1 comments about Hidden Washington: Including Seattle, Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, Olympic Peninsula, Cascades and Columbia River Gorge (Hidden Travel).

1. [...] One of my computer-side companions has been Hidden Pacific NW and now Hidden Washington. I've seen a lot of the state and know Eric Lucas knows Washington, so his book is a great reference when needed. What I really like is his "hidden" finds at different places. If you want a book that portrays a true picture of what you might find in Washington and is easy to use, Lucas's book fits the bill. I would recommend it for all visitors and newcomers to the state.

No comments about Moleskine City Notebook Seattle (Moleskine City Notebooks).

5 comments about Beyond Mount Si: The Best Hikes Within 85 Miles of Seattle.

1. This is one of 3 local hiking guides I have of the area and this is definitely the most user-friendly one. The driving directions were clear and the description of the hikes was acurate and very helpful.
   
   The thing I appreciate most with this guide provides was that whether or not there is a fee (parking and/or permit) involved at each hike. By listing who manages each trail, I could avoid arriving at a hike just to find out that I did not have cash to pay for parking or that I should have stop by a local vendor to get a pass/permit.
   
   Also, I always take my dog on hikes, so it is good to know the pet regulation at each trail.
   
   This is defnitely a must for everyone who lives in the Seattle area and wants to explore the local trails.



2. This is a great book for natives of the region who are into intense, strenuous hikes. I however, am more of a novice hiker and found only a few hikes in here that were of my skill level. There aren't too many hikes to pick from if all you want is an afternoon hike along the water or an easy day trip with the kids.



3. I just started hiking this year and so i wanted a guide that would help me.
   This is the one i chose. It gave me exact directions, difficulty level, hike conditions, best season to go , whether fees are applied, whether kids or dogs can be taken, what to see, what all to take along, time for a round trip, how many miles to walk etc.
   
   I think that was the sufficient information for us. We have taken many of them and had a wonderful time in seattle.
   
   Give it a try, its a good reference book.



4. This book does a great job of describing so many of the wonderful hikes the greater Seattle area has to offer, rating them for difficulty and scenery and giving useful hints and directions.
   
   We took our nine year old on several of the hikes and it was nice to know which ones would be most difficult and to tell him what to expect on the hike.



5. This book is by far the best of the bunch. It offers a concise overview, turn by turn directions and the best maps.
   
   One of the issues with other books is the maps look more like a bad b&w copy of a USGS topo map. Not this book!
   
   The maps in this book show the general area and most other trails in the area. Plus it highlights the exact route mentioned in the book. While this may seem basic, some other local books simply show the trails or have a topo like map without the trails highlighted.
   
   Its critical to have good maps as many local trail systems have confusing interconnecting routes.
   
   The other major bonus of this book is that it is really up-to-date and keeps to routes most folks can enjoy. Plus it gives honest comments about crowding and parking.
   
   I have taken seven hikes in this book this year and have enjoy each of them.
   
   This book is MUCH better than the Day Hike! series.

5 comments about Top 10 Seattle (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. We took a few days off before attending a business meeting in the Seattle area. I wanted a short-and-sweet guidebook that would direct me to the places I most needed to see (expected destinations like Pike Place Market), as well as a few less obvious places to go. Since I couldn't spend very long in town, I wanted something small and portable enough to stuff in my purse. Top 10 Seattle did a good job at this goal.
   
   In addition to the top ten overall spots, and in some cases the top ten at each spot (such as the most important places to see at the aforementioned market), the book covers each of the major neighborhoods, with recommendations in each one. Not all of them are "tourist" spots, either; for instance, it directs you to walk a few blocks off Broadway (where I was staying) to check out the architecture of area homes. That was good advice, and I wouldn't have ventured that way on my own.
   
   Each neighborhood gets restaurant recommendations, too; we relied on it for one or two meals and were generally pleased. There's also shopping recommendations, though I didn't explore them as much.
   
   The book also has very clear maps, which was definitely appreciated, though I'm not sure how helpful they'd be if you go outside their major areas of focus.
   
