5 comments about Frommer's Washington D.C. with Kids (Frommer's With Kids).

1. This book is an excellent guide for things to do in the D.C. area with kids. We live in D.C. and were looking for new things to do, especially with our 3 year old in mind. We bought the book and learned about exciting locations and activites that we never knew about. For example the Doll and Toy Museum, Naval Observatory and Amazonia exhibit at the National Zoo.
   
   The restaurant and dining guides though are way off, the do not include the best food (including child friendly) nor convenient, fun and affordable hotels, infact they recommend some of the worst! Of course we've gained this knowledge from living here for 6 years, still would expect better form a guidebook...for food dining and hotels I'd recommend Lonely Planet's guide to D.C. area.
   
   Only other downer was driving to the Childrens Museum only to find it was closed until 2009. Still I have the 6th edition and the 7th edition hopefully is updated with this info.



2. I have four editions of this book and I would not consider going to DC without it. It is worth the investment to make sure that you are getting the latest and greatest information. I have NEVER had a problem with the information if the edition is current. A quick flip through the sixth and eighth editions shows how much info has been updated, plus almost every listing provides a web address (in addition to all the other contact information) so you can get more detailed information if you desire.
   
   When we are in DC, this book stays in my backpack at all times. The maps are clear and conscise, and the authors helpful hints have saved us a lot of time. I have all the info from the washington.org and AAA and just about everything that it covered in scores of brochures and booklets is in this book. It truly is the only book you need!



3. I found this book to be very helpful and complete. The humor and affection that the author shows for the area and kids in general was very welcome departure from the otherwise stuffy travel guides I'm used to reading. I found her insights about timing visits, local restaurants to check out, and walking tours to be very handy. Reading her guide was like getting advice from a helpful Mom. It's sold me on the Frommer Kids series, and I'm looking forward to using them on my next trip!



4. This book was a tremendous asset in planning our family's first ever D.C. trip. This was our first real encounter with big city transportation and I felt really sorry for those families who were lined up at the Metro ticket machines trying to decipher them. Also some really great hints for "cheap eats"(Union Station has something for everyone & won't break the bank),beating the heat, and sight-seeing options when the "big attractions" were impossible to get to. This guide was invaluable in planning our days with children who range in age from 7 -16. Purchased Fodor's Around Washington, D.C. with Kids (Around the City with Kids)which was simple for my children to read and enjoy. Using the Fodor's book in conjunction with this Frommer's my family spent many enjoyable evenings over 4 months planning our trip.



5. I would strongly recommend you look at other guides to Washington D.C. as Frommer's Washington D.C. with Kids was not helpful and actually was a hindrance. This book gave us misinformation and was completely out of date. I will just share two of our experiences from our first days in D.C. we disregarded the book and relied on our concierge from then on...
   
   The Zoo: Frommer's emphatically advised to get there early (it 'opens' at 6:00) and that you should stop first at the information kiosk to get a map and the daily schedule for feedings etc. They also stated that the Animal Crackers Cafe was open for breakfast. Well, we got there about 8:00 and NOTHING is open until 10:00....not the information kiosk (so we were without maps or schedules and the place is huge), most of the animals were inside the buildings which were closed until 10, none of the cafes were open for anything to eat or drink until 10. What you WILL see before 10 is zoo employees driving trucks and golf carts around setting things up and watering plants. By 10:30 when the elephants were scheduled for their bath my husband announced that he didn't care if the elephants were going to do the cha-cha, he already done enought walking and was ready to leave. Also Frommer's should have noted that the Metro is a pretty long walk to and from the zoo.
   
   The most blatant example of out-of-date information...The National Geographic Museum: Pages 191 and 192 must be from the 1998 guidebook because the permanent displays, interactive exibits, and videos the book describes have been gone (we inquired) for 9 years. No volcanoes videos, no touch and play mammals kiosk, no tornado to 'feel', no flying dinosaur, no orbital flight, no global access video games that "your kids will have to drag you away from", etc. What was displayed while we were there was China and it was good but not at all resemble what we had anticipated based on Frommer's description.
   
