No comments about Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach & Florida's Space Coast: Great Destinations: A Complete Guide (Great Destinations).

No comments about Rand McNally 2007 Tampa/St. Petersburg street guide, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties.

No comments about Florida's Rivers.

No comments about Fodor's Miami's 25 Best, 3rd Edition (25 Best).

2 comments about Haunt Hunters Guide to Florida.

1. The American South has long been known as an area that has more than it's share of ghosts and haunts. This may be caused by the peculiar history of the South, or maybe it is the magical heritage of the many Celtic settlers who came to the area. I like to think however that it is simply because the South is such a lovely place that even the dead don't want to leave. Whatever the reason though, book after book has been published dealing with the haunts of Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana and the Carolinas but with the exception of St. Augustine Florida has been very under represented. Now, thanks to Joyce Moore, those of us who plan vacations with the idea of visiting a few haunted sites have a new reason to visit Florida.
   
   This book is written, exactly as the title suggests, as a tour guide to Florida's haunted locations. The author has taken the time to visit the sites she writes about and has an enthusiasm that shines through in her writing. She has even managed to catch an unusual image in one of her pictures that may well represent one of the ghostly subjects of this book. This is also a very well organized book with each chapter beginning with a basic history of the location in question followed by a history of the haunt and then a small section about other things to do while in the neighborhood. This last section more often than not deals with places to eat along with the specialty of the house. One often works up an appetite while chasing ghosts so this section is particularly appreciated. The most notable and praiseworthy thing about this book though is that each chapter contains accounts from people who have had first hand experiences with the ghost or ghosts who are haunting the location being discussed. This fact alone lends a great deal of credibility to this book.
   
   On the downside, many of the stories in this book tend to lack depth and I can't help but feel that the book would have been better if a few stories had been dropped altogether so that the stories that remained could have been given more attention. Three or four of the stories included were on the weak side and wouldn't have been missed at all. For example, the Coral Castle is certainly a fascinating site but it's worth as a place to hunt ghosts is questionable. On the other hand, the story of the Artist House in Key West and particularly the house's connection with Robert the doll could have easily have filled several more pages. Just the very mention of that doll gives me the creeps for some reason yet the chapter dealing with it took up only two pages in this book.
   
   This author's enthusiasm and her pleasing writing style make this book a very fun and educational read. She gives what appear to be very precise directions to the locations she writes about along with the number to call for more information. She has put a lot of time and effort into turning out a quality book and she has accomplished this in an admirable fashion. The often-overlooked ghosts of Florida have finally been given their due.



2. Used this to choose sites to visit in FL. Also used it to tell ghost stories at a camp out.

No comments about Exploring Florida's Emerald Coast: A Rich History and a Rare Ecology.

No comments about Rand McNally streets of Sarasota, Bradenton Florida.

5 comments about PassPorter's Walt Disney World for Your Special Needs: The Take-Along Travel Guide and Planner! (Passporter Walt Disney World).

1. "Maybe you've always dreamed of taking a vacation to Walt Disney World or cruising with Disney but were reluctant, thinking that once you got there, your special situation would not be accommodated. We'd like to show you how you, too, can enjoy a vacation at this 47-square-mile playground, no matter what special need or requirement you might have."
   
   Everyone has special needs when they go traveling and this guide is truly an exploration of the needs of all people visiting Walt Disney World. From diet concerns and allergies to mobility issues, they have everything covered. A page of special needs quickly helps you find the page you are looking for. Concerned because you are pregnant? Turn to page 73. Concerned about religious issues and foods you will need to find on vacation, turn to pages 31-34.
   
   List of what to pack for your vacation are practical and enlightening. There are maps of the Magic Kingdom and information on all the places you can stay like the Winderness Lodge and Villas, but notes are made about the rooms being poorly lit. So this might be a concern. There are low, medium and high ratings for all the resorts. Unique elements of pools are featured, like pools that have wheelchair access so you can be wheeled right into the pool. Advice for pregnant women is useful to explain which rides they might want to avoid and why it is best not to sit too long in a hot tub. Really helpful advice I would never have considered.
   