   Where the book falls down is in the details. Not the info on each site (it's tiny, that's what I wanted) but in logistics. If it's 10am on Sunday, which of these places will be open? Should I go downtown on the off-chance that the museum is open? The book gave me no guidance.
   
   Nonetheless, this was a good book to carry along on a short trip. I'd do it again.



2. If you need a quick answer for places to go and enjoy in Seattle, this book will be a good and low cost reference guide. Am planning to go to Seattle, will take it with me.



3. We have been fans of all the Top 10 books...Washington DC, NYC, et al
   
   It provides money-saving tips for budget-minded travelers of one, two or family with children(food, accomodations, etc). The book helps you be time-wise for sightseeing for one, two or family with children. Definitely recommend to all travelers. We look forward to our Seattle trip. Will be our first time in the great North West!



4. Seattle is a great cosmopolitan city. The books in this series are usually excellent. This one is sub par, it doesn't do the city justice. It's o.k. if you want info concentrated on one city, but you'll gleen as many insights from the Chamber of Commerce visitor information.
   
   I was disappointed in the book, not the city.



5. Invaluable tool for our trip to Seattle over New Year's. Helpful info and pictures, fit our tastes to a tee.

3 comments about Seattle (City Guide).

1. This book is perfect to guide you through the must see sights and the restaurants that are convenient. As always, Lonely Planet proves to be very reliable.



2. LONELY PLANET SEATTLE, whose last edition was great, just got even better with this edition. This book includes a copious amount of information on where the best recreation, shopping, and dining are, as well as including an updated list of radio stations and a description of the best and worst neighborhoods in both the city and its immediate suburbs. Overall, LONELY PLANET SEATTLE shows the Seattle area to be a metro region where the median income is higher than the national, in both the city and the suburbs. This is a book you must own if you're interested in travel in any way.



3. My wife and I have traveled the world to all but four countries using Lonely Planet and as always Lonely Planet is the only book to travel with. A bit of information on Seattle travel expenses. For a USA city, Seattle is very expensive to visit (about 38% more than the average USA city). We have friends of 40 years who relocated to Seattle and they too say it is expensive. Eating for two in a standard lunch restaurant is going to cost $60 (with gratuity).
   I spent two months researching Seattle rooms (talking with hotel concierges and club member services). All room rates are hiked 40% for the summer months (May-mid Sept). All the rooms are small in square footage - similiar to NYC. The lodging with the largest rooms is Springhill Suites by Marriott on Yale Avenue. This was confirmed by fellow experienced travelers we met at Springhill - having done the same research as myself.
   Due to their major highways (I-5, and others) needing to be wider I would opt to stay in downtown otherwise you will spend 30% of your time in the car. If you want to travel to Vancouver Island (during the summer season)- make your reservations a month in advance.
   Their intra bus service does not provide good information on their web. Inside the inner city, all bus service is free (due to their lack of parking facilities and too many cars). On the weekend (Fri-Sun) one can purchase a weekend on-off pass for $1.50 - if you are traveling outside the inner city. Inner city is from Anthony's Seafood (excellent food and lowest priced in the city) to the Seahawk's stadium. There is still plenty of the city outside this area - and the rooms are less expensive on the fringe of the inner city.
   Seattle is a beautiful city, and we will visit again. But one needs some money to visit.

4 comments about Newcomer's Handbook for Moving to and Living in Seattle (Newcomer's Handbooks).

1. The latest edition of THE NEWCOMER'S HANDBOOK FOR MOVING TO AND LIVING IN SEATTLE is a book intended for people moving to the area, but even people who are not going there may enjoy it. It describes in full the best and worst neighborhoods, schools, shopping, dining, and fitness opportunities in the cities of Seattle and Tacoma, as well as their surrounding suburbs. This book is more up to date than the last edition, so it's worth checking out and getting rid of your old edition.



2. This book was most complete of any I have seen so far, author certainly must have deep knowledge of Seattle area. Lots of tidbits that were completely unexpected!



