5 comments about Moon Handbooks Washington (Moon Handbooks).

1. You'll find no fancy illustrations in this book - simply good information.
   
   
   
   The author makes some snarky comments toward a local Christian ministry - which seems pointless - and includes a great deal of information specifically geared toward homosexual travelers. I didn't realize that was a niche market, but evidently it is.
   
   
   
   Regardless, the book is quite thorough, if opinionated. I prefer the "Hidden Washington" books for pointers on places off the tourist track.
   
   
   
   Recommended.



2. Even though published in 2003, this is by far the best advailable WA guide book. I would not think of visiting a state without the appropriate Moon supplemented by the WPA guidebook for that state[published in the thirties]



3. The first Moon book that I purchased several years ago was the book on Oregon. We made significant travel arrangements based on the information in that book and we were never disappointed.
   
   An upcoming trip to Seattle/San Juans is based on the information in the Washington book. The real beauty is that the book leads you to the most likely area to visit, gives references to hotels, etc., then you can complete your research by reviewing up-to-date information about that spot/hotel online. We chose Orcas island for 2 days before heading to Seattle and I do not expect to be disappointed.
   
   The authors are even-handed and complete --- they are not elitists, reviewing only the high-end accomodations. They have a good sample of a broad range of places. They point out lesser known restaurants and scenic spots as well.
   
   I have found their advice in the Oregon, Washington, Coastal California and New England books to be quite excellent.
   
   I have purchased quite a few different travel books in the past, but Moon Handbooks are my travel book of choice.



4. I turn to Moon Handbooks first for nearly every trip, and I haven't been disappointed yet. This is the first time I've bought a Moon Handbook that covers an entire state; the coverage is less in-depth for specific sites of interest like Olympic National Park, yet there is plenty of information for the many places a visitor to Washington State might want to see. Reading this book made me look forward to my trip even more.



5. My son recently moved to Washington State and I wanted a book that would help him get acquainted with his new home state. I enjoyed reading it, and he has found it to be an excellent resource.

No comments about Top 10 Washington DC (EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDE).

4 comments about Best Easy Day Hikes Olympic National Park, 2nd (Best Easy Day Hikes Series).

1. We had little or no time to plan our short trip to the Olympic Peninsula, but we knew that the area is best enjoyed by walking into the forests, the mountains, or the beaches. This book includes descriptions of 29 hikes that do not require overnight stays, organized geographically. While there is no single map pointing out the locations of all the hikes, each geographical section has one, so it is not too difficult to find something nearby. There is also an ordered list of the hikes, from easiest (the .2 mile Madison Creek Falls hike, with minimal elevation gain) to most difficult (the Mount Zion hike, 3.5 miles with a 1340 foot gain).

   We took six of the hikes listed and found the descriptions to be accurate. It was well worth the (relatively low) price.




2. those starting to hike or who want ideas of where to go. Having done all but 3 of the hikes in this book,I would recomend it. Erik gives clear directions and his rating system of easy to hard is very accurate. The book is pocket size and weighs little, with good refernces on time, maps and seasons. His North Cascade Dayhike book is also helpful to daytrippers.



3. I used this guide to plan a recent trip to Olympic. It does contain a lot of good info but I wish it had just a little bit more. Perhaps some better detail on the maps would be nice. I would recommend using this little guide along with a good topographic map like the National Geographic topo map. Definitely a good book to have along with you.



4. This wasn't a bad little book, it was just eclipsed by the other book I bought, "Day Hike! Olympic Peninsula: The Best Trails You can Hike in a Day".
   Both books were purchased 5/2007

5 comments about Best Hikes With Dogs in Western Washington: Western Washington (Best Hikes With Dogs).

1. Eighty dog-friendly hikes will keep you busy all year. Textual descriptions walk you through the trails, giving you a step-by-step description of what to expect. Also included is the mileage, hiking time, elevation gain, best hiking months for the trail, contour map, ranger district contact information, and photos. The only downside is that the directions to the trail are incorporated into the textual description -- this makes for a seamless description of getting to and hiking on the trail, but a little cumbersome for actual driving. However, Droopy the Explorer Dog definitely recommends this winner!



