informed decisions.

2 comments about The Adirondack Book: Great Destinations: A Complete Guide, Including Saratoga Springs, Sixth Edition (Great Destinations).

1. I was considering a trip to the Adirondacks & was using this book to see if it would be a good place to go. The organization of the book is different from most travel books. Instead of dividing the chapters into regions of the Adirondacks, it is divided into recreation, lodging, etc. Then in each chapter it tells you about lodging, for example, for each region. As a result, it was good to use to decide whether the trip would be worthwhile but seems difficult to use in deciding what area to stay & where different things exist, without taking notes. On the plus side it seems very detailed.



2. The Adirondack Book (6th) is packed with information on lodging, eateries, activities, events, etc. However, I was a bit unhappy with the presentation of this information -- the description of lodgings and activities were almost just listings, with little review, critique, or guidance. Admittedly, it is hard to describe places for every taste, but in my view only a very brief section at the end came close to providing much guidance.
   
   Also, a note: if you are expecting this to have any information on specific trails to hike, look elsewhere. The authors redirect the reader to other guides, such as those published by the Adirondack Mountain Club.
   
   In summary, if it is helpful to you to have a listing of possible places to stay or eat on your travels, consider buying this book. Otherwise, you might do just as well elsewhere or by relying on search engines to plan your trip.

No comments about Newcomer's Handbook For Moving to and Living in Boston: Including Cambridge, Brookline, and Somerville.

2 comments about Weird England (Weird).

1. Of the "Weird" series books that I've read, this is far and away the best. I think there are two reasons for that: 1) the book was written by the man who EDITED the books on the various parts of Weird America (and individual states), and he's a better writer/thinker than the usual writers and 2) England has been inhabited, heavily, for such a long time that it has greater depth of weirdness than we have here in dull young America!
   Like the other "Weird" books, this one is heavy on photos and a little shy on explanations. The histories and explanations in this one, though, are more complete and satisfying than those in the ones on America and its states.
   Topics include "art" created by obsessives in their own back yards; ghosts and hauntings; standing stones and ancient monuments; cemetery oddities; deserted towns and buildings; and much more.
   You'll luv it!



2. Weird England is a light, enjoyable read. You don't have to be an Anglophile (like myself) to be vastly entertained by the unique content and pictures. It's written with an open, objective slant, letting the reader decide the merits of the many folk tales, superstitions, and ghost stories that lie within its pages.

2 comments about The Cheap Bastard's Guide to Boston: Secrets of Living the Good Life--For Free! (Cheap Bastard).

1. Very informative, I recommend reading this book if you want to save some money.



2. The Cheap Bastard's Guide to Boston includes every free or very cheap thing to do in the Boston/Cambridge area that I've ever heard of, plus more. The author included almost anything you'd want to do in the city, including places to find live music, dance, and comedy for free. She also details non-shady methods to get in free to see films and live theatre. Other topics include book readings, wine tasting, free/cheap lunch, beauty services, housing, clothing, fitness, newspapers, pets, travel, museums and art galleries, and activities for kids. The book was extremely well researched and easy to use. Each venue has contact information, addresses, websites(if any), a short description of the activity, and details on when and under what circumstances you can get things for free, including any catches such as one-drink minimums and volunteer requirements (which are rare).
   The author also includes items that are extremely cheap (in the $1 to $5 range) and she keeps her promise on limiting these items to activities that are well worth a small amount of cash.
   This book is definitely something you'll want on-hand if you are visiting the city. There are so many entries, I'd suggest purchasing the book even if you are thrifty. It's more than worth the purchase price. As a dedicated cheapskate, I got this book from the library and will be purchasing it after reading it cover-to-cover.
   The only way this book could be better is if it encompassed areas outside the Boston/Cambridge area.