3. The book is filled with lots of info, though I don't think it is much more updated than the older version (also very useful)



4. This book has served as an outstanding relocation-tool during our move to Greater Seattle region. It's well-organized and provides thorough information for multiple neighborhoods. The author covers various aspects of everyday life, such as neighborhood profile, commute, schools, dining, and shopping etc. Although it covers suburbs of Bellevue, Redmond, Everett, Kenmore, Bothell and Tacoma etc., but the coverage for suburbs is not as extensive as for the city of Seattle. I wish the author had covered Eastside in a little more detail.
   
   I would rate the material "Five Star", but deducting one for no color, few maps, and no pictures. The author has done an amazing job, if the publisher can follow some style elements for color and pictures from DK Publishing, it could make this guide an undisputed leader. Even after living for a year in Seattle suburbs, I still use it as a reference document and every time I learn something new and interesting. For example, I recently learned about the business partnership between Seattle PI and Seattle Times, and where does the NE (North East - e.g. NE 145th St.) starts etc.
   
   I strongly recommend this book to all new comers to Seattle area. If I ever decide to relocate again, I will never do so without buying any such guide as it certainly makes learnings straightforward and relocation a little less stressful.
   
   PS: I personally own the 2nd edition, the content for both editions is worth every penny.

2 comments about Not for Tourists 2008 Guide to Seattle (Not for Tourists Guidebook).

1. Amazing breakdowns of the neighborhoods - color maps, lists and locations of businesses and more. Nice glossy pages and more info than a short-term visitor could ever use - we bought it as a relocation guide and it has paid of in dividends for us! It helped us decide on which neighborhood to live in, helped us find businesses and services, and showed us fun places to eat and hang out. Use it for visiting but remember that it is also a fantastic book full of info to help you move to Seattle!



2. I gave the book, 'Not for Tourists' as a gift and it was received with much interest and delight. The book is very informative, covering various districts in and around Seattle. The information is very detailed and acurate, with good readable maps, great information about the many areas that it covers and a fun book to browse through. I've lived in Seattle for many years and it was great fun reading through this delightful book. I will be purchasing 'Not for Tourists' for my self.

3 comments about Streetwise Seattle Map - Laminated Center City Street Map of Seattle, Washington - Folding pocket size travel map with integrated monorail & streetcar lines & stations (Streetwise).

1. Before heading into Seattle as an intern this summer, I bought a few foldable maps - each with different strengths and weaknesses. By the end of the summer, the only map living in the front seat of my MINI Cooper was this one. I love it because the streets are clearly labeled. I love it because it shows some of the surrounding neighborhoods, not just the main downtown area. And most of all, I love it because it shows the on and offramps for the freeway. How many times have you hit a bizarre interchange and not known what lane to be in, or been stuck in a maze of one-way streets? This map is absolutely the clearest at indicating directionality of streets, and that's a good thing because Seattle is a pretty messy city to get around in by car.
   
   Combine this map with one of the bound King/Pierce/Snohomish County "map books" that are sold at most big box stores in the metro area with detailed grid maps of the entire area, and you'll never get lost. Highly recommended!



2. Covers the subject well but far from completly. Handy to carry because it is a small book. Nice color illustrations. Points of interest chosen would sit well with people in their 20's but no so well with people in their 60's



3. Only half the size of a regular map, for twice the price. The lamination and mini pictures of buildings don't make up for the disappointment I felt when I received my map in the mail. I'm sure it will prove useful, but in a much smaller area than it should or could be useful.

1 comments about Frommer's Seattle 2008 (Frommer's Complete).

1. FROMMER'S SEATTLE 2008 is a great new version of Frommer's great guidebook on the Emerald City. It tells you about great shopping, dining, exercise, recreation, and sightseeing. It does miss a lot of the malls, as well as lacking anything on local radio stations, so be sure to get the new version of LONELY PLANET SEATTLE in February, as well as FODOR'S SEATTLE 4TH EDITION, THE NEWCOMER'S HANDBOOK FOR SEATTLE, the new version of BEST PLACES SEATTLE, and THE SEATTLE GUIDEBOOK, 12TH EDITION, in addition to this one.

5 comments about A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail).

