2 comments about One Tank Trips: Off The Beaten Path with Bill Murphy (Fox 13 One Tank Trips Off the Beaten Path).

1. As newcomers to Tampa, we have found the One Tank Trips series to be a simple and delightful way to learn about our area. We can pick something new every week of the year and head out with basic directions. The fees and hours are not always current, but that is to be expected with any publication that quotes such information. The sights picked for the books are always interesting and provide lots of conversational tidbits. Many of our neighbors have lived here for years and haven't seen some of the places we have visited, guided by these books.



2. Bought this for planning family and scout trips. Tons of places I never knew existed. I think this will be a well used book here. My only issue is these are all 1 tank from Tampa.

5 comments about Secrets of Disney's Glorious Gardens.

1. I was very excited when I received this book; however, the excitement was short lived. The information in the book is very basic. For example, the book devotes two pages to explaining the USDA zones and another two on how to plant a tree. About the only secret was the directions for making the floating planters from Epcot and since I don't have a pond they were interesting, but not too useful.
   
   Also, the pictures were beautiful, but I wished that the plants in the photos and the locations had been identified. It devotes four pages to the Haunted Mansion gardens, but then doesn't identify the variety of the Haunted Mansion's prolific red roses.
   
   Many of the photos were taken at the 2005 Epcot flower show and I enjoyed reliving the experience through the photos.
   
   If you go to WDW and are amazed at the gardens and have no idea how they do it, then this book would be useful. If,however, you have a good basic idea about how the gardens are created and maintained, then you will not discover many secrets with this book.



2. This is quite a nice book to have, but it's not a must-have unless you are fond on gardening and/or would love to have or have a garden. Pics are very nice, but if you're looking for new pictures with unusual points of view, you may find yourself a little disappointed.



3. As a Disney-holic I can never get enough information on DisneyWorld. This book is beautifully laid out with awesome pictures and great information, even for someone like me who "kills" silk! Great book!



4. But, I wanted to know more about specifics that take place in the Disney's horticultural arena. Also, why talk about the oldest specimen on property (a yucca in the Mexico pavilion over 250 years old) and then not have a photograph. I am a serious gardener and an avid Disney fan. As an annual passholder I travel down to Walt Disney World 4-6 times a year. As much for their gardens as anything else. I was really hoping for more in depth knowledge of horticulture at Disney. A lot of information in the book is very basic. If you love Disney and love plants then I would still recommend this book for your collection. Just be prepared that you are not going to receive the "inside look" that I anticipated.



5. I have thoroughly the book Secrets of Disney's Glorious Gardens. The pictures are gorgeous and the text is very informative. It is a great book.

3 comments about Pilgrim in the Land of Alligators: More Stories about Real Florida (Florida History and Culture).

1. Found this great article from Jeff's paper, the St. Petersburg Times.
   
   Regaling us with real Florida
   By Gregory McNamee, Special to the Times
   Published Wednesday, March 26, 2008 5:54 PM
   
   When I was very young, no more than 5 or 6, I saw an alligator eat a poodle right out of a Tampa back yard. It dawned on me at that sanguinary moment just why it was that my grandmother had forbidden me to play near the canal behind her house, where, naturally, I spent my time playing, and it gave me a lasting, nicely traumatic memory of Florida to nurse over a lifetime.
   
   Had he been on hand, I suspect Jeff Klinkenberg would have been cheering for the gator. After all, one of the heroes of Pilgrim in the Land of Alligators, his new collection of newspaper columns turned into essays, is an ubergator -- something on the order of a dragon, really -- named Mojo, once resident in Kanapaha Botanical Gardens near Gainesville.
   
   "You know how alligators will roar at other gators?" remarks the director of the gardens, who, suggestively, is missing his right hand. "Mojo was so dominant that when it thundered, he'd roar back at the thunder."
   
   Long familiar to and even beloved by St. Petersburg Times readers, Klinkenberg is a fan, defender, student and denizen of what the great pop culture historian Greil Marcus has called "the old, weird America," the country that hasn't yet been absorbed into the monoculture of chain stores, cookie-cutter houses and mass-produced taste.
   
   Preferring the confines of the Sunshine State, which is plenty weird enough, Klinkenberg has devoted decades to chronicling the wide spots on Florida's blue highways -- and, for that matter, the places where, improbably, no highways have yet been located, despite Florida's incessant growth.
   
