No comments about The Smithsonian Guides to Natural America: Atlantic Coast & the Blue Ridge Mountains.

1 comments about North Carolina on My Mind (America on My Mind).

1. This photographic portfolio of North Carolina emphasizes the natural beauty of the state, with breathtaking images of everything from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the sandy Atlantic beaches. Some images of the cities are also included. The images were carefully selected from over twenty different photographers. Most of the images were shot on large format film (4 x 6) resulting in a high level of resolution in the printed reproductions. This is one of the best books of its kind - and I have purchased quite a few.

No comments about Mad White Giant (Flamingo).

5 comments about Frommer's 2000 New Orleans (Frommer's New Orleans, 2000).

1. I looked at a number of guides to New Orleans before selecting Frommer's 2002 New Orleans to help me with my trip. Frommer's was my favorite. It provides detailed, accurate and reliable information on attractions, hotels, restaurants, shopping, and various other topics. Frommer's was by far the most comprehensive guide I saw for most topics. I was particularly pleased with the down-to-earth discussion of attractions: museums, parks, bars, public places, etc. The maps were also excellent: a good map (in reality, several good maps) is a necessity for getting around New Orleans and making the most of the city. Frommer's guide provides better than average maps and good information on attractions that will help ensure you're making the most of your time. As a bonus, the attractions are marked on many maps near the parts of the book where they're discussed, and when you see how New Orleans streets are laid out, you'll understand how useful that is!

   I was disappointed in the guide's coverage of restaurants, though. I thought they detailed relatively few restaurants, and found their descriptions and ratings fairly weak. My sister, who lives in New Orleans, took us to several "locals" places that were at least as good as the highly rated restaurants in the guide. The lesson is: don't be afraid to experiment. If you need to rely on a restaurant guide, choose another. Better yet, ask some locals. My personal favorite was NOLA (get the duck!). The Palace Café gets a strong recommendation, and if you're in the French Quarter and want a casual lunch, try Central Grocery for great mufalletas. Café du Mond (coffee and beignets) was a must for me, and I didn't find it disappointing.

   With the exception of eateries, I relied much on Frommer's guide when planning my trip, and also when we were there. I found the guide's advice to be reliable and concise. It offered great descriptions of attractions, and helped us find several which were perfect for kids (we traveled with our 2-year-old). In particular, we found Audubon Park, The Audubon Zoo, and City Park fantastic for kids and adults alike. Moreover, the guide's information typically matched the things the locals told us.

   Frommer's will help you get the most out of New Orleans, but equally important is a willingness to try new things and be adventurous. The French Quarter is great, but you'll likely find things you like a lot more in other parts of the city. Frommer's does an excellent job of laying out the material in a format that you can either read through, or easily use as a reference guide. Either way, it should help you find most of what you're looking for. I can unconditionally recommend it, both because it was the best guide I found before I headed to New Orleans, and because it proved its worth when I was actually there. It definitely added significantly to our enjoyment of the trip.




2. I thought this was a really great book--I only wish it was longer!

   The section on Mardi Gras (especially the author's personal memoir of being on a float) was particularly excellent, showing how you could enjoy the celebration in your own way--either nice, naughty, or nasty, which should include everyone on the spectrum from families with young children to raunchy college students.

   The walking tour section was also really good. It was nice to have a "guided tour" through the Garden District and Esplanade Ridge, which many tourists may not get around to doing, but you should.

   I also really liked the after-dark entries. I got a feeling the author really knew what she was talking about when it comes to music (which is what you're supposed to do in NO, right?).

   All in all, I thought this was great. Try it. You'll like it.




3. Overall, I found this book somewhat difficult to use. My focus on my first visit to New Orleans was the French Quarter and I found the maps to be very lacking. The cross streets were not listed on part of the map, so we actually had to locate another map at the hotel to take with us. We visited several of the places not recommended in the book (like the flea market in the French Quarter), and if you are looking for typical "tourist" type items, then this is by far the cheapest and best place to shop! I would definitely recommend purhasing another book in addition to this one to get someone elses perspective on the French Quarter.



4. The maps and suggested itineraries are great. With this book I was able to quickly orient myself in this cool town and see lots of interesting sites. I would buy it again.



5. This book is awesome! It provided all the information I needed for a wonderful trip during the Thanksgiving break. Its reviews on hotels, restaurants, and clubs were all proven to be accurate. I followed its advice and had a good time eating fresh oysters at Acme Oyster Bar, drinking cafe au lait and eating beignets at Cafe du Monde, riding the St. Charles streetcar, listening to great jazz at the Preservation Hall, touring the Oak Alley and Laura plantations, and drinking Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's.
   
   I did not know Pat O'Brien's before going to New Orleans. In this book, Mary Herczog said 'what trip to New Orleans is complete without sampling the famous Hurricane (at the Pat O'Brien's)?' Believe me, she is right on this one! I had a great time at the piano bar singing along with two very talented singers while drinking Hurricane.
   
   One thing they might want to improve is the map. It is a new feature but it doesn't have a lot of information on it.

No comments about Gulf Coast Birds: An Introduction to Familiar Species.

No comments about Tennessee Family Adventure Guide(tm).

No comments about Tesoros de La Patagonia Con DVD.

No comments about Una Estancia en Salta.

No comments about National Geographic the North Central States: Close-Up : USA Regional Map & Travel Planner : North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri (Close-Up, USA).

No comments about Southeast: The South & Florida Road Map (USA 6).