1 comments about California Atlas & Gazetteer (Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer Series).

1. I was recently the navigator on a 10 day California coast road trip. I ordered the Delorme Atlas to serve as a back-up to my Nuvi GPS. The map is certainly is the better way for looking ahead for rest areas. Half way through the trip, the binding cracked and pages began to fall out. Not good when driving in a convertible with the top down! So I stopped at a Kinko's Copy Center and they replaced the binding with a spiral binding. Now it went from a good atlas to a great atlas! I'm certainly going to do this to any other Delorme atlas I use in the future.

5 comments about Great Lodges of the National Parks: The Companion Book to the PBS Television Series.

1. This is a gorgeous book.
   It has 192 pages--loaded with lovely glossy pictures.
   Not all of these lodges, however, are located in the national parks.Timberline Lodge is in a national forest and Oregon Caves Chateau is located at a national monument.
   The pictures in this book are breathtaking. Historical pictures as well as present day pictures are located in the book.
   This book is VERY similar to the Great Lodges of the West book (also by Christine Barnes). Some of the EXACT same pictures that are in the Great Lodges of the West book are in this book!
   But this book adds more pictures.
   This one has more pages (as compared to 136 pages) and this one has more pictures. Also covered in this one is Belton Chalet and Sperry & Granite Park Chalets (which the other book doesn't cover in full detail).

   16 lodges are featured:
   1) Old Faithful Inn (Yellowstone National Park- Wyoming)
   2) The Ahwahnee (Yosemite National Park- California)
   3) Paradise Inn (Mount Rainier National Park, Washington)
   4) Timberline Lodge (Mount Hood National Forest- Oregon)
   5) Oregon Caves Chateau (Oregon Caves National Monument-Oregon)
   6) Crater Lake Lodge (Crater Lake National Park-Oregon)
   7) El Tovar (Grand Canyon National Park- South Rim)
   8) Zion Park Lodge (Zion National Park)
   9) Bryce Canyon Lodge (Bryce Canyon National Park)
   10) Grand Canyon Lodge (Grand Canyon National Park- North Rim)
   11) Glacier Park Lodge (Glacier National Park- Montana)
   12) Belton Chalet (Glacier National Park)
   13) Lake McDonald Lodge (Glacier National Park)
   14) Many Glacier Hotel (Glacier National Park)
   15) Sperry & Granite Park Chalets (Glacier National Park)
   16) Prince of Wales Hotel (Waterton Lakes National Park,
   Alberta, Canada)

   Also in the front and back is a map that shows where these lodges are located.In the back are Preservation Resources and Travelers' Resources (websites, reservation information, etc...)
   Although I didn't know that this book would be so similar to the Great Lodges of the West book--(it's just a bigger version), I do not regret buying it. I have them both and the pictures are mesmerizing.




2. What a treat to find Great Lodges of the National Parks! Not only is the book full of lucious color photographs of the lodges (both inside and out and every season), but historic images and architectural drawings that make you really appreciate the simple fact that they were built in the first place. You also get the full history along with a sense of what the lodges are like today written in a very accessible style. I know people who are trying to go to all of the lodges in Christine Barnes' books. I plan on beginning this summer. (The book also includes Timberline Lodge in Mt. Hood National Forest outside of Portland.)



3. We purchased this book as a thank-you gift for friends, and we were *delighted* with the quality and beauty of it. Truly glorious photos, not a ton of information but enough, and makes a spectacular gift. Highly recommended.



4. This book features amazing photos of the Great Lodges along with brief histories of the parks, locations, and lodges themselves. Wonderful illustrations and blue-print depictions are also included. Great gift idea or coffee table book! Will make you long for more travel time!



5. This book makes a wonderful gift or a reference to pour over time and time again as it is packed with information about the history of the Lodges of the National Parks, information about their architectural aspects, interviews with individuals involved in their building etc, along with wonderful photos that make you want to see them all, today! And, we understand that there is a NEW Great Lodges of the National Parks coming out in July, 08, along with an accompanying PBS series. If it is anything like this book, I won't be the least bit disappointed

No comments about Journey Through Hallowed Ground: Birthplace of the American Ideal.

4 comments about Good Night America (Good Night Our World series).

1. Beautifully designed by author/publisher Adam Gamble and illustrator/toy designer Suwin Chan, "Good Night America" is charmingly entertaining board book which is highly recommended for preschoolers and depicts some of America's most icon settings with respect to the nation's vast natural and cultural wonders. A multicultural group of children visit various attractions ranging from Niagara Falls, the Statue of Liberty, the Everglades, the Grand Canyon, and more. The rhythmic language of the simple but engaging text provides young children with the passage of both a single day and the four seasons while representing the beauty of each selected site. The debut title of the new "Good Night" series from Our World of Books, "Good Night America" will make a thoroughly entertaining addition to family, preschool, day care center, and community library board book collections.