   Take the Loop Road, for instance, an hour from Naples on one end and an hour from Miami on the other, a century from either in real time. Klinkenberg knows every inch of the road, and he knows as well its dozen-odd full-time residents, folks who have found it expedient to disappear into the Big Cypress for reasons of their own.
   
   One of them was Ervin Rouse, the fiddler who wrote Orange Blossom Special, and who passed away some years ago. Another, still with us, is a park ranger who might be singing with Ervin in the choir celestial had she not been ornery enough to shake off a load of pygmy rattler venom injected into her foot by said creature. "I was wearing flip-flops," she allows. "Somebody should have written D-U-M-B on my forehead."
   
   If there is a theme in Klinkenberg's genial wanderings down the Loop Road and other roads like it, it is that many of Florida's more interesting venues conspire not just to relieve the visitor of excess cash, but also of life and limb. There are the storms, of course, which Klinkenberg praises as allowing rare opportunities to enjoy the beach by oneself, sans loudmouth neighbors bearing boom boxes and drunken grudges.
   
   There are the bull sharks, which liberated an arm from another of his interlocutors. There are the snakes and skeeters behind every rustling blade of grass, the occasional wild-eyed outlaw, and, of course, the snowbird oblivious to the norms, physics and laws of motor traffic.
   
   But then there are treasures worthy of the dangers, and Klinkenberg has a rare gift for finding them. One is a backwoods type named Spook, who likes nothing more than to bring down a wild hog or two with his bare hands. Another is a pair of more pacific, indeed Thoreauvian swamp dwellers who have made their own version of paradise on the aptly named Peace River.
   
   There are the ghosts of hard-drinking, hard-smoking, hard-writing Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, who turns up at several points here, and, to keep the otherworldly theme going, a Tampa eccentric who makes elaborate sculptures of animal bones, as well as the recently departed Gill Man, Ricou Browning, who scared us all to death half a century ago with his visage in Creature from the Black Lagoon -- if you look at it sideways, a Rawlings story gone terribly astray.
   
   And then, by way of a celebration of life, there is a visit to "the best place to eat pancakes in Florida, if not the world," which by Klinkenberg's estimation is the Old Spanish Sugar Mill and Griddle House in De Leon Springs State Park, up by Daytona Beach. (For my money, that honor goes to the Ranch House near Montpelier, Idaho, but de gustibus . . .)
   
   These are treasures to be sure, fine exemplars of an old and weird legacy. It's clear on every page that Klinkenberg has lived several worthy lifetimes in Florida, that he loves the place immoderately, and that he laments the state's transformation, along with the rest of the nation, into a land of tatty strip malls and soul-killing cul-de-sacs.
   
   Jeff Klinkenberg comforts himself with the thought that, come the apocalypse, the gators will still be here. It's a thought that ought to bring solace and a smile to the rest of us as well. So will this gracefully written, endlessly entertaining book, a gift for all who love the real Florida.
   
   Gregory McNamee lives in Tucson, Ariz. The University of Nebraska Press has just released his book ''Moveable Feasts: The History, Science, and Lore of Food'' in paperback.



2. If you'd known Jeff Klinkenberg in the '60s you would know that today he's a boy living his dream. There is no better guide to the 'real' Florida than Jeff, not because he knows Florida history, but because he loves it and he's lived it. He speaks to you as if you are sitting in the restaurant at his table, or having your sandwich with him on the ancient indian mound. His stories capture your interest and spur your sense of adventure. They inspire you to embrace the beauty, uniqueness, and sheer mystery of this land. There are Florida travel and interest guides galore, but none that match Jeff's depth or personal knowledge of the idiosyncrasies of a State that represents not only a land growing faster than any other (and yet clinging to the past with a steel-like grip) but a state of mind as well. These are not stories from someone's imagination, they entertain you with real people and places that, but for Jeff Klinkenberg, would fade into a distant past. Jeff is a time traveler who will take you on unbelievable journeys through centuries of archeological and human history with humor and curiosity. His is a guide that you want to bring with you when you visit because it is so far off the beaten path that you will feel right at home on the Loop Road. Indeed, I have known Jeff since the '60s, and witnessed his expertise first hand. If you are a true adventurer, I invite you to read 'Pilgrim in the Land of Alligators' and experience the 'real' Florida on behalf of barefoot children everywhere. You will not regret the trip through time.



