1 comments about The Trails of Virginia: Hiking the Old Dominion (Trails of Virginia).

1. Allen de Hart's The Trails of Virginia:Hiking the Old Dominionis a classic and exhaustive study of places to hike throughout a statethat is known for its beauty and history but less acknowledged for its vast array of outdoor recreational opportunities. The author doesn't just cover his personal favorites or the 50 best walks, but every trail in the state. He's included information on distance, history, scenic features, degree of difficulty, and directions - every piece of information the hiker will need. I've used this book countless times in not only planning a hike, but also in the process of researching and writing my own outdoor guides. No matter where you plan to hike or what your level of fitness is, a well-worn copy of the Trails of Virginia should sit on your bookshelf as it does on mine.

2 comments about Official Guide to Colonial Williamsburg.

1. If you are planning a trip to Colonial Williamsburg, this is the book to have! It includes detailed drawings of each building, shop, tavern, and official hotels in the historic area. This book tells about each point of interest and ticket options. If you want to read up about the historic area before or after your trip, buy this book you won't regret it



2. Take this guidebook with you to Colonial Williamsburg, and it's almost like having a private tour guide showing you the high-points, and saving you wasted time getting around.
   
   Buy it as a souvenir, and you'll have the perfect refresher of all that you've seen, with some in-depth information about the buildings and people of the town.
   
   It's important to know that Colonial Williamsburg is, indeed, a living CITY, and there is more than can be seen in one day. The Official Guide to Colonial Williamsburg is a valuable tool for that visit.

2 comments about Mountain Biking the Washington, D.C./Baltimore Area, 4th: An Atlas of Northern Virginia, Maryland, and D.C.'s Greatest Off-Road Bicycle Rides.

1. I live in DC and it's difficult to find a good ride without taking an afternoon drive. This book is really thorough and helpful, with places I wouldn't have otherwise known about and more info than I already knew about other places.



2. This book is pretty much a joke of a guidebook. Most of the "trails" are things like bike paths and not really mountain biking... It pretty much misses all of the great trails in Maryland

3 comments about A Guidebook to Virginia's Historical Markers.

1. I was disappointed that this revision did not include the markers for county/city markers. Author did state they were in previous edition, but I don't have the previous edition.



2. Just an updated, but briefer, version of the original. The errors and omissions are appalling - it reads like a download of someone's ill-planned and poorly-researched website.



3. This edition of the VA marker guide includes all of the extant markers in the state, listed by city/county/region (rather than by marker number, as was the case in the previous two editions), and has a list of all of the county markers in the back of the book. Each marker entry reproduces the text as it appears on the actual marker (hence the inconsistencies of style and occasional "errors" which one of the other reviewers alludes to), as taken from the VDHR master list; in short, this is the definitive guide to the markers as you'll come across them, not a transcription of a random blogger's Web site . . .

5 comments about 50 Hikes in Northern Virginia: Walks, Hikes, and Backpacks from the Allegheny Mountains to Chesapeake Bay, Third Edition (50 Hikes in Northern Virginia).

1. This book is amazing for those that are just starting out or have been hiking all their lives. It gives you tips on how to get to the park or trail then tells you what to look for while on the trail. If you're planning a hike, I would't leave home without this one.



2. Leonard Adkins has written and compiled one of the best hiking guide books for the Northern Virginia area, filled with accurate maps, directions and trail history. With hikes from just a couple of miles to three day backpacks it has something for everyone. I've hiked ninety percent of the trails in this book and haven't been disappointed by one of them. This is a must have if you hike in the NOVA area. I haven't found another guide as well put together as this is. Leonard Adkins also has several other guide books covering the Mid-Atlantic that are every bit as good.



3. I almost bought this book, until I realized not a single hike described is actually in Northern Virginia, where I live. All the hikes are in Virginia, but "Northern Virginia" generally refers to the areas areound Washington, DC, say as far south as Stafford and as far west as Leesburg. These hikes are in Shennandoah National Park, western VA, and the Chesapeake Bay areas.



