4 comments about The Best in Tent Camping: Georgia: A Guide for Car Campers Who Hate RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos (Best in Tent Camping).

1. This book needs to have an online counterpart. The dearth of good (objective!) camping information online in this part of the country can be frustrating.
   
   This book fills in the gaps for tent campers who need some details on the multitude of camping spots in Georgia, written by someone who had the time to actually visit many of them. This is perfect for busy professionals like myself who often have no idea where to start, and can't waste a free weekend on a campsite that may be subpar.
   
   Molloy fills in the gaps for you with a rubric of important criteria, all from the standpoint of the casual camper who appreciates a quiet, beautiful setting to enjoy. This is information that doesn't really exist elsewhere, so if you camp in the state of Georgia, it's an absolutely essential reference. Seasoned campers with their own favorite spots may have slightly less of a use for this book, but even then one might find a gem that had been previously overlooked.
   
   This work loses a star because the overall map and legend lacks an easy way to identify which star on the map is which campsite, without thumbing back through the table of contents. This made it slightly harder to see which campsites are in which area at a glance. Overall, a very useful reference.
   
   Hint: Take the book along with you camping in your vehicle or duffel bag. Scribble your own notes in the margin regarding the campsite you visited, best places to park, nearest gas station, etc. Make it your own personal reference as well!



2. JM has done a great job of camping in the stellar, and not so stellar camping destinations of Georgia doing the heavy lifting for the rest of us.
   
   Each location has all the information needed whether interested in hiking, swimming, boating, etc. JM's descriptions are true to form for each location. I truly enjoy noticing something mentioned in JM's book as I vist the Best in Tent Camping destinations.



3. The detail level is fantastic. You feel like you have already camped at one of these sites before you even go. It gets down to descriptions of each numbered site within a campground so you can easily decide which one to grab when you arrive. Details like beauty, security etc...are rated with stars. I have visited 4 sites now from the book and find the ratings right on.
   
   My only knock is the directions need to be a little better. They dont start you from a major road - but rather obscure backroads. You will need to do some additional map work to find some of the more remote spots - but other than that it's a must have for tent campers.



4. Don't know where to go? Use this guide -- including regional maps! -- to find a site close to you or close to where you are traveling. It's rating system gives you a means to compare sites.

5 comments about Frommer's Portable Portland (Frommer's Portable).

1. I would have liked this book to be more intra-regional and do more talking about the green zones around the metropolitan area but as far as detailing what's what in Portland itself, I have no criticism. Also some nice maps came along with this book, which is handy.



2. This is a great resource for a short trip to Portland. The small size fits easily in a pocket or purse. We tried several restaurants listed in the guide and all were excellent. I suggest Jake's seafood and Bijou Cafe for breakfast. Also check out the Mount Hood loop directions in the book--no trip to Portland will be complete without this!



3. This is an oversized pocket guide. Fits great in a coat pocket but not too well in pants pocket. Has great map. Gives reviews of about 50 or so eateries. The 'Best Places' guide is much better though.



4. FROMMER'S PORTABLE PORTLAND is a great book about Portland. It has all of the information- i.e. where the best sightseeing, dining, nightlife, shopping, and outdoor activities are- that you'd find in a full-sized book, but in a volume that you can take on the bus in your carry-on to tune out difficult people. In other words, this is a small book with all the information of a much larger volume, only not as bulky. This book is essential for anyone even remotely interested in the Pacific Northwest.



5. Perfect guide that fits in your pocket. Information was detailed enough so that I was able to get around to all the major points of interest waterfront, pioneer square, japanese gardens, and Oregon's waterfalls without any additional resources.
   
   It also contained a number of great recommendations of food from breakfast to dinner. Four stars and not five because the maps could have been a little more detailed.

4 comments about 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Phoenix, Including Tempe, Scottsdale, and Glendale (60 Hikes - Menasha Ridge) (60 Hikes - Menasha Ridge).

