1 comments about Springs of Florida 2nd Ed.

1. The 2nd edition of The Springs of Florida is a great improvement over the first edition with new information, an updated account of Florida's many new springs related state parks and commercial springs like Ginnie Springs, and some new photographs. It has become a field guide to the environment and inhabitants of Florida's rare springs and springs rivers. But the original intent of the book remains the same - to show the beauty of these wondrous places.
   Doug Stamm

5 comments about Moon Handbooks Florida Gulf Coast (Moon Handbooks).

1. One of the newest additions to the justifiably acclaimed Moon Handbooks series of "user friendly" travel guides, Florida Gulf Coast by local travel writer Laura Reiley is a blend of in-depth regional and local information, along with strategic advice for the traveler. Complete with suggested routes, activities, and a wealth of practical, accessible, up-to-date information arranged by those counties located along the gulf coast of Florida, this handy and highly portable little compendium offers things to see and do from birding, to parks, to museums, to emergency resources, to nightlife entertainments, to food and lodging ideas. Especially in the wake of the worst hurricane season in recorded history, those traveling to and through the gulf coast region of Florida will appreciate what Moon Handbooks: Florida Gulf Coast can offer them to help make their trip successful and memorable.



2. Here are the people who will love this book: Those who think Florida is paradise and those who are dubious about the whole Florida thing. People who live in the Florida Gulf Coast region and those who have never been there. People whose passion is watching birds or catching fish and those who prefer indoor activities. People planning a vacation and those looking for a great gift. Adventurous types and those who enjoy reading about far-away places from the couch. People traveling with kids. Couples. People traveling alone. This travel guide starts like a novel and is way better written, much more opinionated, and has lots more personality than any other travel series I've used. It's a really fun book to read.



3. Having lived for 6 years on the Florida Gulf Coast, I find Ms Reiley's Guide is something of a delight to one plagued with what to show the next out-of-towner, or what to see myself that might be new and refreshing. The book is admirably terse, factually impeccable, and covers in good detail a considerable portion of the Paradise of the West Coast of Florida. The clear prose is peppered with Ms Reiley's reactions to people, places, and things, some which she clearly enjoyed, others of which failed to meet her mark. Her language delights this aging Sophist, while staying within the bounds of good taste. The black and white photos well illustrate the text. The maps are too small for driving, but large enough to help find the desired location.
   A simply delightful guide to Paradise



4. recommended for families with children, snappy writing and comprehensive accurate info. not aimed at east german backpackers, or the senior set. hard to fault and up to date.
   a little easy on the sprawl and excesses of naples, and not enuf cautions about the 3 main hazards of florida vacations,
   which are in no particular order : 1. heat/humidity/storms and heat related problems 2. it is gonna be expensive 3. take your brain along and think about crime, crowds and traffic hazards.
   otherwise hard to fault an excellent very valuable up to date work written by a real grown up with verve and snap
   buy this and not the brand name stuff



5. I've always enjoyed the eclectic nature of Moon guides and the Florida Gulf Coast guide is no exception. In hind sight I should have looked for an everglades guide but this one sufficed. A lot of the information is now dated because the last year's hurricane season. the biggest problem I ran into was places either being closed or having reduced hours. I also found the organization of the Everglades informations a bit scattered. Still I'd recommend this guide.

5 comments about June Keith's Key West & The Florida Keys (June Keith's Key West and the Florida Keys).

1. We bought this book in the early stages of planning a Labor Day weekend trip to Key West. It was sheer luck that we chose this book, and now we can't imagine our first visit without it.
   
   I am impressed with the book's balance of suggestions for traditional tourist destinations and quirky attractions. (I would have never thought to visit the Key West cemetery without her guidance.) Best of all were the dining suggestions. Louie's Backyard, Banana Cafe, Camille's and Mangoes were wonderful. At the top of the list was Blue Heaven! My memory of Blue Heaven's gumbo soup and yellowtail snapper will linger with me always.
   
   June Keith's book made our Key West vacation nearly perfect. I will recommend it to anyone planning to go to the Keys.



