1 comments about Key West (Tourist Town Guides).

1. Whether you're taking a family vacation, reveling on a wild spring break, or immersing yourself in one of the alternative or eccentric lifestyles for which Key West is so famous, you can't miss if you have this well-researched and informative guide. I love the Itineraries section, with something for everyone. By the way, don't worry about the 'un-gentrified' neighborhood in which Blue Heaven restaurant is located - it's one of the best in South Florida. Just about everything you need to have a great time in a tropical paradise 150 miles south of Miami. Five stars.

1 comments about Portrait of Jackson Hole & the Tetons.

1. A Portrait of Jackson Hole & the Tetons is a stunning, full-color photographic medley of all aspects of the Jackson Hole valley. Assembling 131 images selected from 25 years of photographer Henry H. Holdsworth's work, A Portrait of Jackson Hole & the Tetons includes snapshots of flora and fauna (such as a lovely close-up of a male mountain bluebird), glimpses of the valley in all four seasons (such as a breathtaking image of trees and mountains outlined with snow), sunsets, human dwellings nestled amid nature, and much more. Brief captions and a small amount of text enhance this splendid natural showcase, highly recommended as a giftbook for nature lovers.

5 comments about Backcountry Adventures Arizona (New Hardcover Edition) (Backcountry Adventures).

1. I've taken about a dozen of the trails in this book and not one has been disappointing. The author's credentials speak for themselves. He's logged thousands of miles in Arizona. All the GPS coordinates are accurate and the directions are second to none. I would recommend this book to anyone.



2. I was at the Outdoor Expo and was looking at a much smaller book, for half as much money...It was the only one I saw (and they were very numerous) on the many trails Arizona has to offer.
   Well I passed it by, and told myself on the way out I would probably buy it, well I am glad I waited, I stopped by the booth and noticed one large book at the end of the table...it was the last one, and was 3 times as much. After about 4 pages, I shelled out the cash with a smile on my face! This book has it all. Very, very well detailed, with maps, directions, history, flora , fauna, wildlife, stories on ghost towns and past characters of local legend. What I really liked though was all the COLOR pictures...giving me an idea of what I WILL find when I travel these trails. This book also has much information on what kind (s) of 4WD you will need for what trails, levels of difficulty...things to watch for, what depth of water at the crossings to expect....and well organized to boot. The cover is heavy duty , so it will last bouncing around in the back. This book is great and I love it! If you have a 4WD and are looking for a little adventure and fun from easy to difficult and you are doing it in Arizona..........you need this book. See you on the trail!



3. Although I initially balked at paying the somewhat steep price for this book, after receiving and reading it I realized it's worth every penny. Not only does the book describe in detail almost 160 great back roads in Arizona to explore, the authors included sections on the plants, wildlife, ghost towns, and history of Arizona. It's just packed with interesting information and color photos - well worth the cost. Every state in the U.S. should have a book like this written about it! My next purchase is the authors' Backcountry Adventures: Utah. Great stuff.



4. The contents are great, the book construction is not.
   The entire binding broke after 1 week, very disappointed
   as it was an expensive book.



5. Backcountry Adventures Colorado (Backcountry Adventures)These books are just too cool for words! I love that the authors include so many (hundreds!) of color photos so you can get a good idea of the various trails. You also get to see old historical photos of what the old ghost towns you come across used to look like! OMG, this is like the total package for planning a vacation or an afternoon out on the trail! I would definitely recommend this book. I've been using mine since it became available on Amazon and it is rugged and the binding is fine. I am not sure why that other reviewer said the binding is weak because this hardcover is totally awesome! It beats any of the other off road guides and this one is totally user-friendly. Whether you have an SUV, a 4x4, or a car and want to find some great trails in Arizona's backcountry and learn some cool facts along the way, this is the greatest book to use! Don't leave home without it!!

5 comments about Good Night Philadelphia (Good Night Our World series).

1. I am originally from Philadelphia and thought this book was so sweet I bought five copies. Each home, with children, that we visited on our last trip to Philly got a copy. Everyone loved the book, the pictures and the words.



2. This is a great series! I am from Philadelphia and have sent this book to several friends before they visit us with their children. It got the kids excited about coming to Philadelphia which made entertaining them a lot easier. I also have Good Night Maine and Good Night New York for my son when we visit those places. Highly recommend!



3. When my sister told me of this series, I had to buy a bunch of them!!! They make great gifts, and growing up outside of Philadelphia it's fun for adults to look through too. I also sent one to my best friend in Seattle so her boys will learn about Mommy and Daddy's "hometown" and will know all the great places to visit when they get a little older and travel back east!



4. I bought this book for my niece at the Penn bookstore to commemorate my return to Philadelphia. I thought it was great (like a fun little tour through the city) but was even more impressed when my brother told me it is the only book he likes reading to my niece. That's a great endorsement! I got her the San Diego book for Christmas and am awaiting the NJ one. I love them!



5. This is a very cute book, but when I looked at it in person, I noticed immediately that Betsy Ross' name is spelled incorrectly (Betsey). Isn't anyone editing books?

