1 comments about Fodor's Escape to Nature Without Roughing It,1st Edition: 250 Hand-Picked Resorts, Inns, and Lodges in Amazing Natural Settings (Special-Interest Titles).

1. As the baby boomers grow older, their appreciation for nature and the outdoors may not fade, but the appreciation for a king-size bed in the process may take precedence over camping out. Turn to Fodor's Escape To Nature Without Roughing It: 250 Hand-picked Resorts, Inns, And Lodges In Amazing Natural Settings for an excellent get-away guide: it covers the entire USA and Canada, it covers all kinds of 'wilderness' from seashore and mountains to farmlands, and it provides recommendations of lovely lodges, farmhouses, and rural hotels. These are more than just listings: extensive descriptions of both accommodation and environment nearby include prices, amenities, payment options and more.

1 comments about 100 Best Family Resorts in North America, 8th (100 Best Series).

1. It brings family resorts together in one place with detailed reviews. It has various price ranges though I think many would not choose those in the lower price range. It focuses more on resort than family. A little spotty in some places

No comments about A Journey into Mohawk and Oneida Country, 1634-1635: The Journal of Harmen Meyndertsz Van Den Bogaert (Iroquois and Their Neighbors).

5 comments about The Island of Seven Cities: Where the Chinese Settled When They Discovered America.

1. The book received was consistent with what I ordered. It arrived in a timely manner.



2. Easy and a delight to read, Paul Chaisson's The Island of Seven Cities both informed me of the early Chinese in North America and inspired me to read more. Having already read Gavin Menzies 1421 - The Year China Discovered the World and complimented with some background while I was in China on reading Bamber Gascoigne's The Dynasties of China, I can't help but concur the Chinese had every tool, skill and knowledge to have almost conqured the world. Had it not for the Mandarins taking control in the late 1400's and closing China to the world, we'd all be speaking Chinese! Paul Chaisson uncovered an historic miracle of a magnitude yet to recognized on a strategic island off the East coast of Canada. Yes, he'll be chastised by the "experts" as Menzies has, but in the immortal words of Winston Churchill about truth; "...there it is." Great reading, hard to put down, well researched with what must be 30 pages of superb Notes and Bibliography! A must read for anyone intrested in the TRUE story of world history. I'm impressed! BTW: My daughter's courses in World History at the University of Southern California made Chinese history of world discovery as per Menzies' book required reading.



3. This was a great follow-up to confirm what I had previously read in "1421 the Year the Chinese Disvovered America" His research was extensive and his tie in to 1421 was great.



4. One of Architect Paul Chiasson's motivation to writing THE ISLAND OF SEVEN CITIES: WHERE THE CHINESE SETTLED WHEN THEY DISCOVERED AMERICA was his life changing experience of facing mortality. Chiasson discovered he was HIV-positive. Although the book is not an autobiography of his experience, there is semi-autobiographical information that he shares with his readers, which inspired him to write the book, revisiting his birthplace of Nova Scotia and rediscovering his ancestral history closely linked to French explorer Samuel de Champlain. But the compelling aspect of his discovery is that upon learning of his illness, he hiked to the mountaintop on Cape Breton Island where past generations of his family had lived, and by accident, he came across ruins that may have dated back to the Ming dynasty. And with this discovery he formulated a hypothesis claiming that the Chinese may have landed in North America before European explorers.
   
   This books ties in with a previous book examining China's possible role and contribution to the exploration of the New World, 1421: THE YEAR CHINA DISCOVERED THE NEW WORLD by Gavin Menzies. Drawing from Menzies's discovery, Chiasson went on a two-year research expedition to finding more about the ruins and proving that they were settled by the Chinese. The Mi'kmaq, an indigenous people of the island, may have derived their culture from the Chinese, and in turn, helped French settlers to live and thrive on the island centuries later. But Chiasson's thought-provoking book is purely hypothesis, and extensive research by archaeologists and historians are still in order for his findings to be definite; if proven correct, this part of history adds another dimension to the understanding of world history.
   
   ISLAND OF SEVEN CITIES is a fascinating read. Chiasson offers insight to the many facets of how the exploration and discovery of the North American continent and its various settlements included a global community of different countries from the West and possibly may have included the East. For several historians this is skeptical history, but for curious minds wanting to understand the discovery of the New World from different perspectives, this is an interesting book.



