5 comments about Guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

1. Why is the origin of the name French Broad River? Who was Art Loeb of the Art Loeb trail? Why is the falls that you can see from Mile Post 361.2 called Glassmine Falls? It does not look like glass. This guide has an overlook-by-overlook explanation of the treasures on the Parkway prefaced by a good introduction on the history and geology of the road. I only wish the authors had added the altitude at each overlook. One appendix lists a blooming calendar and the overlooks most likely to have the flowers. Another one has contact information for all the enterprises on the Parkway from the Shenandoah National Park to the Biltmore Estate.

   It is a beautiful book with gorgeous color pictures. Text boxes detailing a particular subject such as rhododendrons or Daniel Boone are sprinkled throughout. But why did they have to use black text on a dark purple background for these boxes? They are so difficult to read. Except for that shortcoming, this book is meant to be used, not to be left on the bookshelf. I take my copy wherever I think I am going to be on the Parkway. As for the answers to the questions above? Check pages 120, 129 and 108, respectively.




2. I was on the B.R. PKWY and needed something more than the simple park map to figure out where the interesting hikes and views were. This book does it and does it well. I have been on the pkwy many times, but some of the history had eluded me until I got to glance through this guide. My buddy liked it so much, he bought his own just because I was always reading it. If you are going to drive the pkwy, I would recommend this book to help you get the most out of your trip.



3. This book was so much more than I expected. It is very detailed in any and all aspects. All sites along the drive are marked by mile markers right down to the tenth of a mile. There is a brief section that tells about the history of the area. Other sites, stops, overlooks and points of interest are well documented. There are also sidebars to the wildlife that are native to the region. There is a section dedicated to what plants and flowers are in bloom(Bloom Calendar)from Jan. through Dec. Campgrounds are marked by mile markers and they specifically tell how many tent and/or RV sites are available as well as the elevation. Trailheads are marked by state. Tunnels are also marked by mile marker and length. However, the height clearance was not. A must have book for first time and repeat visitors. I also recommend "GUIDE TO THE NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY". It is by another author but has the same format.



4. If you want to know that the overlook at milepost xyz.a is scenic, this is the guide for you....all 200 or so overlooks are so described. If, on the other hand, you want to learn abut the history of the BRP, about historical events (e.g. civil war battles)that took place nearby and offer worthwhile side trips, or restaurants and lodging within easy on/off reach of the BRP, this is not the guide for you. Mindnumbingly boring, repetitive, without a scintilla of originality! A waste of money, especially if you are driving the BRP south to north, in which case you have to read this guide backwards.



5. Having researched and planned trips for clients over the past few years, I have come to rely very heavily on this book and "Blue Ridge Parkway Guide" Volumes 1&2. This one offers lovely photos and interesting details of each overlook. You can get some of the same info online but it is not any easier to follow. Hikers may need more back country info but if you are riding the parkway on 1 or more wheels and you can only get one guide, get this one!

No comments about The AIA Guide to Columbus.

3 comments about California Coastal Access Guide.

1. This book have complete guide for ocean side and srounding area in California. Excellent with chart of many sections such as fire pits, camp sites, etc. all covers along with coastal line on North to South of whole California. Also many terminology and explanations related with ocean and coastal environments, too. This is a must have guide book to looking for camping or barbequeing for family.



2. Good reference for the camper. We love to camp on the state beaches and this is a very helpful ref.



3. This gorgeous book really excited me when I found a copy at the San Diego REI store. The California Coastal Guide, by the California Coastal Commission, is a delicious menu of beaches, cliffs, boardwalks, marshy estuaries, tide pools and baysides. For under 25 dollars, this makes a great gift for anyone planning to move to or travel along the long, endlessly changing California coastline.
   
   From San Diego, my plan was to drive along the coast to Seattle, camping and hiking enroute. This book showed me the BEST places to leave the highway and get to the water, and includes everything there is to see - even the tiny, hidden gems only locals know of. Each section includes a map of the local town or city, and how it fits into the coast at that area. Mileages are given between areas for reference.
   