2. This book is the best of the best! Not only does it tell you about the toursist spots to visit in Key West, but also gives you great not so popular spots. It tells you about things to buy and places to eat. This book also gives details about the rest of the Florida Keys. So, if you are traveling to Key West, this book is a must have!



3. I cannot stress enough how great this book is! I bought it the 1st time my husband and I planned our Key West trip and had to cancel due to a hurricane. I read it from cover to cover then, highlighting all of the things that we wanted to see or do. Now, we are planning our escape to paradise once again and I cannot put this book down. She makes it so interesting, it is not like reading your everyday guide book, she knows things about all of the Keys and has something interesting to say about every one of them. You will love this book if you are a history buff like me. I would enjoy this book even if we were not going to the Keys! I find myself reading something and then going back and re-reading the same thing because it is such neat information! Order it- you will not be sorry!



4. Good reading with useful information of locations. Some of the information led us to bad links with places out of business. Updates will help.



5. This is a wonderfully detailed, thoroughly informed, often funny guidebook written by someone truly infused with the spirit of Key West. June Keith covers architecture, writers, fishing, bars, history, dining, shopping and everything else in a very breezy style that incorporates trivia, anecdote, and the essential facts. She offers a wonderful 20-page walking tour of Key West, listings for attractions, museums, and tours, and covers the usual bases concerning beaches and lodging. The first 278 pages of this 545 page book are about Key West; the rest cover the other keys, also wonderful but less strange, along the 106 miles of US #1 between Key West and the mainland.
   
   There are some errors and omissions in the listings. Curry House welcomes all visitors, and has not been an exclusively gay guesthouse for several years; and Eden House has not served food for more than five years. A few of the nice smaller guesthouses are not listed. Some of the restuarants listed have closed--or have moved to new locations. This, the fourth edition, is due for a revision.
   
   The line drawings in the book are wonderful, but there are no photos. I like a guidebook with, at least, a few photos--especially in a book this extensive.
   
   Marsh Muirhead - author of "Key West Explained - a guide for the traveler."

2 comments about Hidden Florida: Including Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa Bay, the Everglades, and the Keys (Hidden Travel).

1. I used this book for planning a quick trip to Everglades, Miami and Key Largo. I found it to have a good mix of history, attactions and restaurant reviews. We ate at several places recommended by the book.
   
   One thing that would make it much more useful would be to include a fold out map so that you can see more detail of a larger area. I found I had to keep flipping back and forth between maps in the book.



2. We have used the guide on every Florida trip we take. Living in Orlando, we pretty much know the ropes here in town. We, as a couple, visit other Florida towns (areas) at least twice per month searching for the perfect beach, event, restaurant or attraction. It is great to use the book to find quirkly places to eat and visit. It's been 100% accurate in it's estimations of quality and pricing. We make notes in ours if we find new spots. One day we'll send our comments to the authors!
   
   When traveling to Savannah recently, we bought the Hidden Savannah book and were just as satified!
   
   I cannot recommend a book any higher! No Chamber or tour guide has been able to top the info in this wonderful guide.

4 comments about So You Want to Move to Florida: How to Save Time and Money in Becoming a Resident and Exploring Florida's Treasures Your Guide to Securing Your Dreams in Florida.

1. I read the book. I've been to Florida. This book has great information.



2. The contents of Farnham's guide is essential for anyone seriously considering relocation. The invaluable information he provides gives the positives and negatives of living in Florida. Read this practical book about day-to-day life in Florida if you're thinking of moving to paradise. Many helpful pointers which has already made my life simpler. Jam-packed with simple, crisp declarative sentences that makes reading the book both interesting and easy.



3. I read this book and liked it. There is a lot of stuff about Florida that I wouldn't have thought to consider when making a decision to move there. There are many differences than other areas of the U.S. For example, most houses don't have a basement, so you better keep that in mind if you need the space. In addition to the practical move information, there is a number of chapters on recreation (Weekend trips, Key West, Parks, Beaches etc). This would probably also be useful to current residents.



