3 comments about National Geographic Guide to the State Parks of the United States, 3rd Edition (National Geographic's Guide to the State Parks of the United States).

1. I did not understand the definition of "state park," so the entries are more limited than I expected. For example, the Adirondacks is not included in the New York State section. Overall, there is much information, but I still will need to check the internet before departure so that we do not miss the kinds of areas we would like to visit. That is what I thought I was avoiding.



2. This book has a great deal of information but it doesn't list the parks I wanted to find. For the state of Florida only five are written up! Since there are over 40 Parks in the State, I found this Ludicrous.
   This book picked the top 200 state parks and completely ignored all the others. I was expecting a list of parks in each state with codes for facilities and a few highlighted with more information.
   I bought the book so I wouldn't have to look up each state on the internet. Not only did it not meet my expectations, but I thought it was very expensive. It was a big disappointment. Save your money and just use the internet.
   .



3. We just purchased this book a couple of weeks ago, and we've already visited three of the suggested state parks. The format is attractive with a nice picture from each park, detailed information on the park, and suggestions for other attractions in the area. It is laid out by region: "New England," "Southwest," etc. with about five states in each region and about 4-5 parks from each state. We live in Texas, and although we think there could be other parks mentioned in the book for our state, we agree that the choices are representative of the variety of state parks here. We have already visited two of the suggestions in Oklahoma (which we found has great state parks) and one in New Mexico which was beautiful. Our goal is to visit ALL of them over the next several years! We've always enjoyed staying in state or national parks while camping - now in our new AirStream trailer (yeah!), but any traveler could visit these parks as day trips, also. Besides being informative, it's a great read.

5 comments about Playa del Carmen, Tulum & The Riviera Maya: Great Destinations Mexico: A Complete Guide (Great Destinations) (Great Destinations).

1. Joshua Hinsdale has written what I feel to be the best guidebook for the area. I do not think that he has missed a detail and I knew so much before I went to Playa del Carmen that I was able to have the best vacation possible.



2. We referred to this guide before, during and after our trip to the Mexican Riviera time and time again. Great tips and reviews from hotels, restaurants, local customs and places to see off the beaten path. Grab it before you go and do your research.



3. This may have been a fine guide in the past (published 2006, info from 2005... and now it is 2008). The area has developed rapidly and pricing in the guide has basically doubled. Numerous great hotels are not listed, and many restaurants no longer exist or have moved or the telephone number has changed. This guide is limted in its usefulness. The guide is focused on the tourist as opposed to the traveler and does a fine job of guiding you through the various tourist options. It does a very poor job of helping you get to some of the less crowded places.



4. I purchased this just a couple of weeks before a trip to Playa de Carmen. The book has information that helps you beforehand and during the trip. It does a good job of explaining each region with maps, hotel information, restaurants, and activities. We had a few things we definitely wanted to purchase while visiting, and I used the book to mark stores and their locations before we walked into Playa de Carmen. One of my regrets was forgetting to copy the map of Playa before we left so I could fold it in my pocket. (I did not want to tear the page out of the book.)
   
   The book did list some of the local beers that are available. It did not do the same with some of the local cuisine. Thankfully I found some of the information online. Half the fun of traveling is enjoying the flavors of their food.
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone visiting Playa.



5. This is a great book for an overall review of the Mayan Riviera. It mainly focuses on the more popular spots but does include a lot of info on "hidden gems". Easy to read. I recommend this book.

5 comments about Roadside Geology of Northern and Central California.

1. As an owner of the original 1975 edition, I was both impressed and dissapointed by the scope of this edition. In the expanded text, modern geologic theory is covered in plain-English in a manner that makes this a must-have for any geology student or enthusiast. An incredible amount of information lies within the covers in easy to digest segments.
   The new road maps themselves however suffer from trying to cover too many miles in too few pages. Compared to the 1st edition, the geologic "points of interest" are fewer and farther between and many notable geologic features are missed or ignored. (It's almost as if Alt and Hyndman rushed a couple of weekend trips along various highways while dictating notes as they whizzed by obvious rock formations.)
   Still, it's an excellent reference that does a credible job of covering a 100,000+ square mile area full of some of the most varied and complex geology on the planet.
   Good reading both at home and on the road and perfect by itself for the casually curious. Students, teachers and rockhounds will find it to be a valuable "companion book" to more detailed texts as this volume presents only "the big picture" as viewed from the roadside.



