3 comments about Lonely Planet Orlando & Central Florida (Lonely Planet Orlando and Central Florida).

1. I'm glad you found the information useful - I certainly worked hard on it! And I'm sorry you were personally offended by my remarks. In my defense however, I think my statement about "rednecks," taken in context, was not so bad.

   For the readers' interest, here's the text:

   "Rednecks, who refer to themselves as just that, can be found in many areas of Central Florida and are easily identified by their foul and racially derogatory language. Leave them in peace to wallow in ignorance, and don't go striking up any debates. In fact, if someone tries to engage you in one, you may just want to smile, nod and say 'uh huh' - it's just not worth the effort."

   I agree, these are bold statements. But first of all, I'm talking about people who self-identify as "rednecks." And second of all, I think it's fair to say that people who speak derogatorily regarding race can be classified as ignorant. Either that or just plain mean, but knowing people personally who have derogatory impressions of nonwhites, I know that the latter (ie, "mean") is not necessarily the case! Some real sweethearts are racist.

   Also, this wasn't in the warning section at all, just under "Society & Conduct" (right after some text about the wonders of Southern hospitality). In the previous paragraph, I made a statement about how nonstraight couples should be careful about their conduct in such regions, but I didn't comment on the possible consequences. But I think it's safe to say that gay people should be aware that it's not a good idea to show same-sex affection in some of those areas.

   Since many readers of this book will be from other countries, I thought this information to be not only useful, but necessary. We can't expect foreigners to be familiar with US cultural norms from region to region.

   I definitely made bold comments throughout the book; some things I loved, some things I liked, some things I didn't like, and some things I hate. But Lonely Planet is known not only for being informative, but also opinionated - that's why people love the books.

   Again, I'm sorry you didn't like some of my opinions. Take heart that I love the South, have family in the South, and take pride in the South.

   Wendy Taylor




2. After reading through the first couple of chapter you get the feeling that the writer didn't enjoy her stay in Orlando. Instead of providing more helpful information to the reader it seems that the author is focused more on sarcasm and snotty remarks. Still the book is an okay guide nothing more !



3. I used this book for a recent trip to central Florida and found it very helpful. The book has lots of information on the theme parks and which shows and rides are most worthwhile. We only visited Disney's Animal Kingdom park, but found Taylor's suggestions right on the mark. We did not follow her advice to arrive early and boy, did we wish we had paid attention to that detail! I appreciated the information on the natural areas of Florida. Based on the book's recommendation, we spent a wonderful day at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore. We also spent time in Ocala, and this book has information on the sites in that area. Taylor is right: Silver Springs is a lovely, low-key attraction.

   The main downside to the book is the lack of information on hotels --if you like detailed descriptions on hotels, you'll want an additional book or will need to use an online resource such as tripadvisor.com.

   All in all, a great little book. Follow Taylor's advice to carry plenty of change for Florida's toll roads, and look beyond the few scattered comments in the book. I think good guide books have some personality, and I did not find the comments in this one offensive. For many travelers, myself included, some aspects of traveling in the South do come as culture shock, including the confederate flag that we saw flying above an orange grove right off the Inter-State!

1 comments about The Best Bike Rides in the South: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia.

1. I recently carried this book along for a driving trip (carrying bicycles) that my daughter and I took down the Southern Atlantic coast (NC, SC, GA), veering to north central Florida before turning around for home. The book was ok, but only for pointing us in a general direction and then mapping out our own rides from there. The maps are relatively easy to follow and they do a good job categorizing the type of rides from Rambles up to Challenges, but I found myself wanting more 'challenge' on the Cruises and Rambles and less 'challenge' for the Classics and Challenges. Perhaps it's just a matter of personal preference.

   Our first stop was Jekyll Island, GA. We were not too pleased to learn that the Jekyll Island Ramble, noted as "an excellent bike ride for the entire family", was in reality a highly dangerous path (~3 ft. wide) shared with other cyclists and pedestrians coming and going from both directions. Was appalled to read the island maps and literature strongly suggesting that cyclists stay off the real roads and on these hazardous paths. My daughter and I ignored that suggestion for the most part, but still had to navigate around a few cyclists riding on the left side of the road so to stay with their riding partners who had opted to stay on the path. I understand why some people might prefer or be attracted to bicycle paths. However, I think that ALL bicycle riders would do well to understand that the basic rules of cycling are pretty much the same as the rules of the road for drivers. IMO, if people would ride with this awareness, there would be very little need to sequester cyclists (or cyclists to sequester themselves) onto choked and dangerous little paths with pedestrians as is the case on Jekyll Island. The marsh and harbor side of the island was very quiet and sparsely traveled as compared to the ocean/beach side. We did follow the bike path for a bit because it veered away from the road and was very scenic.