4. Just bought the third edition of 50 Hikes in Northern Virginia and I'm thrilled with what the author has put together. I'm not sure why the previous reviewer complained so much about the choice of hikes, almost all of them are within a couple hours' drive of the DC area. And what great hikes--the ones closest to DC include a walk along Bull Run, in Manassas National Battlefield, and Prince William National Forest. There are the old standbys, like Old Rag and Stony Man in Shenandoah, but also some little known ones a bit further west on Massanutten Mountain and near the Virginia/West Virginia border.
   I like that Mr. Adkins hiked all of the trails with a surveyors measuring wheel to insure accurate mileage, and that he provides the total accumulated elevation you will gain--not just the distance from the lowest to the highest point. Best of all, it's just a well written book with lots on info about what you will see and what took place in the area. By far the best of the hiking guides I've bought for this area. The hikes range from short easy ones, to all day jaunts, to extended multi-day trips.



5. I own the second edition of this book, so I don't know how it differs from the third. This is a great book, and I couldn't recommend it strongly enough. As a former DC-area resident who still returns frequently, I find this book indispensible for planning nearby hikes.
   
   Yes, he does have a somewhat expansive view of what constitutes Northern Virginia (is Newport News considered northern Virginia?). He explains that he had originally planned a 50-hikes in Virginia format, but found too many good hikes to narrow the list down to one book, hence the division into Northern Virginia hikes and Southern Virginia hikes. If your definition of "Northern Virginia" is confined to the DC metro, then "60 hikes with 60 miles, Washington DC" by Paul Elliot is the book for you. For those who like to escape the beltway exhaust, this is the book for you.
   
   As other reviewers have noted, the book contains both well-known hikes as well as some hidden gems in areas you might not have thought of before. As might be expected, the majority of the hikes cluster in the Blue Ridge mountains/Masanutten mountain/West Virgina border area, but there are still a surprising number listed for the Piedmont and Tidewater zones. Each hike comes with a topo map and descriptions brimming with notes about the local flora, fauna, and historical tidbits. There are also several black-and-white photos of the areas you'll visit to tantalize you with the views you will see.
   
   There is a very helpful table in the front of the book that list each hike by distance and features (Waterfall present?, Camping possible? Good for Kids?), to easily enable you to pick a hike that fits your agenda. While most hikes can be done as dayhikes, there are a few overnighters thrown in for balance.
   
   What this book is not:
   1)It is not a comprehensive overview of hiking northern Virginia. This is more like a "Highlights book". There will be no duds in here. For those wanting a comprehensive book (though not as user friendly),get Allen de Hart's Trails of Virginia: Hiking the Old Dominion instead. I find I like this book much better the de Hart's offering.
   2)It does not contain in general any trails that are involve DC or Maryland. The C&O towpath will not be found here, except as a brief portion of a trail in the Harper's Ferry area
   3)It is not a guidebook for the Appalachian Trail. The AT is featured prominently in several of the hikes. For those looking to hike the AT specifically, there are better resources out there.
   
   Overall, this book is the best balance between readability, map detail, selectivity, and variety that I have encountered for hiking the northern Virginia area. I consider it vastly superior to other books I have owned in the 50 Hikes series as well.

2 comments about The Shenandoah Valley & Mountains of the Virginias, An Explorer's Guide: Includes Virginia's Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains & West Virginia's Alleghenies & New River Region.

1. We just returned from a driving trip through the Shenandoah Valley. Picked up this guidebook in New York City before we left. It was perfect. All the recommendations for things to see and restaurants were just as described. Driving directions were also good. Based on the author's recommendation, we decided to stay at the Long Hill Bed and Breakfast in Winchester, VA and it turned out to be the highlight of our trip. A very worthwhile travel guide.