2. Dogs belong with us on the trails. I gnash my teeth every time I think that they are prohibited from so many National Park Trails! After all what does more damage, our heavy lug sole boots or their soft, quiet paws? As a woman hiking, I feel so much more comfortable with my friendly canine companion There is something special about being in the wilderness with another species, almost like having a translator along, Dan cathes this feeling. He gives excellent advice on excellent hikes. The directions are clear, the hikes well described and well chosen. I have used and enjoyed the book.

   For all of you contemplating a hike with your furry friend, plseas keep the canine on a leash, pleas pick up any dog droppings, please do not let your animal frighten people or other wildlife. I want to keep hiking with my dog! No one wants to step in dog droppings, no one wants to be lunged at or barked at, no one wants to see a dog chasing wildlife. So please be an exemplary dog companion. If we show dogs and their humans can be responsible on the trails, maybe more trails will open up to us! If we are rude and irresponsible we will loose the trails we can now walk.

   Dan wrote a great hiking guide. I hope he expnads it with some companion books. How about hiking with your dog in Oregon, Idaho, etc.




3. I disagree with the first two reviews. If you want a book to give you dog friendly hikes this is a start but the trail information on the hikes I tried was not very accurate. I even got stopped on one hike where the trail had been washed out several years prior to the publishing of this book. Use another source to actually make the hike or you will be disappointed.



4. I agree with both the two positive reviews and (somewhat) the one negative review prior to mine. It is an excellent, inspiring book full of good information. It does not--and I don't see how it possibly could--give you essential up-to-date information on these trails. Dan Nelson even acknowledges as much on page 48: "No guidebook can provide all the details of a trail, nor stay current with constantly changing conditions of trails, stream crossings, access roads, and administrative rules." He goes on to list sources of current information. For that, one useful resource is the web site of the Washington Trails Association, http://www.wta.org . They have trip reports that give you details such as where trees have blown down, which roads are washed out, and where trail crews have recently made improvements. The book's lack of up-to-the-minute information is a legitimate point to raise, but not a reason for a negative review.
   
   Besides the information on specific trails, Mr. Nelson provides valuable tips on caring for your dog while in the backcountry. You will be miles from help, so it is vital that you anticipate your dog's needs in addition to the Ten Essentials for humans. He gives tips on Doggie first aid, trail etiquette, and canine equipment.
   
   If I had to find a flaw with this book, it is that some of the pictures that would have looked spectacular in color end up rather bland in black and white. This is no doubt a compromise on printing costs. Other than that, it is an extremely useful book that will repay you many times the purchase price in avoided headaches. Dogs make excellent hiking companions, with the proper training and preparation, and this book will help you form some of the fondest memories of your life. Further, if you don't know the information in this book, you have no business being on wilderness trails with your dog, for the sake of your dog and for the sake of others. Read this book, or else stay home.



5. If you like hiking and want places to take your pooch THIS is your book! It has hikes all over the state of Washington from easy to challenging that you can take your dog on. Anything from a couple hours to a couple days! I love this book!!!

4 comments about Newcomer's Handbook for Moving to and Living in Washington, DC Including Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland.

1. If you are relocating to DC, don't do it until you've read (or at least skimmed) this book. I haven't even moved yet and it's been helpful. First it explains different neighborhoods and why you may or may not want to move to that location. It also gives you helpful hints and good questions to ask regarding a place to rent or buying a home. Included are the daily life information such as where to buy a couch, find a veternarian, or the location of the closest park. All in all the book covers many issues that I would not have thought about before moving to a new place.



2. This book is devoid of any of the information I really needed, like where to get my car inspetected (and the whole process of getting a DC driver license) or even where the good playgrounds are.



3. THE NEWCOMER'S HANDBOOK FOR MOVING TO AND LIVING IN WASHINGTON DC is a great book for people relocating to the area, but even people who are not moving there can enjoy it. It talks about where the best neighborhoods and schools are in the District itself, as well as in Maryland and Virginia, mentions where the shopping malls and other stores are, and it even goes into detail about the town of Columbia, Maryland, which other books about the Baltimore-Washington DC area fail to do. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is proud to say "I'm an American."