   Save yourself $17 and a lot of aggravation and don't buy this guidebook. We are headed to North Carolina and I'll look at Fodors or Michelin.

5 comments about The Dog Lover's Companion to Florida: The Inside Scoop on Where to Take Your Dog (Dog Lover's Companion Guides).

1. My beagle, Joey, loves this book almost as much as I do! It has made his life so much more fun. Before I bought the Dog Lover's Companion to Florida, our lives outside the house consisted of leashed walks around neighborhood parks. My dog was bored, and I felt guilty. He needed more in his life. Now thanks to this great book, we've discovered really great parks that allow dogs off leash, and they're not that far away. Plus we now scout out better leashed parks thanks to the book's paw-rating system! He and I are both well exercised and sleep better at night!
   
   Best of all, we can eat together. This book offers all kinds of dog-friendly restaurants. Now I don't feel guilty leaving Joey behind when I meet friends for lunch. I just refer to the book, find a dog-friendly restaurant, and he comes right along. My favorite is a really fun one called Mustard's Last Stand -- it's a hot dog stand that's super dog friendly. The owner even hosts doggy adopion events there.
   
   The book is well written and really fun to read. I read it and dream of vacations we can take in the future. In fact, my fiance and I are planning a romantic getaway to Key West soon, and guess who's coming along? Yup, Joey! We don't want to leave home without him. We've found an awesome B and B, and it looks like there are plenty of places to walk Joey and to eat with him. No kennel for Joey! Thank you, Florida doggy book authors!



2. This book is a great resource for those who want to see Florida and still bring along their best friend. A lot of the book is lists of restaurants and hotels that take dogs, but it also has many tips on local dog parks, state parks, and other Florida attractions that are accepting of four legged patrons. We've already found some local attractions to visit with our dog that we would have never found without this book. (At least it would have taken us much longer to find them!) I have really enjoyed this guide. My only advice to others looking to buy this book is that they should know the book mainly references outdoor attractions (parks, beaches, and recreation areas).



3. When I lived in Florida, I traveled extensively with Keesha, my 45-pound chow mix. I tried other guides, including those from auto clubs. They offer you the bare bones information.
   
   Then I met Sally Deneen and Robert McClure, who shared their Dog Lover's Companion. Being a certified grinch, I held off reviewing till I had a chance to use this book. Readers of my reviews will know my down-to-earth, honest, no-holds-barred style.
   
   To my great relief, I *loved* this book. I used an earlier edition extensively when living in Florida, when I had to make trips to places all over the state. I found amazing dog-friendly places in Fort Lauderdale, where I was living. When I visited Gainesville, I couldn't have survived without this book -- everything from where to get a burger to where to find a dog park. The information about each place is complete and accurate. For example, the authors clerly identify Dogwood park as dog heaven -- and their right.
   
   Even if you're not heading for Florida this trip, you'll learn a lot from the authors' introrduction to traveling with a dog. For instance, many hotels inisist "small dogs only" but their Maggie was a 50-pound German shepherd.. As they say, "Apparently to some hoteliers, dogs are just walking poop machines with fangs." (How can you read that without laughing out loud?)
   
   Deen and McClure offer a number of strategies, such as (a) Just ask if you can bring "the dog" and (b) capitalize on the fact that most motel owners "aren't too familiar with dog weights."
   
   A small dog? "She's only 50 ounds."
   Is that small? "Well, she's certainly not big. Half the size of a regular German shepherd!"
   
   Now is that practical advice or what? I've applied these tactics myself (and I'd add, when a clerk sees a dog can do a "sit" and "down," they assume only the best).
   
   But what makes this book truly a dog-lovers book is the way the authors manage to spice up each description. It's hard to imagine anything duller than a description of a hotel or restaurant. But who can resist:
   
   p 240-241: "The bones of extinct animals have been found at this national, natural landmark, and the lush surroundings are bound to keep wet noses twitching."
   
   p 421: "The muddy sand can be goopy...so bring a towel to wipe all paws..."
   
   p 181: "Your dog can hope for crumbs from your free breakfast of waffles, fruit and other eats..." instead of just "A free breakfast comes with the room."
   
   p 187: "The sand feels very flat and hard under the paws at this St Johns County park..."
   
   p 433: "Water dogs will appreciate this break from the usual Pinellas prohibitions on pooches..."
   
