5 comments about City Walks with Kids: New York: 50 Adventures on Foot (City Walks).

1. This is a great resource for locals or tourists visiting NY. It's also the perfect hostess gift for savvy parents. A real winner!



2. Our family recently returned from a visit to Manhattan. We used 5 or 6 texts as well as this boxed set of walking tours. The set consists of 50 3-3/4 by 5-1/2 inch heavy stock cards and a folding master card that shows all the walks in the context of a five bouroughs map.
   
   There are 3 walks in Central Park, 6 Midtown, none north of the park and 20 south of the Flatiron Building. Four walks cover The Bronx, one is in Queens and 4 in Brooklyn. Each walk card shows a moderately useful map on one side, which does not show all streets but does list subway and bus information as well as web and phone information; on the other side the text points out historic buildings, book stores and museums.
   
   It was very convenient to grab a few cards as we went out the door. There is also information about kid-friendly restaurants, which was very helpful. We also had the City Walks set (for adults) and while there was overlap in areas covered, there was not much in content, which made this worthwhile.
   
   I would definitely buy this set again.



3. This is an interesting product, packaged and produced in a very high quality manner. It would be nice, though, if it would also include more unexpected sites to visit (if so, I would've given it 5 stars instead of 3). Thanks.



4. This is a great resource for either a New Yorker or someone who is planning a visit with kids. These cards are portable and contain a good bit of information, including phone numbers, subway routes, and websites. Each card focuses on one destination, but mentions other attractions near the "walk," which makes it easy to plan out your excursion.



5. After living in NYC for a few years, I got this for some friends visiting the city. There were cool places I did not previously know about (especially in non-Manhattan areas like Bronx and Queens). The cards can help you plan trips around each attraction, which is helpful so you often don't have to do extra research to find out transportation, for example. The illustrations are colorful and fun, but definitely kid-ish in design. The cards and box are slightly clunky to carry around, however.

2 comments about Frommer's Great Escapes From NYC Without Wheels (Wonderful Weekends).

1. This is a great guide for New Yorkers who want to get out-of-town for the weekend or for visitors who want to go beyond the standard tourist attractions. Detailed and engaging, the book conveniently groups destinations according to type (i.e.--romantic weekends, outdoor activities, kid-friendly escapes). So it's easy to find a spot to match whatever you're in the mood for. Plus, there's a section on fun festivals and special events even lifelong New Yorkers might not know about.
   
   Even if you own a car, this book might make you think twice about using it (especially with currently high gas prices). The author demystifies mass transit and gives all the information you need to feel confident about being "without wheels."
   
   The perfect book for ideas on where to take guests or where to go when you need a breather from the city. Great to have on hand next time you're trying to figure out what to do for the weekend.



2. I bought this book, thinking it would be of great advice for my boyfriend and I. We live in the city and thus, don't have a car.
   But... Wait!!! We are not rich!!
   All the 'escapes' proposed seemed to be for more than $300 per week end.
   At this price, I'd rather rent a car...
   This book, since, stays on the shelf where it is covering with dust... until we get rich?

3 comments about Streetwise Brooklyn Map - Laminated City Street Map of Brooklyn, New York - with integrated subway station locations.

1. This map was not at all helpful. The text is small. It splits the borough in half vertically with one half on one side and the other half on the flip side of the map. I have found other maps that are much more user-friendly especially for individuals who are not very familiar with Brooklyn.



2. To add to the criticism of this map, it does not have the directions of one way streets on it. The Streetwise Manhattan has little arrows on all the one way streets, and this is even more crucial for navigating in Brooklyn!
   
   I would definitely pick out a map in a store and then buy it online if it's cheaper.



3. I loved Streetwise Manhattan so I bought this. What a disapointment! The main strength of Streetwise is the integration of Streets and Subways. But Streetwise Brooklyn actually leaves off some subway stations! Ever try to mark up a laminated map to add a stop? Doesn't work, and neither does this map. And the north/south split just doesn't work for Brooklyn. Also, the trains to Brooklyn changed when the Manhattan bridge re-opened to subway traffic, so where's a new edition? Do get the Manhattan version, it's complete and works great, but skip Brooklyn.

1 comments about Rediscovering Jacob Riis: The Reformer, His Journalism, and His Photographs.