4. For all you hear about the benefit of living near a metro, I expected the metro locations to be shown on street maps. They weren't, and the other maps were of little use as well. For guidance on finding a safe area, they suggest asking local police.
   
   If you don't care about either of those, most of the other info was okay.

5 comments about Beyond Mount Si: The Best Hikes Within 85 Miles of Seattle.

1. This is one of 3 local hiking guides I have of the area and this is definitely the most user-friendly one. The driving directions were clear and the description of the hikes was acurate and very helpful.
   
   The thing I appreciate most with this guide provides was that whether or not there is a fee (parking and/or permit) involved at each hike. By listing who manages each trail, I could avoid arriving at a hike just to find out that I did not have cash to pay for parking or that I should have stop by a local vendor to get a pass/permit.
   
   Also, I always take my dog on hikes, so it is good to know the pet regulation at each trail.
   
   This is defnitely a must for everyone who lives in the Seattle area and wants to explore the local trails.



2. This is a great book for natives of the region who are into intense, strenuous hikes. I however, am more of a novice hiker and found only a few hikes in here that were of my skill level. There aren't too many hikes to pick from if all you want is an afternoon hike along the water or an easy day trip with the kids.



3. I just started hiking this year and so i wanted a guide that would help me.
   This is the one i chose. It gave me exact directions, difficulty level, hike conditions, best season to go , whether fees are applied, whether kids or dogs can be taken, what to see, what all to take along, time for a round trip, how many miles to walk etc.
   
   I think that was the sufficient information for us. We have taken many of them and had a wonderful time in seattle.
   
   Give it a try, its a good reference book.



4. This book does a great job of describing so many of the wonderful hikes the greater Seattle area has to offer, rating them for difficulty and scenery and giving useful hints and directions.
   
   We took our nine year old on several of the hikes and it was nice to know which ones would be most difficult and to tell him what to expect on the hike.



5. This book is by far the best of the bunch. It offers a concise overview, turn by turn directions and the best maps.
   
   One of the issues with other books is the maps look more like a bad b&w copy of a USGS topo map. Not this book!
   
   The maps in this book show the general area and most other trails in the area. Plus it highlights the exact route mentioned in the book. While this may seem basic, some other local books simply show the trails or have a topo like map without the trails highlighted.
   
   Its critical to have good maps as many local trail systems have confusing interconnecting routes.
   
   The other major bonus of this book is that it is really up-to-date and keeps to routes most folks can enjoy. Plus it gives honest comments about crowding and parking.
   
   I have taken seven hikes in this book this year and have enjoy each of them.
   
   This book is MUCH better than the Day Hike! series.

5 comments about Day Hike! Mount Rainier.

1. I really enjoy reading Ron C. Judd's books. He has a terrific sense of humor and is not afraid to call them the way he sees them.
   You can tell by the descriptions in this hiking guide that he's been out on every one of these trails. The book is organized so you can tell which hikes are best for beginners and which will be a long walk for any veteran hiker.
   This is one of a series of three guides that is specifically written for day hikers, but it would be just as useful for anyone planning a backpack. Most of the hikes have a section on extending the hike, so just about anyone who shoulders a pack would benefit by this book
   If you compare it to the other trail guides about Rainier, I think you'll find that this one is the most up-to-date and accurate book of all. Better than that, this one was produced by a real writer.



2. After buying both this book and "Hiking Mt. Rainier National Park" by Schneider, I would say this book definitely takes second place. The nice features are the detailed elevations and the topographic maps. He also gives anecdotal descriptions, like if there are mosquitos or not. However there are a couple of detractors. A few of the hikes are not really even in the park. He also intersperses some snide comments that I do not find humorous, though I guess that is what he was meant by them. A good book if you ONLY intend to day hike and not explore the park in depth, but for a really complete guide Schneider's book is a lot better, as well as being more professional and emphasizing the care that we need to observe to preserve this beautiful national park. However, I do recommend buying both of them for an even more complete hiking guide. They really do not overlap too much and the writing styles are so different you benefit from the information found in both of them about the same hike.