2. Begins with an accessible description of the major processes that worked to form the diverse and dramatic geology of Northern California. It is a good introductory discussion and introduces most of the concepts referred to in the rest of the book. The roadside guides identify appropriate points of interest and do a good job describing their significance. My only major complaint typifies each of the offerings in this series. The geologic maps (which I believe are the most helpful tool in Geologic synthesis) are in red, black and white are not very clear at all but there are a number of other helpful diagrams that make the text more readable. The text might be a bit of a slog for someone without a Geology background but would not be impossible and should be fairly accessible with just a little initiation. And, after all, Northern California's geology is too sublime for it to just be a bunch of rocks we drive by.



3. This is an updated version of the book and is an improvement over the previous one. It's intended for use by casual readers and does a very fine job of it.



4. This is definitely a good book. I have already taken it on a few road trips, and have had a good time learning about the geology of the area I was at. It has also been updated with more info about the bay area (compared to the older prints).



5. I've used this book many times over the years on trips up and down the state of California. Driving up interstate 5, it can turn an otherwise boring trip up the central valley into something actually fun. For example, the author explains that the low moutains that parallel much of I-5 to the west in the central and north valley are known as the Central Valley Sequence, and mark the subduction zone for the Pacific and north American plates. Very cool. I'd been driving by those mountains for twenty years before I brought Alt's book on one trip and discovered that.
   
   Clearly and concisely written, it's an interesting guide to the observable geological features of much of California. Although not for real rock hounds or petrologists, it still dispenses a great deal of interesting and useful information, and will be especially helpful to fans of natural history who lack formal training in geology but who want to learn something about it for their state.

1 comments about New England (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. Eyewitness books are perfect. Compact, soft cover, extensive New England travel book. I love it! Has everything in a compact, easy to hold/handle travel book. Historical background, museums, recreation, parks, suggested hotels and restaurants. Highly recommend.

5 comments about Amusing the Million: Coney Island at the Turn of the Century (American Century).

1. In these times, when entertainers bare body parts normally kept strictly covered, it is hard to believe the cover photo of this book was considered rather racy a century ago. It shows a line of girls on the beach at Coney Island where the skirts on their swimsuits have been raised to reveal the shorts underneath. Considering that they also appear to have full-length tights on underneath the shorts, to modern eyes, they look overdressed. There were many social commentators at the end of the nineteenth century that argued that the egalitarian social structure of Coney Island was debasing the social fabric of the nation.
   Which was nonsense, as Coney Island was the most conspicuous example of the dramatic social changes taking place in the United States. By the turn of the century, the people were generally no longer rural tillers of the soil, having been transformed into urban tillers of the machines. Furthermore, by this time, the social distinctions between the upper and other classes were being blurred. As the author points out, at Coney Island, many of the stiff social restrictions came down. People who otherwise would not speak to each other became friendly and shared rides, beach water and other amusements.
   The members of the compressed urban society craved simple and inexpensive recreation and Coney Island provided it. Therefore, as Kasson points out so well, it was a phenomenon that grew out of a social need and in many ways served as a social release. People could, for a very small fee, leave their crowded dwellings and engage in a day of escape. Everyone was equal on the rides and the beaches, so at least at that location, social distinctions disappeared.
   Until I read this book, I had never considered the amusement park as a barometer for social change. However, it is now clear that Coney Island was a metaphor for a dramatic change in the social fabric of the nation and from this book, you can learn many of the details.



2. If you are reading this book, you probably fit into one of two categories. 1. You are a local from the region surrounding Coney Island or 2. You were assigned the book as required reading from a college History class.
   