1. While I'm no expert on the subject, I'd guess this will become one of the definitive bios on Jacob Riis, and also contains many of his important photos as a bonus. The reproduction quality is good enough -- probably better than the original print publications -- but not exceptional.

5 comments about Brooklyn: A State of Mind.

1. BROOKLYN: A STATE OF MIND, edited by Michael Robbins, is a treat for anyone who wonders about the place they always hear about in movies and t.v. or who was born and raised in the greatest borough of the greatest city on Earth (ahem). In spite of the gimmicky subtitle, this collection of essays and stories, photos and cartoons, film scripts and stills, is as informative, inspiring, stunning, human, and a little bit scary as the place itself. Some of my favorite pieces are:

   1) David McCullough's "Harry Truman: Live and In Color in Brooklyn". (I'm a sucker for anything by McCullough, anyway.)

   2) Glenn Thrush's "The Mistake of '98". In 1898, when Manhattan (which was New York City back then) incorporated the surrounding four boroughs to create Greater New York City, everyone thought it was a fantastic idea--everyone, except for Brooklynites, that is. Brooklyn, which at the time was the third or fourth largest city in the U.S., really didn't want to be associated with the dirty, corrupt and immigrant-filled island on the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge. (Brooklyn wanted to be its own dirty, corrupt and immigrant filled place.) Thrush's piece is a fascinating look at the events leading up to and years after the consolidation.

   3)Jon Gartenberg's "Brooklyn on Film: The Guy from Brooklyn in World War II". I had always remembered watching old WWII movies and, sure enough, there was always the Brooklyn guy. Even in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, the character, Reiben (sp?), is from King's County and wears a Brooklyn bomber jacket. Gartenberg explains why this staple became so common in this movie genre.

   Lastly, the photos, some of the best are by Stanley Greenberg and Genevieve Naylor, provided some breathing room around the enormous amount of text. BROOKLYN: A STATE OF MIND is one of the best books about the greatest place on the planet. Got a problem wid dat?

   Rocco Dormarunno, author of The Five Points




2. I grew up in Brooklyn in the 50s/60s. I now live in Los Angeles but I still miss the old neighborhoods. The stories in this book bring me right back. It's a great read for people who want to reminisce or for someone who would like to get a taste of life in a time of innocence in a place of unparalleled sense of community.



3. 125 stories packed with interest. If Chicago is the city of big shoulders, we learn, Brooklyn is the city of big mouths. Mel Brooks growing up in Williamsburg. Coney Island weirdness. Neighborhoods decline and are reborn. The world's handball champ. Blacks, Jews, Italians. Park Slope, Bed Stuy, bensonhurst, Flatbush, Midwood, Gravesend. A black themed B&B in a Victorian mansion. Comedians, musicians, crooks, athletes , writers all tell their stories. Rivoting.
   
   Great packaging, index, photos.



4. the most enjoyable book i have found to bring back the days of growing up in the wonderful, diverse city of Brooklyn. i keep 5 copies on hand and give them out to people i meet of my generation frim Brooklyn.



5. This is a scrapbook of the world's greatest city from the end of WW II to about the beginnings of television. It's necessarily sentimental because almost everyone who contributed to the volume doesn't live there any more. They (we) did our best and went elsewhere and although we may have succeeded because of the place we came from, most of had to leave to be who we are.
   So this is a sentimental tribute to the old country. The photographs are wonderful-that is, they tell the truth as I remember it and some of the essays are great.
   This is another bedside, bathroom, waiting room book best sampled in small doses and savored.
   
   Lynn Hoffman, Brooklyn Tech '61 and author of New Short Course in Wine,The and the Brooklynesque bang BANG: A Novel

3 comments about Best Hikes With Dogs: New York City & Beyond.

1. This delightful work is the latest in a series of books titled "Best Hikes with Dogs." Other areas previously covered include: Oregon, Colorado, New Jersey, Arizona, North Carolina, Las Vegas, and many more. The author has chosen 55 trails in the New York City, Long Island and Hudson Valley region suitable for canine expeditions. I was pleased to find that two of the hikes were in my town of Yorktown. I was really surprised to see the John Hand Park as one of them. Most Yorktowners have never heard of it or Blinn Road where the trail begins.
   
   The author is careful to select trails that are not too strenuous. For instance, her Hudson Highlands hike keeps to the valley between Mt. Taurus (Bull Hill) and Breakneck Ridge. Undoubtedly, the thousand-foot peaks along the Hudson River would be no problem for Lady, the dog who led me to the summit of Colorado's Mt. Princeton at 14,197 feet. For more difficult routes in this area, I agree with the author's recommendation of the "New York Walk Book."
   