1. The first time I climbed Camelback Mountain via the Echo Canyon trail I came to a new understanding of the word "steep." The trail rises in excess of 1,000 feet per mile and that includes a relatively level section. But Camelback Peak is hardly alone among the rigorous hikes and climbs in the Phoenix area. Many of the trails in the Phoenix Mountains are incredibly steep with no shade and few convenient rest spots. However, they also offer stellar views of the Valley of the Sun and some of the best off season recreation in the western US. They are also covered in detail in Charles Liu's new addition to the '60 Hikes within 60 miles' series from Menasha Ridge Press.
   
   Like other books in the series, this volume has a lot to recommend it. It includes a useful introduction on the basics of hiking and how to use a GPS unit. Hikes are organized by geographical region (within Phoenix, suburbs, and areas to the northeast and northwest, as well as south of the city) and each hike contains key "at-a-glance" information such as distance, elevation, approximate hiking time, and, relatively unique to Phoenix, how many quarts of water you will need if you wish to survive the experience. I might add here that some of the information can be redundant. Under the heading "exposure" virtually every hike lists shade as "none" or "very little." Liu deserves a lot of credit for his careful maps that accompany the trail descriptions. These were recorded by hand-held GPS and plotted onto downloaded topographical maps. Based on the trails I have hiked that are described in this book, these maps are excellent.
   
   In all, this is a great book if you are a Phoenix resident or regular visitor seeking hikes in the off season. (I fall into the latter category.) The author does describe several fairly level paths: the trail in Papago Park and the Bridal Murphy trail, to offset some of the more challenging adventures. For my part, I will use this book to explore the Bradshaw Mountains the next time I visit Phoenix in the warmer months. Liu points out their elevation makes them a nice alternative to the longer drive for Flagstaff if you want to beat the heat. I think it is a safe bet that even seasoned local hikers will find something new in these pages. So get the book and go take a hike (but not during June, July, or August).



2. Have you ever purchased a guide and found yourself wondering if the author actually visited the site, and if he did, why he didn't provide more information? That will not be your experience with this book, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Phoenix. The author, Charles Liu, gives a wealth of information for each hike with detailed maps, charts showing the elevation gain/loss, key at-a-glance trail info, GPS coordinates, and more. Each trail is described "In Brief" with a sentence or two, then expanded upon in usually 2+ pages of well-written prose, describing every aspect of the hike. Most descriptions also feature a black and white photo of the trail, scenery, or a unique feature of the hike. Each hike's description ends with a paragraph of describing additional nearby activities.
   
   Included in the book's 20+ pages of introductions and prefaces, there are particularly useful lists that make it easy to find the kind of hike one might be looking for. Want a scenic, solitary hike that is 4-6 miles, on a multi-use trail by a stream? Try the Vineyard Trail. Or a 1-3 mile flat dog-friendly trail that is good for viewing wildlife and ends in a swimming hole? Try the Badger Springs Wash Trail. Or a scenic, solitary high-altitude 9+ mile steep hike alongside a stream? Try Reavis Ranch via Rogers Trough Trailhead. Also charted are hikes with scrambling or climbing, those with archaeological ruins, those best for children, hikes best for wildflowers, those for regular workouts and hikes for runners.
   
   The book ends with a short-but-useful appendix section, listing where to locally find hiking supplies, maps, and hiking clubs, and a glossary of both general hiking terms and ones that might be fairly particular to Arizona (like hoodoo and javelina).
   
   My only wish is that the author would have better-covered the areas to the north and west of Phoenix. However, that's not enough of a detraction to warrant less than five stars. I have read and owned many, many guidebooks, and this one surely ranks among the best.
   
   (The cover of my book is different from the one pictured here on Amazon.)



3. What a great book. After just moving to Phoenix from Washington State, I really didn't know where I could hike. This book gave thorough instuctions on each hike, from elevation, distance, all the way down to if there is shade or not. It is extremely well written, and is my bible for whenever I am out. Definitely worth the money.



4. I have used this book over and over. It is a great book for dayhikes, with detailed maps and directions.

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 ... )

1 comments about A Kid's Guide to Washington, D.C.: Revised and Updated Edition (A Kid's Guide to...).

