1 comments about The Thomas Guide 2008 Los Angeles County Street Guide (Thomas Guide Los Angeles County Street Guide & Directory).

1. i am a truck driver and run daily routes all over l.a. county and this map has helped me tremendously. it is 100% accurate and easy to follow. my only complaint is that the pages dont hold up for everyday use. a few pages from my map are missing because they tore off from the binder.

4 comments about City Walks: New York: 50 Adventures on Foot.

1. What a great idea. 50 adventures that you can stick in your pocket and enjoy without looking like you are a tourist. I pulled out a few cards written about parts of the City I know and love to see if the author knows her stuff. Take card 15 - the Ms. Fay touches the high spots: Abingdon Square, Ottomanelli's, Zito's, Murry's Cheese, Rocco's Pastry and more. Walk these streets led by her map and prose and you'll have a wonderful visit. Flipping through the cards, I think every significant neighborhood has been captured. I know in warmer weather, I'll use a couple of her cards to explore Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens - boroughs that are a lot more of a mystery to me than Manhattan. Naturally, with a map on one side of a 4X5 card, there isn't much room left for text. Having said that, I wish we had more detail about each area - a small complaint. Maybe in V.2.0 some folded cards?
   
   I collect anything NYC oriented and I am happy to add this pack of cards to my library but I wondered what the market is for these cards. My guess is that locals will use them to learn about streets outside their sphere. Out of towners will be able to stick one or two in a pocket and stroll through one of the most fascinating cities in the world. If you are a NYC fan, you need to get your copy of City Walks New York.



2. We've spent a lot of time in NYC, and I can attest from experience that each walk is well worth taking. The format is easy to use, with a master card showing the location of all the walks, and clear directions in the cards.
   
   Each card has red circled numbers and letters on the maps, and NO explanation of what the numbers and letters signify. Are they bus and subway numbers? Are they points of interest? I'll figure it out when I'm there next week, but it would be nice to know ahead of time.
   
   The boroughs are an important omission. We've been to Manhatten three times, and intend to concentrate on Brooklyn (the 4th most populous city in America, if it was a city unto itself) this trip. Many of the 50 Manhatten walks could be consolidated, to allow 10 walks for Brooklyn, and 5 each for Queens and the Bronx. Brooklyn has Prospect Park and Park Slope, Coney Island, and so much more I'm unfamiliar with.



3. I bought this to give as a Christmas gift. It arrived in used condition although it was sold as new. There was no wrapper so when I removed it from the shipping box, the contents spilled. There was a barcode sticker placed over the original barcode on the bottom of the box. As far as I can tell the contents are intact. This is the first time I have received anything from Amazon that was less than expected. I hope you don't have any similar experiences.



4. Our family recently returned from a visit to Manhattan. We used 5 or 6 texts as well as this boxed set of walking tours. The set consists of 50 3-3/4 by 5-1/2 inch heavy stock cards and a folding master card that shows all the walks in the context of a five bouroughs map.
   
   There are 5 walks in Central Park, 8 Midtown, 3 north of the park and 19 south of the Flatiron Building. Two walks cover The Bronx, two are in Queens, 5 in Brooklyn. Each walk card shows a map on one side, of about a square mile, complete with Metro stops and a trail marked out; on the other side the text (which is smallish, but I'm glad for that because there's such a wealth of information one could fit on each card!) that points out historic buildings and architectural features and tells a few stories about the character of the area as well as its characters.
   
   It was very convenient to grab a few cards as we went out the door. Also, after we got back and looked at pictures, it was easy to find that tour and get some information about it.
   
   The only complaint is predictable. Each walking tour could handle a booklet, so a few hundred words is, of course, inadequate. There is no information about restaurants; again, that's understandable, but maybe more information could be included on the maps?
   
   I would buy them again.

5 comments about Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd Edition.

1. My husband was intrigued by the idea of full-timing in an RV. This book gives you ideas of working while moving around in your RV. Maybe working a seasonal job in a theme park or with a tour group, on a guest ranch or in a national park appeals to you. Some jobs offer free campsites.
   Ultimately I chickened out on the idea, but if you think the open road is for you and want to make some money along the way, be sure to read this book.
   It includes a ton of info in the appendix: including contact information for state tourist bureaus, state parks, state revenue offices and state motor vehicle and licensing bureaus and more, plus an additional 32 pages of resources.