1. I am a big fan of Bill Bryson, and this is one of my top two or three favorite books by him, which is saying quite a bit. In this outing he takes us with him as he and a friend hike sections of the Appalachian Trail. I don't say "takes us with him" lightly, as with his descriptive style and expert narrative, you really feel as though you're slogging through the eastern US right along with him- and laughing every step of the way. When I finished this book, I actually felt as though I had walked the trail (in spirit, at least) and gained a greater respect for it and the folks who take care of it.
   
   The hilarity starts before the hike, as Bryson goes into a sporting goods and buys all of the requisite items for the hike. It is here that we first get an idea of a) how funny this is going to be and b) how expensive it is to hike and camp. As he arrives at the airport in Georgia to start the trail at its southern terminus, you're actually psyched- you really feel like you're with Bryson and Katz on their journey. Along the way, they meet many other people, many of whom Bryson pokes fun at, as he tends to do. Instead of hiking the entire trail from Maine to Georgia, they take it in sections over a period of time, which actually makes for more interesting reading.
   
   Especially interesting is Bryson's philosophical musings on the whole hiking experience and how it has changed his life. He brings up a good point: after months of doing nothing but walking along a trail in the woods, what do you DO with yourself? It makes you think about larger issues, like nature, the earth, life... which is most likely his point all along.



2. Bill Bryson's travel writing is filled with humor, introspection and fascinating information. In this work, Bryson takes us through the trials, tribulations an joys of hiking the Appalachian Trail. On the way, we learn of the origins of the trail, of the flora and fauna along it, of the tragedies that have occurred in it, but most of all, we are left with a deep and profound respect, and even awe, for nature's wonders. Adding to the flavor of the tale is Bryson's companion, an old friend who resumes his friendship with Bryson to join him on the trail, and is a foil to Bryson's personality, a sort of Sancho Panza to Bryson' Don Quixote.
   
   Bryson is a skilled craftsman with words, and gives vivid, memorable accounts of his ramble through the trail, all the while interjecting his own persona, his witty observations relating to the woods, environmental issues, the lore of the trail, without diminishing the powerful presence of the nature and environment in which he moves. As a very average Joe, in many respects, it becomes easy for the rest of us to identify with Bryson, with his fears and failures on the trail, with his frustrations and his triumphs. We are left with all the emotions and experience of the trail but without the bumps and bruises.



3. Simply put - what a delightful read! I laughed so hard at times I needed to go "potty". What a great light-hearted book! This goes on my "keeper" pile for a future re-read for sure!



4. Bill Bryson is hillarious. The first few chapters contained bits and pieces that had me laughing out loud, which is not something I come across often in literature.
   
   The book details a hike that Bryson and his friend (an out-of-shape character's character!) took on the Appalachian Trail. Both "older" gentleman aren't exactly in the best of shape... neither is a very experienced outdoorsman. Yet they both appreciate the signifigance of the trail, and are able to hike a good bit of it without mishap.
   
   The way that Bryson writes is just invigorating. He's just so funny, and describes people in the most beautiful way. He's also managed to get quite a bit of back-story on the Appalachian Trail into this text, so the book is not only entertaining, but also somewhat educational. It made me want to jump on a plane and start hiking the trail!
   
   After reading this book, I'm definitely going to search for more of Bryson's work. He's a good author, and this is a good story.



5. This is actually a review of two books, one old and one new. Both are nonfiction, and both are intended for grown-ups. There's nothing in them that kids will find objectionable, but they may find them boring. I found them to be funny, poignant at times, and thought-provoking.
   
   The first is called A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson, published in 1997. The second is called Scout's Honor, by Peter Applebome, published in 2003. Bryson is a writer and journalist who decided to walk the Appalachian Trail at around age 50, and Walk is the story of his adventures on the AT. Applebome is a writer and a journalist who decided to become a Boy Scout dad at around age 50, and Honor is the story of his adventures with his son's Boy Scout troop and with Scouting in general.
   
   I read Walk several years ago, and just discovered Honor last week. Reading Honor reminded me of Walk, so much so that I couldn't review the former without talking about the latter.
   
