2 comments about Pennsylvania's Forbes Trail: Gateways and Getaways along the Legendary Route from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh.

1. This book explodes with information, history and suggestions. It was a daunting task, I'm sure, to collect all of the contents, but well worth it. The Forbes Trail is something all Pennsylvanians, and for that matter, all Americans, should explore and relish. It's such a vital part of who we are and how we arrived at where we are.
   
   The suggestions in the book for places to stay, to see, where to eat, things to do, places to explore - all abound, which makes for a rich presentation. There are lots of things to do which are off the beaten path. With this book in hand, adventures beckon. I recommend it heartily.



2. This book provided all that it said it would and more. A must read for anyone interested in the establishment of our great country!

3 comments about The Best in Tent Camping: Colorado, 3rd: A Guide for Car Campers Who Hate RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos (Best in Tent Camping - Menasha Ridge).

1. Now in its third edition, The Best In Tent Camping: Colorado a companion guide especially for people who relish the outdoors, free from electronics, RV's, and other compromises to enjoying natural splendor. Guiding the reading among profiled Colorado campgrounds rated for beauty, security, management, noise, spaciousness, and cleanliness, The Best In Tent Camping: Colorado includes practical tips, descriptions, detailed maps, a listing of available facilities and contact information for each camp, and much more. A superb guide and a "must-have" for anyone determined to experience the wilds of Colorado for themselves.



2. Many of the campgrounds in this book are, in fact easily accessable to RVs and 2 wheel drive vehicles. I expected it to cover more out of the way, difficult to get to campgrounds, where campers have peace and quiet. I was disappointed to not find any undiscovered, little known campgrounds. It does give fairly good information about things to do in the areas where the campgrounds are located. But if you're looking for some ideas on places to tent camp, might as well just buy "Colorado Campgrounds, the 100 best". It has great pictures so you can really get an idea of what the campgrounds are like and most of the campgrounds mentioned in "The best tent camping" are also found in "The 100 best".



3. This book has inspired some of our best camping trips. It's not about back-country camping. It's about sites that are relatively easy to access but that are well suited to tent camping-- natural surroundings instead of a parking lot, lots of space inbetween each site, and water/toilets within walking distance. The campgrounds are rated according to scenary and privacy, two important factors when we go camping. For some of the campgrounds the authors go into even finer detail, recommending or warning against specific sites.
   
   We always use secondary resources when we plan a trip-- you don't want to rely on one book to get you where you're going! Get a map of the region so you can do a "sanity check" on the directions, and to find nearby features that'll be interesting to explore.

5 comments about Greetings From The Lincoln Highway: America's First Coast-to Coast Road.

1. Think Route 66 is America's oldest or first coast-to-coast road? Well, it gets more publicity, but Route 66 wasn't the first: the Lincoln Highway predates it by a dozen years, runs a third longer, and travels coast to coast. Greetings From The Lincoln Highway: America's First Coast-to-Coast Road provides a lively highway history, packing in the maps which depict the original highway and its changes from state to state, the color photos of local color and highway scenery, and of course the all-important history of the highway's past. From vintage posters and ads to restored old stations and services, Butko' Greetings From The Lincoln Highway follows the highway across the country and provides a very colorful, compelling story in the process.



2. Ever wonder what it would have been like to have driven across the country in the early part of the 20th Century, before roads were regularly paved or well-marked? You can get a glimpse of what early travelers faced on the first transcontinental highway by reading Greetings From The Lincoln Highway by Brian Butko.
   
   The book starts off by telling the history of the Lincoln Highway, from its inception and promotion by Carl Fisher and Henry Joy to its eventual replacement by numbered Federal highways. Most of the remainder of the book describes the route of the old highway going west from New York City to its end in San Francisco. The route is described in great detail, enough for one to use it in driving it today. Throughout the text, there are excerpts from the journals and letters of early travelers of the highway. We drivers of today can be glad we don't have to put up with the conditions they faced.
   
   If you are a fan of the historic roadways; if you want ideas for future vacations; if you want to experience life off of the Interstates -- this book is for you.



3. Here it is. If you're looking for a terrific guide to places and people along the Lincoln Highway, past and present, you can't find a better guide than this book. Plenty of images, maps, postcards, and other memorabilia place this resource among the very best of roadside guides. Use it for historical research. Use it for trip planning. Use it for armchair tourism. Either way, you'll be glad you bought this book.



