1 comments about National Geographic Traveler: Florida (National Geographic Traveler).

1. Having recently moved to Florida from New York, I wanted to take the time to explore a little but didn't know where to start. This book does a good job of describing the many different areas to see and things to do all over the state. Good maps and brght pictures are all through the book. Now I have plenty of places I want to go see if I could only find the time........

5 comments about Universal Studios Escape: The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Theme Park Adventure.

1. I purchased this book a little over six months ago and I have read it from cover to cover. It is extremely helpful and honest. I noticed a previous reviewer stated that the author was biased and disliked Disney and the rest of Orlando, I find that to be absolutely false. As a matter of fact the author wrote another book all about Orlando's attractions. If you are looking for an in debt book on UNIVERSAL STUDIOS ORLANDO then this is the BEST choice you can make. It is chock full with info on rides, attractions, dining, hotels, and much more. Enjoy!



2. I've read several books on Universal Orlando and Kelly Monaghan's book is the best one I've read. It describes the rides and attractions in detail. The descriptions are generally very accurate.

   People usually ask me for recommendations on books about Universal Orlando. Without hesitation, I always recommend Monaghan's book.




3. Must have for first time travelers as well as returning visitors. This book contained some excellent tips for "hidden" things I wouldn't have noticed otherwise. His ride and show details are very descriptive.



4. I noticed that this book had practically nothing bad to say about anything in the park. It is extremely enthusiastic about everything (for example, while slightly acknowledging the cheesy nature of the Kong ride, the book just goes on about how pretty the scenery is instead.) It makes it sound like Universal invented the S&S Space Shot tower with Dr. Doom's Fearfall, when, in actuality, the same ride was made by many parks first... etc. Do you know what's even better? When I was browsing the Universal gift shops, this book was featured prominently in many of them. If you want the book that Universal wants you to read, get this one.



5. This book is the best unbiased, comprehensive compilation of all things Universal on the market. If you are spending any amount of time in Orlando, pick up:
   1) Universal Orlando (Monaghan)
   2) The Unofficial Guide to Disney World (Sehlinger)
   3) The Other Orlando (Monaghan)

   Ride, Resort, and Restaurant reviews are thorough and right on the mark. After reading this, you'll feel like an "insider" and get the most out of your vacation. You'll recover the cost of this book after reading the first 31 pages. By the end of the book, you'll be able to extend your vacation or put much less of a dent in your credit cards.

   BTW - The fact that this book is for sale at Universal should be a feather in Universal's cap, not an indictment against this book's accuracy. I wonder if Disney will ever feature the "Unofficial" guide in their stores.

3 comments about A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to Florida (Canoeing & Kayaking Guides - Menasha).

1. There are a lot of rivers in Florida and this book does a good job of letting you know where they are and it also includes a short review on each river. I have paddled many of the rivers in the book and I find their reviews are very accurate.



2. I own this book and it does a great job covering the entire state's top paddling spots. The book breaks the state down into nine geographic sections and cover the rivers and spring-runs in the area with notes, a sketched map(drawn accurately from topo maps) and other info on the waterway being covered. This is the FIRST EDITION and there is a second edition supposedly coming out in April 2007, but I'm pretty sure both books contain the same info.



3. Maybe if you live in Florida you can make sense of these maps. There are no cities on them. If you're not from Florida, like me, they make no sense at all. Also, the distances he lists are sometimes self-contradictory. One of the maps shows the Pacific ocean. Last time I checked Florida is not near the Pacific. If this were the only fault with this book, it would be one thing, but I think it is just symbolic of the general quality of this book. I have only paddled on one of these rivers, which he lists as good paddling, but it is actually choked with fallen trees - you have to portage about every fifty feet.
   
   If you want to know where you can paddle near some city in Florida this book is useless. You can't figure out what listed rivers are near that city. Even if you can figure out where these rivers are, he doesn't give you enough information to know which one you want to paddle on.

2 comments about Orlando Chow: Restaurants for the Rest of Us.

1. This author writes restaurant reviews for the local paper, so I trust his judgement. This book covers around 100 restaurants in all price ranges. Use it to find a good lunch spot or to plan a special occasion/splurge meal.
   This clues you in to the specialties of the restaurants, how good the service is, etc. There are maps to help you find the places.



2. "Wait a minute... what do you mean eat OUTSIDE of Walt Disney World? Are there even places to eat between here and the airport?!"
   
   That's not far from what I was thinking when I was invited to dinner last December, to a restaurant called "Seasons 52". When I read the name, I ran through the list of WDW restaurants in my head, and even checked a guidebook to be sure i didn't miss a new one. Nope. Not in WDW. Much to my dismay, it was off WDW property. "Why, oh why?", I asked. There are SO many incredible restaurants right here in property? Who would want to venture outside these hallowed grounds to eat when... OK. You got the point.
   
   Well, I went, and was blown away. Yes. You can get an incredible meal outside WDW. In fact, you can get hundreds of them. But you might not know where to find them. Until now.
   
   Bob Mervine's new book: "Orlando Chow: Restaurants for the Rest of Us" single-handedly made a believer out of me.
   
   This pocket-sized book reviews about 100 restaurants (most of which are not in WDW property) in the Orlando area, ranging from $10 entrees to the very high-end (where you may pay upwards of $50 per plate). However, he chose not to "rate" them, as he feels that if it's in the book, it must be "darn good chow."
   
