4 comments about Journey to the High Southwest, 8th: A Traveler's Guide to Santa Fe and the Four Corners of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah (Journey to the High Southwest).

1. I bought this book to get some ideas for our family's summer vacation to the "4-Corners" area. The book has alot of information, little of it very helpful for trip planning. Most of the book is about the history, geology and nature found in each park. Details of the actual parks are written in the narrative form as the author drove and hiked in the areas. If you are willing to read through all this you might find a couple helpful gems and tips on your journey.



2. I was previously a ranger at Mesa Verde. This is without a doubt the best guide to the High Southwest that I've encountered. For years I've recommended this to friends, and each time I've been thanked for giving them an outstanding, wide, yet in-depth, and well written source of critical information about one of the most fascinating areas of our country. From where to go, what to see, and how to understand it -- from history, to geology, to ethnography, and much more -- this is an excellent introduction to the high country of our Southwest.



3. I travel in the region covered by this book a lot; over the years I have bought lots of guidebooks and other books about the area. Journey to the High Southwest remains my absolute favorite.
   I do not understand the comment of an earlier reviewer that it does not include helpful "tips" for "trip planning." You might consider supplementing it with a more standard guidebook of the Frommer/Froder variety, but I have used Journey to the High Southwest since our very first trip to the area (early 1990s) and have found it a trove of "useful tips." On that first trip, using this book, I was able, for instance, to plan travel through the Hopi Reservation, where to stay, how to find out about when and where there would be dances, etc. The recommendations of where to stay/where to eat are terrific. (We would never have found our favorite hole-in-the-corner diner in Espanola without this book!) In addition to all the good travel suggestions, it's beautifully written, a mine of information, and a joy to read. I am so happy to find that there is an 8th edition!



4. Robert L. Casey's superb guidebook is generally recognized as the best guide to the Four Corners of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. We've used various editions for several years on our driving and hiking trips. Casey describes his own trips by car, raft and on foot, and his essays give insights into geology, history and culture.
   
   We found him excellent on the ground for Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, Santa Fe, Taos, Arches, and Canyon de Chelly. His descriptions of Capitol Reef, Sunset Crater, Wupatki, Dead Horse Point, Durango, Silverton, and Telluride are compelling armchair reading. His book is particularly strong on the history and culture of native cultures.
   
   Tony Hillerman, one of my favorite authors on the area, is a powerful advocate for Casey's work: "I've been prowling around, living in, and writing about the Four Corners states for more than 40 years, and I still find myself learning from Journey to the High Southwest. It's the best guide to this part of the world I've ever seen - and that includes ones I've written myself."
   
   Casey provides specific travel information, including Bed & Breakfasts, Crafts shops, Campgrounds, Galleries, Bicycle Rentals, Hotels, Museums, Indian Festivals, Canyon Tours, Hot-Air Balloon Rides, Restaurants, Horseback Riding, Youth Hostels, Concerts, and Rafting Expeditions. This guide is updated every two years or so, but it is always worthwhile to check on the accuracy of current information.
   
   This is a wonderful guide book whether reading at home or visiting the Four Corners.
   
   Robert C. Ross 2008

2 comments about Austin Then and Now (Then & Now).

1. As someone who lived in Austin in the '60's and returned recently, the comparison of landmarks 'then and now' was a wonderful stroll through Austin's memorable sites. We liked the book so much that we gifted others with it - it's a very popular conversation book which all our friends have enjoyed.



2. I thought I had all the books on Austin! This book is great. I love the series, and the photos are terrific. All the important sites are included.

5 comments about Roadfood: Revised Edition.

1. No matter where you live, if you're looking for some unusual, fun and funky places to eat, Roadfood by Jane and Michael Stern will give you all the recommendations you need. This book is written so that you "road warriors" can find endless amounts of tasty treasures.
   