4. This book is an excellent reference for the entire Lincoln Highway. Some of the state-specific books may have more detail, but none are easier to follow. It is very well written- flows easily, lots of good pictures. I wish we had this one when we traveled part of it.



5. Brian Butko has done it again! His insights and knowledge of this subject will make you feel like you are travelling with him as he goes from state to state, exploring all the different paths and alignments that were designated as the Lincoln Highway over the years. Pointing out sights, roadside attractions and businesses along the way. I personally have travelled some of the eastern portion of this historic road without knowing it at the time.

5 comments about A Little House Traveler: Writings from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Journeys Across America (Little House).

1. This book contains "On the Way Home" and "West from Home," which I (and most other die-hard fans) already own and have read. However, this book is worth purchasing if only for the never before published "The Road Home." The journal of Laura's trip back to De Smet is a fabulous purchase for anyone who loves all things Laura. In it, she gives her impressions of the towns along the way, as well as her feelings about the people and places of South Dakota. The reader gets a view of the real Laura in this book! Buy it!



2. This book is a must for all fans that have not yet experienced On the Way Home and West from Home. My only problem is why publish The Road Back with the other books and not separate so fans that have the other two stories can just read The Road Back. I know that it is hand to have all three together in hardcover; the book will last much longer than the paperback version of On the Way Home and West From Home. West from Home is the best part. The letters are descriptive and full of color. This part holds your interest. The historical introduction of West From Home is missing, but it is not needed. It basically states that the city had rebuilt within six years of the earthquake and was ready to hold the fair. On the Way Home is good. Rose Wilder Lane's introduction and conclusion are written from a sophisticated yet childish viewpoint. She talks like herself at the age of 7, when that trip took place. Laura's diary is simple, but full of interesting stories. The Road Back is a long read, with only a couple of highlights. It describes beautifully the Black Hills, and Laura's comments about Manly's driving are interested to read. However, the book to me mentions only slight changes that have occurred since they last saw South Dakota. The part about where they stayed on the way to and back is long. You do get a picture at Grace's delicate health and Carrie is mentioned briefly. In the introduction to the Road Back, there is one historical inaccuracy. Laura has seen South Dakota when she returned in 1902 to visited her dying father and then attended his funeral. It had thus been thirty years for her since she had gone home.



3. This book has 3 stories in it about Laura's adult life. Any LIW fan will love reading about their move to the Ozarks, her trip to San Francisco and the trip back to the Dakotas.



4. This is a wonderful book if you are a Laura fanatic. Her writing is much different than in her books as would be expected. It is great to see the loving relationship between Almanzo and Laura and her daughter, Rose. Very good info for historians who want some details about 3 specific eras in our history.



5. If you like Laura Ingalls Wilder and are interested in a "peak" at other adventures in their lives, this is a fun read. Otherwise, perhaps just a quick rental from your local library :)

4 comments about Rockhounding Utah.

1. I found this book to be very helpful in finding rock-collecting sites in Utah. It has directions to the collecting sites, information about near by attractions, tools needed, elevations, driving conditions and best time of year to go. I use the book religiously when I'm out and about. I give it a 4 star rating, and could have been a 5 star rating had the pictures of the rock specimen been in color, instead of black and white =)



2. I found this book very useful in exploring the different sites in Utah. I have only been to a few sites but was not disappointed in the results. One should read the Forward/Intro section. It has good tips on the Utah and it's climate that literally could be a life saver.
   The author has put a real effort in listing the different sites and given good directions. I like the site format including the elevation and the best time to collect. I used it to visit Utah in early March and petrified wood from sand creek. I have given the book a four star rating due to it's age. It was published in 1996 so it's seven years old at this writing. the Utah sites still seem to be intact compared to the sites in New Mexico and Colorado. As I have suggested in my other reviews I would like to see GPS Coordinates for Main turn offs and the initial starting points at a collecting site. The forest service/BLM has a habit of closing roads. and there are Vandals that deface signs right when you need them the most. I also use the GPS Data for mapping software at home before the trip. preplanning at home beats driving 10 miles of washboard and dust on the wrong road.



3. I found the book to be very useful in finding sites to look for rocks and fossils during a recent trip to Utah. The directions to the sites were clear, and advice on conditions helpful. All of the sites I visited (10-12)were as described and productive, particularly when viewed as jumping off points to explore. The only thing I would ask for are more sites and a wider variety of things to look for. Two weeks more of vacation would be nice, as well. While I'm asking, gas money and a mailer to avoid carrying 25 lbs. of rocks home on the plane...



