No comments about Washington DC Spiral Guide (Aaa Spiral Guides).

No comments about The Crow Island Journal.

1 comments about Miami Pocket Guide (Berlitz Pocket Guides).

1. This is the worst city guide book I've ever bought. The maps have an atrocious lack of detail. The info in the book sounds like it came straight out of the stack of brochures that can be picked up at any tourist board office. And the pictures look like they are from the 80s. This book was a major disappointment!

No comments about Megalopolis: Washington, D.C., to Boston (Touring North America).

3 comments about Fodor's Disney Like a Pro: The Totally Unauthorized Guide to Saving Money and Getting the Most Out of Florida's Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Much More!.

1. is all that you will find in this book! This guy advises you to get your tickets by listening to time share pitches! Not only is that time consuming, it's unethical! Unless you want some good laughs, DO NOT buy this book



2. On a recent peak summer season visit to Orlando's overwhelming and expensive collection of theme parks and tourist traps, we found this book of tips, secrets and hints by an Orlando native to be useful, though not always applicable. Some advice was dead-on perfect (parking secrets & ponchos), other hints were intermittently so (how to avoid long-lines - sorry Rick, even at 11pm, Space Mountain was nearly an hour in the left hand line), and still others nearly useless (discount or free tickets demand strong sales resistance).

   The individual ride attraction reviews alone were far more honest and informative than the brief discriptions in the official guide maps. Worth the price of the book alone, we referred to them often throughout our visit - especially when trying to decide if the wait for Back to the Future was worth it (it was).




3. This should have been titled "Universal Studios Like a Pro" (in fact, the later edition is "Orlando Like a Pro"). The author spends most of the book pointing out how much more he likes Universal Studios over Disney World. Not only are his tips about Disney World useless, but many of his 'facts' are dead wrong (for example,'like a pro' he tells his readers that the stretching room in the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney World doesn't use elevators, which it does. He erroneously calls the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction "Tropical Serenade", etc). An insult to Disney fans and a poor guide book. Thumbs down to Foder's for not checking his 'facts' for accuracy.

No comments about Off the Beaten Path - Illinois (4th).

1 comments about Best Family Ski Vacations In North America.

1. Very thorough and easy to read. If you're looking for a dream vacation also check out, "World Ventures, Wes Melcher".

4 comments about The Virginia Handbook (Hunter Travel Guides).

1. Comprehensive coverage of the state for visitors and Virginia residents alike. The rolling hills of horse country, Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains and numerous wineries are among the state's offerings. Here's a guide to the national and state parks, the cities, towns and villages. Accommodations and places to eat, along with historical sites and attractions.



2. "Recommended for visitors who want to research a trip ahead of time and take the book along for repeated reference. Covers the parks, scenic highways and historic attractions of the state, including tips on everything from shopping and dining to hotels and entertainment. An excellent destination guide." The Bookwatch



3. As a native Virginian, I don't know why it took me so long to discover this book. It's a great reference to have for both residents and visitors. I spent the first two hours just looking up points of interest and trivia about the Old Dominion. Virginia has so many historical sites that touring the state is like taking a class on the formation of America. A tourist can visit Revolutionary War Sites, Civil War Battlefields, scenic old towns, and the beautifully restored great houses, like Mount Vernon in Alexandria , Monticello in Charlottesville, Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg and, of course, the James River Plantations. Williamsburg is a must see for everyone.

   This book's Introduction gives a little background of Virginia and some general history. The handbook is then divided into the five regional areas of the state. They are the Northern, Central, Coastal Plain, Southwest and the Shenandoah Valley. Within these divisions information is given on the counties and major cities. In each place, the historic sites, annual events, shopping places, museums, hotel accommodations, recreation areas, dining and local transportation are all listed and given detailed descriptions.