2. 
   Many people who contemplate living the RV lifestyle probably equate it with a leisurely retirement. But what if you combine RVing with a lucrative work life? You may discover that you can hit the road at a younger age and reap more rewards.
   Support Your RV Lifestyle spells out in great detail exactly how to live this dream life. Jaimie Hall speaks from her own experience and culls information from a wealth of other sources to create a comprehensive tool for planning to live and work on the road.
   Just as you wouldn't set out on a trip without a road map, you would be miles ahead by consulting this guide before embarking on this life journey. There's a lot more to consider than where to park your vehicle each night. Don't assume you'll just "find a job" when you reach your destination. There are many considerations, from tying your marketable skills to a job on the road, to balancing work and fun, to tax implications. Because Ms. Hall is so thorough with her guidance, you will be well-equipped to make decisions about how to combine work with pleasure.
   It is likely that some of her 100-plus pages of worksheets and resource lists would assist travelers in general, not only those traveling and working out of an RV. You'll recoup the price of this travel guide many times if you choose to follow its course for living and working on the road



3. Support Your RV Lifestyle: An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road (Second Edition)
   is a wonderful resource -- it's well-written, filled with great information, and is inspirational and encouraging, as well. Jaimie Hall is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about her topic. It's obvious that she's a seasoned traveler -- and has been both working on the road and talking to many other RVers who have worked while enjoying their travels.
   
   The book summarizes over 350 jobs (in categories like work at rv parks and resorts, christmas tree farms, state parks and national forest areas, concessions, seasonal jobs, sales of rv related products, crafts, writing and consulting). Details like how to handle resumes, long-distance job interviews, contact information and communication while traveling, and the right questions to ask about jobs are also covered. In addition to the many options it lists, it points out possible problems and challenges one may encounter on the road while trying to find a job or while working.
   
   If you (like us) are thinking about traveling in an RV, this is the book to have in the planning stage -- and I assume it will also be helpful when on the road.
   Also check out the author's website and enewsletter.



4. We found this book a very valuable resource for planning on our eventual fulltiming phase of life. It is a very easy read, but it also has the information you need. It's very well laid out! Thanks for a great book!



5. I must say that I really enjoy this book. It is well written and provides alot of very good information. It is a good resource book to keep in your RV. I am planning to go full time RVing in the next couple of months and this book helped me to make that important decision. Read and enjoy folks!

3 comments about Universal Orlando 2008: The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Theme Park Adventure (Universal Orlando).

1. This is such a great book if your trip to Orlando is going to feature a trip to the Universal Parks. It is so hard to find a book that has quality input on any park other than Walt Disney World. For the families who are planning to venture beyond that park and into the world of Universal Studios, this guide book is a must. It has exciting descriptions of all of the rides, great input on dining and lodging, and will get you pumped up and ready to go!!



2. For anyone planning a vacation to Universal Studios Orlando, this book is a must! With so many guide books on the Orlando attractions, USO gets only a brief mention. So when I found this book, I was thrilled. It covers everything you need to know when planning - when to go, where to stay, where to eat. It lists each attraction and show in great detail. There is a section on each hotel on the property, which is very detailed and very helpful, as well as a section just on City Walk, the entertainment area of USO. Even if you've been to USO in the past, I think this is a great book to keep you up-to-date on the parks and hotels. Very well written by Kelly Monaghan!



3. We just returned today from our Universal Orlando adventure. We found the book very helpful since we had never visited Universal before. The summaries of each attraction and food/shopping in each park were great. We used it to plan our daily schedule and even to choose our seats on each ride to maximize our enjoyment!

2 comments about 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: San Antonio and Austin: Includes the Hill Country (60 Hikes within 60 Miles).

1. This is a good basic book for finding the public hiking trails that are on the beaten path. It is very useful to find what is publically available. It isn't for finding those paths that are hard to find.
   
   I do recommend it.



2. Excellent book, very descriptive but there are more Austin trails than SA trails. Some of the trails in this book have become our faves and we would never have found them without the book.

5 comments about Central Park, An American Masterpiece: A Comprehensive History of the Nation's First Urban Park.