2. I have enjoyed this entire "Good Night Our World Series" with our son for almost 2 years now. Any child 1 1/2 years or older will love these books. I would go as old as 7 years for the reader, depending on your child. I highly recommend this particular book, Good Night America, for anyone who wants to introduce our land to their children. The quality of their books are wonderful; thick sturdy pages with colorful illustrations. The writing is simple and perfect for bedtime; lots of "hello's" and eventual "good nights" to special places around America that the book discusses. We also enjoy the other "Good Night" series of books that highlight San Francisco, Provincetown, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket specifically.
   
   Since our child has a tough time going to sleep and likes to travel, this is a perfect series for him. He goes off into dream land with quiet appreciation about adventures in a particular place he loves or wants to visit.
   
   Also wonderful if your child has a friend who has moved to a particular town that these books cover-it will peak their interest in where their friend is living now and it'll make it an interesting experience to explore instead of a sad one. And, if sadness comes up, it is a good way to discover that your child may have deeper feelings you were unaware of around a friend moving.
   
   The only reason I gave this one particular book in the series one less star, is because of a sentence in the book that states: "America stands for what is right". We always replace that with" "America stands for diversity." Seems an appropriate change because these words appear next to the Statue of Liberty, and we recognize the beauty of this as we are only second generation Americans. All in all, these are great books!



3. This gorgeous introduction to the USA and all its wonders is beautifully illustrated. Other books in this series have boring, more work-book-stiff-looking art. This one shines. The stars in the sky, the twinkle in children's eyes, the feathers on the bald eagle... all have depth and a softness that renders this book a wonderful gift. We have given it to foreign guests several times! And our toddler loves the bedtime ritual of putting the whole country to sleep :)



4. This book is incredibly adorable. I love reading it, and my 21-month old son loves hearing it. Well, not so much anymore...he made me read it over and over again, probably a hundred times in 3 weeks, and now he has it memorized and no longer wants to read it. But he can talk about the Statue of Liberty, can pick out the Washington Monument and U.S. Captiol, and can tell you who lives in the White House. All these are important things for him to know, and my friends think it's amazing that he knows them at his age. The pictures are cute. It's a great, quick read at bedtime.

2 comments about Great Lodges of the National Parks: Volume Two.

1. When I saw GLNP on PBS, I was surprised to find that Christine Barnes had yet again discovered more national treasures to share with us all. I have all of her books, and like the earlier ones, she makes these lodges come alive in so many ways. I suggest you only read one chapter at a time, then let the experience sink in overnight. The photography by itself tells a story with a great selection of photos including priceless historical shots. Those who appreciate history will not be disappointed as the author covers each topic in an accurate, but interesting way. Architects will appreciate the detail and early renderings. And finally, for those who are looking for new places for the family vacation, this book is a must. I visited many of the lodges featured in her previous books, both in the US and Canada. I can assure you there is nothing artificial about any of these places. As they say, they are the "real deal" and part of our history we can all be proud of and experience ourselves



2. Fun reading if you are an explorer of the National Parks, which I am. Certainly the most detailed descriptions in general circulation of these historic places. The second edition had a few places in it that I did not know about and have now placed on my list of lodges to stay in. Without a doubt all these places still have great position. For example the Many Glacier Lodge was the most dramatic nature setting of any hotel I have ever stayed in. This includes some really fabulous places in Europe. But the level of the rooms does tend to vary. Check Frommers, AAA, or others to get a sense of what the room quality may be. Frankly with some like the Many Glacier, it did not matter. But to those wanting to stay at a "Four Seasons" level accommodation in a National Park you may not be happy.

2 comments about 101 Baseball Places to See Before You Strike Out.

1. I just received a copy of this book a few days ago and I've really enjoyed looking at all of the colorful pictures and reading the interesting and sometimes funny essays. Some of the sites I'll visit (like the Field of Dreams Movie Site), others I think I'll skip (like the courthouse where Joe Jackson couldn't say it wasn't so) but it's fun learning about them all. Good book for a snowy day.



2. This book is a must read for those who love to travel and see various sites that relate to the national pastime.

2 comments about Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Planner.

1. This is the first book I bought when I decided to hike the Appalachian Trail. Very informative book. Almost everything you want to know about the trail, preparing to hike the trail, etc... Must have book for newcomers to the AT.



2. This is an interesting planning guide for ATC Thru-Hikers. I don't know that it is a necessity for experienced hikers or outdoorsmen.
   
   There is a section on recommended mail drops that is helpful, but this book recommends that you cross check the information with the current year Thru-hikers companion. I haven't read the thru-hikers companion yet, and I had the feeling that the books may be somewhat redundant.

2 comments about Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers' Companion (2008).

1. This slender little tome (along with the slimmer and somewhat less informative Appalachian Trail Data Book 2008) are absolute essentials for those considering the thru hike, or even a shorter hike. Chock full of essential information such as issues on the trail, post offices, hotels, etc. There is a trail description with features and services by state, miles from Springer and from Katahdin and elevations in readily available grid form, followed by a more detailed, really useful description of each feature listed. Invaluable. My advice to you: don't leave home without it!



