2 comments about City Walks: Washington, D.C.: 50 Adventures on Foot (City Walks).

1. These were perfect in every way for touring Wash DC. Gave all info for everything & how to get there anyway



2. These cards provide an excellent way to get out and explore the nation's capital city. Having studied DC's architecture and as a resident of DC (going on my fifth year in the city), I must say these cards are a great way to learn more about the city and its neighborhoods. I have used these cards to take students on a architectural tour of the capital and found them to be well-done, convenient and pretty comprehensive. Definitely a way to make a tourist's self-guided tour more interesting (and prevent them from getting lost, too).

4 comments about Flyfisher's Guide to Washington (The Wilderness Adventures Flyfisher's Guide Series) (The Wilderness Adventures Flyfisher's Guide Series) (The Wilderness Adventures Flyfisher's Guide Series).

1. The guide book is a good start to a new WA fisher. It covers the major river systems (only) in good detail. It does not mention any of the other waters. The hatch guides are helpful and the river descriptions give you a good idea of what to expect.

   This isn't the book for you if you are already familiar with the popular stream and you are looking for some out-of-the-way sleeper streams.




2. Compared to other Wilderness Adventures Press, "Flyfisher's Guide to..." books I have read and own,(CO & N. CA) this one is a bit lacking. Fishing tactics and recommended tackle is covered well, but the driving directions are a bit vague and maps aren't as detailed as they could be. Also there are only hatch charts for a selected few of the fisheries. Other WAP books I have read included hatch charts/fly suggestions for most if not all the fisheries it covered. If you are a WA flyfishirman chances are you already have this book. Even if it's a bit lacking compared to other WAP books, if you live in WA or fish WA regularly, you should own this book. It just seems a bit dated and could use a revision. My .02 cents.



3. Comprehensive and useful info. Will help fishermen choose among alternatives in areas they are interested in traveling to. Seems to be very current information.



4. Really didn't explain much except during peak fishing times. I was not able to be there then, so was very disapointed.

5 comments about A Paddler's Guide to Everglades National Park.

1. As an experienced Everglades paddler who has logged over 400 miles in the Everglades backcountry, I can't say enough about this book. Johnny Molloy has provided a level of detail that is truly extraordinary, and his descriptions of the trails and campsites are dead on the money. The maps alone make this book worth having. This book should find a permanent place of your list of indispensable equipment for planning and conducting an Everglades backcountry expedition.



2. I found this book extremely helpful; even having paddled the 'Glades twice already. This book will allow me to take "The road less travelled," on this, my third trip thru the 'Glades. I would highly recommend this to anyone planning to paddle the Wilderness Waterway, or parts thereof.



3. We used this book to plan a trip to the glades. The info inside and maps helped a lot. WE still needed a good chart but the maps made it easier to nav. The info on camp sites and routes were pretty accurate.



4. This book was extremely helpful to plan a trip in the everglades and then was also helpful when changes were necessary last minute due to weather. It is an invaluable tool for anyone interested. It's informative, well written and yet "small and light" enough to take when space and weight are factors. Highly recommended to all.



5. My boyfriend and I went and paddled the Wilderness Waterway through the Everglades National Park in February 2008 using this guidebook, a compass and the appropriate nautical charts. We had never been to Florida before, nor had we ever undertaken such a long canoe trip. The experience was exhilarating. Route finding through the mangrove forest was very challenging, but by stopping, rereading Johnny Malloy's route descriptions as we progressed, and trusting the compass, we never did make a wrong turn. Without this guide, I'm not sure that would have been true.
   
   I was disappointed to be advised by people we met along the paddle that the "Nightmare Route" would not be passable after the most recent hurricanes of 2005 because of fallen trees and the fact that the ranger service does not maintain the route. After reading this guide, which was published in 2000, I had been totally sold on the idea of paddling the "Quintessential Everglades Route." I don't know if it is actually not passable, but we decided not to take the chance. Anyone interested should pursue more updated information. The North Harney River Route, however, was passable and satisfied some of that desire to paddle the route less taken.
   
   If you don't know what no-see-ums are, investigate protecting yourself from them before you go. Yikes!

1 comments about Newcomer's Handbook for Moving to and Living in New York City (Newcomer's Handbook).

1. I moved to NYC in 2005 and used this book frequently as a resource while I was looking for a place to live.

5 comments about California the Beautiful.