   And this book is not just a "where do I go" collection of reviews. Instead, it let's you know where and WHEN to go, including how to get the best out of what the restaurant has to offer. The casual tourist might never find some of the out-of-the-way places, which is a shame, as they offer not only great cuisine, but a wonderful local dining experience. (I need to go to "Toucan Willie's and "Johnny's Fillin' Station", just so I can find out what a "redneck burger" really is!). Follow the included maps to really get a taste (pardon the pun) of all the "Other Orlando" has to offer.
   
   The Chow book, one of a series highlighting eateries around the country, is also a nice read, as the author infuses some well-placed humor throughout. Bob calls himself a "Professional Eater" (how do I get that gig?), and also works as a food service and restaurant analyst for the Orlando Business Journal. And for all you Disney fans, who might swear (as I did), to never venture outside the gates of WDW, don't worry, he reviews some of WDW's finest, including the California Grill.
   
   Oh, and I must highly recommend Seasons 52, as the food and ambiance were outstanding. (And if you like desserts, hoo-ahh!). And since I (along with half of America) am on my health kick of the week, it's important to note that here, the chefs use no butter or sauces on any of their delicious selections (which change regularly according to what's fresh). In fact, each entrée is under 475 calories!!

No comments about Rand Mcnally Large Scale Map Florida.

1 comments about Insight Guide Florida (Insight Guides Florida).

1. There are a vast number of guide- books devoted to Florida. Some are very helpful others you might as well save your money, as the information contained is nothing more than what you would usually receive from the travel department for the State of Florida.

   However, it is not very often when you come across a travel guide- book that recognizes that it is not only sufficient to list and describe lodging, dining, attractions etc, you have to provide the reader with a sense of place and history.
   Once you are armed with this background material, the traveler is better prepared to appreciate the moment of the place and the local inhabitants encountered.
   It is the presentation of these elements that the visual guide- book Insight Guides Florida excels.

   Teaming up with the expertise of the well-known Discovery Channel, the guide devotes considerable space to the history, people, places, and culture of the Sunshine state.
   The introductory chapter lists the decisive dates of Florida followed by an overview of its history from the time of its earliest inhabitants about ten thousand years ago to present day sun worshippers.

   A section devoted to its people provides the reader with an understanding of the mosaic that is Florida. We are given very useful insights into the African Americans, Cubans, Yankees, Crackers i.e. someone with strong roots in the South hailing from the extreme southeastern part of the state, who have contributed to the development of the state.
   

   Feature sections indicated by yellow bars at the top of each page inform the reader about festivals, food, sports, sunken ships, space at the Cape, and theme parks. There is even a humorous short essay written by Florida-based Pulitzer Prize winning author, Dave Barry, on how to survive a Florida vacation.

   Insight sections key the reader in on Florida's amazing weather, unbeatable beaches, Miami's art deco and South Beach, ecology of the Everglades, the living Coral Reef and exploring Kennedy Space Center.

   The places section divide the State into five geographical areas, Southern Florida, the East Coast, Central Florida, the West Coast and Northern Florida. Essential facts and must see attractions are highlighted with a general sprinkling of side- bars. The latter providing interesting tidbits of information and tips. An example, "W.D. Chipley, the man who brought trains to Pensacola, dubbed the city `the Naples of Florida.' He told northerners that in `winter and summer,' its healthfulness is marvelous, except during epidemics."
   
   Insight Guides Florida is a beautifully rendered book with its design, sturdy paper, and its extensive use of rich photographs that effectively brings life to the people and places it describes. In addition, the various contributors' evaluative comments make the book a very useful resource before and after a visit to Florida.

   Norm Goldman Editor of Bookpleasures.com

No comments about Where Orlando Eat!: Great Meals Wherever You Are (Where to Eat Guides).

No comments about Sea Kayaking Florida & the Georgia Sea Islands.

No comments about Next Exit Magic Kingdom: Florida Accidentally.

2 comments about The Fun Seeker's Miami: The Ultimate Guide to One of the World's Hottest Cities (The Fun Also Rises Travel).

1. Witty, smart, and not afraid to make fun of Miami's sacred cows, this guide cares as much about giving you a feel for the city as it does about dropping celebrity names. Not that they're missing--if your main goals are to find the hottest clubs and bump into Tara Reid, consult the detailed nightlife guide, complete with names of A-listers known to put in an appearance.
   
   But if you want to get a true taste of America's Caribbean capital, work your way through the itineraries listed in Schmidt's book, which run from "Hot and Cool Miami," a celebration of South Beach and its trendy ilk, to "Clásico Miami," a three-day retro cruise to the great beach resorts and Latin restaurants that made Miami famous in the 50s and 60s, when the Rat Pack, James Bond, and a wave of Cuban immigrants transformed the town into the Magic City.
   
   Unlike many guidebooks, Fun Seeker's Miami gives you the dirt instead of the Chamber of Commerce spin. As a former South Florida resident, I have to say it's right on.



2. "We're locals, and sometimes it's easy to get out of touch with hotspots. So when relatives came to Miami for a long weekend, this guide really came in handy. We figured out exactly where to visit and eat out during their brief stay. They especially enjoyed the off-the-beaten tourist path spots like Scotty's Landing in the Grove that they never would have discovered on their own."