3. This humble story teller of real people & real events make sense of Florida. Reminds me of Carl Hiaasen without the crazy humor. Jeff warms your heart.

5 comments about Florida Keys Paddling Atlas.

1. This guidebook has it all! Spot-on nautical charts that lead you through some of the best paddling the Keys have to offer, including mangrove-lined lagoons, sea grass beds teeming with wildlife, and shallow tidal flats that change form with the rise and fall of the ocean waters; brilliant pictures that draw you into this unique and magical natural habitat; and pointers on where to rent, where to launch, and, most important after a long day of paddling, where to eat!
   Grab a kayak and share the adventures of Bill & Mary Burnham as they navigate this aquatic paradise.



2. I just received my copy of this high quality guide book. I live in the Keys and have paddled many of these sites but in just glancing through this book I realized how much I have missed. Very complete and a must for visitors and locals alike.



3. As a guide and avid paddler I found this book incredibly useful and informative. Anyone that will set out to explore the paradise of the Keys will find their way to many areas that would never be found without this book. Bill and Mary obviously did their homework with the ultimate guide book for all paddlers enjoying the beauty of the Keys. Nice job guys.



4. I have worked in a few paddle shops, and I've seen many a paddle book. This one by far tops the list. Actual color charts, not hand-drawn diagrams with no reference points and no way to gauge distance on them, are on virtually every page of this book. Excellent information on locales, paddling routes, points of interest, Keys trivia, paddle-friendly lodging and restaurants, instant indexing, simple buoy/compass/gps navigation points, full color photos, and on, and on......This is the most definitive paddling atlas of the Florida Keys I have seen. Well worth the cash--especially if you are new to paddling in the keys--launch points are sometimes hard to find, and navigation gets tricky in some areas. Old Keys salts will also find something new in this book. I am impressed!



5. This is one of those heavy-paged colorful books that are a joy just to hold and smell! Fifty-two charts illustrate the stunning water world from Key Largo down to Key West and out to the Dry Tortugas. Using colors and symbols, each chart (at a scale of about two inches per mile) details water depths, habitat, markers, fishing and snorkeling spots, put-in locations, hazards, camping areas -- everything you need to know. It's the perfect guide for not only paddlers, but fishermen and boaters too, and also the less adventuresome who want to explore the Florida Keys as they drive US 1 -- poking around hidden spots, wading in the shallows with their cameras. The book is heavily illustrated with relevant and beautiful photographs. Along with Bill Keogh's Paddling Guide, this book is a must for those who want to truly know and experience the Florida Keys.
   
   Marsh Muirhead, author of "Key West Explained - a guide for the traveler."

3 comments about The Palm Spring Diner's Bible: A Restaurant Guide for Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Bermuda Dunes, Indio, and Desert Hot Springs.

1. the most comprehensive guide in the desert, I especially liked the not recommended restaurants. rarely do you see a guide that dares to do that. It is obvious that this book is not advertiser driven and can tell the truth. Excellent!



2. I have been caught in the desert many times and now will never starve.
   
   Cannot say enough positive things about this text. The only change I would ever dream of making is perhaps including a thermos.
   
   Bret L. Thompson



3. Like the actual Bible according to Mark, Luke & John, this `Diner's Bible' is up to the same scrutiny and up to your own interpretation. Don't count on YOU receiving the same service and quality of food as this author. And, do not count out some of the other fine restaurants in the Palm Desert area out! - Like Bing Crosby's in Rancho Mirage. This restaurant deserves a 4 star rating for the food and ambiance, YET, this author does not even include it in his book and then goes off and rates BLEND in La Quinta with a 4 stars and it is not that at all. My husband and I went there to celebrate our special 40th wedding anniversary because we trusted in this Diner's Bible. It was not at all how the author described it. Service was awful with no acknowledgment for our anniversary; the waiter did not know the menu's food or wine and he kept us waiting for over 20 minutes (after the plates were cleared) before we flagged down another waiter to ask for our bill. We spent over $200 for two and would have gotten better service at MacDonald's. Sad for the chef because the food was great but won't go there again and told our friends about the bad service. The bad service left a bad taste in our month.

No comments about Florida's Rivers.

5 comments about Tiffany's Palm Beach.