   Places to camp and hike on EVERY SECTION of the coast are included - thank goodness! It's hard to get this kind of information from any one resource. I didn't want to drive north with a gazillion guidebooks to each part of California.
   
   The guidebook starts with the northern coast and works south, so I mentally had to read backwards while I traveled, which was fine. Each section of the coast is also given an introductory treatment with highlights of flora and fauna (ie. - want to identify sand verbenas and pickleweed? Know a sanderling from an avocet? Dig for clams? There's a lot of fun stuff here.
   
   My main regret about this cool book was that it did not continue up into Oregon and Washington! I felt like I was abandoned once I crossed the border. Not their fault. :)
   
   This book is a work of art and science for anyone who loves California and hiking along the sunniest beaches of the Pacific Ocean.

4 comments about Top 10 San Antonio and Austin (EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. These guides are so slight and simple, I just cant see why anybody would spend ten dollars U.S. on them. I mean maybe if you where TOTALLY unfamiliar they might be nice to thumb through, but do it at the store, it will take you five minutes to get through it, then go and buy the insight guide to san antonio and then the one for austin or buy Frommers Austin-San Antonio, or the Texas Monthly guide, now those are very good guides. As for this guide to Austin-San Antonio, both of which i am very familiar, its pretty accurate in its top 10's but some i just had to say, WHAT!..most of the top tens are so obvious, i mean if you know anything about these two cities you would know this. In summery, these guides are over priced, really not that useful, the maps are too small to ever consider using, and there are better guide choices you could make.



2. I love this book! I recently went to San Antonio for a long weekend and this was the perfect book! Some may not like the condense top ten format but I love it! It's great when you have a short amount of time and want to see the highlights of an area. Small, light, and compact, this was great to keep in my purse, even small enough to put in a guy's back pocket. Beautiful color pictures and exerpts, detailed street map, and organized by different genre's. Great Buy!



3. My wife and I travel a lot and this book is one of the better ones out there. It sure isn't detailed, but it's to the point of you're planing to stay only couple of days or so and see the major stuff.



4. The "Top 10" series is great for travelers. We recently used them in Hong Kong and Beijing. The guides get right to the point! Unfortunately, the Top 10 San Antonio and Austin covers mostly San Antonio. If interested in Austin, this is not the book to buy.

5 comments about Frommer's Virgin Islands (Frommer's Complete).

1. I thought I was pretty good at picking them but man, was I off this time. It's hard to tell when you've never been to the location before but after a week on St. Thomas and St. John, I wish I would've read all these others reviews before I bought this book. I was very disappointed. There were SO MANY unacceptable errors in this book. Maps were wrong...there's an error on the St. John map that shows a road when actually it's only a walking trail. There were typos that got us lost in the city. The reviews weren't accurate at all. Places where it read "live carribean music nightly" were false. The restaurants never had a live band!
   Please consider purchasing another publication unless you don't mind wasting your money.



2. I alway buy both Frommers and Fodors books when I go shoot a new DVD in this case, "The Best Virgin Island Beaches" here on Amazon. Neither are perfect but together they make up for each others weakness. I like Frommers a little better because it has a good section on beaches and descriptions. Also, their maps tend to be a little more detailed. Neither though has many pictures, so if you want to see and hear what these places really feel like, check out our DVDs after you read these books.



3. This book provided valuable information in preparation for my first-time cruise to the Virgin Islands. I would highly recommend this guide to anyone traveling to the Eastern Caribbean.



4. Thanks for the awesome message sent to my email! I will enjoy my adventure there = )



5. Was very helpful in planning my honeymoon to the Virgin Islands. Very informative and reader friendly

1 comments about eat.shop austin: The Indispensable Guide to Inspired, Locally Owned Eating and Shopping Establishments (eat.shop guides).

1. Great resource while visiting Austin. Loved the photographs and writing and look forward to future editions.

4 comments about The Voyage of the Continental.