1. This compact size coffee table book with outstanding photography by Galen Rowell makes a great souvenir for visitors to beautiful California. The diversity of this great state is depicted in all its spectacular beauty from the desert to the majestic mountain peaks; from minute wildflowers to the towering redwoods. Prose and verse from famous & not-so-famous Californians & visitors add pleasant reading which accompany the lovely images.



2. The photography is beautiful.
   The book catalogues the best of California through pictures. We take this book with us on our trips through out the state as part of our guide and potential itinerary. It makes every trip, a trip to a beautiful location.
   A great coffee table book.



3. This book is well worth buying, but not for Galen Rowell's photographs (as they are "printed" here)...the text is actually more indicative of the power of California's beauty and meaning.
   
   Rowell's use of super-saturated colors, whether accomplished with filters or digital editing, only serves to show just how MORE beautiful these scenes, at these times of day, are in reality!
   
   Subtle was not in Galen's vocabulary, apparently, yet the beauty of nature is often extraordinary AND subtle. I guess my thought really is that Galen Rowell and his 35 mm cameras, found amazing sights (and sites), and took their picture(s), but the essence of many of those sights, he lost because he wanted them to be even more "perfect" than they "really are".
   
   Trust us, Galen, they're even more perfect without all the color saturation effects....



4. Unfortunately, the text in this photographic essay is more inspiring than the images. The problem is not with the photography, but with the quality of the printing. The inks are too dark, and the colors are ludicrous.



5. I purchased a number of these books as "thank you" gifts for various friends we are going to visit in Europe. I was so excited about finding a picture book on California, I didn't read the description thoroughly -- note that the books are only about 7"x7". Even so, their small size makes them perfect to carry in a suitcase. The pictures are quite nice and, even though the coloring is enhanced a bit, they truly show how beautiful California can be. My ONLY complaint with these books is that the price is printed on the back of the dust jacket! This means that if you're giving them as a gift, there's no way to cover up how much you paid (or could have paid) for the book. (I guess I can come up with a cute stick-on label ... )

5 comments about Ready to Roll: A Celebration of the Classic American Travel Trailer.

1. Ready to Roll: A celebration of the Classic American Travel Trailer
   Although I am admittedly a bit biased because of Tin Can Tourists' association with Dough Keister and this project, I found the book to be top notch. The blend of Arrol Gellner's text with Doug's pictures provides the reader with much more than a typical "coffee table" book.
   I believe it deserves a place with Galloping Bungalows and Wheel Estate as a must for those that require a fuller understanding of the RV evolution from the Tin Can Tourists to Airstream Founder, Wally Byam.



2. An architect and a photographer co-authored this classic mix of pix and text that rolls us down the American back roads in high style. From the early almost-train cars manufactured for the wealthy, to the poor man's alternative --- "Sleep in Your Car," one ad suggests --- we are drawn along by the fantasy of life fully lived away from home, a fantasy that could only have taken root in America, where roads and cars grew up together in serendipitous symbiosis.

   Before the metal bodies and custom interiors, there had been the Conestoga wagons and, before that, the wooden gypsy vardos of old Europe. Sheepherders had "arks" made for crawling across the lonesome prairie, precursors to "tin can tourism" that attracted freedom-loving Americans almost as soon as they discovered the practicality of the auto itself.

   From the 1930s onward, the question was not if they would buy it but what shape they would purchase, as independent companies vied for a market share, assembling campers shaped like teardrops, bread loaves and fantastical avian forms lifted from the burgeoning airplane industry.

   Today's RVers owe much to Wally Byam, a true fanatic whose conception of a trailer accessible to the average middle-class family resulted in the Airstream, arguably the finest development of the pull-along format. With wood paneled mod cons within and an aerodynamic metal bullet exterior, the Airstream divorced trailering from the Oakie image and spawned many imitators. While confections like the Curtiss Aerocar and Pierce Arrow's faux railcar sought the aristocratic end of the market, and utilitarian itsy-bitsy tent-trailer combos attracted the low budget traveler, Airstream sat doggedly in the middle, offering class, ease of hauling and fine workmanship at an affordable price. "Today, more than four decades after his death in 1962, Byam's basic Airstream design continues to roll off the Jackson Center production lines, still widely regarded as the Rolls-Royce of trailers, and still inspiring imitations."

   For nearly fifty years in the heyday of over-the-road vacationing, there was a Very Large Array of metal boxes on wheels, with names like Comet, Gypsy Wagon, Spartanette and Airfloat, and some more durable brands like Shasta. Because these ephemeral blips on the trailering screen were often handcrafted and built, remarkably, to last, many are still rolling or at least set up on blocks in mint condition, alluringly photogenic.

