No comments about Railroads of North America.

1 comments about The Journals of Alexander MacKenzie: Exploring Across Canada in 1789 & 1793.

1. if you like reading that kind of stuff for a page an a half - interrupted by the description of some exciting episode for maybe a paragraph, only to return to the endless and minute directional footnotes of the journey, then this book is for you! moreover, if you like to know the distance of every carrying-place from Churchill to the Great Slave lake, then this book is definitely for you!
   while I enjoyed some parts of the book immensely, I cannot but feel that it was written in way too much detail, and probably for a different audience. perhaps an abridged version of Mackenzie's journals are in order.
   Scott, Francis, while they may not have been great explorers (let's face it - they both perished and cost the lives of many of their companions through their sheer incompetence), were nonetheless great writers, that knew how to relate to their audience - both then and now. by comparison, Mackenzie is as dry as the bones of an old nag that died in the Arizona dessert a hundred years ago.

No comments about National Parks of the West (A Sunset Pictorial).

No comments about El Malpais, Mt. Taylor, and the Zuni Mountains: A Hiking Guide and History (A Coyote Book).

No comments about Streetwise New York, New Jersey Map - Laminated Area Street Map - with integrated subway stations.

2 comments about Arizona Atlas and Gazetteer: Topo Maps of the Entire State.

1. I was glad to see the Arizona edition of this outstanding series! I have used these books in other parts of the country. I keep my Arizona Atlas & Gazetteer in my truck and use it all of the time to find alternate routes. It has always been helpful and accurate.

   Be advised, however, that the Phoenix metropolitan area is growing faster than any map can keep up. If you are in Phoenix, you will need an up-to-date city map -- check the dates carefully.




2. We carry this atlas whenever we set out on one of our explorations. Whether we are heading out to camp or simply driving to L.A., this book satisfies the urge to know the name of the landforms you pass. In addition to identifying every mountain and wash, this book will show you where the mines and water sources are located, the historical sites, the unimproverd roads, the observatories.....it's fascinating. The tables at the front and back of the book are also useful for finding a camp site, a fishing spot, or the best place around to watch birds. Our copy has lost its cover and the center spread is coffee-stained, but I would almost rather leave my sunglasses home than leave the driveway without it.

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

5 comments about Pennsylvania Mountain Vistas: A Guide for Hikers and Photographers.

1. Just like in his 2004 offering "Pennsylvania Waterfalls," here Scott E. Brown has created a great resource for both hikers and outdoor photographers. However, in that earlier book Brown mainly focused on natural attractions that are easily reached by car or via short leisurely rambles. In contrast, here he has created special hiking routes to natural overlooks that are often quite difficult to reach without serious hiking. That's because Pennsylvania's surprisingly rugged topography creates many great vistas but most of them require real foot power to reach. So in his quest for the most photogenic mountain vistas, Brown has created a guide that includes in-depth hiking information as well as technical specifications for the professional or aspiring photographer. This results in an exceptional guide that will inspire hikers to visit many previously unappreciated vistas with or without their cameras, while shutterbugs will appreciate the rewards of hiking and a love for nature while en route to incredible shots.
   
   There are also a few surprises in Brown's recommendations to photographers, and by extension, hikers. For each vista, Brown includes the best times of day for the ultimate shot, which is often sunrise or sunset. Thus, there is some incredibly useful advice for hiking at night. There is also some good advice on winter hiking and the consequent care for photographic equipment, because winter nature photography has its own unique rewards. In general, Brown offers very specific technical advice for getting the best shots in each selected location, surely with the goal of training photographers to challenge his own works. And those shots by Brown are the best aspect of this book, with great examples throughout. Highlights include several snowy landscapes, glowing fog over a barn, a moonrise, and a stupendous panoramic composition of Pine Creek Gorge. This informative and visually attractive book will inspire anyone with an interest in hiking or photography, or both, to explore the best of Pennsylvania's surprising outdoor wonders. [~doomsdayer520~]



2. Scott Brown's earlier book, Pennsylvania Waterfalls, was an exceptional guidebook to rare and beautiful locations in PA, and this book is the same. There are so many wonderful vistas in Pennsylvania that no book could possibly cover them all, but Brown cherry-picked the best ones for inclusion in this work. His outstanding pictures are a joy to behold, and his photographic instruction will be useful to novice and accomplished photgraphers alike.
   
   I've spent lots of time researching Pennsylvania vistas and overlooks, and I've even created a web site to document them. This book certainly aided my research. I've visited a number of vistas included in this work, and Brown does a great job describing the hikes, the views, and how to capture them on film. Other information about each location, such as the field of view, elevation, and GPS coordinates are icing on the cake.
   
   My job takes me around the state on occasion, and I'm definitely going to make it a point to seek out the vistas highlighted in this book. I highly reccomend this work to anyone who's into viewing or phtographing the beautiful mountains of the Keystone state.



3. This book is very well organized and thorough. Directions and descriptions of sites are complete and easy to understand. A great tool for anyone who wants to hike to overlooks in Pennsylvania.



4. I've owned this book for just a week and already have corners folded and details highlighted. Inclusion of Mr. Brown's photos from these vistas just whets the appetite to experience the scene in person. Anyone who has ever tried to convey the beauty of a valley or mountaintop on film knows that even the most perfect shots don't convey the true experience unless you have been there yourself. This book will travel the state with me, year round. How long will it take me to experience each of these fantastic mountainscapes in all four seasons?



5. Very good guide to all the photogenic spots in the entire PA as opposed to only specific parts of PA. There is very in depth suggestions for the serious photographers (of which I am not) that "point and shoot" photographers are really not going to use, but can at least use his recommendations for site location for the scene. I found the rating system very useful to help me decide which hikes were worth my time seeing on limited time.

2 comments about Where to Wear Los Angeles 2006: Fashion Shopping from A-Z (Where to Wear: Los Angeles).

1. This is the second book of theirs that I've bought. They are great because they are up to date, and so helpful. With each store, it has the address, phone number, opening hours and everything else about it that can be of use. They give good descriptions of what the store carrys and a tid bit of info about the owners etc. At the back of the book there is a few restaurant picks as well. Another great thing about this book is that it caters to anyone of any financial status. There are high end stores and stores geared to people with a budget in mind. The only possible bonus they could maybe include next issue would be a few photos here and there, but really, in general, this guide is great for helping you choose the best spots to go to and you can narrow down what is and what isn't of interest to you. Although I know Los Angeles very well, there are a few stores in here that I may not otherwise have known about and for that, I'm happy to buy a copy every couple of years or so.



2. This is a great little book to get you around LA if you are a shopaholic and even if you are not. It inludes even the most obscure shops and has very honest critiques and good directions - plus lots more!

No comments about Fodor's Bermuda 2006 (Fodor's Gold Guides).