1. This was a terrific book - interesting, great blend of history and personal story. I really liked it, but kids over 10 would like it as well - in fact, it would be an outstanding school "assigned reading"book for classes in grades 8 -12. Five stars!



2. The Voyage of the Continental contains all the ingredients of compelling historical fiction -- a fascinating realistic base, mystery, adventure, romance, colorful and eccentric characters -- tied together seamlessly with a fast-paced narrative. The reader is immediately taken with the voice of the main character, Emmy, sympathizes with her predicament, admires her spunk, and roots for her ultimate goal in making her long and arduous journey to the wild and exciting Pacific Northwest. An inspirational tale of female courage.



3. A Review by Amanda

   This book is about a young girl, Emmy, who gets the chance to leave a hum-drum life in Lowell, Massachusetts to start a new one in Seattle, Washington. A young man by the name of Asa Mercer came to resettle a bunch of woman in Seattle. On the long trip to Seattle Emmy meats many people. One of the people she met was Ruby who became a good friend of hers. Odd things began to happen on the ship and Mr. Mercer begins to act wired. As time passes the make it to Seattle with many twists and turns along the way.

   Three things I liked about this book were the descriptive narration, the love shared between characters, and the surprising things that happened in this long journey. The descriptions made me feel like I was really there in side the book with Emmy. The love and passion that Rod, the New York Times writer, had for each of the girls on the trip. How the auther placed unexpected things to shock the reader to keep the reader engaged in this book.

   I think that this book is good for many different people and ages.




4. I've read many books, but this is one of my personal favorites. The characters were so unique and developed, i felt as if they were my best friends. K. Kirkpatrick is a superb writer, and suprises you when you think you know what is happening.

5 comments about Sedona: Treasure of the Southwest.

1. This is a wonderful snapshot of the Sedona area! Just leafing through it brings back many memeories of being in the area. Wonderful photos and great information. At an unbelievable price! A wonderful gift at not much more than the price of a card!



2. I have bought several books on Sedona in the past and this is by far the best. The pictures are large and vibrant and the descriptions and information are accurate. The book covers formations, wildlife, flora and fauna, cultural history, etc.
   I am taking my third trip out to Sedona this month and this book gave me new insight to some places to go and the history that lies within Sedona. This is a great book and it is always on my coffee table for all to see the beauty of Sedona.



3. Someone else described this as a "coffee table" book. that is exactly right. the pictures are nice, but there is not much information in it. If you are looking for a book about sedona to help you know what to do there or how to get around or just good basic information - you won't find it here. and it's too big to take it with you on vacation.



4. Excellent book. It captures the most beautiful scenery around Sedona. I keep it out on the table to remind me of some of my favorite spots in Sedona.



5. This is a large, thin paperback which would probably be a nice souvenir of Sedona (I haven't been yet!) but was not what I was hoping for. It's my own fault for not reading the reviews more closely. It's a little more useful than a (very) similar book called "Secret Sedona" which is also a large thin, paperback filled with nice photographs but not the practical information I am looking for as I plan our upcoming trip. I bought several books about Sedona from Amazon recently and none of them have been as useful as the information I can find on the web.

5 comments about Baby's Day Out in Southern California: Fun Places to Go With Babies and Toddlers.

1. Finally there is a Southern California tour guide especially geared towards parents of babies and toddlers. Your children learn best through first hand experiences and Baby's Day Out is chock full of great places for the young (and not so young) to experience the things they love like animals, trains, parks, aquariums, tide pools, hands-on museums and more. My 10 year old and 61/2 year old twins still love to visit many of the places listed in JoBea Way's comprehensive guide. They also have a list of many new places for us to visit as well.

   The book is broken down into eleven chapters covering major areas of interest for young children: Museums, Our City, Gardens and Nature, The Zoo, Aquariums, Trains and more. There are over 224 separate sites reviewed. Locations covered include the expected Los Angeles and San Diego Zoos as well as many less well known places like the Goodyear Blimp Airfield, Tierra Rejada Farm and Pasadena Unified School Bus Lot.