2. Once again the author has put together a fantastic tour book that contains all of the highlights of the area in one easy to follow guide. I own several of this series and have not been disapointed in any of them. Very well written, accurate and complete. I have been studying the Shenandoah Valley history for about 18 months. This books is a detailed summary of all that I have been able to find in that time. I wish it would have been available when I started my research, it would have saved me much time!

2 comments about Nantucket: Gardens and Houses.

1. A beautiful collection of 300 full-color photographs of Nantucket's gardens and houses. The author and photography is able to capture the unique vegetation and landscape that adorns the historical houses. I was impressed with the photography of the interiors of some of the most famous homes on the island. A quality collection of homes, gardens, history and culture. I would recommend for anyone who enjoys traveling to Nantucket. A perfect gift to bring home for the cofee table.



2. The photography in this book is beautiful. However, if you are looking for pictures of outdoor Nantucket scenery, then you may want to choose another book. This book shows a lot of the inside of homes & their backyard gardens. It is a great background reference. It is clear the author did a lot of research of historical Nantucket when writing this book. Overall, there are a handful of really nice pictures of Nantucket, but mostly of the inside of older or newly renovated homes on the island. Great for decorating ideas!

1 comments about Waterfalls of the Blue Ridge: A Hiking Guide to the Cascades of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

1. My wife & I travelled the Blue Ridge Parkway to North Carolina to photograph waterfalls. This book was indispensable and formed our principal reference and tour guide.
   An excellent value at twice the price

5 comments about Walking the Blue Ridge: A Guide to the Trails of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Third Edition.

1. The Blue Ridge Parkway, almost 450 miles long, connects Shennandoah National Park in Virginia with Great Smoky Mountains National Park astride the North Carolina - Tennessee border. In between it traverses some of the most beautiful mountain areas in North Carolina and Virginia. Although it provides splendid views from the road itself and from its many roadside overlooks, it is much more than a scenic drive. It is a ribbon of land administered by the National Park Service, at several places broadening into wider mini-parks. All of those parks as well as various other spots along the parkway's route have hiking trails that give visitors a closer look at the many natural wonders there. This book, as a comprehensive guide to those trails, is the one most indispensable guide to getting beyond your car and the overlooks in this remarkable National Park Service land. All of its official trails are rated in this book as to difficulty, from very easy to quite strenuous. Thus there are ample hikes for whatever level of wilderness adventure you're up for. Each hike is described in details, with points of interest described in the order you'll encounter them, with mileages to each from the trailhead. Some hikes described herein also get beyond the parkway's own lands, into National Forest lands that border the parkway in many places, as well as occasional adjacent commercial attractions such as Grandfather Mountain. Any visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway should be quite rewarding, and this book is one of the best resources for making it even more so, showing that you'll never be very far from places to park and take a walk for a more intimate view. And you definitely should sample at least some of the shorter and easier walks, if not the longer or more challenging ones, depending on what you're up to. This parkway is a natural treasure well-worth exploring, and this book may well be the quickest way to learn that there is so much more there than meets a casual eye.



2. for a day trip, a weekend trip, or a long vacation. We have hiked and camped in several of the places mentioned. I have lived in NC all of my life and did not realize there was such enriching trails and escapades off the parkway. I wish I had known about this book while attending WCU! Take it with you, it is very worthwhile.



3. The Blue Ridge Parkway, almost 450 miles long, connects Shennandoah National Park in Virginia with Great Smoky Mountains National Park astride the North Carolina - Tennessee border. In between it traverses some of the most beautiful mountain areas in North Carolina and Virginia. Although it provides splendid views from the road itself and from its many roadside overlooks, it is much more than a scenic drive. It is a ribbon of land administered by the National Park Service, at several places broadening into wider mini-parks. All of those parks as well as various other spots along the parkway's route have hiking trails that give visitors a closer look at the many natural wonders there. This book, as a comprehensive guide to those trails, is the one most indispensable guide to getting beyond your car and the overlooks in this remarkable National Park Service land. All of its official trails are rated in this book as to difficulty, from very easy to quite strenuous. Thus there are ample hikes for whatever level of wilderness adventure you're up for. Each hike is described in details, with points of interest described in the order you'll encounter them, with mileages to each from the trailhead. Some hikes described herein also get beyond the parkway's own lands, into National Forest lands that border the parkway in many places, as well as occasional adjacent commercial attractions such as Grandfather Mountain. Any visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway should be quite rewarding, and this book is one of the best resources for making it even more so, showing that you'll never be very far from places to park and take a walk for a more intimate view. And you definitely should sample at least some of the shorter and easier walks, if not the longer or more challenging ones, depending on what you're up to. This parkway is a natural treasure well-worth exploring, and this book may well be the quickest way to learn that there is so much more there than meets a casual eye.