   For example, if you're longing for lobster - or clams, mussels, shrimp or oysters - then head on down to Abbott's Lobster in the Rough in Noank, Connecticut. Bring a bottle of your favorite wine - and your own tablecloth - and enjoy the ambiance.
   
   Or consider Chez Lenard Sidewalk Café and Catering in Ridgefield, Connecticut, where you can order up Le Hot Dog Choucroute Alsacienee or Le Hot Dog Garniture Suisse. Expect to be served from a man in a chef's hat with a Manhattan-style sidewalk cart.
   
   Roadfood demonstrates how, no matter where you travel in your car and no matter how many road trips you take, there is always a new culinary adventure waiting for you right around the corner.



2. I remember reading a much earlier edition of this guide, probably the original not-thick volume published in 1978. I've always traveled a lot, doing genealogical research, and that pursuit takes one more often into small towns than big cities. Everyplace you go now, it seems, the fast food chains have completely taken over, but there actually are plenty of mouth-watering one-of-a-kind eateries left, if you get lucky -- or if you read this book. This edition includes some 600 establishments (200 more than even the last edition, even though another hundred have been dropped), most of them in the categories of joints, diners, parlors, and drive-ins. The idea is to find restaurants that cater to locals, that represent the essence of their region or locality, and that are low in price. Naturally, I went looking for places I had eaten myself and I found many of my favorites: Hoover's and Threadgill's in Austin, Krause's Café in New Braunfels (the best chicken fried steak in the world comes from the German heritage of the Texas Hill Country), Sonny Bryan's and Gennie's Bishop Grill in Dallas, the Frontier in Albuquerque, Pasqual's in Santa Fe, Lynn's Paradise in Louisville, the Moonlite Bar-B-Q in Owensboro, Kentucky (where some of my ancestors lived, right across the river from Indiana), and the Camp Washington Chili Parlor in Cincinnati (which, in my opinion, produces the best Cincinnati-style five-way chili in the city). Here in Louisiana, New Orleans alone accounts for five listings -- and that doesn't even include the haute cuisine, high-dollar restaurants for which NOLA is famous. (Of the places they list, Mother's is a regular stop for us when we're in the city.) But there's also Boudin King over in Jennings, Middendorf's in Pass Manchac (forty-five minutes from home; we go there three or four times a year), Brenda's down in New Iberia, and Prejean's over in Lafayette. Admittedly, there are a few other places I like, and which fit their criteria, but which aren't included; no place at all in San Antonio, for instance. But the Sterns are anxious for recommendations from their readers, so I'll probably send them some suggestions. This is a great car book when you travel -- and especially when you leave the Interstate.



3. How many times have you gone on vacation and you end up at some tourist trap (Hardrock Cafe,Planet Hollywood,ect...) eating the WORST food on earth? Well help is here people! My girl and I LOVE to travel and LOVE good food. That's why when planning a trip we do all the research for: attractions, museums, night life, bars, and our favorite... FOOD! Best fried chicken? Loveless Cafe in Nasville!! Later i found out that Loveless Cafe is Martha Stewart's favorite for breakfast!! I'm telling you... :)



4. Take it from someone who has taken over 20 U.S. road trips
   to 48 states - This is my Bible! I don't go anywhere without
   taking along this book. It is a great way to get off the
   beaten path, mingle with locals, save money, and eat great
   food. I own every book the Sterns have written, but this is
   my favorite.The Complete Guide to the Ultimate Family Road Trip



5. This is a famous book. I bought it in some haste, without examining it closely, before driving from Colorado to Washington, DC last Fall, via I-70. First, I noted that there are very few restaurants listed in Colorado. Coverage in this book is very uneven. Then, given the organization of the book, it is very tedious to find the restaurants along a route like I-70. As another critical reviewer noted, the maps and directions to the places are poor, and they tend to be concentrated in big cities. There really isn't much near I-70, We managed to find the Goody Goody Diner (notable for excellent root beer) in St. Louis because we happened to have a very detailed map of the city. We never found another place that looked promising for our next meal -- apparently we turned the wrong way on the highway and the street numbering along it was odd and discontinuous.