   While Kasson has certainly done his research on his subject, he struggles at times to find a story with some drama where very little drama exists. To make things more difficult, the reader is subjected to a sort of bastardized version of early twentieth century verbage throughout the text. For example, Kasson is particularly fond of the word "gentry" and uses it and other arcane terms frequently in presenting the story. Most likely, the intent was to give the reader a sense of the period in which the story occurs. Unfortunately, the effect is confusing, dry, and alienating rather than engrossing. Kasson does sucessfully connect individuals who have their own places in history to Coney Island, which is most likely why the book is cited so frequently in other books (132 at latest count) regarding this segment of history. The book is very difficult to read cover-to- cover. It appears that the auther intended for the reader to skip back and forth throughout the text. The final pages end with a one sentence wrap up and a picture. It is almost as if the author himself lost interest in his subject and called it a day. File it somewhere between an antique store and your Grandparent's family photos. Nice for a curious Coney Island history buff. Otherwise, a pretty dull and tedious read.



3. This book was not really what I expected it to be.Rather than giving interesting insight into what went on at Coney Island;it is more a book about why it came into being,why at the time,and why at that location. The book seemed to run out of steam and ended abruptly without completing the story of the reasons for the demise of it all.
   Sure ,the book is about Coney Island;but similar Amusement Parks ,although none as large or famous,sprung up all over America and even Canada. And that doesn't even take into account all the State Fairs,County Exhibitions,National Exhibitions,travelling Fairs,Circuses and Sideshows,
   These were all much the same in nature,differing mainly in size and duration.Their reason for being and the reason or them becoming a thing of the past is all the same.
   The book suggests that they started in the mid-1800's is stretching the point somewhat as Fairs of all types were around for many centuries and only differed in how big they were,how far people travelled to them ,how much new inventions became incorporated and how long they lasted.
   It seems that throughout history people loved to gather for just about any reason,but generally some sort of amusement along with the hope of "seeing something new". Thus there were Races,Exhibitions of animals,crafts,products for prizes or sale,Auctions,Magic shows,Plays,Sporting events;and on and on ad infinitism.
   This happened at Stonehenge and before,at the Roman Collisium,and Religious Celebrations. It didn't take much to create an event;heck, even a "Hanging" was enough to get a huge crowd out.
   The same sort of thing continues today.So instead of taking the Subway to Coney Island or some other Amusement park;we go to the great Theme Parks,National Parks,Sporting Events,Concerts,Casinos,Vegas,Nashville,Ski Hills,Cruises,or even events and locations around the world,such as World Fairs or the Olympics.
   The old adage "The more things change,the more they become the same" applies to Amusement Parks,just as it does to everything else.
   I suppose the greatest change is in the ease of travel,the amount of disposible income available,and the introduction of TV where everything can be brought right into the living room. That doesn't leave much but the Thrill Rides,the Smells and Sounds ,the Crowds and the Outdoors; but that's coming too.
   I for one still like to "Go to the Fair" and still do here in Toronto.The Canadian National Exhibition continues to run for 3 weeks in August:however it gets poorer and tackier every year and who knows how much longer it will continue.



4. Amusement parks that began to exist during the turn of the century served as venues for fun and excitement as well as helped to release the repressed from the gentility of the Victorian Age of the nineteenth century. John Kasson examines the social and cultural ramifications that occurred in American society in his book, AMUSING THE MILLIONS: CONEY ISLAND AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY. In his study, Kasson shows how the American landscape became playgrounds, especially in New York, which extended the use of recreational space, New York's Central Park, and expositions that commemorated and celebrated the American historical past, Chicago's Columbian Exposition of 1893. They magnified the cornerstones and building blocks of the city, and the behavior that was exhibited with the rising middle class, which attracted a mass audience. The city became cosmopolitan and modern where many engaged and frolicked, and helped to unlatch social, racial, and economic boundaries that were bestowed upon many individuals; they also helped to rejuvenate cities through urban planning.
   
   Indeed, Kasson explores the world of imagination. The amusements ran the gamut from a Barnum and Bailey atmosphere to reveling along the boardwalk amongst exotic and unusual exhibits that coveted Coney Island's Luna Park and Dreamland Park. And within the text Kasson highlights those who helped architect this unrestrained environment of excess, such as Frederick Law Olmstead, Daniel H. Burnham, George C. Tilyou, Frederic Thompson, James Gibbons Huneker, and Maxim Gorky. Undoubtedly these were elaborate and spacious constructed palatial playgrounds of pleasure full of materialism and consumption where many gathered for pure utopian enjoyment. According to Kasson, these amusements also served as an outlet for artists and painters whose works did not particularly belong in museums. However, they reflected the modernist and realist genres of the art world before they came into vogue, and they depicted "technological, urban, populous, egalitarian, erotic, hedonist, dynamic, and culturally diverse" images that the public were not accustomed to (88).
   