   Get the idea? Even if you're not heading to Florida anytime soon, you'll have trouble putting down this book. Don't miss the section on Palm Beach (dah-ling!) and enjoy a cameo of John Grogan (before he wrote the mega-best-seller Marley and Me). And then there's Brandi, mascot of the Broward County Humane Society, where I adopted my own dog.
   
   But if your travel plans call for Florida, and if you've a dog-lover, you must pick up this book. Your dog won't forgive you if you don't!



4. We already had the 2003 edition, but decided to purchase the updated version, was a little disappointed. There wasn't that much difference in the edition's, although it is a very good book. We could have actually gotten by with the 2003 edition. The book is actually one of the better dog companion guides out on the market. We are able to visit places, we might otherwise have missed. We have been to some beautiful parks and beaches that are dog friendly in FLorida, and we found them through this book. By all means, if you are in the Tampa area, it is very dog friendly. One of our favorite places is Fort Desoto Park, near St Petersburg, which has a huge dog park and dog beach and everyone is so nice. It is a lot of fun. some good stuff in this book.



5. If you love your dog and you plan on taking them to Florida this book's for you. It has a handy reference guide depending on where in Florida you are.
   
   Gunner July, 2007

3 comments about 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Salt Lake City: Including Ogden, Provo, and the Uintas (60 Hikes within 60 Miles).

1. Last Christmas I scoured bookstores for a comprehensive book of hikes for the Salt Lake region, yet all I found were books that were sprinkled with hikes from all over Utah. (Sorry, but we're not driving 8 hours for a 1 hour paved loop.)
   
   Finally! A hiking book that makes sense! All the hikes are within 6o minutes of Salt Lake City, and there's not a lame hike in the bunch. While we haven't done all the hikes (so many trails...so little time), just reading about them made our whole family excited to hit the road with book in hand.
   
   This well-written guide is dripping with details and peppered generously with fantastic photos. Each hike has "key information at-a-glance" (which includes about 15 items that give you a feel for the hike) and a great section at the end of each chapter of "nearby activities".
   
   If you know someone who is planning a trip to Salt Lake (or if they're lucky enough to live there) you've gotta get this book--it's the new "eleventh essential".



2. We recently relocated to Utah from Southern California; we were familiar with all kinds of outdoor hiking activities there. But while we knew there were fantastic hiking adventures to be found here, we just didn't know how to find them. Then we discovered this book.
   
   Most guide books give you just the facts--where and how far. "60 Hikes..." gives you much more: age-appropriateness, difficulty, wildlife, geology, and even history. It's clear that Witt not only knows what he's talking about, he loves it. This enthusiasm is contagious, making you want to jump out of your armchair and explore.
   
   Although we might not make all 60 hikes, we know we'll love the ones we do.
   
   I highly recommend it.



3. A well written comprehensive publication of hiking in the areas where we live. This book is an excellent resource for anyone who going to visit or lives in the Salt Lake area.

4 comments about The Accidental Explorer.

1. Sherry Simpson's earlier essay collection, The Way Winter Comes, was topnotch. The Accidental Explorer is even better. Her voice has mellowed some since her last book, and this seasoning imparts a difficult wisdom--the price of living an examined life. Two of the essays, "Impedimenta" and "Fidelity," are more than worth the price of the book. Excellent.



2. The more I read her work, the more convinced I become that Sherry Simpson is not only Alaska's most accomplished essayist, but that she ranks among the best in the nation. The latest proof is The Accidental Explorer: Wayfinding in Alaska. At one level, this collection of 10 personal essays recounts memorable trips into Alaska's wild places (most, but not all, emphasizing her own travels), written by a person who thinks hard about things, is willing to take risks, and has a wonderful talent for self-deprecating humor and story telling. The remote areas she writes about range from Glacier Bay to Denali National Park, the vast flatlands of the Yukon River basin, and an imposingly wild stretch of the Alaska coast that remains unnamed. But the specific places aren't as important as her experiences, lessons learned, questions raised, and the ideas that Simpson mulls in that restless, roving, worrisome mind of hers. Early on she admits to being a fretter. The reader gains as much, if not more, from her fretful and inquisitive mind as from the adventures themselves.
   