4. This book is so popular with rockhounder's and has been used so extensively, that the sites depicted have been virtually picked clean. Readers should use this book as a general location reference and search elsewhere for collectable material.

2 comments about One Tank Trips: Off The Beaten Path with Bill Murphy (Fox 13 One Tank Trips Off the Beaten Path).

1. As newcomers to Tampa, we have found the One Tank Trips series to be a simple and delightful way to learn about our area. We can pick something new every week of the year and head out with basic directions. The fees and hours are not always current, but that is to be expected with any publication that quotes such information. The sights picked for the books are always interesting and provide lots of conversational tidbits. Many of our neighbors have lived here for years and haven't seen some of the places we have visited, guided by these books.



2. Bought this for planning family and scout trips. Tons of places I never knew existed. I think this will be a well used book here. My only issue is these are all 1 tank from Tampa.

5 comments about Traveling With Your Pet, 9th Edition: The AAA Pet Book (Traveling With Your Pet).

1. This had alot of listings, but I was expecting more information than just a list of places that were pet friendly



2. Not much else to say. It is seperated state by state and region by region, then city by city. Can be difficult to find out what region you're in but it is very detailed. There are even listigs for my little home town. But be warned, some locations that say pets are allowed have restrictions, so call in advance to make sure that you are still ok. We have a Newfoundland and could had to hunt for a place that would let us stay with a 150 lb puppy.



3. One of the problems I see repeatedly with products like this is that they become out of date quickly with hotels changing their pet policy. We recently took a trip from California to Arkansas that I was unable to fully plan in advance. When it came time to stop for the night we'd check the book for a city that had several pet friendly hotels listed, just in case policies had changed at our first choice, or there wasn't room. We were able to get a room at the first place we called every time.
   
   I'd recommend the latest edition of this book to anyone traveling with a pet.



4. Relatively good. It doesn't have some smaller places that I know are "Pet Friendly". It's a good resource to keep in your car if you want to stay in a well-known hotel. It didn't include many B&B's that I knew were in existance.



5. This is a great book if you travel with your pets. Shows MANY hotels and what animals you can and cannot bring. We have 2 dogs and 1 cat and we were able to bring our cat with us to alot of the hotels. It's wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 comments about Birding Northern California.

1. With the passion of a life-long birder and the precision of a former professor of engineering, John Kemper has written an exceptional, new site guide for northern California. Detailed information is given for 81 major locations from the Oregon border through Monterey, King, and Tulare counties plus the Kern River Valley in Kern County; Mono County and the White Mountains are included on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada

   The book focuses on species of interest by listing "specialty birds" and "other key birds" at the beginning of each location description. Specialty birds include uncommon to abundant birds found primarily in the western United States, endangered or threatened species, and rare birds if the site is among the best for the bird. The text describes when, where, and how to the find the birds at each site, and this information was personally verified by John during two years of fieldwork preparing the book. Range maps and bar charts at the back of the book are cross-referenced to the best sites for each species and the time of year when each species occurs in different regions of the state. Readers will appreciate the easily readable, detailed maps and the clearly written site descriptions. Novices, long-time California birders, and birders from out of state planning their first or 100th trip to the state, will find the information needed to find the birds of interest to them and to plan successful birding trips.




2. I ordered this for use in my daughter's 6th grade science class in Oakland. Unfortunately, it contains no photographs of the birds--only text descriptions of viewing locations. So it's not useful as an identification guide. The general description should clearly state this. JM



3. I've used the guide to help plan three birding trips so far and found it to be an asset in preparing for the trip (e.g., understanding the location, what species to expect, and best time to go). Upon arrival at the site, I found myself using a field guide like NGS's Field Guide to Birds of North America almost exclusively to help sight and identify the birds.

   Birding Northern California is not suitable as a true field guide since it lacks detailed graphics or photos of the close to 600 species that can be found here. While using the book, I also found the book to be "too wordy" to use as a reference. For instance, to find the best location in Northern California to view a Ross's Goose in December, you would need to browse a good chunk of the book before finding a spot (and it might not be the best location). Later I discovered handy reference information in the very back of the text (e.g., Chapter 7 provides a breakdown of "specialty birds" throughout the area with their respective ranges mapped for winter and summer). FYI - the Ross's Goose is included in Chapter 7 with the key sites. The last chapter of the book provides a complete listing, including specialty and more common birds, with a geographic region and month of the year to look for the bird.