   Overall, this is an interesting trip down nostalgic memory lane. Through the revealing pictures and detailed narrative, Kasson shows readers how Coney Island at the turn became a form of liberation for an array of classes. In essence, this is a good source to refer to when studying or reading about the American Dream as it relates to amusement parks that transcended social and cultural change in American society.



5. I had to purchase this book for a history class focused on pop culture of 1890's - present. In my opinion Kasson does an amazing job really reviewing the social changes that Coney Island had initiated in the United States. Warning: I did not find this book very stimulating. It was very factual and upfront with no glamourous words inbetween. But "Amusing the Million" was very educational. Kasson showcased the true importance of Coney Island in a way that I had never seen it presented before.

5 comments about California (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. As a member of the Eyewitness Travel Guides, this book's presentation and organization are fabulous and updated. However, travelers beware, it still tends to be on the heavy side given the paper type. I also own the previous (2003) edition of this book, and haven't found the changes to be too important. Furthermore, I don't find the color quality and sharpness of its pictures to be as great as the 2003 edition. I still prefer to use my older version.



2. I really like it.It has many pictures and tips for visitor.



3. I purchased this book and also the current Frommers CA guide. I appreciated this book, because as we drove around the cities- the book gave detailed information about the different points of interest including their history and origins. It was great for all of those times we wondered what the heck something was- or how it came to be - while driving around CA cities. I also found this book more helpful in pointing us to some cool shops in the cities. While the Frommers guide was more detailed in its restaraunt and hotel descriptions, this book was more helpful in finding some of the off the beaten path - fun to see sites.



4. For every destination worldwide I plan (or dream) to go I buy a new DK guide, it`s a wonderfull search for research and recordation and California DK guide is not an exception to this rule.
   
   The only problem is that comparing with my old DK guides (my oldest one is around 9 years old)I would say the printing quality is getting more poor now, maybe because it`s made in China.
   
   But still the best you can find in market.



5. I always love books from DK because of their colorful pages and organized. They have listed as much places, events as possible into useful categories and give readers a brief idea for each places (address, opening/closing time, websites...) I live in Los Angeles myself but never been to several places listed in the book. This book is not too big to carry if you are planning to bring it with you in the carry-on bag. Recommended to all the travelers !!

No comments about Frommer's San Diego 2009 (Frommer's Complete).

4 comments about 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Albuquerque: Including Santa Fe, Mount Taylor, and San Lorenzo Canyon (60 Hikes within 60 Miles).

1. The best book about hitting New Mexico's trails.
   --New Mexico Magazine
   
   Escapades to hard-to-reach spots lift '60 Hikes' to the front of the pack.
   --Albuquerque Journal
   
   After thirty-five years exploring New Mexico's stunning landscapes, I feel I am still just getting started. But where to go next? Fortunately, Stephen Ausherman's splendid guide has arrived to provide a host of suggestions. I will depend on it to add method to my madness and point me in the right direction. Highly recommended!
   --William deBuys, author of River of Traps and The Walk
   
   This is a very impressive guide that I'm sure will be welcomed by the local hiking community, especially as it includes numerous hikes not widely known.
   --Bob Julyan, author of The Mountains of New Mexico and New Mexico's Wilderness Areas



2. Stephen Ausherman's new guidebook, "60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Albuquerque, including Santa Fe, Mt. Taylor, and San Lorenzo Canyon," is, without a doubt, my pick for 2008's Best Book About New Mexico.
   
   I realize that, as I write this, the year has more than eight months left to go, and I'm aware that I myself am planning to publish a New Mexico title before the end of the year, but Ausherman's new book is honestly so good, so quirky, so informative, and so unique, that I feel I can go ahead and declare it as the year's best, without hesitation.
   
   The book, as its title suggests, contains sixty hikes, all within about sixty minutes of Albuquerque--within sixty miles of the Big I, where Interstate 40 crosses Interstate 25.
   