5 comments about Wyoming Atlas & Gazetteer.

1. This atlas is a great book to have on hand while driving through Wyoming, especially via the backroads. It's a must-have for any traveler and resident.



2. This was very well made, for an atlas. The format and legend was easy to understand, and it certainly helped my not so great navigational skills.



3. DeLorme has done it again! Stellar mapping and attention to detail make this a grand publication. Two thumbs up!



4. The Delorme atlases/gazetteers are valuable references especially if you are traveling the back roads. Compared to a regular road map, there is much more detail to find your way just about anywhere in the atlas coverage area. If you need a lot of detail, you can then purchase topographic maps. Special features are also noted. Get one of these for any state where you plan to explore off the beaten trail. I already have atlases for five states, and the collection will surely grow in coming years.



5. This atlas is a must have for going off the paved roads in Wyoming (or really any western state) for both planning and driving.
   
   My only question is; I'm not sure how often they update these books with changes? It would be nice for them to indicate that. Some trails and/or dirt roads seem to have changed some from when these books were published. But over all the detail is good for being that it covers the entire state. There are some local area maps of state and federal lands that show better detail and seem to be more updated.

5 comments about California's Central Coast: The Ultimate Winery Guide: From Santa Barbara to Paso Robles.

1. While this book has excellent reviews of some of the larger wineries in this area, I was surprised to see the omission of some smaller, very notable wineries on the Central Coast. For example, Per Pacco Cellars in San Luis Obispo isn't mentioned, and they have one of the finest Pinot Noirs on this strip of coastline. Aron Hill Vineyards is another small, family owned winery with a Cabernet Sauvignon that's outstanding, and Cayucos Cellars has a Syrah that's a powerful contender for the perfect wine with a holiday Prime Rib roast.
   
   That said, the reviews given in this book are very informative and extremely well-written. I loved the section about local foods and how that plays a role in your Central Coast wine country tour. The book gives many tips on where to eat, where to find picnic supplies, and lists various events at the wineries highlighted. For those elements alone, I'd love to give this book a higher rating.
   
   My concern is someone planning a trip here will overlook some outstanding, smaller wineries... all of which have tasting rooms, very friendly staffs and remarkable wines. If I may be so bold, buy this book for a list of the bigger wineries, but try to stop all along the way during your stay on the Central Coast to scout out others, and be sure to ask the locals for tips on where to uncover hidden gems.



2. If you are planning a trip to the Central Coast and hungry for information, this is one of the first books to consider. The text is friendly, fun, and easy to read, as author Mira Advani Honeycutt does a wonderful job of teaching without preaching and devoid of pretense. What I find particularly helpful is the way the information is organized and the order it is presented -- breathtaking color photography is the perfect complement to Mira's literary style. A great gift for the Holidays!



3. Mira Advani Honeycutt describes the central coast, its wineries and the people that live there in a personal and endearing way. Her book makes me want to get off the fast track, take time and relax in the beautiful and lush area that is the central coast and learn more about wine.



4. Received the book quickly, and the product looked brand new. Highly recommend this vendor.



5. This book was great! Amazing pictures, insightful, informative narratives about various wineries from Santa Barbara up through Paso Robles. Yes, it hits only a fraction of the vineyards in these wine regions, but it gave a wonderful starting place in knowing a little about some of them! We ended up making a point to hit 6 or 7 of these vineyards because of the write ups about the history or uniqueness of them. This book is fairly accurate--Beckman, Clautierre, Eberle, Rideau, etc...all great wineries. Don't take this book for an end-all guide to the only must see wineries, but it's a great starting point!

5 comments about Ride Atlas of North America: U.s. / Canada / Mexico.