5. As far as I'm concerned I'm convinced that Paul has the right idea! While we westerners thought the world was flat the Chinese were exploring and expanding their world daily. Real archealogy and anthropological investigations will undoubtedly prove his ideas to be true. His historical research appears to be impecably done. I'm glad to see he's still around to see what his book has wrought! I'm definitely a fan.

No comments about Ducks: A Field Guide to Familiar North American Species (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press).

1 comments about Body & Soul Escapes (Footprint - Lifestyle Guides).

1. If you want to just 'get away' for a while, and wonder where's a great spot, perfect to clear out your head, to breath lovely fresh air, swim, eat delicious food, and not always need to pay luxurious prices (although there are such choices), then here's a superb selection from which you can begin to make your choices. This time, should you take off to Tuscany, or Greece, or the desert in Jordan, to Thailand, or to an island off the coast of Africa? A lot of the best places all over the world, for yoga, for pilates, or tai chi or ayurveda, even where to go for a cleansing detox are here. Beautifully written. Informative (without the greatest index but it's not a big problem). And if your friends hadn't recommended a perfect place for you, now you'll be able to recommend at least one perfect place for them to go to. Once in a while it's also possible it could cost you less than ten dollars a day, yes, (if our dollar doesn't continue dropping in value quicker than it's been doing). This lady already checked out where you can go -- and then she wrote the book she wished she herself had before her departures. Buy it. Then, have a great trip.

5 comments about The Rough Guide to Belize 2 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. After looking at several other books we chose this one for our 14 day trip in January of 2001. It was an excellent resource for important info and interesting tid-bits. It is a little old now and some information is out dated at this point. It could really use an update. My husband and I would volunteer to go again!! We had a great time and higly recomend Belize for the less mainstream traveler. Go now though, it is definatly changing! Don't miss Hol Chan marine reserve snorkeling and Placencia village. Also, we loved Crooked Tree and Tikal. Have a great time and take this book with you!!!



2. We had Lonely Planet "Central America" and Fodor's "Guatemala and Belize", but it was Rough Guide we kept coming back too. In our trip to Guatemala and Belize we spent 4 days in Belize, but only out on the Cayes. Most of the time was spent on Caye Caulker (a very laid back and relaxing escape) staying at Mara's Place which was listed in the guide without much fanfare, but hit the spot.

   If you need low budget (~25US per room - no tax!) stay with Mara. She is right near the swimming spit and has lovely cabins (no A/C, but ceiling fans) that are simple, but clean. You'll always notice Mara driving around town in her sporty ATV.

   For the size of the Caye the restaurants are plentiful with most listed in the guide.

   The one short coming was scuba info. Belize barrier reefs are known for their great scuba and snorkeling and the island has plenty of shops - but only 1 is listed. They will refer you elsewhere if they can't accomodate you, but I am surprised that Rough Guide didn't dedicate more space to this popular sport. I assume the writer either a) didn't spend much time on the Cayes or b) didn't care much for water sports. Might have been both, but this is a huge oversight given that the Cayes are one of the most popular destinations in Belize.

   Despite this shortcoming - you won't be disappointed.




3. (Planeta.com Journal) - This 300-page book is a superb second edition that details the best of ways of exploring Belize (and nearby Tikal and the Bay Islands). What Belize First calls "a tour de force" is a must-read for travelers heading to this country. Author Eltringham's first visit was during his tour of duty by the UK's Royal Air Force. He's returned numerous times and covers community tourism issues with the same clear-spoken authority of trekking and diving. Independent travelers will relish the detailed information, practical advice and helpful maps.



4. My wife and I went to Belize in April 2002. I reviewed several books of Belize, of which there were few. This one seemed to be the book to buy. I wasn't disappointed. It had very good restuarant recommendations for Ambergris Caye as well as hotel info. Some information was not updated (internet cafe in Cayo had moved, [an inexpensive] great internet connection place was not mentioned also, a series of cabins that were listed as in business in Crooked Tree were *completely* run-down and *nowhere* near being in business) but this didn't hamper our vacation very much. It had good info on stuff to do in and near Cayo. Bottomline: buy this guide if you're going to Belize.