   Bryson and a friend decided, almost on a lark, to hike the AT which they had heard so much about, but Bryson was so inexperienced a hiker that he couldn't tell a Nalgene from a North Face. In fact, his introduction to backpacking and hiking occurred in a sporting goods store. He and his friend started at the southern end of the AT, in Georgia, on a snowy autumn day, and ended, with a few breaks, at the northern end in Maine several years later.
   
   Bryson's writing is self-deprecating and intentionally funny. He plays for laughs, and he gets them. By poking fun at himself, he gives himself license to give all the other characters on the trail the same treatment he gives himself in his writing. The book is funny throughout. But just as Mark Twain and Will Rogers gave us lots of food for thought in the middle of their humor, so Bryson writes a series of thoughtful essays between the lines of his funny stories: lessons about people's character and behavior, about greed and status, about environmental awareness and social responsibility, and about what Thoreau called "the need for wilderness" or something like that. (Yes, Thoreau talked about it before John Muir did.)
   
   When you finish Bryson's book, you will be as satisfied with the conclusion as he was with the end of the hike. You may also come away with a renewed appreciation for wild places and with an awareness of the personality flaws that make you similar to the characters Bryson writes about. It's definitely a book I would read again.
   
   Applebome, like Bryson, knew nothing about hiking, camping and backpacking, until he moved his family from Atlanta to Chappaqua, New York, and his son wanted to join the Boy Scouts. He was reluctant to get into the hiking and the canoeing, the knot-tying and the sleeping outside on the hard ground surrounded by rain, snow, wind and critters. He had hoped that his son would express an interest in Little League baseball instead, but, wishing to score some Good Dad points with his son, he went along with him to the Boy Scout meetings and outings.
   
   Even before he started, Applebome had anti-Boy-Scout leanings -- but as he became more involved with his son's troop, that changed. Interweaved with the funny and poignant story of his own adventures with his son's troop, Applebome tells a balanced, thoughtful, well-researched and honest story about the history of Scouting and its founders, its awkward attempts to adapt to social change, and the recent controversies surrounding it. The book isn't all narrative -- it includes a lot of reporting, exposition and editorializing -- but it's definitely worth reading.
   
   Applebome comes the end of his book grateful for having been able to share the experience with his son, the troop leaders, and the other Scouts and their dads. He himself grows considerably through his experiences, and he faces a huge crisis of conscience when the Boy Scouts win the Supreme Court judgement in their favor with respect to gays in Scouting. The crisis of conscience occurs because he feels that the corporate organization that is the Boy Scouts of America is dead wrong on at least one of the "three G" issues (gays, God, and girls) and not faithful to the wishes of Scouting's founders, and yet he sees that the local organizations of Scouting, the councils and troops, are a powerful force for good in their communities and are getting a raw deal by both BSA headquarters and the left-wing liberals who get all over Scouting's case because of the three Gs.
   
   Being a reporter and a problem-solver at heart, he takes a long, hard look at what Scouting could be (and should be), compares it to what it is, and makes several really good recommendations for fixing Scouting. One of the most interesting things he says is that the Scout Oath and the Scout Law, the moral foundations for Scouting (in the U.S.A.), are rock-solid and it woud be a very good thing if all boys (and men!) lived by those tenets. He also says (either himself, or quoting someone) that the Boy Scout Handbook, any edition, is just the kind of "advice to boys" that people have been longing to give to boys today.
   
   Unfortunately, Scouting is increasingly irrelevant in a society which competes so heavily (and so much more effectively) for boys' attention with sports, video games, and so on. Applebome laments this turn of events, and yet he asserts, with his primary evidence being the members of his own son, that Scouting appeals to a certain group of boys who really don't care if other people think it's uncool, and that Scouting (practiced the way it should be) really is a Good Thing in the boys' lives and is a major influence in turning them into the kind of men this world needs. (Those are my words, not his. He said it differently.)
   
   Scout's Honor is written to and for three groups of people: former Boy Scouts who are now adults; current and former Boy Scouts; and current and former Boy Scout leaders. It's high-energy food for thought for all three groups.
   
   A Walk in the Woods is written for everyone, and will be especially enjoyed by those who love or hate hiking, backpacking, camping, wilderness and the fools they find there. Although it contains more mental junk food than food for thought, it will open your mind and is definitely worth reading.