1. this map has it all...very detailed road content found in the large rand maps with a tough, closeable magnetic binder that fits nicely in any saddlebag. it has good suggestions for scenic rides and some state laws for anywhere you can ride a motorcycle. i dont ride a harley and dont necessarily care for them either, but this is one 'harley' item i had to have. the only negative thing i can think of is that due to its size, many states are split onto seperate pages. it is a necessary evil, however they tried to mitigate it by creating a 'overlap' of the map area on each consecutive page so you can quickly refind your spot/road.



2. This is a great tool for carrying on your bike. Full of info. you can use anywhere in North America. Very detailed and helpful.



3. This is great atlas, I would recomend it to anyone who travels on a mototcycle or drives a car. The ride atlas is very detailed it shows the best routes that a motorcyclist like myself would need to take to see the best part of the U.S. Another great feature is it's water proof don't have to worry about it coming apart in the rain, it's very well made and should last for years if you ride a motorcycle and been looking for an atlas to take with you then this is it, it's fits in saddle bags as well.
   
   Dave Tate



4. This is a must to any who are touring on their HDs. Maps are presented for every state in the union. Local HD Dealers are noted on the maps along with phone numbers and addresses. Sample rides are included along with highlighted maps. If you ride a Harley - this is it.



5. This atlas is great if you are traveling by car, but on a motorcyle the maps have way to much detail. There is no way you can follow these maps while riding.

2 comments about Best Hikes With Dogs: New Hampshire & Vermont (Best Hikes with Dogs).

1. I had been looking forward to this book's publication since a New Hampshire bookseller told me this summer it was coming soon. I live in Vermont 7 months of the year, and New Hampshire the remaining 5. I own a 4-year-old shepherd/black lab mix, Diamond, who loves to go hiking with me. So this book is perfect for us to plan new adventures.
   
   The author has selected hikes which are safe and suitable for dogs, as well as delightful hikes for their human companions. I was glad to see some of my favorite hikes are included in the book, and there are many others I look forward to doing with Diamond.
   
   The hikes are rated from one to four paws for difficulty, and dog regulations specific to each hike (proof of rabies, leash laws) are given. I am impressed with the detailed topographic maps, especially since the maps in my two "Best Hikes with Children" books, by the same publisher, are a bit disappointing.
   
   I was glad to see that the author details many safety-related and ethical issues pertaining to hiking with dogs. The ten essentials include gear one should carry for dogs (leash, water, portable bowl) as well as obedience training (to be done before the dog goes hiking). The ten canons of trail etiquette are guidelines to ensure that your dog won't offend other hikers, and that you won't lose the privilege of hiking with your dog on the trails.



2. This is for anyone who wants to find nice hiking trails where they can take their dog(s) along.

No comments about Kentucky Off the Beaten Path, 8th (Off the Beaten Path Series).

5 comments about Two in the Far North.

1. This is perhaps the most inspiring and entertaining book I have read in years. Mardie Murie is to me the quintissential woman, a true feminist, and first female to graduate from the University of Alaska, who follows her own star while completely respecting the stars of others. Her prose is "luscious," intelligent, rich in imagry, and filled with honesty and joy. She writes about her life growing up in Alaska at the turn of the twentieth century, and how she transcends cold and harsh conditions to follow the love of her life, Dr. Murie, as he studies the caribou herds in Alaska's wilderness. She even finds breathtaking romance on this amazing life adventure, spreading her love of life and nature to everyone she encounters. I can't recommend this book enough!



2. I'd heard Margaret (Mardy) Murie's name in the same news and conversational circles as I'd hear names like John Muir, Barry Lopez, John McPhee - all among my favorite writers, scientists and naturalists - so when this book appeared in my stack of Christmas gifts this year I was really excited.
   
   Over the last several months I've picked up several books set in the northernmost corners of the world, some of them truly incredible stories of frontier exploration, survival and human endurance - and Murie's book did not disappoint.
   