   I think that the best way to truly critique a guide book is to read about an area that you know pretty well and see how the authors handled that region. All of the major sites were mentioned in my area and the accommodations and things to do were all covered. I checked out the restaurants listed and there were eight mentioned. I would have left out two. One major restaurant was not included. Other than that minor point, the authors gave a pretty accurate description of my area. This book is very concise and I believe it to be a very helpful guide to traveling in the great state of Virginia..




4. This guidebook does a good job of presenting its information in a concise, meaningful way. You can easily flip through its well-marked sections and feel as if you are taking a trip all over Virginia! I like that each section (History, Shopping) starts with a quick intro, telling you the overall feel of that area. It's not afraid to tell you that one city is more known for its nightlife while another is known for its shopping malls. The beginning of the book includes an overall look at Virginian history, major cities, climate, major roadways and wildlife - great information for newcomers to have!

1 comments about Off the Beaten Path Southern California: A Guide to Unique Places (Off the Beaten Path Southern California).

1. We relied on "Southern California Off the Beaten Path" for several stops on a recent trip to San Diego and environs, and found the book's information seriously misleading. The author seems to find places quaint and charming that we thought dumpy, commercial, or just very unattractive, and we cancelled at least one reservation because we didn't want to spend the night on a noisy commercial [area], completely unrecognizable from the book's description. We wondered if it had been compiled from Chamber of Commerce handouts. There's lots of good information on the area; really, skip this one.

5 comments about Amusement Park Guide.

1. This book is a must for all amusement park fans. It gives all the information you would need to have a fun and exciting day at any park in the U.S. or Canada. Mr. O'Brien has done a masterful job of helping you plan your visit by giving the operating times as well as the best rides and shows. There is also a listing of all the roller coasters in the park. His vivid description of the park gives you the feeling of being there. I would recommend this guide book to anyone planing a trip to an amusement park in the future.



2. I had gone to the conference with much knowledge about the subject. I was told about the book from there. Could I have obtained it, I would have been the top in the list of performers.



3. This is a great book!! It is well worth your money. If you are planning a vaction, then buy this book. It has theme parks from Disney to Universal Orlando, to Cedar Point, all of the Paramount Parks and many, many more!! The ultimate guide to rollercoasters is this book!!



4. This book is just awesome...it reviews over 350 theme parks, amusement parks, and waterparks all over the U.S. and Canada, providing everything you'd want to know about every park...the great roller coasters and other thrill rides, costs, operation schedule, directions, special tips, insider facts and trivia, historical milestones, etc. Also gives phone numbers and website addresses for each park. The author is a life-long park expert and senior editor of a major park industry publication...he really seems to know his stuff, and he injects some fun and personality into the book. It's a great guide to use to plan your park trips and to carry with you for quick reference. It's also fun to to sit down and read through it because it gives so much interesting trivia on the parks. Just a fantastic, authoratative, fun, easy-to-use resource on parks.



5. This is, truly, the bible of amusement park guides. I am always amazed at its thorough coverage of parks, both large and small, in the United States and Canada - is there an international edition in the works??? If so, put me on the list of buyers.

   It's difficult to think of a park that isn't listed here - from the mainstream parks such as Disneyworld and Universal, to the tiny, neighborhood parks such as Weona and Nelly Bly, they're all here, and beautifully documented. Signature rides are listed for each park - from the big, modern coasters, to the rarer flats. As a huge fan of Flying Scooters and Lusse Auto Skooters (you fellow park nuts will know what I'm talking about, here), I love that such rides are included. Park histories are here, as well, for all of us preservationists.

   Directions, websites, and further information are included for the parks, also, which greatly helps if one wishes to visit a park. Also, common-sense tips for park visitors are here, as well as little-known secrets that assist with getting around a park to the greatest efficiency.

   I was fortunate enough to find this book while visiting Knoebels Grove (the best park in America, as far as I'm concerned), and couldn't put it down during the entire ride home. It's addictive, informative, and, well, a must-have. What with the summer practically here, run, don't walk, and get your copy NOW.