   The book includes many helpful tips for making outings more enjoyable and each review contains a concise description, directions with Thomas Guide page references, and cross references to both similar sites and nearby attractions. Easy to spot icons let parents know if the locations can accommodate single and or double wide strollers (most do), and whether gift shops, snack shops or picnic areas are available so parents can plan accordingly. I love the lists of children's books on topic related to each entry and the special pages with simple graphics of animals or things that go, etc. These pages are designed for young children's use before, during or after their visits. For example, the first picture pages are of cars and trucks children might see on the way to their visit.

   The final chapter includes a month-by-month "Things to Look For" section featuring holiday, special events and seasonal changes to watch for geared to Southern California. There are comprehensive listings of Fourth of July displays, Holiday lights, Farmer's Markets and more. These lists alone are a great resource whether you have young children or not.

   The number and variety of places listed is truly impressive. Our family has been enjoying working our way through the book and finding many new favorites. I plan to give this book as a shower gift to all my pregnant friends and think the book is a great resource for parents of school age children and teachers also.




2. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and never knew about 90% of the places suggested in this book! In addition to the usual spots (Disneyland, parks, etc), the book suggests creative places like the schoolbus depot and construction sites (from a safe distance, of course!). "Baby's Day Out" really made me look at the world through my babies' eyes, where everything is a new and fascinating experience. For example, when I drive on the highway now, I point out the trucks passing by to my kids and they love watching the different sizes and colors. Before this book, I never would have thought about trucks on the highway as a field trip experience. This book is also very practical, providing all the necessary information, including Thomas Guide map pages, hours, prices, parking, everything! As an added bonus for me, Holt even tells me when they're enough room for my double stroller (with twin 18-month old boys, that is a big plus for me). I live in New Jersey now and bought this book while on vacation in Los Angeles. I wish they would write a book like this for us folks in the east coast.



3. Baby's Day Out in Southern California provides a wide range of age-appropriate excursions. Crammed to the bursting point with places to go, things to see and do, special events, ideas for activities and related reading, this excellent book is one of the most innovative, detailed and practical guides around.
   
   Although the contents are arranged by type of place (i.e., museums, aquariums, farms and ponies, flying), it also offers site maps, making it easy to plan a day around a particular location or a specific interest. Listings include physical and Web addresses, phone numbers, directions, what to see and do, hours, parking, admission and membership information, related locations, nearby places and blank space for your own comments. Additional sections contain events by the month, packing lists and road games.
   
   Its most valuable feature is its ability to look at potential places from a child's perspective. Among the 224 sites listed in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Santa Barbara/Ventura counties are fire stations, school bus yards, museums, libraries, gardens and nature centers, truck stops, farms, theaters and convention centers.
   
   This is one of the best travel reference guides you could acquire if you have young children.



4. This book is filled with fun things to do at any age and for anyone who has some time to spend in the L.A. area. We visit there often and sometimes we are looking for more to do than just the big theme parks. There are so many things that I wouldn't have known about, much less how and where to find them. A treasure for anyone, local or tourist.



5. i just had to go out and buy this book after reading the reviews on it, my son is ten months old and just gone down for a nap, and i am reading through the book and getting so excited about all the places we can now go and see. We have only been in california 1 year and i am a new mom in a new place not knowing where to go and what to see for my toddler and this book is going to be just perfect and we want to go exploring now. i have a couple of other books but the activities are for children a little older but we need to explore now. Thank you to the parents who bothered to review this wonderful book, and I hope this review helps other. like someone mentioned most of the places are either free or very inexpensive. - its going to be perfect.

1 comments about Good Night Texas (Good Night Our World series).

1. My daughter was born in Texas, but we live in TN. This is a great way to familiarize her with her native state. She loves the illustrations and it leads to great discussions about her heritage.