   In Two in the Far North, Murie spends the first few chapters recounting her childhood in then-brand new Fairbanks, growing up in a modest cabin during winters that dipped, and often stayed, well into the -40s and -50s, and witnessing the growth of a burgeoning frontier town. Later, after graduating from the University of Alaska (she was the first woman ever to do so), she married Olaus Murie - a scientist studying the migration patterns of Caribou in remote northern Alaska. Together they set off for the Brooks Range to explore wildlife in areas like Bettles and Wiseman and the Old Crow River valley.
   
   Murie is considered by many to be the grandmother of the conservation movement, and much of the passion she had for this territory that later translated into her advocacy for wilderness protection were born in the stories of this book.



3. Well written essay of a life adventure in the wilds of ALASKA by devoted NATURE LOVERS---This is a must read book for Outdoor Enthusiasts !I sent a copy to my daughter& grand daughters--knowing that they would enjoy the experience of the writer & spouse and may experience a similar event.



4. I lived in Alaska for 20 years and found this to be one of the best, first books I read when I moved there.



5. Margaret Murie was ahead of her time when she explored Alaska. I fell in love with my state all over again. She did what most people only dream of nowadays. I admire her for her courage and strength, both as a wife and mother and as an explorer and naturalist. She also explored ANWR before it became the refuge. Anyone with doubts about opening ANWR should read this book.

5 comments about San Bernardino Mountain Trails: 100 Hikes in Southern California.

1. The new edition has a much better map that shows where each hike is. Very solid. I didn't care for all the area background stuff though.



2. I own about 30 hiking guides and this book is the one I use the most often and consult before any hike. John Robinson is one of the gurus of Southern California hiking and his guides are usually dependable, accurate and full of information that will ensure your safety while in the mountains. He provides an adequate history of each hike, driving directions and fairly precise descriptions of where to locate each trailhead. It's important to note that some of his information is outdated; for example, you always must display your Forest Adventure Pass when parking your car in a California National Forest. Robinson doesn't mention this because his guide was written before the Pass became "essential."

   Another strength of this book is that Robinson usually provides separate descriptions of various ways to summit a peak. He details the standard way of climbing San Gorgonio, as well as three alternate treks to the peak and this is a valuable tool for the experienced hiker. He does the same for San Jacinto, perhaps the premiere hike in Southern California (as well as the most arduous!) The guide is tailored towards seasoned hikers and if you're a neophyte, this probably wouldn't be your best choice. But if you love to hike and live in the L.A. area, the Robinson guide provides indispensible information. Highly recommended.




3. A revised edition of a classic book on hiking San Bernardino mountains. This new edition of the book includes key GPS way points and multiple tables of the various hikes to make finding a hike that matches your criteria as easy as it could be.
   
   Furthermore, the descriptions of each hike are sufficient to permit the reader to determine if the hike would be of interest.
   
   The book concentrates on San Bernardino but also covers the Santa Rosa hikes more extensively than I have seen anywhere else.



4. Still the best guide for local hikes in the San Bernardino Mountains, though I'm a little nostalgic about John Robinson's retirement (the original author of the book, that I have carried on many a hike since the early 80's). I like the fact that the new book is slightly larger, which makes the photographs easier to examine. I also like the new map which is in color and on gloss stock, though I do miss the topography lines which have been omitted, making it less useful on the trail.
   
   One concern, is about some of the hikes that are replacements for a handful of the originals, as I'm finding it hard to consider them hikes. I would certainly delete hikes that are located in amusement parks, and consider instead more cross country locations and trails utilizing abandoned fire roads, if necessary, to keep the "100". That said, it is still a great book, and David Money Harris is certainly keeping the legacy alive.



5. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys hiking and wants to experience the San Bernardino National Forest. I bought it after a hike to the summit of Mt. San Gorgonio, when I realized I was not very well prepared and needed some good advice. I read the book and realized how little I have seen of the local mountains and all they offer. The book details the location and degree of difficulty of each trail, which is very helpful in planning your trips. I highly recommend it to anyone who ventures into the San Bernardino wilderness.