   As with the best of essays, these are multi-layered gems. Besides sharing her sometimes funny, other times sad or disconcerting, occasionally frightening, and always humbling passages through Alaska's wilds, Simpson writes movingly and unflinchingly about home and family. One of the strongest essays, I think, is "Fidelity," which in large part reflects upon about a troubled time in her marriage and the importance of what endures. In fact home and wilderness - and various notions of each - are juxtaposed against each other throughout the book and that juxtaposition creates one of the book's delicious tensions. Simpson is also fascinated by both the Euro-American explorers (many of them military men) who made the earliest Westernized maps of Alaska, and Alaska's Original Peoples, who created their own internal maps of the landscape while building a far more substantial and lasting relationship with the places they have come to know over the millennia. Both "The Mapmaker" (which focuses on mapper-and-explorer-turned-homesteader Bill Yanert) and "Hypothetical Geographies" take the reader to unexpected terrain as they consider the various ways we humans "map out" new territories and homelands. There's lots more here: the importance of stories, the dangers of not paying sufficient attention to advice, instincts, or the landscape itself (death and the specter of death are frequent elements of the stories, including a wonderfully provocative piece on Chris McCandless, of Into the Wild fame - or notoriety - in "A Man Made Cold by the Universe"); and the internal tensions carried by a writer who wonders "how could I ever reconcile this constant restlessness with the desire to know and love one place?" The essays superbly blend Simpson's personal idiosyncrasies with larger questions about discovery, longing, imagination, and how it is that each of us finds - or seeks to find - his or her own place in the world.
   
   A final thought: I'd previously read (and in one case, heard) versions of five of the essays included in this collection; and I found each to be powerful and illuminating this time around. In short, these are essays you can return to again and again, and take away some new insight or delight. That's essay writing at its best.



3. You could live in London all of your life, and never see Buckingham Palace. You could live in Washington D.C., and never see the White House. You could live in Alaska, and never see the beautiful wilderness that surrounds you - and that's what happened to author Sherry Simpson. "The Accidental Explorer: Wayfinding in Alaska" is her tale of accidentally discovering the vast natural wonder surrounding her during an epic solo hike across it all, despite not being much of a seasoned hiker. Written with humility versus the nature that she is simply a simple city girl facing vast odds, "The Accidental Explorer: Wayfinding in Alaska" is highly recommended for any true adventure collection and for anyone who wants to read a tale of explorer about someone who is not so much unlike them.



4. This is an excellent book, a fine collection of musing and description, memoir, history, and self-revelations of an honest, restless, soul-searching, funny, self-deprecating, cerebral Alaskan woman in rubber boots. As a fellow "grew-up-in-the-Alaskan-wilds" writer, I appreciate her work as that of a kindred spirit, but I think readers will appreciate her work no matter where they live or how they grew up.
   Of special note: her essay about the "Into the Wild" kid, and her non-(very Alaskan) pilgrimage to that bus, the descriptions of hapless Outsiders in search of Truth while locals sneer. Her encounters with bears and discomforts are right on, very authentic in affect. Her respectful, erudite delving into the Native Alaskan historical, linguistic and cultural layers of the ancient land is superb and deep. This book is a keeper.

5 comments about 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California: Sierra Nevada/ Cascade Mountains/ Klamath Mountains/ Coast Range and North Coast/ San Francisco Bay Area (100 Classic Hikes).

1. I just got this book. It is the most beautiful hiking guide I've ever seen. There are nearly a hundred full-color photos, and even the maps are creatively colored. We leave it on our coffee table for easy perusal. It's an updated edition of 100 Hikes in Northern California, and it has thorough descriptions of all my favorite hikes, and many others my wife and I are planning to do this winter (in the Bay Area) and next summer (in the Sierra Nevada and maybe in the Trinity Alps). We have two other hiking books on Northern California, but this one is definitely our favorite. If you are only getting one hiking guide for the north state, this is it.