1. Sara Miller has put together an outstanding book: a book as vast and detailed as the Great Park itself. For those not familiar with the park and its history, this is an invaluable introduction to the political, demographical, economic and, especially, aesthetic thinking that went into the creation of 800 acres of gorgeous park space in the middle of Manhattan. For those seasoned veterans of NYC history, this is a welcome reminder of the enormous vision and efforts of Calvert Vaux and Fredrick Law Olmsted, as they conceived the park.

   Nota Bene: A lot of books have gorgeous photos but the print job is miserable ... Others have high-qualtity prints but the photos aren't that interesting ... This book has glorious prints and an expert print job. Pick up this book.

   Rocco Dormarunno, author of The Five Points and The Five Points Concluded




2. Commemorating the 150th anniversary of Central Park, photographer and historian Sara Cedar Miller celebrates the aesthetic, cultural and historic significance of America's first public park with the book "Central Park, An American Masterpiece." This is the park's definitive illustrated history, and offers some of the most gorgeous photographs I have seen on the subject - a difficult task given the number of pictures that have been drawn, painted and photographed of the Manhattan landmark. The book includes over 200 color illustrations, original plans and drawings alongside modern photos, giving the viewer/reader an historical perspective.

   Accompanying Ms. Miller's work, portraying the park throughout the seasons, is a well written text which highlights the conception and creation of the park and its art and architecture. This is a big, beautiful picture book that would make a wonderful addition to any home or library. It's a wonderful gift idea. I know as I have given it numerous times.

   Ms. Miller is the parks official historian and photographer and has been since the mid-1980s.
   JANA




3. Central Park is breath taking and this book does a fine job of giving the reader a feel for what makes this 850 acre masterpiece so special. The book is quite thorough and does an commendable job of disecting various sections of the park. The color photos are vivid and well thought out and the text is highly informative. The author has a real love for the park and it comes out in her writing. If you have never visited Central Park or have visited and fell in love with it like so many others, you will love this book. This oasis really is the heart of New York City and to understand New York you have to understand the parks history and its vast importantance to the city. Central Parks importance to New York and New Yorkers cannot be overstated, I can't imagine the city without it.



4. As an avid fan of Central Park who has been exploring it and studying the books on it for decades, I was amazed at what there was still to learn about it from Miller's book. For example, other historians allude to a connection between Central Park's design and the Hudson River School of landscape art: Miller provides actual sources of the designer's inspiration and shows the results explicitly in the photos. And all in a way that is not at all "bookish" but instead makes you want to go right in and see for yourself the scenes she shows so well in the book's illustrations. The beautiful photos and fascinating stories and the well chosen historical prints all work together in such a compelling and entertaining way that one might never realize one is being educated by a superb textbook in the field of art.
   With her emphasis on the past of the park, and its present restored beauty, it is understandable that the author does not use very much of the book's valuable space on the remaining present-day problems, but she might at least have alluded to the incongruity of the city's insistence on using this artistic matepiece as a through route for motor traffic during the majority of daylight weekday hours. In effect, the city's Dept. of Traffic is providing a refuge from the chaos of the surrounding streets during rush hours - but for the cars, not for the people. If you want to appreciate the park shown in this book, go during the times when the traffic noise does not drown out the wind in the trees, the birdsong, and the happy voices of children!



5. Did you know that the elm lined mall leading to the Bethesda fountain and the view of the ramble are actually based on the layout of a church? Or that all of the lakes in Central Park are manmade. This and many other very interesting facts are interspersed with lovingly taken photographs of the park which were taken by the author of the book as well. Miller starts decribing how the park came to be and the leading ideas and ideals that lead to its creation by Olmsted and Vaux. She proceeds to describe systematically the various sections of the park providing historical information as well. She delves into the some of the controversies and compromises that Olmsted and Vaux encountered in the creation of one of the finest examples of 19th Century art but it is not a comprehensive history of the park. There is a 2 page map of the park at the of the book with a legend identifying each of the features discussed in the book. If you are first time visitor to the city wishing to explore the park in detail or a life long New Yorker this book will delight and surprise you.

4 comments about Colorado's Best, Second Edition: The Essential Guide to Favorite Places.