   Gellner and Keister sought them out and tastefully snapped their innards and their outer skins, along with the cars that pull them. Where the snowbirds flock, these metal bubbles proliferate, often hauled by cars of equal interest to collectors. Now there's a new craze, and why are we not surprised --- that of building "vintage" campers, look-alikes to the old timey road runners of the early 20th century. Is this true "camp" or what?

   Peering inside these metal marvels, via the camera's eye, we get a feeling for what was considered essential to the traveler in times past: parquet flooring, lounge chairs, recessed doors and plastic laminate kitchen counters, the latest thing. Beginning as a simple imitation of home interior design, trailer construction soon became a playground for experimentation in the technology of the tiny, the art of making things work smoothly in cramped quarters without skinning knuckles or having to sleep in a ball.

   Like millions of Americans, I've followed the camper craze, the boondoggling and midnight interstate rest area getaways. I've moved with the carnival where homes on wheels have to be durable for the weekly hops. Maybe when I retire I'll look for a campsite at Slab City in California or Quartzite, Arizona.

   If you love this book, then you're the guy for me. You and I could hit the high spots --- starting at Braden's Castle in Reno (that's where we'll get married), then on to Shady Dell in Bisbee, Arizona, where overnight guests can stay in vintage trailers. We'll honeymoon there in the Spartan Royal Mansion.

   --- Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott




3. This is an incredible wealth of information for anyone interested in architecture, travel trailers, and Americana in general. Lovely photography is augmented by nicely coordinated text. Some redundancy is my only criticism.
   
   Bob



4. I have a weakness for books on architecture and interior decorating anyway. But this is the one I turn to again and again. For those of us with Champaign tastes and beer budgets, a vintage trailer is ulimately doable. Own your own piece of modernist archeture, albeit on wheels, even though you could never touch a Mies or Wright. When ever I try to figure out what to do with my 1957 Sportcraft (a classic silver-clad "canned ham"), I flip through these pages. I always find something inspiring.



5. This book has a fine combination of beautiful photos and well written text about an American niche. There are stories and examples from all over America that give a glimpse of the joy of seeing the world from a home away from home.

5 comments about Tucket's Travels: Francis Tucket's Adventures in the West, 1847-1849 (Books 1-5) (Francis Tucket Books).

1. This was a great story!!! I loved it! If you are looking for a book, this would be the book to read!!!



2. I LOVE ALL THE GARY PAULSEN BOOKS. THE francis tuckets are some of my favorites because i've always wanted to go back in time to the western days and these books took me there.
   
   travis l. blue.



3. It's a good thing they are all five together. This book was so good even I (mom) didn't want to stop reading it! I even cried at the end. My son (9 yrs) and I read this together. It is a very good book to read aloud because you can explain things if you need, and you (as an adult) can really add some drama with your voice. One night my son had a friend stay overnight (8 yrs) and he wasn't excited about having me read to them (especially in the middle of the book and all) but he was hooked after one chapter. I think this would be a good book for those who "hate" reading because the story just pulls you in and keeps you wanting to know what happens next. There is even a little bit of historical information and things to learn (but don't tell the kids!) I would recommend it to grades 3 and up. My 6 yr old had trouble sitting still for it.



4. I have already read both of the Misadventures of Maude March books. My grandmother bought me thiese books because I kept looking for more westerns. These Tucket books are very good but something is missing. Partly girls. Partly a lot of other people. Still I can't cut off any stars.



5. This series of stories about about Francis Tucket is chocked full of encounters with Pawnee Indians, thieves, ruthless Comancheroes, sadistic murderers, and rattlesnakes. But the stories are also populated by such wonderful characters like Lottie and Billy, Jason Grimes, the one-armed mountain man, Garcia, and Iktah. Paulsen who has the deserved reputation as a great storyteller has created a series that will entertain as well as educate. You are given a glimpse of just how harsh conditions were for early settlers in the West but the stories also re-affirms our hope that there are truly good people out there as well.

2 comments about Michelin Red Guide 2008 New York City (Michelin Red Guides).

1. The Michelin Guide is a standard in the restaurant review business. It has a pedigree that is much more revered in France than in the United States. Personally, I feel Zagat tried harder and won. Ideally, you should own both red books and consult with each before planning a dining experience but inevitably, the one that you would resort to most of the time is Zagat, not Michelin.
   