   Our next stop was St. Augustine, FL. Car traffic along A1A was far too heavy and the streets way too narrow to even attempt the St. Augustine Ramble - my 12 year old is a good road rider, but easily overwhelmed. To sandwich her between all those cars would have been cruel and unthinkable. We did walk down St. Georges Street, but I can't imagine attempting to cycle through all that pedestrian traffic as the book suggests. I was tempted to snatch a few of the children on scooters and scold them for weaving in and out so closely among the walkers - what the heck were their parents thinking, or were they thinking??

   On to North Central Florida, location of the Suwannee River Classic ride. No way was my short-legged 12 year old going to ride 98 miles, but to our good fortune, most of the country roads in that area were lightly trafficked by motor vehicles so that we were able to tailor our riding distances accordingly. Falling Creek Falls was a very lovely and scenic stop and not one that would normally be found by most tourists. I wished that the book had highlighted more of the gorgeous fresh water springs in that area and/or mapped some rides to them. The one listed, Ichetucknee Springs, was a pretty place, but not particularly bicycle friendly. People might do well to pick up the Bicycle Facilities Map for North Central Florida at any of the tourism offices - I thought it listed a better and more extensive range of rides and intend to return one day to explore them more thoroghly.

   We wound up back on the NC coast to finish off our vacation. By then it was the weekend. I would NOT suggest doing the Cape Fear Challenge ride on a weekend day, even to my worst enemy. I'm not sure when would be the best time to do a ride like this. 421S on the front end of this trip is always car-packed. One must also watch out for hwy 133N on the backside. On Saturdays and Sundays, this is a 2 lane road with NO shoulders heavily trafficked by pickup trucks and SUVs towing big boats on trailers. An early morning weekday jaunt down 133N to Orton Plantation and the Brunswick Historic Site might be quite pleasant, however. Do remember your bug spray as the book suggests! The biting flies and 'no-see-umms' are already thick as of this posting - late April. We stayed in Southport and this area is close to 'home' territory to me. We didn't attempt the Cape Fear Challenge, tho I ran into two cylists who had tried unsuccessfully to cyle out 133N and back. I rode Bald Head Island (all golf-carts, no cars) with my daughter on Saturday and then took a lone early Sunday morning jaunt from Southport to Oak Island - very pleasant!

   To sum it up, this is not the worst book of rides, but not the best either. I do appreciate that the book was helpful in providing a little direction for us to head towards, even though we tailored and altered most of the listed rides to suit our own riding style and abilities.

2 comments about Living in the Turks & Caicos Islands: From Conchs...to the Florida Lottery.

1. I realize that folks at Amazon can't check all the books they sell, but perhaps a policy regarding content would be a good idea. I wanted a travel guide on the Turks and Caicos . This is nothing more than a collection of memories put to paper. NO , I did not read the whole book. I started reading it, but the level at which it is written did not intrest me. (That is as polite as I can be regarding this "book" ) I would not recommend this book.



2. This is an important look at what it was to grow up in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Mr. Palmer's recollections let us know what it was like before the Islands were developed for tourism. Charles Palmer allows us to see the Turks and Caicos Islanders move from a rural life into today's modern society. I recommend this book for the traveller who wants to know a lot more than where the best rum punch is served. If you're lucky, you may even meet Charles Palmer on the golf course.

No comments about Insight Pocket Guide Miami.

1 comments about 150 Day Trips South West Florida.

1. This book has very useful information and is well researched. It is divided into chapters such as Beaches, Museums, Scenic Drives, etc. Southwest Florida is a huge area and a location index or a better map should have been included, but the information alone is worth 5 stars.

1 comments about Tampa Hillsborough County, FL.