4. What a terrific resource. Lots of useful and practical information about relocating to Florida, all in one place. It includes lots of personal observations and enough anecdotes to keep the reading breezy and enjoyable. I will refer to this before AND after the move!

1 comments about Florida's Miracle Strip: From Redneck Riviera to Emerald Coast.

1. This was a fun read, especially for those who were children when the touristy gimmicks of the Gulf coast were in their prime. I loved the pictures and the background info on my favorite attractions.

4 comments about Guide to the Magic of Walt Disney World.

1. I go to the Disney parks at least once or twice a year,so I'm always looking for great new books about DL or WDW. This one is a gem. It has lots of great info about the park's attractions and lots of little tidbits that even someone who goes to the parks all the time will find informative and surprising. Highly recommended.



2. It's my first trip to Disney World and I've been reading guide books like crazy. This one was great, straight forward to the point and discussing attrations. Food and shopping not really included, but that's ok, I found out about all that from other guide books. I am excited to seek out the hidden little gardens and paths in Epcot and Animal Kingdom. My sister who has been to DisneyWorld a few times says she never really notice these hidden treasures and is excited to find them this year. Great book, and light enough to carry with me in the parks.



3. I admit, I have read a lot of guide books. This book just can't compare to the complete guide or the unnoficial guide. The book is inferior, from the quality of the print and pages to the quality of the information. If you want a combination of good info and beautiful pictures, get the complete guide. If you're a type A (like me) or are traveling in high season, definitely get the unofficial guide. No pictures, but a lot of great information! Enjoy your trip



4. I purchased six books before going to Disney World and this one really came in handy. It tells specifically about each attraction and ride and gives special tips like where to sit to get the best views. It also mentions different things to look out for throughout the park that I normally would not have looked for. Great book...even for kids to read to get an idea of things to look forward too.

3 comments about Fodor's Walt Disney World® 2008: with Universal Orlando and SeaWorld (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. As you might expect from the title, the bulk of the material in this book is focused on the various theme parks in the Orlando area. In addition, you will find all the standard Fodor's material covering restaurants, hotels, and general information about visiting the area.
   
   The information provided is useful and accurate. Fodor's updates it once a year and subject to constant little changes in the real world, they do a good job of keeping it current. One notable item this year is that Disney did make some changes to their Dining Plan after the deadline for the 2008 guide had passed. This is not only true for this book but all of the 2008 Disney World guides. If you plan to utilize the Dining Plan, make sure you visit Disney's web site for the most current information.
   
   The theme parks are covered pretty comprehensively. The strategies offered for avoiding long lines at the theme parks are helpful. The book also gives descriptions and ratings of every ride and attraction at each park. The descriptions are almost too detailed (if you want any surprises) and their ratings are sometimes a bit generous. Still, the material is helpful in deciding which rides to make sure you see and what can be skipped if time is short.
   
   All in all, this is an above average guide. It does, however, suffer in comparison to The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2008 (Unofficial Guides), which is the ultimate help in planning a trip to Orlando. The Unofficial Guide is hundreds of pages longer and every bit of it is crammed with useful information with the hotel and dining coverage proving especially weak here compared to it. Still, Some travelers are actually put off by the sheer volume of information in the Unofficial Guide and this might be a choice that would be less intimidating and more easily digested if you prefer to invest a bit less time in the planning stage of your trip.



2. Although I've been to Disney with my family several times, I pick up a guide book every year to brush up on an outside opinion on places we haven't eaten, what construction is going on, etc. I had picked up the 2003 Fodor's Walt Disney World for Couples book and absolutely loved it. When they discontinued the series, I picked up this year's 2008 Guide book. Having been to Disney regularly, I was disappointed at the write-ups. While they do at least mention all the major rides and attractions, and offer some helpful tips, the write-ups in this edition aren't nearly as detailed as the other title I'd bought. I felt cheated of not only better writing, but a sense of humor and a lot of the little details their previous series offered. The input from the public that they published was mainly from two people, hardly a wide sampling.
   Any first time Disney visitors are much better served by spending their money on a different guide.



3. This is a pretty good book on Walt Disney World. However, there are better guide books out there, specifically The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Walt Disney World and the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.
   