2. If I had to cut my gear for an Appalachian Trail hike down to two items, I would carry water and the Companion. Seriously, I would take the Companion with me even on section hikes, and possibly even on a day hike.
   
   After a long week of hiking up and down mountains and seeing nothing but trees, leaves, mud, rain, snow and the occasional deer, the Companion will keep you motivated by telling you just how far you have left to go before you can get a pizza or an all you can eat buffet. (After your first few weeks out, you'll really begin to appreciate the importance of a good all you can eat buffet!) Or a shower. And you probably need one by now.
   
   After spending four months out on the A.T. this year and comparing notes with other hikers, I found that the Companion was the most accurate guide of its kind. The ATC even posts updates on its Web site, which you can check when you get to a town. But be warned, you're best off to take the current year's Companion. Many things change along the Trail from one year to the next, and people who carried previous years' editions sometimes got confused by the changes.
   
   Also bring a plastic bag to keep it in. Mine got wet several times and while it's worse for wear (and lost the front cover) it's still serviceable. Though I would rather have kept it dry.

5 comments about North Carolina Atlas & Gazetteer (North Carolina Atlas and Gazetteer).

1. Delorme produces an excellent resource. If you need very specific detailed pages, you'll also need a Thomas Guide.



2. These are one stop maps. Just about anything you need to know to navigate an area on foot, motorcycle or car is on easy to read pages, provided you are not overwhelmed by details normally found on Topographic maps. If you are looking for a road atlas, buy one and leave these to those looking for a little more detail. Plenty of other useful info included such as park information, camping, fishing piers, boat ramps etc. The info varies by Gazetteer.



3. I bought this book to explore the national forest areas of North Carolina. I was very disappointed when I got the atlas to find that even the larger forest roads are not on the maps! The road map I picked up for free at the Welcome Center Rest Stop shows the roads as well as this atlas.



4. We've used this atlas for years, and we were happy to find an updated version. This is so handy for finding a way around accidents or construction on the highway, or for finding alternate directions to your destination. It includes road names and highway numbers.



5. We'll be using this atlas for an RV trip. Although we haven't yet done the trip, the maps look like what we need (detailed, topographic, forest/side roads). I will say that it's missing decent regional and statewide views. The Benchmark California Road & Recreation Atlas, Fifth Edition (Benchmark Road & Recreation Atlas) series does an excellent job of panning the state, and then drilling down. The Gazetteer series just has the drill-down. Makes it tough when you want to get a macro-view of your route.

3 comments about Frommer's Boston 2008 (Frommer's Complete).

1. We went to Boston in April of 2008. It was a beautiful time to go. I know most people go to the Northeast in the fall for the leaves, but I had never been anywhere in the Northeast before, so we went in April. There are less people there than leaf time, from what I have read. The book helped us with all of our planning. My favorite part is the hours of operation listed for the attractions. That helps you plan ahead so you do not miss something because it is closed on Monday and you waited until Monday to go. I recommend this book, I used this publisher for our San Francisco trip too.



2. We used Frommer's in a recent train trip, and this was the first major city we visited on the trip. And it made me thankful that I purchased the editions for the other cities we later visited. I had visited Boston once before a decade and a half ago, but this time I had three children in tow. I wanted to make sure that we paced ourselves for the three days that we were there, and the book allowed me to do so. I was able to pick activities that the kids would like--including the Freedom Trail, a short 1-hour cruise to the USS Constitution, and Fenway Park. Frommer's has an excellent Freedom Trail section that you will want to keep your finger in as you walk along site by site. There were many excellent suggestions the book made about a number of things, including a short (positive) review about our hotel (the Midtown Hotel, which we were extremely pleased with in regards to location and price). Except for being wrong on some of the admission prices to some of the sites--just a buck or two--the book was fairly accurate in everything else we looked up, which I thought was pretty impressive. In addition, I recommend picking up an Entertainment book for your city--they're only $10 after the spring--as we used food and entertainment coupons in Boston that saved us more than $100. Two-fer-ones and excellent discounted fares made it more bearable to do a few extras, especially for us on a limited budget. Whether or not you've been to Boston before, I highly recommend Frommer's for getting around with the best possible information at your fingertips.



3. I purchased this book for a week of solo sightseeing before a friend's wedding. The walking tours looked great on the page, but were difficult to follow in reality and had very little information about each sight (luckily the most famous walking tour in Boston, The Freedom Trail, is marked by a red or brick line throughout the city so no directions are needed). I never found any incorrect information, but it all felt very cursory and left me looking online or calling locations for more detail. My primary problem with the book was the lack of dining information - it listed so few restaurants that it was nearly impossible to find one in my area and my price range at any given time. The best tip from the book was one that even my friends who visit Boston frequently didn't know about - the 7-day T-Pass sold at any ticketing kiosk offered huge savings for all public transport - only $15. I'm not sure there are a lot of better options out there for Boston guidebooks, so just make sure to gather some extra information before you go and avoid relying solely on this book.