1. Good map. Large detailed maps provide a good view of whatever you need to find. Binding is nice and allows for easy access and long life.

1 comments about Florida for Dummies.

1. David Grimes ý Jun 12, 2003'Florida for Dummies' cites obvious

   Considering that it is the home of six species of poisonous snakes, two species of poisonous spiders, sharks, stingrays, fire ants, hurricanes, sinkholes, tourists from Ontario and the kind of merciless summer sun that turns dashboards into puddles of goo, the book title "Florida for Dummies" would seem to be stating the obvious.

   Still, I thought it would be interesting to leaf through the latest installment in a series that has given us such classics as "Parenting for Dummies," "Sex for Dummies" (presumably you would want to read this before the other), "Feng Shui for Dummies" and the unforgettable "Pilates for Dummies."

   Written by Florida natives Cynthia and Jim Tunstall, "Florida for Dummies" is mostly a travel guide for tourists, offering advice on where to eat, where to stay and what to see. I was particularly interested in chapter 17 which deals with our little slice of paradise. Sarasota is described as an "upscale retirement community" while its neighbor to the north, Bradenton, is described, rather curiously, as a "casual fishing village" and, somewhat more accurately, a "blue-collar town." Port Charlotte, and for that matter all of Charlotte County, does not exist, at least not in the pages of this book.

   "Florida for Dummies" recommends only five restaurants in our area and most of them are hoity-toity places like Michael's On East and Euphemia Haye. My two favorite places to eat, the Hob Nob Drive In and Council's pool hall, were inexplicably omitted from the list. Likewise, under the category of hotels, the book favors places like the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort and makes no mention of any of Bradenton's fine accommodations like the Blue Boy Motel.

   But my main problem with "Florida for Dummies" is that it portrays our state as a great place to visit, which will only serve to attract more tourists, making life even more miserable for those of us who live here. Instead of bragging about our many theme parks, museums and golf courses, I wish the authors had spent more time warning people about our horrible traffic, dangerous weather and various other aspects of nature that are bent on doing us in.

   People need to understand that the stomach-churning thrills found on the roller coasters at Busch Gardens are nothing compared to the heart-in-the-mouth fear that comes from navigating U.S. 41 at rush hour. There is a section in the book called "Minding the Road Rules" which focuses on predictable stuff like buckling your seat belt and obeying the speed limit. The authors fail to mention that it is customary in Florida for tourists to turn on their left-turn signal when they cross the Florida/Georgia line and leave it on until they return home the following spring. They also omit the fact that Floridians interpret traffic lights differently than people do in other parts of the country. In Florida, green means "go," yellow means "go faster" and red means "go faster still while at the same time ordering a pizza over your cell phone."

   Potential visitors to Florida also need to be made aware of the fact that summer in Florida begins in early March and continues through mid-December and that temperatures during that time are high enough to cause birds to spontaneously combust in mid-air. Winter consists of four days in the low 30s when year-round residents go into the kind of panic state one normally associates with major earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. Any time the temperature dips below 70 degrees, Florida residents run to the grocery store to stock up on Spam, tuna fish and bottled water and just generally act like they are preparing to join Admiral Peary on his trek to the North Pole.

   Prices in Florida are outrageous, a fact that the authors of "Florida for Dummies" barely bother to mention. A week-long vacation at Disney World basically means that your son's or daughter's dream of a four-year college education will be downgraded to six months at a vo-tech on the outskirts of Lake City. The sales tax in Florida is something like 94 percent, give or take, which means that a bowl of soup and an iced tea will cost only slightly less than your plane ticket from Toronto.

   Still, if you are absolutely committed to a vacation in Florida, "Florida for Dummies" offers lots of useful tips and information, things that you are unlikely to find elsewhere, most specifically in this column.

   But if you go, keep an eye peeled for swamp apes. They think tourists are delicious.

No comments about View of West Florida (Bicentennial Floridiana facsimile series).

1 comments about Melbourne Beach and Indialantic (Images of America: Florida).

1. Fun book to look at and read about. Didn't even know it and there are 2 pictures of my Grandmother "Dot Bruce" in this book. If you like to collect Fl. memrobilia, this is a must!

No comments about National Geographic Traveler: Miami and the Keys, 3rd Edition (National Geographic Traveler).