2. This is an exceptionally well-designed book for hikers across the spectrum. Whether you're a neophyte or have climbed Denali, this book contains all the essential information you need to tackle the hikes listed. The photos are all in color and are breathtaking! You really get a sense of what each hike will look like before you undertake it. Every hike also has a color map to accompany the text description. The maps are easy to follow and instructive.

   Equally pleasing is that the authors take the time to describe each hike in extensive detail, though they are never wordy. They list the elevation gains, give succinct but necessary directions to each trailhead and provide ample analysis of the strengths/weaknesses of each trek. The book is small and light enough to carry in your backpack, if you feel the need to consult it while on the trail.

   I have over 50 hiking books in my library and it would be hard to imagine a more complete, more photographically stunning or better written guide. I enthusiastically recommend this gem!




3. I love this book. The photographs make me want to visit every place and hike every trail. I have several hiking books, and I enjoy them all, but I love this one. I am hoping that John and Mark Soares are working on hiking books for Oregon!



4. This is a good "inspirational" book to look through, with great full-color photographs on at least every other page. It's great for planning a vacation around because it gives you a taste of what many different areas look like. The written information is equally good, with lots of great hikes with short, concise descriptions. With this and a local topo map, you're all set.



5. I agree with the other reviews in that this is a nice book to put on your coffee table and flip through. The photos are pretty nice, and the text descriptions make for a pretty entertaining read. However, if you are looking for a book with detailed logistics and good makes that will make for a practical companion on your hikes, this is NOT it. The maps are lacking (maps of the actual trails are decent, but there are no regional maps that aid you in finding the trail in the first place). Also, while the glossy paper makes for pretty photos, it's far too heavy for a practical guidebook that you'll want to carry with you.

1 comments about Quiet Water Maine, 2nd: Canoe and Kayak Guide (AMC Quiet Water Series).

1. Now in a completely revised second edition, Quiet Water Maine: Canoe & Kayak Guide identifies more than 100 ponds, lakes, and rivers in Maine that are particularly suitable for canoeing and kayaking. Each suggested trip includes directions, parking, and launch information; tour descriptions with estimates of time, distance and difficulty; notes of flora and fauna to be seen in the area; and more. Written for paddlers of all skill levels from beginner to experienced, as well as for birdwatchers, anglers, and families with children, Quiet Water Maine is enthusiastically recommended both for its attention to detail and its enthusiasm for nature.

4 comments about Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Los Angeles.

1. This is not your typical travel guide. In fact, it's more like a mini sociological study of LA with great tips on where to watch the natives in their local habitat. LA isn't so much a city as it is a collection of neighborhoods, and author Jeff Spurrier does a great job of describing how this all works. The book is a handy size for carrying along, so you can take advantage of the manuy great maps as you tour the area. Spurrier warns you again and again that the only way to really get around LA is by car, but he does offer alternatives for those intimidated by the freeways and/or parking dilemma. His selection of hotels and restaurants is broad - everything from Beverly Hills luxury to places with lots of attitude but not much polish. In many ways, the rest of the book is an ideal primer for anyone moving to LA or planning to spend lots of time there. Not only will you find a carefully selected list of recreational options, but you will also get helpful hints on when to go and how to get there. There is a great section on what to do - and not to do - with children, but there is no mention of Disneyland. Indicative, I think, of how this book is a true insider's guide to the city, not just a promotion for tourisim.



2. As an LA native, I must say that this book is right on the money. Although I'd have to disagree when the author refers to "the city" as consisting only of Downtown (any true native knows that "the city" is Mulholland to the 10, and Downtown to the beach!), everything else is just perfect. I learned things that even my 26 years of exploring never showed me. It's a great book for travellers, especially those who have never been and don't have friends here (it is truly difficult to navigate the SIZE of Los Angeles without a guide!) . But it's also a great book for those of us who have lived here all of our lives!



3. Whether you are visiting Los Angeles or live here, this book is filled with things to do that you never would have thought of or even knew existed. Tons of fun!



