No comments about The Way We Were: BC's Amazing Journey to the Millennium.

1 comments about City Smart: Vancouver.

1. Many guide books on Vancouver exist, but Ray Chatelin's "City Smart: Vancouver" is probably the best. In addition to the nuts and bolts that you would expect to read - where to stay, where to eat, tourist sights and shopping venues, there are also special sections on museums and galleries, "kid's stuff", sports and receation, performing arts, nightlife, day trips from Vancouver, and helpful tips and fun trivia. A great appendix gives you the 411 on everything from car rentals to consulates. I like its 8 1/2" by 5" size - it won't quite fit into my back pocket but it does fit nicely into my wife's purse. The book is appropriate for the one day visitor to Vancouver on a cruise ship, or for the visitor with more time to explore, or for anyone thinking of moving to Vancouver.

No comments about Quick Escapes Pacific Northwest, 8th: Getaways from Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, B.C. (Quick Escapes Series).

No comments about Backroad Mapbook: Southwestern Bc (Backroad Mapbook. Vancouver, Coast & Mountains).

1 comments about Vancouver and Victoria for Dummies.

1. I didn't feel like a dummy until I tried to use this guide. My husband and I are good at following maps and directions and this guide has neither. Some of the maps are incorrect as are the directions..you can't get there following the directions, believe me we tried. Makes us wonder if anyone actually went to the places in the book or just gave directions off of a map. Also if the guide has anyone that actually tries to follow the directions before the printing to see if us 'dummies' can actually follow them.

No comments about Vancouver: A Pictorial Celebration Including Vancouver Island, Victoria, and Whistler.

1 comments about BC Coastal Recreation Kayaking and Small Boat Atlas: Volume 2, British Columbia's West Vancouver Island.

1. John Kimantas had enough research and insight to break up the West Coast region of Canada into a three volume set (known as the 'Wild Coast Series') and offer detail never before seen of one of the finest kayak destinations in the world. With the almost-overnight success this series, I was eager for the chance to check out his next venture - the BC Atlas series that accompany the books.
   
   Note: Perhaps as a testament to their popularity, both the books and atlases have been difficult items to keep in stock. It would ultimately keep me waiting for almost six weeks to obtain my Atlas.
   
   I purchased Volume II which covers the entire West coast of Vancouver Island. The quality of the production is top notch: 51 water-repellent laminate pages including a 'splash proof' outer book-cover definitely made me feel like I received my money's worth (I paid $26.00 at Amazon, compared to the List price of $40.00). Each page is in full and rich color with photos included of noteworthy sites and locations. As described, the maps offer useful information specific to kayakers that you would not normally find on any chart - campsites, anchorages, launches, wildlife viewing/nesting areas, trails, ruins, intertidal areas, navigation markers and call-in points. In addition, these maps are littered with interesting tidbits, such as 'exceptional sand island; may be surf', 'recommended kayaking' areas, and 'potentially dangerous turbulence off the Point', etc. Information you would hope to have on hand before planning your visit the area. It would have been nice if he elaborated more detail with regards to First Nation Heritage sites - such as known fish traps, clam beds, middens and such.
   
   My biggest issue with this product is the scale - 1:100,000 when compared to the Canadian Hydrographic Charts of 1:40,000. Granted, trying to keep in scale with the Hydro-charts would almost triple the size of the atlas (as well as the cost). The Hydrographic charts do offer more lush topographical detail and professional appearance. I compare it to the DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer Series.... great resource, but when you are at the trailhead, you are better served with a good old topomap.
   
   That said, I think Kimantas does every serious kayaker a service by offering a powerful set of resources for everyone to use. His work alone, renders most other guide publications of the same area obsolete. These are excellent tools for planning your next trip and I am pleased to have access to them. I would consider using a BC atlas for shorter trips. But for the extended excursions, you still cannot go wrong with a good old Hydrographic Chart.

No comments about Victoria & Vancouver Island: The Almost Perfect Eden : A Witty and Accurate Guide to Maximizing Your Enjoyment! (Hill Guides).

2 comments about Frommer's Vancouver & Victoria 2005 (Frommer's Complete).

1. Canada is so close to where I live, however, I don't know enough about the destination to truly feel that I will experience all that it has to offer. This guidebook helped me to plan out exactly what I felt would be worthwhile for me. I've got a great itinerary put together in anticipation of a great trip.



2. Having never been to Victoria before this book has been extremely helpful and informative. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is going to the beautiful City of Victoria or Vancouver Island.

1 comments about Victoria and Vancouver Island, 5th: A Personal Tour of an Almost Perfect Eden (Hill Guides Series).

1. This book was a waste of money. I found that it provided very little concrete information except to list public restrooms - which is not my standard of a good travel book. The ad nauseam restaurant recommendations were uninspired. What really annoyed me though, was the authors' lack of detail. For example, they would suggest looking at the petroglyphs at Englishman River, but give no information on where said petroglyphs are or how to get to them - and guess what? It's kinda a long river.
   I bought the Cowan sister Hiking guide for Vancouver Island at the same time, and if you are interested in exploring the amazing parks on the island, I do recommend buying their book - it was really helpful during my visit.