5. This book, though it has many excellent sections and qualities, has one short-coming: its accommodations and restaurants are dated (published 2001 but most establishments were reviewed in 2000 or 1999). There are many new establishments that have opened and a bunch that have closed. I knocked on the door of the "Trends Guest House" in Belize City only to be told by the neighbor, "Its closed. Been closed for two years", "Oh", I replied. "Yea man, there was a murder" the neighbor said. "Oh?" I replied. "Yea, the owner was murdered by a guest." Oh! I replied. So the recommendations are hit and miss, but for those that which were open, the comments are reliable (most have raised their prices) and worth pursuing.

   If you are going to snorkel or dive, you should know that much of the reefs in the Northern Cayes (Ambergris & Caulker) are 65-85% dead. This is because of the three hurricanes in the last 5 years. According to one marine expert, it will take 20 years or more of them to return. Nothing is said about the destruction to the coral reefs in this guide.
   
   On the plus side this guide has excellent Internet references. Almost every hotel has email addresses and many of them have webpage addresses. Maps are clear, concise and easy to use. Tons of references that point you to a plethora of information on Belize. (most with web address). Belize is completely covered, no area of interest is omitted, and Peter Eltringham has include a very good section on TIKAL, Flores (across the boarder in Guatemala) and the Bay Islands (Roatan).

   His bibliography on recommended books to read is valuable and solid for anyone that wants to know more on Belize.

   All Rough Guides have a difficult to use number system to quote the price range of a hotel, i.e. one hotel is a number '6' which means between BZ$110-150 that scale is back on page 28 of the guide, then you convert the BZ$ to $US. This system is a pain when it is so much easier just to say $75 dollars.

   Bottomline: WHEN the new edition comes out, Rough Guide to Belize will be at the very top of the Belize guides but, until then, you will be best served by another guide.

2 comments about Shipwrecks in the Americas: With 73 Illustrations.

1. This is not a book for the casual reader -- the text on underwater archaeology can be somewhat dense and technical, and the listings of shipwrecks are encyclopedic, not narrative. However, if you are a wreck diver, shipwreck enthusiast or archaeologist, this is a useful reference volume. Marx's knowledge of the subject matter is obvious, though put to more enjoyable use in his books on the underwater excavation of Port Royal.



2. Mr. Marx has written a wonderful book, which should be of value to anyone interested in sunken treasure. It is a labor of love, by a man who has lived an exciting life searching successfully for both treasure and historic material.

   The book begins with a wonderful and very detailed history of the Spanish treasure fleets - and their impact on Europe, based on extensive research by the author. This is a most impressive and detailed scholarly effort, and alone justifies a read by anyone interested in the conquest of the New World and the effects of this newfound wealth on Old Europe.

   The book then discusses modern salvage techniques and provides the would-be treasure hunter with helpful advice on how to conduct a search. I believe that anyone considering actually conducting an operation would be well advised to read this material and follow Mr. Marx's excellent advice.

   The rest of the book consists of an index of known shipwrecks off the coasts and islands of the Americas, by location, and a brief history of each.

   Many brave souls are asleep in the deep, and Marx has created a wonderful testament to them.

No comments about Rock 'n' Road, 2nd: An Atlas of North American Rock Climbing Areas.

3 comments about Thomas Guide California Road Atlas: Including Portions of Nevada : Spiral (California Road Atlas).

1. I bought this atlas at Costco and ended up returning it. Since the page size is only 8 1/2 by 11, it is next to impossible to see enough detail to be useful. You would be better collecting a half dozen fold-out regional California maps. The city maps are somewhat better, but still small.



2. I too, bought my 1st copy of this map book at Costco, now I am purchasing more as gifts. To anyone who loves and/or lives in California, this is a must have. Want to get out and have no idea where to go? Know where you need to go, but don't quite know how to get there? It is all in here and then some....Gather up your California road map/atlas, get in your car and let your inner child out to play. It lists campgrounds, State Parks and little known places just begging for you to enjoy. California is a place for all types to recharge their batteries and this is the perfect book to help you find the places that can do just that! You just can't get this detailed of info. in any fold out map.....



3. I keep this in my car at all times. It encompasses a state-wide map, along with city & street maps for every major city (and not so major cities) in California. I was always forgetting to bring my fold-out maps when I would travel, and now I don't have to. So, instead of needing 50 fold out maps, everything is in one simple book.
   
   This is a must-have for anybody who enjoys a quick road trip or a real vacation.