1. My aunt from Florida was bringing her 8-year old granddaughter to DC for sightseeing. I sent her Miriam Chernick's book as a gift before they arrived so they could plan out their trip ahead of time. She absolutely loved it saying it was extremely helpful. She said she read much of it to her granddaughter prior to their visit and she said that the history was very easily understandable for this second grader. My aunt also found useful the highlights of what to see at each sight so that they weren't overwhelmed when they got to each attraction. They had so much fun doing the "Did You Know..." trivia part of each section that it added a dimension to her granddaughter's interest and understanding of the monuments and museums. Finally, my aunt said the book was so well organized that it made it a pleasure to use and made her trip to DC that much more relaxed and enjoyable! I plan to stock up on these books to give as gifts for folks who come to town so that I don't have to work so hard at playing tour guide because all the work is done for me by this terrific book!

3 comments about Dora's Sweet Adventure: A Scratch & Sniff Board Book (Dora the Explorer).

1. I had this book for about a week when the smell was gone. I have bought several scratch and sniff books and none of them seem to last! As a child my stickers smelled strong for a long time. I guess someone came up with new, better, safer, non-lasting chemicals to make them out of :(
   
   Buy some stickers, their cheaper to replace.



2. This was a big hit with both my granddaughters. The hard pages made it excellent for the 1 1/2 yr old. The 4 yr old loved showing her younger sister how to scratch and sniff as she read the book as a thoughtful big sister.



3. This is a nice short sweet book for real young kids. My 15 mo. old daughter loves it especially the scratch and sniff part. She's really into smells and these are some nice ones. The book was delivered quickly in perfect shape.

2 comments about Haunted Travels of Michigan: A Book and Web Interactive Experience.

1. This book was one of the best on investigations into the paranormal. It is a very fast read and you also get to do interactive studies on the web to go with the book. The writers take you on a tour of each supposed haunted place in Michigan. They make you feel like you are actually with them as they investigate. The book is definitly worth buying!! After reading, you want to visit every haunted place.



2. I am an avid reader of books on the paranormal. This book is one of the best I've read! It's obvious a lot of historical research was done for each story. It was well written and really made me feel like I was on the ghost hunt with the writers. The website allows you to hear and see the evidence collected. This is a must read for anyone interested in ghosts, hauntings and the paranormal!

5 comments about The Blue Bear: A True Story of Friendship and Discovery in the Alaskan Wild.

1. An amazing story coupled with great writing makes for a great read. I've traveled to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest three times and have never read a book that does a better job of summing up the power and beauty of the region. Lynn Schooler adds such personal touches that I feel I was there with him and Michio. His feelings about nature, glaciers, and the grand scheme of life and death remind me of the book 'Freedom is the Highest Good' by Tim Hammell



2. 
   I had this book recommended to me by a friend who has a deep interest in bears ,has travelled widely and seen and watched many up close in their natural habitat;including in Alaska.She has shown me photos of standing only a few feet from wild Grizzly bears.I could hardly believe it, when she told me how approachable they were for experts and the pictures convinced me.Not to say, that I wouldn't keep my distance and give them utmost respect.When she told me this was an excellent book,and that I would enjoy it,I knew I was in for a great read.In other words,since it impressed her so much,it was sure to be good.
   I read a lot of "Nature" books and spend an awful lot of time outdoors birding and am very familiar with the enjoyment and spirituality one gets from that wonderous combination of people,animals, landscape,sounds and silence,weather and atmosphere,and all that is encompassed when one partakes in a relationship with nature.
   The excitement one gets when finding something new or just observing something seen before, is undescribable; but Schooler does as good a job of it as any nature writer that I have come across.He writes from the soul and great love he gets from living.Yes,this book is about the Blue Bear,Alaska and his friend and soulmate Michio,along with many other things,but what he really is writing about is the great enjoyment life is if one really learns to appreciate it.From this book you should learn that it is not only in Alaska that such enjoyment can be found.It is in the desert looking at sunsets,cactii and Roadrunners,in the forest searching out a Barred Owl,on the ocean watching a Tropicbird,sitting at a campsite when a Moose appears,or watching and trying to identify up to 20 different species of Gulls around Niagara Falls in the winter when it is wet windy and bitterly cold;or any of the millions of things the Creator has provided.
   I'd like to quote a few things that demonstrate the excellence of the author's writing skills:
   "Everything always gets what it needs."
   "Home is not always a door at the end of a sidewalk.
   Sometimes it is a broader place that holds the shape of the
   sky,the water we drink,and the food that becomes the minerals
   of our bones,Sometimes it is the sum of our experiences and
   memories,and sometimes it is wherever we happen to be-if
   we are with the right companion."
   "As a photographer,,"Michio taught me how to 'look' with
   my eyes-- but as a friend,how to 'see' with my heart."
   An excellent read for anyone who enjoys life,and a great eyeopener for anyone who thinks life is boring.