   The special needs include: ADHD, Addiction Recovery, Allergies, Autism, Chronic Fatigue, Cognitive Disabilities, Diet, Fears, Fibromyalgia, Foreign Language, Hearing, Heart Health, Infants, Medical Treatment, Mental Health, Mobility, Motion Sensitivity, Physical Therapy, Pregnancy, Rehabilitation, Religion, Seniors, Service Animals, Size and Vision.
   
   So, as a safety manual for travel, this book has a lot to offer, no matter where you are traveling, but will be especially helpful as a travel guide for anyone visiting Walt Disney World.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



2. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone planning a trip to Walt Disney World. As a repeat visitor to WDW I found this book about as informative as it gets, they've thought of just about everthing that may present a problem during your visit. It raises quite a bit of awareness, too. Written by folks who really care about everyone being able to enjoy all that WDW has to offer. I can't say enough.



3. I bought this book because my grandson has a mild form of autism and we're taking him and his family to Disney in June. I have read the book and it has the best information on each ride at all the parks. We can now plan what to do and warn him ahead of time that he may have a problem with the ride but he can make up his own mind with the information given in the book. Well worth the money



4. I have several food allergies. It makes traveling difficult during the best of times. But when you are going to be a captive audience, it's a little more daunting. This book gave great information as to what accommodations can be made for travelers with special needs. It also gives phone numbers to call to make your individual requests. The information is accurate and very informative.



5. This book has a new edition coming out 9/28/2007. The title is _Passporter's Open Mouse...Easy Access Vacations for Trevelers with Extra Challenges_. You don't need to get an overpriced old edition! It took some digging on the Passpoter Website for me to find this, and Amazon does have it!

1 comments about Literary Sands of Key West.

1. Key West, it is often said, has been home to more Putizer Prize winning authors, per square foot, than any other place in the world. Although a bit dated since it's 1996 publication (Robert Stone and Billy Collins are among those who would be included in a new version), this little book is still a good condensed source of information for the literary traveler or arm-chair reader.
   
   You'll learn about Hemigway's life here, take the Tennessee (Williams) Walk, discover the haunts of Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, and Truman Capote. Listed too are cafes and bookstores (Valladares newsstand has since closed but Key West Island Books remains) where the famous and want-to-be-famous hang out.
   
   Marsh Muirhead, author of "Key West Explained - a guide for the traveler"

5 comments about Diving Guide to Underwater Florida (10th Edition).

1. If you dive and live in florida YOU MUST OWN THIS BOOK. There is no better diving guide around. Hundreds of sites, most with GPS coordinates. Inside this book you'll find the hidden spots some of the locals don't even know about.



2. I bought this book as a way of finding new GPS coordinates in the Tampa area to dive. This book was pretty good, with a great description of each site. However, the GPS coordinates are pretty much run of the mill numbers, you'll find every local charter dive boat and fishing boat there, but not a bad place to start. Where the book starts to fall apart though is when it starts telling you, Place X is 1.7 miles on a 335 course north of point Y. That info. does you no good. When you are looking for a ledge the size of a small car, close doesn't count. Also, it seemed like all the more interesting sites were given in Loran numbers. Anyone who knows GPS knows that you can't accurately convert Loran to GPS, so those numbers are worthless for all but the 3 people in the world still using Loran.
   Overall, a great book for people just learning a new area to fish or dive, but expect everyone in that area to have that number. Good book with good info. For those looking for more GPS numbers, try nauticalcharts.com... VERY GOOD MAPS.



3. Though I am a cavern diver, I have not tried to use this book for this purpose. I have tried to use it for finding dive sites in SE Florida. In this regard, the book is nearly useless. Many (if not most) of the GPS coordinates provided are just plain wrong. Obviously the author is relying on outdated (at best) or totally unreliable third party information. I frankly doubt that the author has ever been to most of the SE Florida open water dive sites written up in this book. This book is a waste of money for open water divers.



4. Great overall guide, but sent me on several wild goose chases after SE Florida GPS numbers. Suggest the author/publisher invest in getting these numbers verified, or at least add a notice indicating which GPS numbers have and have not been verified. Also, why bother listing Loran-C numbers. Who uses that anymore?
   
   Hope the 11the edition just out is better, but I'm not buying until I see changes in the bad GPS numbers.
   
   -- LL



5. I have never found one of the sites listed in this book. Very upset at the wasted time on sandy bottoms.
   
   Don't buy.