   What the title doesn't immediately reveal, however, is just how amazing these sixty hikes are, just how compellingly readable their descriptions are, or just how transformational this book has the potential to be to anyone willing to go out and experience them.
   
   The book's preface lays out the book's contents, and I challenge any resident of central New Mexico--anyone with even a spark of lust for life or a smidgen of curiosity--to read that preface and not feel overwhelmed with a feeling that maybe this place you've been living has more to it than you thought; in my case, it filled me with an almost caffeinated urge to rush out and see what it described for myself.
   
   The book's sections include:
   *The Duke City--featuring urban hikes within Albuquerque's city limits.
   *The Salt Mission Trail--venturing down into the Manzano Mountains.
   *The Turquoise Trail--heading up into the Sandias and beyond.
   *El Camino Real--exploring natural wonders along I-25 toward Santa Fe.
   *The City Different--snooping around Santa Fe and its environs.
   *The Cuba Road--heading down toward Cuba and Cabezon Peak.
   *The Jemez Mountain Trail--finding amazing formations around Los Alamos.
   *The Chihuahua Trail--moving through wild desert toward Socorro.
   And:
   *The Mother Road--following Route 66 from west of town to Mt. Taylor.
   
   Since being introduced to this title, I have already hiked a number of its hikes, and have already found my view of what surrounds Albuquerque completely altered. This place is amazing, and even though I thought I had an inkling of what its deserts and mountains hid, I now realize I did not. At all.
   
   If you live in Albuquerque, just get this. Just order it right now, or go get it from Page One. You will not regret it. It's rare that a guidebook comes along that makes you want to just sit down and read it from cover to cover, but whose hikes are so unique and intriguing that you have little choice but to put the book down and throw on a daypack.
   
   Highly, highly recommended.



3. This is a wonderful book with something for anyone that likes to spend time outdoors.



4. I have been an avid hiker in New Mexico for the past 7 years, and own every other hiking guide that has been published for the state. This is by far the best one yet.
   
   Though I have hiked all over the Albuquerque area (including all of the Sandia Mountains trails and about half of the Manzano Mountains trails), of the 60 hikes in this guide I have only visited 17 of them to date. I consider this a testament to Stephen Ausherman's skill in locating unique and unknown trails that can be enjoyed by rookies and veterans alike. Reading through this guide, it's almost as if I'm about to rediscover Albuquerque.
   
   Probably the best feature, however, is the wealth of at-a-glance detail at the beginning of each hike... including (to name just a few) shared use, driving distance, nearest facilities, and trail traffic -- these features are not typically included in other New Mexico hiking guides. The only complaint I could even attempt to make is that there are no specific details on trail access for pets... but none of the other local guides provide this either.
   
   No veteran New Mexico hiker should be without this guide, and for beginners in the area... this is the first one you should buy.

No comments about Rand McNally 2009 Deluxe Motor Carriers Road Atlas (Rand Mcnally Motor Carriers' Road Atlas Deluxe Edition).

3 comments about Fodor's Around Washington, D.C. with Kids, 5th Edition (Around the City with Kids).

1. I purchased this book after getting a great deal on a hotel in a posh DC neighborhood. While I was excited about the hotel, I was quite concerned about finding affordable, child-friendly places to eat in the area. I chose this guide because along with descriptions of kid appropriate attractions, it recommends nearby eateries. The recommended places to eat were just what I needed to keep our daytime food expenses reasonable. Be warned that many of the recommended attractions are either seasonal or too far from public transportation to reach on foot (we traveled pre-Memorial Day and swore not to drive in DC traffic after parking our car at our hotel). Also, you'll need a separate map because only street addresses are provided. Otherwise, it was a helpful, compact travel book that paid for itself in meal money saved.



2. My 10 year old son loves this book and so do I! It tells us the important stuff, location, contact info, prices, ages & hours. It also gives us little things like places to eat and fun other thing to notice and do while we are at each place. We LOVE this book!



3. This book gave us great ideas for places to take our 6 year old. Most importantly, he is allergic to everything and autistic. This translates into an extemely picky eater. With it's recommendations for kid-friendly eating, Around Washington, D.C. with Kids is a God-send!