3. "The Blue Bear" by Lynn Schooler is a story of friends, of nature in all its raw and open forms, and of the possibilities of healing. The subject of this book -- just as photographer Michio Hoshino is quoted as saying about a Japanese documentary on him -- is actually Alaska itself. I enjoyed reading of the various journeys, both emotional and physical, that the author makes in his life, with the splendor of Alaska always providing a visual backdrop to the twists and turns in the plot.
   
   It was good that the author chose a more humble approach to his narrative as opposed to, for example, arrogantly listing all his conquests of the natural world, as we see in much of nature-related writings these days.
   
   I have to say, though, that after getting to know Japanese photographer Michio Hoshino better through the pages of this book, it was a bit difficult getting through the chapter in which he is literally taken away us. Of course, here in Japan, Hoshino is still considered something of a legend and his work lives on. Still, it was nice to be able to go behind the legend of a great photographer and human being, through such a gifted storyteller as author Schooler. A warm but tragic story that will leave you feeling much fuller inside than before.



4. I have been reading a lot of non-fiction Northern Frontier/Alaskan books and this was one of the better ones. A great read about a new friendship developing over something that was so rare and elusive. And yet such a sad and tragic end... Highly recommended. It's more about friendship than just that blue bear...



5. This book was probably the best book I have read in a long long time. It takes a LOT for me to say "I couldn't put it down" but I COULDN'T!!! It was written so well and so compellingly interesting, it was over before I knew it, and I wanted more. I do hope that Lynn Schooler writes again about ANYTHING ALASKA. A terrific find.

3 comments about Roadside Guide To Indian Ruins & Rock Art Of The Southwest.

1. I reviewed this book for the Gila Cliff Dwellings bookstore that I run down here in Southwest New Mexico and am extremely pleased with this publication and thrilled to add it to my stock as a "Staff Pick." For the SW visitor (or resident!)interested in exploring ruins and sites here I encourage the purchase of this book not only for the outstanding photography that captures the essence of this area but for the research and accurate content, which is often hit-or-miss with travel books. The authors have included many obscure sites along with the popular ones.



2. Last Week I was driving east of Flagstaff, Arizona when I noticed a sign saying Walnut Creek National Monument. I had no idea what was there, but turned off to go see. It was fascinating. A collection of cliff dwellings from the long ago Sinagua indian tribe. It was only by accident that I went there.
   
   Then I found this book that describes and pictures all or nearly all of what remains from these early cultures in the four corners area. It is beautifully done, both the writing and the pictures. Using it we were able to find numerous points to visit that we simply wouldn't have thought about otherwise.
   
   The book talks about a lot of places such as Walnut Creek as well as the larger, better known sites such as Mesa Verde. It covers my own favorites of Hovenweep, Chaco Canyon and Canyon de Chelly quite well. This is, foremost a visitors guide. It is not a book on the people, where they came from or why they left. It doesn't cover things like why do experts think that people didn't really live at Chaco Canyon. It tells you instead that Chaco exists, how to find it, and what's there.



3. Gordon and Cathie Sullivan have done an outstanding job of describing many of the more accessible ruins and rock art sites of the Southwest. The text gives a succinct overview of each site and what is known about its history. The color photography is outstanding, and the production qualities of the book are first-rate. This has clearly been a labor of love by two people who have really done their homework.
   
   I own many books on prehistoric ruins and rock art of the Southwest. None can cover everything. This book focuses on the more easily accessible sites (not always well known) and a few well-known but less accessible ones like Keet Seel and Betatakin. It also doesn't go into a lot of detail about what you will see when you get there. But as an overall introduction to prehistoric Indian ruins and rock art, there is none better.

No comments about Insiders' Guide to Denver, 8th (Insiders' Guide Series).