1. For most people, this kind of lifestyle is only a dream, but wow, what colourful and beautiful dreams. This book is choc full of stunning photos that reflect the wealth some people luckily or unluckily have. Their houses (or should I say shrines) are treasures in their own rights, but the possesions inside are also gems. The Tiffany theme is reflected in here all the way through and there is some stunning pieces. This is a pricey 'coffee table' book, but it's so beautiful, you'll be glad you treated yourself or someone else.



2. Loved this book. I purchased it merely for inspiration photos for my own construction, but found myself reading each page!! Very interesting read!



3. This book shows that given enough money there is no limit to how young, thin and attractive your wife can be. And apparently there is no limit to the hubris of the rich--designer wine cellars on a hurricane prone barrier island.
   Last I checked there were over 260 homes for sale on Palm Beach with an asking price of $2 million up.
   A great coffee table book. And a pictorial guide to The Season by Ronald Kessler that is sitting on my book shelves awaiting a read.



4. To almost anyone, Tiffany and Co. and Palm Beach would go hand and hand, analagous like Lalique and Monte Carlo. The concept for this book is very interesting and the author fully realizes how to exploit the two to their most advantagious. The text is highly informative and the images are crisp and beautifully presented. I agree with one of the reviews that this is an expensive coffee table book, but frankly im sure those interested in this sort of thing, will not think twice about the price of admission. Really a wonderful book on a very interesting subject, well done indeed.



5. There isn't much substance to this book......
   Fun pictures, but nothing much more

3 comments about Guide to Sea Kayaking in Southern Florida: The Best Day Trips and Tours from St. Petersburg to the Florida Keys.

1. Nigel Foster has finally turned his excellent writing skills to South Florida. Having kayaked in South Florida for the past 6 years, I have personally done most of the trips described in the book. Mr. Foster's descriptions are brief, but his attention to detail, and excellent on-water guides make the book very useful. Short accounts of the history of some areas (i.e., "The Watson Mystery") enliven the book. It is written in the style of a travel guide - a bit unusual for a guide to kayak touring, but it lends itself to the area. His "Caution" tips, e.g., "Watch out for racoons at your picnic site." are well-chosen. Trip ratings are very reasoned and appropriate, e.g., "Paddling the outer coast is committing, with exposure to the Gulf...Waves across Whitewater Bay generally produce a short chop...No one lives in this area, and there's no way out of it except at the camping sites...." A concisely written book. Well done!



2. Very good advice in the Keys section. Did several of the trips recently. Always "as advertised" in the book.
   Worth the $$$.



3. Thank you Nigel Foster for such a complete and wonderful guide! I have been to a few areas in Florida, and can not wait to go this February and "try" out a few more of the recommended trips. A friend and I are going to go to Ding Darling Refuge and the Black Island (Lover's Key) trip at the very least. The trip descriptions have me longing for my vacation to get here. Very good maps, and I appreciate the section on places to stay and camp!

2 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.

5 comments about PassPorter Walt Disney World 2007: The Unique Travel Guide, Planner, Organizer, Journal, and Keepsake! (Passporter Walt Disney World).

1. This is a wonderful tool to help you plan and organize your trip. There is a tremendous amount of valuable information, as well as tips to navigate to the park(s. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is planning a trip to visit the mouse :)



2. The best guide i ever bought! Very detailed and well organized. Wonderful layout. Made my Disney planning very easy.. Can't imagine looking through another guide.



3. The PassPorter came very highly recommended, and it would be a great book if I hadn't done any homework first for our trip to Disney. But the information covered here can be found on websites and discussion boards dedicated to Disney. The pockets in back are nice, but not worth the cost of the whole book. Reviews were fine, but again, the info can be found many other places. I got a lot more out of the Unofficial Guide, personally.



4. book ordered never arrived !!!! got refund but not the point would not ahve ordered book if I had not wanted it. very disappointing it was for a gift.



5. I first purchased the PassPorter in 1998 and update it and use it every time we go to Disney. It is filled with plans, maps and iteneraries that save you time and money. They give you ideas to have fun throughout the parks, shops and resorts and they keep thier publications up to date for any changes that are taking place in the parks. In addition, you can sign on to the website to print out updates since the books printing. For any first time Disney traveler or veterans alike, the PassPorter is a great tool in planning and organizing your trip, as well as a great way to keep your momentos, receipts and jot down your favorite things.