No comments about Lake County, Illinois: This Land of Lakes and Rivers : An Illustrated History.

No comments about The New Virginia One-Day Trip Book: From the Mountains to the Sea, Six Geographical Regions Offer 375 Scenic, Historic and Recreational Delights.

3 comments about 50 Hikes in Southern Virginia: From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, First Edition.

1. The local Roanoke paper poublished a review of this book, calling Leonard a "Great Hiking Writer." I agree. Yes, he tells you how to get to a hike, how difficult and long it is (he walked all of them with a surveyor's measuring wheel; how many other guidebook writer's do that!), and how much vertical rise you will need to negotiate. But, he also informs you of the history of the area you will be walking through and of the lives of the plants and animals that make their homes there.
   I thought I was well-versed on the places to hike--and he covers those--but he also pointed me to some places I had never heard of. All in all, it beats any other book I've used for hiking around the southern part of the state. There are hikes as short as a half-mile to multi-day treks. And there's even a bit of humor thrown in from time to time.



2. I live in Southern Virginia and hike often, but have to admit I never knew about many of the places the author writes about. I wish I had had this book years ago as it's great being able to discover all of these new places. I also like the way he writes. Hike descriptions are easy to follow and there is a ton of information on what you are going to see, why you should go there, and sometimes almost poetic phrases about the beauty and natural world of the place. The book cover says the author has won several writing awards and it's easy to see why. This is not just a dull "turn left, ascend 300-feet, turn right" kind of guidebook. I look forward to many happy outings using the book.



3. If only this book was laid out like Hiking In VA. The maps are not as good, and there are no elevation profiles, but the hikes and their descriptions are wonderful..
   
   I have utilized this book with the Hiking VA book to come up with some exceptional hikes.. I recommend the triple crown hike #33, But do Dragon's Tooth as a day hike. Park on 624 and do the 5 mile round trip. If you have 2 cars, park the other one on 220 (near Roanoke). After doing Dragon's Tooth, grab your backpack and head North on the AT, to get to 220.. Plan a good 2-3 days.
   
   Other great hikes are the day hike to Buzzard Rock, as well as the hikes around Mount Rogers. Combine the info in this book with that in Hiking VA and create your own trip. But whatever you do, you have to hike the Pine Mountain trail.. It is awesome..
   
   The Appomattox hike is also great as you see some things the everyday visitor misses..
   
   Over all an exellent book. The hikes are super, and while the maps could be slightly improved it is still a great guide.

1 comments about Compass American Guides: Virginia, 4th Edition (Compass American Guides).

1. I have several of the Compass Guides, for every state we've visited or lived in. You're not going to find hotel or restaurant guide listings here. What you will find are great color photos and a terrific narrative story. You'll read all the history, learn about the top places to visit. These books are very nice to keep on the bookshelf for others to enjoy for years to come.

No comments about Travel Smart: Virginias.

No comments about ADC The Map People Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Regional Road Pocket Map.

1 comments about Byrd's Line: A Natural History.

1. Dr. Ausband's elegant, easy, affable writing style (threaded with humor and just a hint of the bawdy) mirrors that of his subject, and reading this book is very much like listening in on a conversation between two men sharing their thoughts, observations, and tall tales about their adventures in a land they both love, while warming their hands around a steaming mug of coffee before an autumn campfire. The fact that they are separated by three centuries of "progress" is no barrier to their camaraderie, and because the book is so well written, the reader becomes a member of Byrd's expedition team, too, as Ausband does---without having to clean the mud off his or her boots, or cut through the brush in the Dismal Swamp. Almost incidentally, he or she also gets an education in botany, ornithology, and zoology along the imaginary line that separates Virginia from North Carolina, the descriptions of the animals, plants, and people Byrd encountered (and Ausband revisits) as colorful as the Carolina parakeet that once overran the area--and nowhere to be found is the cloying smell of leather elbow patches and tweed the one might expect such a book to exude.

   It's a skillful piece of work, written by a master storyteller, and will be of interest to anyone who is a student of Byrd of Westover, a resident of the geographic area, a fisherman or hunter or hiker, or a bibliophile unable to resist the lure of an exceptionally well-wrought book.

2 comments about Mosby's Confederacy: A Guide to the Roads and Sites of Colonel John Singleton Mosby.

1. Thoroughly researched and entertaining, this rare and compelling book is a must have for Civil War enthusiasts. Bravo!!



2. As a civil war buff who enjoys touring, I unexpectedly lucked onto this rare,out of print,1991 edition in a major bookstore recently.It was the only copy on the shelf. I devoured it in conjunction a Blue & Gray magazine trilogy about John Singleton Mosby's exploits during the war in Virginia. This Evans/Moyer book is loaded with neat little tid-bits of information about the man, himself, his many facinating associates and opponents, their controversial engagements and the multitude of specific locations where his "Rangers" operated from 1863 to 1865.Fortunately, many of these sites are still available in beautiful, historic, north-central Virginia. I give it 5 stars even though it's map/diagrams are confusing and can only be understood with the assistance of updated, fully detailed maps. Despite these defects the book deserves such a rating.

1 comments about Amphoras and the Ancient Wine Trade (Excavations of the Athenian Agora Picture Bks No. 6).

1. The late Miss Grace was the foremost authority on ancient wine jars, amphorae, and worked for many years at the Agora in Athens. This book is the result of years of experience and therefore gives the reader all the benefit of her wide knowledge. Nowhere else can one find such a succinct look at these very interesting jars. The pamphlet is particularly valuable for the non-expert who just wants to know which type of jar is which, how they were used and what they contained. Very well done!

No comments about Shenandoah National Park Pocket Guide (Falconguide).