   If you already have the above three books and would like another opinion, then pickup this book. It does have pretty solid coverage.

5 comments about The Florida Keys Dive Guide, Revised Edition.

1. As a beginning diver, I found this book to be very informative. It lists practically every reef in the Florida Keys. I especially like the reef maps which show what there is to see at what depth. Then after each reef map, there are photos of what there is to see at that site. It is a paperback, but it has glossy pages and great photos. I thought it was an excellent book - at a value price!



2. This is the best diving book about the Keys in this website. It is a fascinating look at many of the bigger reefs in the Keys. We used this book as a reference source for creating our website. It is filled with beautiful photos, all taken on the reefs described therein. It has diveplan maps to follow, history, fish descriptions, and many other helpful facts relevant to divers.



3. I found this book to be an excellent review of diving sites in the Fla. Keys. Not only did it describe sites but the drawings describing dives from boats was excellent! I cannot say enough about how well this book is presented and it should be an invaluable resource for all of us who dive in the Keys



4. This book can please every scuba diver interested on the Florida Keys. Great layout; nice, glossy paper; loads of inspiring pictures; super cool maps of EACH dive site; expert advice from knowledgeable writers who clearly love the Keys.
   For such a beautiful book - though not hard-cased, it can fare well on a diver's coffee-table - this guide is a GREAT value for the money. This book provides substantial help in preparing for your first trips to the only living reef in the continental USA. It can also inspire the seasoned Florida diver to remember the good times underwater and how precious the Keys are.
   A fitting tribute to a nature wonder... a most useful guide for a diving vacation... Highly recommended!



5. I'm a Divemaster and Guide in Key Largo. This book is by far the best written guide I have found for the Keys. Because of who the author is my expectations for the 3D underwater diagrams was unrealistically high. The author does an exceptional job detailing points of interest and highlights you don't want to miss.
   
   Buy this book!

5 comments about A Paddler's Guide to Everglades National Park.

1. As an experienced Everglades paddler who has logged over 400 miles in the Everglades backcountry, I can't say enough about this book. Johnny Molloy has provided a level of detail that is truly extraordinary, and his descriptions of the trails and campsites are dead on the money. The maps alone make this book worth having. This book should find a permanent place of your list of indispensable equipment for planning and conducting an Everglades backcountry expedition.



2. I found this book extremely helpful; even having paddled the 'Glades twice already. This book will allow me to take "The road less travelled," on this, my third trip thru the 'Glades. I would highly recommend this to anyone planning to paddle the Wilderness Waterway, or parts thereof.



3. We used this book to plan a trip to the glades. The info inside and maps helped a lot. WE still needed a good chart but the maps made it easier to nav. The info on camp sites and routes were pretty accurate.



4. This book was extremely helpful to plan a trip in the everglades and then was also helpful when changes were necessary last minute due to weather. It is an invaluable tool for anyone interested. It's informative, well written and yet "small and light" enough to take when space and weight are factors. Highly recommended to all.



5. My boyfriend and I went and paddled the Wilderness Waterway through the Everglades National Park in February 2008 using this guidebook, a compass and the appropriate nautical charts. We had never been to Florida before, nor had we ever undertaken such a long canoe trip. The experience was exhilarating. Route finding through the mangrove forest was very challenging, but by stopping, rereading Johnny Malloy's route descriptions as we progressed, and trusting the compass, we never did make a wrong turn. Without this guide, I'm not sure that would have been true.
   
   I was disappointed to be advised by people we met along the paddle that the "Nightmare Route" would not be passable after the most recent hurricanes of 2005 because of fallen trees and the fact that the ranger service does not maintain the route. After reading this guide, which was published in 2000, I had been totally sold on the idea of paddling the "Quintessential Everglades Route." I don't know if it is actually not passable, but we decided not to take the chance. Anyone interested should pursue more updated information. The North Harney River Route, however, was passable and satisfied some of that desire to paddle the route less taken.
   
   If you don't know what no-see-ums are, investigate protecting yourself from them before you go. Yikes!