1. Colorado's Best By Bruce Calighey and Doug Whitehead

   Reviewed by Curt Peoples

   With so much travel information on the Internet, I sometimes wonder: Why do authors continue to write travel books? Colorado's Best answers the question by showing that the best travel authors still write about places they've personally visited and enjoyed. If you like Colorado (or think might like Colorado), you should buy this book.

   The authors are well qualified. Bruce Calighey has written The Colorado Guide, now in its fourth edition. Doug Whitehead produces Colorado Getaways, a weekly travel television show in Denver - he's like the Charles Kuralt of Colorado.

   The authors take you to every corner of the state, with over 200 entries of the best cultural and historical places, outdoor activities and events, and places to eat, drink and stay. The book entertains because the "bests" listed are truly remarkable, sometimes bizarre and not always on the beaten track. My three favorites: Best Way to "Get in the Mood" at the Glen Miller Festival in Fort Morgan, Best Hot Springs at Mount Princeton, and Best Drive-In Without a Car in Monte Vista.

   Most atypical, compared to many travel guides, is the writing style: personal and thoughtful with a tone that says, "I really like this place, I think you will too!" I want to take my daughter to the Kit Carson County Carousel because the authors have done it themselves, stopping for a short rest and staying for hours. I want to go to Crested Butte because it's apparent Mr. Calighey and Mr. Whitehead have been there, sampled the restaurants, and now recommend the four best in town. They suggest a few hills they've skied that I've never seen in the slick brochures.

   Best piece of writing in the book: the description of the Sand Creek Massacre Memorial. It starts, "Certainly 'best' isn't the most precise word to describe this simple, yet hauntingly affecting memorial to the brutal and unjustified murder of American Indians by U.S. troops, but the event without question merits consideration." In four poignant paragraphs, you'll be compelled to learn more about the lost ways of traditional Native American life. This is what travel writing should be.




2. Colorado's Best By Bruce Calighey and Doug Whitehead

   Reviewed by Curt Peoples

   With so much travel information on the Internet, I sometimes wonder: Why do authors continue to write travel books? Colorado's Best answers the question by showing that the best travel authors still write about places they've personally visited and enjoyed. If you like Colorado (or think might like Colorado), you should buy this book.

   The authors are well qualified. Bruce Calighey has written The Colorado Guide, now in its fourth edition. Doug Whitehead produces Colorado Getaways, a weekly travel television show in Denver - he's like the Charles Kuralt of Colorado.

   The authors take you to every corner of the state, with over 200 entries of the best cultural and historical places, outdoor activities and events, and places to eat, drink and stay. The book entertains because the "bests" listed are truly remarkable, sometimes bizarre and not always on the beaten track. My three favorites: Best Way to "Get in the Mood" at the Glen Miller Festival in Fort Morgan, Best Hot Springs at Mount Princeton, and Best Drive-In Without a Car in Monte Vista.

   Most atypical, compared to many travel guides, is the writing style: personal and thoughtful with a tone that says, "I really like this place, I think you will too!" I want to take my daughter to the Kit Carson County Carousel because the authors have done it themselves, stopping for a short rest and staying for hours. I want to go to Crested Butte because it's apparent Mr. Calighey and Mr. Whitehead have been there, sampled the restaurants, and now recommend the four best in town. They suggest a few hills they've skied that I've never seen in the slick brochures.

   Best piece of writing in the book: the description of the Sand Creek Massacre Memorial. It starts, "Certainly 'best' isn't the most precise word to describe this simple, yet hauntingly affecting memorial to the brutal and unjustified murder of American Indians by U.S. troops, but the event without question merits consideration." In four poignant paragraphs, you'll be compelled to learn more about the lost ways of traditional Native American life. This is what travel writing should be.




3. I bought this book when I first moved here. I wanted to find some fun things to do. I was suprised at all the different events that this book covers. Some are more interesting than others but all in all a great book I have tried a few of there reccomendations and would agree with the author's conclusions.



4. There are places in this book that could only be found with a very detailed Internet search. Simply typing in 'things to do in Colorado' would not begin to cover the awesome things that have been put together in this one little book. I have crossed off so many things that I have done as I go along and I have yet to be disappointed! If you live in Colorado, or will be visiting Colorado (especially via road trip as many things are right off major highways) this is a must have.

5 comments about Frommer's Walt Disney World & Orlando 2008 (Frommer's Complete).

