No comments about Everglades: The Story Behind the Scenery.

3 comments about A Key West Companion.

1. Key West is such a beautiful place, it deserves to have a book like this written about it. Lovingly crafted by its adoring author, this series of essays doesn't comprise the ordinary "where to shop, eat and stay", advertisement-frenzied travel book. Instead, it's a languid stroll through past and present Key West, accompanied by Cox who whispers many strange and wonderful secrets of "Cayo Hueso" as you float through this weathered paradise.

   Cox spent four months in the "Conch Republic", so there's nothing slick or salesman-like about his observations of this Bohemian enclave. His respect for Key West history and its influence in shaping the present community is obvious. Cox is especially admiring and engaging in his portrayal of real-life "Freshwater and Saltwater Conchs" (as the natives...and not-so-natives...call themselves), all who readily share their interesting stories with him, whether over a frenzied breakfast at a local cafe, or a quiet drink in the shade of a sheltered verandah. Fascinating tales abound in this book, the funniest of which recounts the night the Navy burned confiscated drugs in the City dump on Key West Bight: prevailing winds made this event especially memorable for the natives. Cox goes on to say, "Since then, the government has burned its dope somewhere else."

   Even though the book was published in the 1980's, this first-time 2001 traveler to Key West found it to be a fascinating read about a fascinating place. Its many wonderful treasures, from the carefully restored homes, broken-down military establishments, lazy beaches, historical landmarks and museums, haunting cemeteries, homey bars and saloons, and flourishing retail markets - not to mention the colorful "Conchs" who call the place home - don't seem to occupy a static place in time. Instead, Key West meanders through the years like a lush, tropical, untended garden, changing here and there occasionally, but always maintaining a character that makes it the most intriguing and unexpected pleasure to be savored. Cox's "companion" to this unexpected pleasure is indeed just that - a warm tribute to an old friend. An unexpected pleasure in and of itself, "A Key West Companion" will transport you to that beautiful island for a vacation of the mind, with Cox as your own personal tour guide...and will probably spur you to plan a trip of your own to this weird and wonderful place, even if you've already been there before.




2. In "A Key West Companion", Christopher took me on a tour of the real Key West. He shows that Key West goes deeper than a haven for vacationers. He reveals Key West's golden treasure: The People.



3. almost more of a story than a travel book; well written; useful; gives more of a sense of Key West's flavor

1 comments about Nino Pernetti's Caffe Abbracci Cookbook: His Life Story and Travels around the World.

1. Nino Pernetti's Caffe Abbracci Cookbook: His Life Story and Travels around the World If you have ever traveled to Miami and visited Coral Gables, the odds are you ate at Caffe Abbracci. You were also probably greeted at the door by Owner- Nino Pernetti. This cookbook gives great Northern Italian recipes, easy to make, and guaranteed to leave your guests and/or family members asking for more. I cooked up the Risotto with Strawberries. Absolutely Fantastic. I cannot get that Risotto out of my head. I also liked the way they incorporated alot of pictures, recipes and the adventures of Nino Pernetti. It is a true American success story- poverty in Italy, immigrant to the new world, hard work, and success. Easy reading and very interesting. This guy has been everywhere, and done almost everything. Now I know why he is able to speak at least 8 languages fluently. When I was at his Restaurant, I heard him speak in Spanish, English, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Korean, and he even spoke to some guy in Turkish! Great recipes, great stories, a very enjoyable cookbook. If you live in Miami, and know Nino Pernetti, this book is a must. If you have eaten at his restaurant on a visit to Miami, you can now take alittle Caffe Abracci home with you.

2 comments about Insiders' Guide to the Florida Keys and Key West, 9th (Insiders' Guide Series).

1. My wife and I bought this book to help plan an upcoming trip to Key West. This book has answered just about every question we've had. It covers restaurants, places to stay, where to rent bikes or cars, beaches, snorkeling, where to park and not to park, and a hundred other topics. Nearly every business entry lists the phone number and web address.

   My favorite things about this book: Unlike some destination guides that tend to focus on the upscale restaurants, this guide seems to list everything, including simple sandwich shops. Also, the reviews of the various businesses don't appear to be simple re-hashes of what is printed in their brochures.

   Only complaint: It appears that the reviews never seem to mention any negatives about the businesses... one guest house that we had tentatively selected to stay at, based on this book, had so many negative reviews online that we decided not to stay there.

   Still, for sheer quantity of useful information, it's hard to imagine a more comprehensive book. (If my overall opinion changes after actually going to Key West, I will update this review.)




2. We just returned from a trip to the Keys staying in Islamorada. We did lots of Key hopping and lived from this book. Using it for restaurants, where to watch the sunsets, information on fishing, boat ramps, beaches, etc. The only thing the book didn't have that would have been helpful would have been information on pets - laws, pet friendly parks, beaches, etc. Excellent guide.

No comments about Fodor's Around Orlando with Kids, 1st Edition: 60 Great Things to Do Together (Around the City with Kids).

No comments about Hiking Central Florida: A Guide to 30 Great Walking and Hiking Adventures.

2 comments about Mobil Travel Guide 2000 Southeast: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee (Mobil Travel Guide Coastal Southeast (Ga, Nc, Sc)).

1. I highly recommend this guide to anyone who will be traveling in the Northeast as well as Canada. This guide gives you everything from upcoming events for the year to where to stay & eat. The maps are easy to read and follow. I have been a reader of the Mobil Guide for many years and it is continuing to give the most accurate, up-to-date travel information. This is the MUST-HAVE for the Northeast traveler.



2. The book gives a good overview of the areas with many addresses. Anyhow I found it a bit too black and white. It gives useful maps, but no coloured pictures from the areas, which would make it a bit more pleasant to read.

1 comments about Beachcomber's Guide to Gulf Coast Marine Life: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, & Texas.

1. I have mixed emotions about this book, it is very informative on many levels but falls short on many more. I was thinking that it would be about things frequently seen from the beach but it includes a lot of info the layman will probably never need. This includes info (I personally appreciated) about planktonic animals, mieofauna and epifauna, in general a bunch of small animals most people will never notice. Not to say that they shouldn't have been included! They are very important to understanding the ecology of the areas discussed. See what I mean about mixed emotions? I like the way that the book grouped things by community; oyster reef, seagrass bed, mud bottom, etc. A hearty appendix that linked things by taxonomic group would have been nice though. Illustrations where copious but a tad bit simple. In the price range the line drawings could have been better, or supplemented by black and white illustrations. Also curious was the listing of only invertebrates until the end, then the authors jumped over everything and threw in a chapter on sea turtles??? What about the rest of the marine vertebrates? Why include the turtles without the fish and marine mammals? Kind of lopsided.

   If you see this book lying around it is certainly worth having. I'm still using it to flip back and explore certain areas. I wouldn't get to hung up on finding a copy, unless you're really trying to own everything on gulf coast marine life.

No comments about Florida: Its Scenery, Climate, and History. With An Account of Charleston, Savannah, Augusta, and Aiken; A Chapter For Consumptives; Various Papers On ... Hand-Book and Guide. by Sidney Lanier..

1 comments about Waters Less Traveled: Exploring Florida's Big Bend Coast (Florida History and Culture).

1. Alderson has helped bring to light a little known and critical natural area and along the way has discovered people and places that illuminate Florida's history and culture beyond the oft-visited tourist centers. Alderson shows you the real Florida and helps you experience the pull of the tides, the roll of manatees moving over the seagrasses, and foraging birds in a lingering subtropical sunset - as well as clouds of mosquitoes in your tent! A very rewarding adventure and satisfying read.