   Given the room for improvement in the book's organization, I would encourage the publisher/author to produce a 2nd edition. The ideal improvement would be to include a CDROM that structures the information by bird species (hey, a photo would be nice), the locations where the bird can be found with a relative ranking, the time of year (again with some form of ranking). Including a CD would also allow the reader to search over the information by species or location.




4. This book was better than what I had expected. I am getting ready to order several more for birding friends. I was not under the impression that is was an identification guide when I first bought the book and it isn't. But, it does tell me what to study before I travel to the very descriptive destinations.
   
   I cannot wait for the weekend to try birding in another area close to home.
   
   Thank-you John Kemper for a thorough guide book.



5. - Compliments to a Norcal birding field guide
   Found it very handy
   Areas to improve
   - Verbose format could be improved and turned more concise (tables, possibly more thumbnails and less free text) with possibly better indexing of birds vs spots to find them.

5 comments about The History and Stories of the Best Bars of New York.

1. Jef Klein sure knows how to put the reader in the story-or bar in this case - I thoroughly enjoyed "touring" the old glory days as well as the existing booths at some of the most interesting places NYC has to offer. I've made a list of which ones I plan to visit first- most notably the places with deep carpets, mood music, thick leather seats, soft lighting,and perhaps a celebrity or two (just for atmosphere). Thanks JK for a lovely evening! -RG



2. I had already heard these stories about the usual suspects ("21". King Cole Bar. Fraunces Tavern. The Algonquin Hotel.)... I was looking for other bars that aren't in every other book about famous NYC bars. Basically there are no bars here that are less than 20 years old. Which is sad, because these are amazing too, and have not been done to death. Where is Red Rock West Saloon in Chelsea, which is an amazing and gorgeous place to photograph (with fire-breathing barmaids)? Flute (W. 54th St location) which at one time was owned by Texas Guinan and was a speakeasy? The Ava Lounge, an art deco masterpiece on top of the Dream Hotel?
   
   Basically, this is a pretty good book if you want to read about bars you already know about, but it doesn't take any chances with the "new" generation of what, I think, are the real "Best Bars of New York" around.



3. Mr. Klein has done a remarkable job of bringing to life some of the most well known bars and restaurants of New York to life in this photographic collection. Revisit the glory days of historic New York with this title. Each bar or restaurant has its own individual chapter, detailing the history of the location through pictures and antidotes. This form allows a more intimate introduction for the reader, especially if you are not terribly familiar with the business.
   
   This is a must have for anyone's personal collection, would make a beautiful gift for those that enjoy a leisurely stroll through history with entertaining captions along with a healthy dose of beautifully taken photographs. This is one title I highly recommend.



4. So glad I bought this book and can think of several people it would make a great gift for. I plan to use it as the basis of a few tours of New York (though at this point in my life, I'll only be sipping water at the later stops). What a fun thing to do with out-of-town guests--and the book will make you an excellent tour guide, as it contains so many great stories. You can tell that the author, Jef Klein, is a former bartender and somebody who knows and loves New York. Her passion for these places is contagious--it makes you want to visit them...or maybe head to your neighborhood bar and become part of the lore. The photos by Cary Hazlegrove are also incredible, and one of the great things is that they're in black and white, which is so fitting for the book's sense of history.



5. I've only been to New York one time and that was for a short stay on business so I didn't have a lot of time to experience the nightlife in the "city that never sleeps." But, when I do go back, I will be armed and ready with a great reference tool, "Best Bars of New York", by Turner Publishing Group. This is a gorgeous, hardcover book, loaded with great photography along with stories and histories about some of the top nightspots in the Big Apple. The locations in this book aren't the trendy, here today-gone tomorrow type places, but rather the long-established businesses that are often off the beaten track and known only to the locals...but not anymore thanks to Jef Klein's fascinating research.
   
   Klein interviewed people at over 50 locations in preparation for his book, and the stories are truly mesmerizing. As a history buff who loves to visit local historical spots when I travel, Klein's book is the perfect offering, presenting clubs, taverns, and bars that have been around for decades, sometimes centuries! Klein doesn't give you just listings of establishments with notes on fare and prices...it's not a traveller's guide per se. Rather, Klein gives readers and inside and intimate look at the thirty bars that made the cut. You'll learn about the history of each one, and hear stories as if you were sitting barside, talking to the chatty barkeep.
   