   Each trail is well described along with the history of the area. Directions to the trailheads and parking areas are clear. Maps and altitude cross sections are provided for each hike. The book is filled with photos of the scenery, people, and, of course, happy dogs.



2. I bought this book because a) I love hiking and being outdoors and b) I have two lively dogs that I want to take on day trips with me. This book is part of a series which I had heard great things about from fellow dog owners.
   
   The author gives alot of detail about each trail. They are carefully mapped out and she lists hiking must-have's for humans and dogs alike. The trails are rated by difficulty levels and most of the hikes seem easy to moderate. The photos included are beautiful and really inspire you to get out into nature with your dog! We have already walked a trail that was listed for one of our local parks. I plan on doing many more, in different places, throughout the summer. I think this book is great for all those interested in hiking and bringing your canine companion along for exercise and an enjoyable day away from the city.



3. 
   Tammy McCarley owns Blue Sky Dogs, a dog travel and adventure company based in New York City. She, her dog Sienna and her husband have hiked the 55 trails described in this excellent guide book. The trails are in the five boroughs, on Long Island, and in the lower Hudson Valley. All of the trail heads are within three hours driving distance from Manhattan, and many are reachable by public transportation.
   
   McCarley's book contains a quick reference guide to the 55 hikes, checklists for humans and dogs, a very comprehensive Appendix on removing ticks and tick borne diseases. Undoubtedly reflecting her experiences with her travel company, McCarley places heavy emphasis on dog health and safety. The first aid kit contains over twenty items, including a muzzle or a towel that can be used as a muzzle. Particularly impressive: she lists the emergency 24 hour veterinary hospital closest to the trailhead.
   
   She has taken great care to choose routes that offer water and shade over the entire route. She lists no hikes in Nassau County because none of its parks permit dogs on trails. Most of the parks in the book have specific rules for dogs, which she spells out at the start of each trail.
   
   The text is filled with black and white drawings and photographs that enhance the excellent trail descriptions. Head notes for each hike give distance, estimated time, difficulty, high point, elevation gain, facilities, maps, regulations, websites, emergency vet services, and how to get there. There is a neat profile schematic showing the rise and fall of elevation, and quite good thumbnail maps of each hike.
   
   As a long time hiker in the region, I know that many of the organized hiking leaders do not welcome dogs. McCarley, of course, is in the business of providing such leadership. Whether you go with McCarley, or go alone with your dog, McCarley's book is a splendid guide.
   
   Robert C. Ross 2008

1 comments about LUXE New York (LUXE City Guides).

1. Excellent guide - short and sweet (and not to mention sharp!) - everything else I saw at the store were heavy bricky things that I had no intention of carrying around. It's so small and yet had way more than enough info for my 5 day visit. I'd used their Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh guides after a friend recommended them, and was so glad when I found out from their website that they'd started doing guides for the US!

1 comments about Fodor's Around New York City with Kids, 4th Edition (Around the City with Kids).

1. I gave 2 books on the subject as welcome gifts to friends visiting the city from Europe, and they especially enjoyed this one and found it valuable. It struck me as short, sweet and easy for parents wanting to make the city enjoyable for their kids without having to invest a lot of time reading.

2 comments about New York's 50 Best Places To Take Children, 3rd Edition (City and Company).

1. Awesome book with great suggestions- well written, easy to use! We and the kid loved the suggestions.



2. I would give this book 3 1/2 stars if I could.
   
   Buy this if you want to get to know NYC attraction if you live in New York. It made me excited about getting to NYC. Buy another book if you want a resource that can help plan where to go during a vacation stay.
   
   I bought this book along with another well known travel book. I liked reading this book a lot more as it was much better written. It suffers in comparison with the other book because it's just not that useful when in NYC.
   
   Regrettably, it wasn't up to do date -- like recommending the USS Intrepid while the attraction is closed. That's okay -- just not great.
   
   Moreover, as a book for vacationing, it wasn't much use when we got into NYC. A map would have been great. It's best for reading ahead of time and thinking about places to go but not for planning on the go or working out things just a day or two in advance.

No comments about Where New York City Shop!: Great Shopping Wherever You Are (Where to Shop Guides).