3. I was extremely pleased with this book. It is geared toward hikers of every level of fitness and ability. I found the NPS website confusing in its description of hikes, but this book did a very good job breaking down the various hikes by location, length, difficulty, and change of elevation, as well as providing a good description of what to expect. I took several hikes while at Mt. Rainier and found the book to be very accurate. It also has a number of practical tips which I found useful since I had never hiked at altitude before. I encountered other hikers who lacked guides and they were clueless and missed out on a lot. If you are going to take the time to get to the park, you should spend a few bucks on a book to guide you the rest of the way.



4. We purchased two books on Mount Rainier hiking. This is by far the best. In fact we didn't even need to buy the other book. Ron does a surperb job of descriping each trail in detail. The ratings from easy to extremely difficult are very accurate. He gives elevation gain and rates each trail as far as beauty. The ratings of each trail is from 1 to 5 backpackers instead of stars and we found them to be completely true. We are backpackers as well as day hikers, but we wanted only to day hike these trails, so this book is just what we needed. My advise is to buy this book, it is really all you will need if you only want to day hike. Happy hiking!!!! I hope you enjoy Mount Rainier as much as we did.



5. I've spent a fair amount of days at The Mountain without any trail guide book, but decided I needed one to get full enjoyment out of the park. The book has all the information you need to choose a hike based on highlights, season, difficulty, and solitude.
   
   It is arranged by park region and even includes a few hikes from outside the park that have good views of Rainier. Directions on how to reach the hikes are clear, as are directions while on the trail. Maps are cropped USGS-style and show elevation gain well, along with adjacent elevation gain charts.
   
   I appreciated the inclusion of autumn in some hikes' "best seasons to hike". Far too many books base this designation on wildflower seasons, but leaf color change and mushrooms can provide just as much interest in season. The author's sense of humor is pretty good, although forced at times. Regardless, it does not detract from the discussion f each hike.
   
   All in all, I'd definitely recommend this book if you are only interested in day hikes.

3 comments about Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon And Washington: From The California Border To The Canadian Border (Pacific Crest Trail).

1. I used this guide to hike the Oregon section of the PCT in 1993 and found it very user-friendly, highly practical while on the trail and full of interesting background information. Among the most important aspect of the guide for me was the quality and reliability of the topographic maps, thoughtfully place by the Publishers so I could take the pages out and use them in a waterproof cover for each stage as I walked it. The hints on water supplies and campsites were essential and I was able to plan my route, timings, food drops and campsites for the entire trail; this was especially important for me as my budget and time free were limited. As far as I remember, the only thing that was incorrect was that there was no longer a bus from Bridge of the Gods into Portland. Not bad. I would recommend this guide to anybody planning to hike the PCT.



2. I through-hiked the PCT in 2002 and like the vast of majority of other hikers, used this guide to navigate my way through Oregon and Washington. Though this book is the source for the data points found in the PCT Data Book, you'd never suspect such a succinct, useful guide like the Data Book could from such a disorganized mess as the PCT: Oregon-Washington guide book.

   The principal problem with this book is organization. The book, like it's companion guides for California, are organized into reasonable sections starting and stopping at well-used re-supply points (or end points for section hikers). The problem is each section contains a mixture of editorial and trail-following instructions in the main body of text. So, when you are lost and the need the guide the most, you must re-trace the trail guide instructions while editing out long editorial comments (frequently commenting on where the trail should have gone, but did not) and this frustrates. Why weren't the trail following instructions separated?

   This edition did try to make strides forward in readibility by using icons to denote when the text is talking about water access or re-supply. Though this allows you to skim ahead for where water is (useful!), placing such information in sidebars of the trail following instructions would have been best. Again, the current placement of the re-supply and water information fragments the trail follow tips.

   On the plus side, when the authors are not complaining about where the trail should have gone, there is a wealth of information on a variety of topics (e.g. geology, botany, biology, politics and the trail among other topics) all of which help you to enjoy the trail more. Sadly, though, each topic is also interspersed with the main body text. Again making the trail following instructions hard to read as the text changes gears from "how to follow the trail" to "PCT story-time."