1. This is not a very detailed book. I mean there are thousands of things in it, but if you are looking to get the inside scoop say, on a hotel at disney, you will get one paragraph. I've seen some books that describe the lobbies, give you tips on room placement, etc...so I prefer more detail. Plus, the print is very small, so you better have good eyes! THere is a map in it though - that is nice, and it covers areas outside of Disney if you are interested in that.



2. I own several WaltDisneyWorld guide books and this one is confusing and unorganized. It tries to be a guide book for WDW and Orlando. So, if you are planning a trip to WDW and you are looking up listings for Best Restaurants, or Best Place to Eat with kids, you may be reading about a suggested restaurant only to find out that is actually at Universal Studios in Orlando...thinking you are reading about WDW. It mixes everything together and is hard to follow. Save your money and borrow it from the library.



3. I purchased this book for our first trip to Disney with our 3 year old daughter. We had a blast and this book really helped us plan our trip. It has a lot of the basics about the Orlando amusement parks--it even manages to summarize each ride at every park, rates them F through A+, tells you height requirements and gives a recommended age for each ride. This info was great because it saved us a lot of wasted time and helped us to rule out or avoid rides that our daughter wouldn't enjoy. The book also gave little tips about which days certain parks are busiest, how to use Fastpass, how to purchase Disney tickets in advance, etc. Every little tip imaginable is in this book!!! I have a friend visiting Disney and I recommended this book to her--I didn't actually lend my book to her because I don't want to let go of it!!



4. With all the guide books available for Walt Disney World, how does this one compare?
   
   It is not as good as The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World, PassPorter's Walt Disney World and the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. But those are the top three guide books to WDW, in my opionion.
   
   This book does have a fair amount of coverage of WDW, but also spends time on other Orlando attractions and hotels.
   
   There's just nothing special about it that would cause me to recommend it when there are much better books out there.



5. I am only a little way into this book, but the information is great. Lots to think about and lots to plan. But it is all made easier by someone who has lived it. Thanks, I look forward to more exploring and to our trip to Orlando.

5 comments about Lasting Light: 125 Years of Grand Canyon Photography.

1. Lasting Light is a treasure, a compilation of photographs taken of the Crand Ganyon over a broad stretch of time. The viewer/reader may gain a sense of history, passing from the old to the new. The book is an experience in images of the vast wonder of the Canyon and the smallest, most discreet detail. Because the text is direct and not-technical, anyone interested in what is grand and lit by extraordinary light, the Grand Canyon itself, will find this work a delight.



2. Yes, you would expect truly astounding photography here, and you get exactly that, in lots of different flavors too, but the stories are deft and revealing -- far more than in a book of photos alone of a place that you couldn't take a bad photo if you tried. Trimble himself is a master craftsman with the camera, but his service here is to gather some really remarkable work and voices into a tome that anyone who has gaped and prayed there will want to paw through before you get major brownie points for giving it to someone else. Terrific work.



3. This book is so awesome, and of such high quality, that its Amazon price seems surreal...I have two copies and am ordering a third, for posterity or whatever.
   
   Intensely beautiful photographic prints, at the very leading edge of Canyon photos....almost beyond description!
   
   If you buy one copy of this book, you'll then want another for a gift, and another for your own collection.....etc.



4. I bought this as a present for my wife. We had just returned from a trip that included a visit to the Grand Canyon, and I wanted to get her a memento of the visit. This book sounded good, but was not the one that included the beautiful vistas that we wanted. There are some photos too dark to really discern why they are included. There are some photos of a boat on the bank of the river. That could be from anywhere.
   Although I suppose others may find it interesting, we didn't want a book of prose, we just wanted amazing photos. This was not that book.



5. A beautiful selection of images that trace how the Canyon has been viewed through a lens over the past cnetury and how that view has evolved. You can begin to appreciate how the Canyon got to be grand (to paraphrase the title of a book on the history of the Canyon). It was also nice to have included images of the types of cameras that were used to make the images.

2 comments about Fodor's In Focus Savannah & Charleston, 1st Edition (Pocket Guides).

1. I recently went to both Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC. I found the guide very useful with lots of valuable information to offer.



2. The Savannah section of this guide is only 30 pages out of 165. 1 map is very small. If you plan on spending any more than 2 days in the city I think you would want a more detailed book.