4. Designed as a "drive awhile - stop awhile" recreational road, the Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited unit in the National Park Service. It has 17 million visitors a year as compared to 10 million a year for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. But the Parkway is more than a beautiful drive; it is also a good base from which to hike. Adkins describes all the ways that we can get out of the car as we explore the Parkway. From a leg-stretcher to a view of Glassmine Falls Trail to the eighteen miles of the Shut-In Trail, Adkins gives a contextual introduction to the hike as well as step-by-step directions. He rates each hike from an easy leg-stretcher to strenuous.

   My only objection to the rating is that the author considers too many hikes as strenuous. For example, Adkins labels the Snooks Nose Trail, eight miles round trip and described as "not well-maintained and hard to locate" as strenuous. The two-and-a-half mile round trip hike up to Mt. Pisgah, on a clear, well-marked trail, is also rated as "strenuous". Hikers will have to decide what strenuous means to them. Ratings aside, the book is necessary to anyone looking for a variety of hikes in the area. The appendices are also a wealth of information. He lists every feature on the Parkway along with its mileage, all the inns and campgrounds as well as a roadside bloom calendar




5. My wife and I have just come home from a 3 week trip along the entire parkway. We started the trip with Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway, but ended up buying Walking the Blue Ridge at one of the visitor centers. While Hiking was ok, we found Walking the Blue Ridge to be the better of the two. It was very easy to use, easy to find information, and full of wonderful tidbits. The way the mileage data was set up in a vertical way made it very easy to use while we were hiking the trails, simple to always know where we were. In the Hiking book we had to wade through a lot paragraphs just to match up the descriptions with where we actually were on the trail. Also, it was obvious that the author of Walking the Blue Ridge had actually walked every one of the trails he was writing about. It was also nice knowing that it gave descriptions of every one of the trails along the parkway, even if it was just a short pathway; the other book neglected some that we found to be truly delightful. In addition, its smaller weight and size made it much easier to carry while on the hikes.
   All in all, we were happy to have found Walking the Blue Ridge and will be using it often.

3 comments about Mountain Biking Virginia, 3rd: An Atlas of Virginia's Greatest Off-Road Bicycle Rides.

1. Mountain Bike VA is an excellent book for the mountain bike enthusiast or just someone who enjoys biking at a more leisurely pace. Divided by VA Counties; each ride has detailed instructions on how to reach the trailhead, associated costs, distances, type of trail, difficulty, a trail diagram which includes a trail terrain profile, a couple of pictures and a witty, descriptive narrative. Well worth the minor cost and then some. I highly recommend it.



2. I found the format of this book to be quite useful. Trails are divided into geographic regions with detailed instructions on how to get to the trailhead. Each trail in the book has a standard trail map, an elevation map (useful to gauge the trail's difficulty), some text to give more detailed directions, and other trail details such as parking fees, whether or not you can bring your dog, etc. Don't buy this book if you are interested in riding in the Lynchburg / Bedford / Roanoke area as it seems the author has not spent a great deal of time in this part of the state. Otherwise, Northern and Eastern VA are well covered.



3. This book is well organized and detailed. I have not been lost due to bad intel and have thoroughly enjoyed each trail so far. The difficulty ratings are fair, too. The lists of 'best rides' at the beginning of the book that go beyond geography are very nice.