   Michelin is not laid out in a cohesive user frienndly manner. It is divided by neighborhoods which is fine if you suffer from agoraphobia and your primary goal is to seek out a restaurant in a small definitive radius.
   
   Usually, when one dines out one is looking for a particular type of restaurant i.e. a romantic restaurant, a before theatre prix fix, a small tapas place, an over the top restaurant to max out your expense account, etc. To identify these restaurants and many many more, Zagat is the top choice. Michelin confines their reviews not only to particular neighborhoods but to a small number of particular restaurants as well! It only chooses to review what they consider Michelin worthy.
   
   If you're interested in only THE top restaurants, Michelin is for you. You will learn which restaurants, mostly French, in Manhattan have earned the coveted Michelin stars. However, if you want to have a glimpse of each and every restaurant in NYC from the pizza place downtown to the 5 star establishment in midtown... buy the Zagat.
   
   Go ahead... if you're like me and want to have the best of both worlds, buy both!



2. The Michelin Red Guide is the most respected Restaurant Guide in the world. There have been chefs that have committed suicide when they lost a star. They have exacting standards or service and understand haute cuisine better than any one else in the world. And this is precisely why they are almost totally irrelevant to Restaurants in New York City. They do not understand that American standards of service are different, not worse, not lower, just different. Nor can they understand cuisines that do not fit into their narrow concepts of haute cuisine. So chefs like Mario Batali and Yasuda-sama will never do as well as they should.
   
   You are better off with the Zagat's guide.

2 comments about Moon Utah (Moon Handbooks).

1. This travel guide provides up-front and honest opinions of accomodation, eating, things to do (both city and backcountry). The authors have provided plenty of ideas that allow you to design your own trip that doesn't have to follow the crowds. (They don't exclude the popular destinations either, if that is your preference.) The book is layed out in a nice logical fashion broken down by the 7 regions and Salt Lake City. Included is a good background on the State and its history, without turning into a textbook. As someone from the other side of the world, I found the advice on customs (such as tipping, Utah's liqor laws) very useful.



2. I'm lucky to have a good public library near me and I checked out every guidebook on Utah they had--nine or ten. The Moon guide is the best of the lot. I liked it so much I bought it and took it with me to a recent 8-day visit to the state, and was able to give it an "on the ground" trial.
   
   The Moon guides are unique in the depth of coverage. No sketchy descriptions of attractions here--each place is covered in detail and depth. The Utah guide includes the "little things" that might interest you no matter what kinds of scenery or attractions you like--or you can pass them by. The maps are good, but of course no book map can replace a good full-size folding map. Sidebars or "boxes" in the text pick out particular bits of information that make the area come alive.
   
   The guide is not as complete about hotel/motels as some, but I belong to AAA for that kind of information, which becomes out of date as soon as any guide is published anyway.
   
   The quality of any guide book, whether Moon or Lonely Planet, or whatever, depends on its authors. This one hits the mark.

2 comments about 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Dallas, Fort Worth: Includes Tarrant, Collin and Denton Counties (60 Hikes within 60 Miles).

1. This book is a serious disappointment. As a longtime DFW resident and avid hiker/jogger, it is immediately apparent upon browsing this work that it contains serious geographical errors. Numerical markings on the map inside the book's cover do not correspond with the correct trails in the book. For example, the location of Trail 40, one of the beautiful Lake Ray Roberts trails described in the book, is positioned on the wrong lake, Lake Lavon, on both the main map, inside the cover, and on the detailed chapter map. This is just one example of at least five mislabled map points throughout the book.
   
   In short, should a newcomer to the area try to use this book as a guide to local hiking destinations, he or she would likely end up lost or at another trail altogether. This could be dangerous, as one should always be aware of details such as distance, trail conditions, and possible admission fees before setting out on a hike. This book is a poorly edited, frustrating purchase.



2. I read the previous review, and have to disagree 100%. I own this book and have hiked most of the trails in it. It is an excellent resource - the trail descriptions are accurate and very detailed, and directions to the trailhead are explicit. I did see that two of the trails were mislabeled on the inside jacket (Lake Lavon mentioned in above review) - but that seems a minor point considering you'll probably only use the map on the inside jacket briefly, and really refer to the trail descriptions themselves. If you read about each trail, it tells you exactly where the trail is located, and it is accurate. Lots of great pictures too throughout the book to give you an idea of what's out there. I haven't found a better resource yet for hiking DFW. A great resource for trails here.