5 comments about New Jersey (Best Hikes With Children).

1. I love this book. I just got it a few weeks ago and we have hiked each week since I got it. I find it easy to use. I love that it ranks the difficulty of the hike. I have a 5 yr old and a 7 year old. This book makes it easy for planning an afternoon trip vs an all day adventure. It also tells you things like if the trail is "bugy" in the summer or if you need to wear long pants because it is a "thorny" hike. Lots of great & useful tools.



2. Who knew that New Jersey could have so many places to enjoy the great outdoors? Growing up in Montana, I hiked in my backyard. Now with my own children I drive for thirty minutes and can find an age-appropriate hike and enjoy New Jersey nature.
   
   Zatz also includes things to watch for on the hikes (animals, flowers, etc.)



3. As an experienced hiker, I've scratched my head over the value of this guide book; I have a good collection of New Jersey guide books, and generally would pass this one by and recommend a guide with a greater range of trails from easy to moderate to difficult. Parents would then have a resource to meet a varieties of needs, depending on the age of their kids.
   
   But, last summer I found a neat way to use this book. I took one of my rent-a-kids on a hike in the Ramapo Reserve in Oakland. He had a great time, and I gave him the guide for his very own.
   
   His mother wrote a very nice thank you note, and I've found that kids have invariably enjoyed their own copies after finishing a hike. Eventually, I'm sure, they'll graduate to guides with a range of more challenging hikes, and maybe even become a member of a hiking organization.
   
   Robert C. Ross 2008



4. This product was sent in a timely manner and in described condition- would do service with again!



5. My fiance and I have started hiking to get in shape for our wedding, and we found this great book as the best-reviewed NJ hiking book out there. Even though we don't have kids, we're really enjoying the details about the hikes, the new routes we never knew existed, and we're taking great nature photographs -- we've seen some really gorgeous scenery out there! Highly recommend this book!

No comments about Day Trips from Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff, 9th: Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler (Day Trips Series).

2 comments about Hiking California's Golden Trout Wilderness: A Guide to Backpacking and Day Hiking in the Golden Trout and South Sierra Wildernesses.

1. With about 300,000 acres, California's Golden Trout Wilderness is one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower 48 states. But the total wilderness is much larger than even the above figure implies: Much of its southern and eastern border lies along the South Sierra Wilderness, while its northern boundaries lead into Sequoia National Park. Managed jointly by Sequoia and Inyo National Forest, the Golden Trout is a true national treasure and one of the few places in the Sierra Nevada Mountains where you can hike all day and hardly meet a person. Over the last 20 years I have traipsed through large portions of this area and each time I want to come back for more. Someday, I hope to spend an entire month just backpacking this region. Kern River tributaries, mountain streams, meadows ablaze with wildflowers, and fabulous fly fishing all await travelers to this roadless region. Only this book by Suzanne Swedo covers it all.
   
   The Kern River cuts through the middle of the Golden Trout wilderness, dividing it as neatly as it divides the Sierra itself. To the west lies the Great Western Divide and, in the wilderness itself, the northern tip of Giant Sequoia National Monument. To the east lies the high peaks that overlook the Owens Valley. Just as the Kern divides the region, so too it divides this book. Chapters cover hikes from various trail heads in the west, along the Kern in the middle of the book, while routes through the high plateau to the east make up the final third of this volume. The bulk of the hikes described here are for backpackers; this region is simply too rugged and too large to be adequately explored by day hikes. Still, Swedo does provide a nice sampling of hikes from various trail heads if you want to get a glimpse of this spectacular region. I particularly recommend Casa Vieja Meadow (Hike 21), Trail Pass (Hike 25) and the rarely explored Mountain Home State Demonstration Forest (Hikes 1-3 in this book--be sure to take the Moses Gulch trail as well if you visit there). But these hikes provide only the smallest sampling of the wilderness. On the other extreme is the "Central Wilderness Grand Tour," an almost 80 mile route Swedo recommends to really appreciate all the Golden Trout has to offer. A handful of other route descriptions cover nearly 50 miles, one way! In all, this is a book for those who have a lot of time on their hands, or hope to in the near future.
   
   In all, I enjoyed Swedo's writing style. Her descriptions are detailed and, insofar as I have hiked her routes, quite accurate. Occasionally, she is also simply fun to read, as when she describes the "newlywed" campsite, named after a packer and his bride who spent their honeymoon here. Noting all the mosquitos, she concludes it was obviously not a June wedding. The only area part of this book that is outdated is the note on bear cannisters. At the time this volume was written, they were only "recommended." On Inyo wilderness lands, they are now required.
   
   Due to the difficulty in visiting and the sometimes poor roads to access trails, I doubt this book will give Ms. Swedo or Falcon Publishing the kind of best seller that her hiking guide to Yosemite generates. But this is a very valuable book to a very special place and those who love backpacking, hiking, and fishing in California's finest outdoor scenery should add this book to their library. I strongly recommend it.