4. What an awful book! I first bought the "Irreverent Guide to Rome" and my husband & I loved it. (He lived in Rome for 6 years & said the description were dead-on accurate). So I decided to buy the book for LA, my home town. What a mistake! Unlike the witty, cultured, perceptive guide to Rome, this book is unfunny, rude, snide, classist, name-dropping, & way off the mark. The lovely, funky, beach community of Venice is slammed for having "weirdos, bums and scum." A popular Indian restaurant is described as being good, but "hold the cholera, please." Not funny! Luckily, I also bought Lonely Planet: Los Angeles, which was much, much better.

1 comments about Hiking the Sierra Nevada, 2nd (Regional Hiking Series).

1. When I first saw this book I had to wonder if we really needed another guide to hiking in the Sierras. These are some of the most popular mountains in the United States. During a recent backpack trip along the Rae Lakes Loop in Kings Canyon National Park, I spent the night with some 60 people at Woods Creek Crossing. Later, at the junction between the John Muir Trail, Kersage Pass Trail, and the cutoff to Charlotte Lake I met about a dozen people; one person there suggested the Park Service install a traffic light. Still, Barry Parr's guide is a worthy addition to the numerous guidebooks covering the region, in part because by following his routes you can get to highly scenic but little known destinations all over the range.
   
   Barry Parr divides the Sierras into ten distinct regions. Two of these, the north and south Gold Country (foothill regions) have received little coverage in other guides. Because of this, and the foothill hikes he mentions in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, this guide to Sierras includes more off-season hiking than most guidebooks. But even in regions that do receive a lot of coverage, notably Yosemite and trailheads in and around the Owens Valley, Parr manages to find some wonderful hikes where one can avoid the crowds.
   
   In all, the book describes 140 walks. 106 of the trails receive extended coverage, with nice topographical maps and detailed directions. The remaining 36 are shorter hikes with easy to find trailheads. He includes these as "honorable mentions." Most of the trails described are dayhikes. Some are short enough for families with small children, but most are fairly extensive and moderately strenuous. At least 1/2 the hikes in this guide will require you to be in good physical condition. Parr also throws in a few backpack trips so that hikers can explore some of the fabulous backcountry in this region. Some "classic" hikes (often found elsewhere) are included: the climb of Mt. Tallac in Tahoe and the Yosemite Falls trail come to mind. But for the most part, the routes described here are not that common and you will not face the crowds. The Rockefeller Grove of Sugar Pines in Yosemite, for example, is an easy to get to but a relatively isolated destination, even on crowded summer weekends. The Deadman Canyon backpack trip in the backcountry of Sequoia and Kings Canyon is also wonderful with far fewer crowds than other backcountry destinations. Finally, it should be noted that Parr includes a few cross country rambles through rough terrain. Isolation abounds on routes like these, but you will need to be an experienced hiker to attempt them.
   
   On the whole, this is an excellent book, and Parr is to be commended for his good work. The diversity of hikes means people of all abilities, interests, and fitness levels will be able to find one or more walks in each region suited to them. Full of natural and local history, listing the major long distance trail routes in the Sierra, and describing lesser known trailheads, this book is a gem. Hikers who want to explore the truly wild side of the Sierras should be sure to get this book.

No comments about West Virginia: An Explorer's Guide (Explorer's Guides).

1 comments about Portland Forest Hikes: Twenty Close-In Wilderness Walks.

1. After hearing the author on radio, I knew I had to pick up this book. I've always wanted to explore the Forest Park area of Portland, but it's a huge, largely wild area and I didn't feel comfortable just setting off on my own.
   
   My daughter and I went on our first hike yesterday and it was great. We found the trailhead right away, no problem. The directions are extremely specific, down to the blue tarp mentioned in hike #19. We even passed a couple carrying the same book as us!
   
   I gave it four out of five stars for two reasons: One is that the picture of the beaver pond is a little misleading. It's an old picture and the pond has since been drained quite a bit which is not mentioned in the caption of the picture. I'd expected a nice body of water for our lab to swim in, but it was mostly gone. Two, the trail did require a little more bushwhacking than expected--blackberry vines are sharp!
   
   But overall, I'd highly recommend this book. Great directions and a great way to explore close in hikes in the Portland area.