   Unfortunately, the maps are not 100% accurate. A few of the maps suffer printing errors. On these maps, the trails - which are overlaid on old, out-of-date USGS maps - are placed incorrectly. Switchbacks not going with the grades of the landscape easily identify these maps or perhaps you?ll come a trail junction before a river, when the maps show the junction after the river. Also, the trail is disastrously colored blue, making it hard to distinguish from the all the streams and rivers (also in blue).

   That said, these trail guides are the best there is for the PCT, but they are far from perfect.




3. Overall this book is very detailed and easy to use. It provides good information on the trail, how to leave the trail in order to resupply and possible issues such as water or wild animals. The only thing I don't like about it is that the maps in the book are completely lacking any kind of coordinate grid which makes it difficult to locate on the map points the author is writing about.

5 comments about 100 Classic Hikes in Washington: North Cascades, Olympics, Mount Rainer & South Cascades, Alpine Lakes, Glacier Peak (100 Best Hikes).

1. My criticism of this guide applies to all of the so-called "classic" hikes series. It is difficult for me to write, because Harvey Manning was once one of the best guidebook writers on the planet, and Ira Spring's photos are awesome.
   But that was then, and this is now. The books are poorly edited, inaccurately updated, sloppy attempts to sell a few more great color pictures and once-good-but-now-preachy Manning writing.
   Anyone who has been on any one of the trails of this guide should be able to find at least one significant innacuracy in the description, largely because I'll bet the authors haven't hiked on some ot the trails since they wrote the first edition, almost a half-century ago.
   Sadly, some of the photos in this book are in error, too - such as the photo of the "marsh marigold" on page 234, which is actually a Western anemone; or the photo of the "avalanche lily" on page 198, actually a glacier lily. Worse still is the picture on page 35, which shows campers tending a fire in an area where fires have been banned for the past 20 years.
   In sum, the classic series does little to enhance the fine reputations of these two guidebook authors.



2. I have read countless hiking books but never have I encountered a preface like this book. Authors Spring and Manning spend many pages going into a diatribe about how the Forest Service has ruined many Washington trails and how ATV's and encroachment has destroyed much of the pristine beauty of the state. I agree with their comments wholeheartedly, but wonder if such "strident" opinions (to some people) are really suitable in a hiking guide. For me, the political opinions were not a distraction, but I want to mention them in case you are expecting simply a typical guidebook with no ancillary commentary.

   Now, to the book itself. Washington is a magnificent and beautiful state to hike. Even without the magnificent hikes in and around the Seattle, there are plenty of other trails to explore and enjoy. This book does it all! It is an exceptionally well-designed book for hikers across the spectrum. Whether you're a neophyte or have climbed Denali, this book contains all the essential information you need to tackle the hikes listed. The photos are all in color and are breathtaking! You really get a sense of what each hike will look like before you undertake it. Every hike also has a brief map to accompany the text description. The maps are easy to follow and instructive. There are also black and white photos of each trail, with two color sections.

   Equally pleasing is that the authors take the time to describe each hike in extensive detail, though they are never wordy. They list the elevation gains, give succinct but necessary directions to each trailhead and provide ample analysis of the strengths/weaknesses of each trek. The book is small and light enough to carry in your backpack, if you feel the need to consult it while on the trail.

   I have over 50 hiking books in my library and it would be hard to imagine a more complete, more photographically stunning or better written guide. From desert to mountains, Washington has it all. I enthusiastically recommend this gem with the small warning about the authors injecting personal opinions about the Forest Service.




3. ...and recommend in its stead : Hiking Washington's Geology, ISBN: 0898865484.

   I live in WA state, and have owned "100 Classic Hikes in WA" for 5 years; I repeatedly "try" to reference for new hiking ideas, but every time end up closing the book in disgust. Here is why:
   1. The prose is terrible (excessively 'flowery' and overblown);
   2. Non-stop negative "preaching" against the forest service, motorized vehicles, horses & dogs on the trail.
   3. Hike descriptions, when not oriented on preaching, are not very descriptive of the specific features as seen on the hike.

   Because of this, the valuable information, such as difficulty of hike, accesibility of trailhead, & attraction of hike (view, flowers, etc) is very hard to extract from the hike descriptions.