2. The hikes are well described and the information needed before the hike is very helpful including the directions, wilderness permits, and local ranger station contact information. The maps give sufficient details and the graphics of the elevations are helpful. There is one thing that would have made this book more helpful. Having never hiked in this section of the Sierras I would have liked seeing a map of the complete area including trails. It took some head scratching and additional resources to completely plan several hikes I intend to make.Hiking California's Golden Trout Wilderness: A Guide to Backpacking and Day Hiking in the Golden Trout and South Sierra Wildernesses

5 comments about Arkansas Atlas & Gazetteer.

1. I ordered this atlas because it was advertised as showing townships and sections. I was very disappointed that that is not true. The maps did not show township sections. The atlas I received did not have a new copyright date (which REALLY was a surprise) so maybe that is the problem. I do have other state atlas by same company that do have the township and section included in the maps.



2. There just is not a better book or piece of information to have than a state atlas when travelling. With the atlas, you are able to get (off the beaten path), see the "hard to get to" areas of the United States, and actually get back on track again. You will do all of this and never get lost!
   
   These books are amazing. Not only do they have all the gravel roads but even the dirt roads! Buy the Atlas, you won't be sorry.



3. If you are navigating rural highways and county roads, these gazettes are perfect!



4. ...then this is the map for you. Gazetteers are made for every state in the US and if you plan to take a driving trip, don't go without it. It shows not only the primary and secondary highway systems, it also has nearly all of the back roads, paved and dirt, mapped as well. Use this book in conjunction with a GPS system and you'll never get lost again!



5. DeLorme topographic maps are essential for anyone traveling (or living) in areas where their main routes are not Interstate highways. It is hard, or maybe even impossible, to find a better source for accurate, reliable and easy to use logistical information for any trip, and is especially valuable for planning. Highly recommended!

5 comments about Yosemite National Park: A Complete Hikers Guide.

1. I agree with Fritz's review: this is not a book for casual hikers, but fit day hikers and dedicated backpackers. I've enjoyed all of Schaffer's previous guidebooks and this is perhaps his best offering yet. The book is loaded with details and the separate map attached to the rear page is excellent. Schaffer gives detailed descriptions of each hike, directions to the trailhead and most importantly, trail conditions. Almost all of the trails in Yosemite are in excellent shape, but occasionally, one encounters rocky terrain, boulders or other obstacles.
   
   The only criticism I have is that the hike descriptions are sometimes *too* detailed. The author likes to describe various "side routes" which clutter up the book. He often spends 5 pages on a 10 mile hike and the book occasionally bogs down with simply too much information, much of it superfluous. There's also brief sections on skiing, boating and other activities which do not belong in a hiking book. Finally, the original edition was written in 1972 and though it's thoroughly updated, some readers might balk at such an "old guide.
   
   Still a detailed book for experienced hikers.



2. First written in 1978, Yosemite National Park: A Complete Hiker's Guide is the classic in-depth reference by outdoors enthusiast Jeffrey P. Schaffer, who has personally hiked and rehiked the 1,000+ miles of trail covered. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this reference to the region's geography, history, flora, and fauna, and of course, extensive discussions of the hiking trails with highlights of the best places for views, wildflowers, camping, swimming and other activities. A separate fold-out map rounds out this one-of-a-kind must-have for any traveler interested in personally experiencing the natural wonders of Yosemite National Park.



3. I borrowed this book from my local library. I was looking for information on hiking Mt. Dana. I must say that there appear to be some typos as it took me a few tries to find the correct pages for this particular hike.
   
   Because I was in Tuolumne Meadows, I browsed this section for other ideas on hikes for a return trip and to determine why certain parking spots were were packed with cars. The booked helped me identify which trails started from these popular parking spots and offered great detail about the challenges and scenery that hikers would encounter.
   
   I'm looking forward to having my own copy of this book and I can see how it's a priceless source of information for any frequent hiker of Yosemite.



4. In my opinion, a hiking guide is not something you read linearly. You take it, choose a hike you want to do and then read the description to do it. And, importantly, you want to choose the hike fast, without reading the whole description. It is possible to do so with a few statistics (distance, elevation, rating, trailhead) and a map of the route. In my opinion, the latter is extremely important. In fact, you can gain an idea of the stats from the map, but not vice versa.
   
   The guide does a very good job at giving the stats, both before each hike section and (very handy!) in a table listing all hikes. But there are no route maps. Instead, there is a companion map of poor resolution (1:125000) and quality. Understanding the route using the map and the text description is no easy task, especially if you are not familiar with the park.
   
   I might be a great guide for those who are fairly familiar with the park and want to get more information on the routes they know about. But personally, I found this guide completely unusable, hence the harsh rating. Luckily I had another one with route maps (Falcon Guide).
   
   On the plus side, it has a lot of useful information in the appendix and a good index (important if you want to see a particular place, but again you need to know about this place first). If only the author put the route maps and trailhead names (so that the reader is somewhat equipped to fight the permits reservation system) in front of each hike's description, this guidebook will be impossible to beat.



5. It has the detail I was looking for. I wanted the mileage and info on the hike. I didn't want a lot of photos.

No comments about Day and Overnight Hikes: Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Day and Overnight Hikes).