   Liquor has been dispensed at 279 Water St since 1794. The site on the waterfront is now the Bridge Café. The site has a history that is colorful to say the least. It was formerly the site of a bordello in the 1850's. When it was purchased in 1979 by the current owners, basement excavation turned up artifacts dating to not long after the revolutionary War period! Today, the café is romantic and elegant, perhaps haunted by a ghost or two, but much more quite than it was a couple of hundred years ago.
   
   Chumley's is one of the more unique bars in the book...a former speakeasy, it has no name outside to identify itself, only the number "86" on the door...one of two doors with the same number, often leading to embarrassing mistakes. The bar had secret exits so its patrons could get out quickly during prohibition-era police raids. The bar was a popular spot among literary figures and the likes of Hemingway, Kerouac, Faulkner, Mailer, Steinbeck, and many others, all tipped a drink there.
   
   The building that is now home to the Corner Bistro has been there since 1827. It's become a West Village establishment that has been frequented by the famous including James Baldwin, Bobby Timmons, Miles Davis. Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro.
   
   In all, thirty bars are covered, from meeting places of the rich and powerful, to neighborhood hangouts, Jef Klein brings you all of their unique tales. Take this book with you on your next trip to New York and start your journey to all of these bars!
   
   Reviewed by Tim Janson

5 comments about Living and Retiring in Hawaii: The 50th State in the 21st Century.

1. Yes, say the Smiths, authors of this excellent resource to our 50th state, yes it IS possible to retire to Hawaii, but please be sure to do your homework first. Luckily, the Smiths give you a wealth of information in these pages to help you get a good start in making a decision that is truly right for you. They try to cover as many bases as possible: What its like to live on each island, what to expect in the way of nightlife, activities, medical resources, and senior resources. They also cover the question of buying and/or renting, both apartments and condos, and thankfully, their info INCLUDES PRICES (a few years out of date, to be sure, but at least they give you a ballpark idea of what to expect) and even gives sample budgets to show what a typical retired couple might expect to spend in a given month (Warning: Be sure to notice the Assumptions connected with each budget!). The Smith's Top Ten Places to Retire in Hawaii is also listed (with particular emphasis on Oahu and the Big Island). They even consider the possible impact of the Hawaiian Sovereignty movement on tourism and politics. (This final chapter, Wither Hawaii, starts strong, but the ending is rather confusing: the Smiths don't make a definitive conclusion or even a conjecture about how much the Sovereignty movement may impact tourism. However, if you go back through the entire book, they really have made a very strong case that retirees in 21st Century Hawaii will form such a strong voting block that any official/unofficial movement to make the state less welcoming to Mainlanders will probably be thwarted at the polls.) In any case, this book is a must purchase for anyone (especially retirees) planning to make the big move to the Aloha State. Get it today! Such a move may not be easy or in everyone's best interest, but thanks to this wonderful book, a move to Hawaii may be in your future someday if not sooner!



2. If you are over 80 and prefer the large type Readers digest, this is the book for you. Really nothing new or informative in this book for a young person or family looking to move and work in hawaii. The Polancy book was more informative for someone more interested in getting a job versus finding a hospice.



3. What is the net worth required of a retiree couple in order to purchase the minimum 800 sq ft STARTER home in the volcano-prone zone of the Big Island? The STARTER homes there are listed at $500,000. How much of a multi-millionnaire must one be to move to Hawaii?



4. The authors of this book obviously conducted a lot of research and cared a great deal about their subject. As other reviewers have said, it does contain a lot of useful information for someone thinking about retiring to Islands. Unfortunately, however, the book suffers greatly from two serious flaws. First, it is incredibly poorly proofread; it is replete with distracting and annoying spelling and typographical errors. (One wonders what the publisher was doing!) Second, large portions of the book provide information about matters that change very quickly. In particular, the prices cited are already wildly out of date. I think it would be great if the authors, perhaps with some help from an editor, updated the information and cleaned up the text.



5. This book is worth reading for people seriously interested in moving to Hawaii for retirement. The authors provide lots of economic data on how much it costs to live in Hawaii but it is accurate for about the year 2000. It is a thoughtful book written like an academic paper (with footnotes all the way to clxxxv!).