   I consider myself an experienced outdoors-person, and hit the trails almost every weekend during good weather. Sometimes I hike with friends, sometimes I take my dog, sometimes I bring the trailer & ride with my horse, and sometimes I take a mountain bike. My point is: these men found innumerable ways to slam almost every activity I do in the mountains: according to their never-ending negativity, the only good trail is one in which only a walking human is allowed.

   My recommendation to the authors is to spend less time 'educating' the public with your incredibly biased opinions and more time on the purpose of the book: educating people on the best places to go in WA for a great hike.

   "Hiking WA's Geology" is a much better book, even if you are not interested in geology for the following reasons:
   1. Hike descriptions are written by authors experienced in technical writing, i.e. you recieve the most amount of pertinent information in as few words as possible.
   2. Many of the trails are 'off the regularly beaten path'
   3. Descriptions give detailed information along each section of the hike, so the hiker knows not only the 'what & why' of what he is seeing, but also any technical challenges that might arise (paraphrased e.g.: 3 miles down the trail, the trail becomes difficult to follow, watch for campsite #22, walk to the left, find the trailhead again).




4. "Ira and Harvey," as my hiking partner and I fondly refer to the authors, are probably the best hiking writers / photographers I've ever encountered. Yes, the book is opinionated; there is no doubt about that. However, that is what makes it special. If you want a book with 1000 hikes and a short listing of facts, this book isn't for you. However, the authors have pulled together their favorite 100 hikes and feel free to tell you exactly why they think they're great. Ira (Spring) was a famous photographer in his day, and I enjoy drooling over his photos of the sites I'll see on the way to hike. We usually preface our hikes from this book by reading the hike description aloud and laughing over Manning's excesses.
   
   My edition is one older than this listing, and in it, as another reviewer remarks, the authors do rail against motorized vehicles. Anyone who's been asphyxiated by a 4-wheeler and coughed for minutes after its departure can appreciate and agree with their rants.
   
   In the edition I have, there is no negative mention of dogs or horses. In fact, Harvey references hikes with his dog fondly. I have noticed in later editions of Mountaineers books anti-dog writing which bothers me - a lot. However, I have never seen that in this book.
   
   If you can only own one hiking book for Washington, this is the one. It's entertaining, informative, recommends fantastic hikes, and has great photos.



5. This is a beautifully illustrated book - I'll certainly give it that. I didn't get into the prose, though, because as I thumbed through the summary description of each hike, I was disappointed to find how few of them are accessible to the casual hiker.
   
   I'm going to Seattle in mid-May and I wanted to take a few hikes while I was there. Of the 100 hikes listed in this book, less than 5 of them are accessible in May, and all of those are either on the coast or east of the Cascades. The weather isn't the authors' fault, but one would hope there would be a few "classic" hikes that would be accessible at other times than mid-summer.
   
   The other disappointment was that a very large percentage of the hikes involve trips of multiple days. I'm sure they're gorgeous, but this borders more on camping trips than hikes.
   
   I found Foghorn Outdoors Washington Hiking: The Complete Guide to More Than 400 Hikes (Foghorn Outdoors) to be a much more useful guide.

4 comments about Moon West Coast RV Camping: The Complete Guide to More than 1,800 RV Parks and Campgrounds in California, Oregon, and Washington (Moon Outdoors).

1. This book is very organized and easy to use. Each section or chapter of the book explains each regions of the three states with locator maps and road maps. The symbols (a picture of a dog for dog friendly site, a picture of a fish for fishing site, etc.) that are being used to explain key interest of each campground are very useful for quick reference. Moreover, the book also list best of campgrounds such as best fishing and best wildlife viewing. We are a rv camper beginner and I found this book to be very helpful



2. I had previously purchased several editions of Sientra's "Camping in California" which we have used extensively on motorhome expeditions. My favorite was actually the first one I purchased in the mid-nineties. The subsequent editions were never quite as good and more difficult to follow. When I saw that he wrote this guide specifically for RV camping....I was very excited to purchase it....but what a let down. It is very vague and not nearly as helpful as TrailerLife or Goodalls. Consequently, I would not recommend it. However, the aforementioned Foghorn publication of California Camping is much more helpful...even for large RVs.



3. West Coast Camping includes information on more than 1800 RV parks in California, Oregon and Washington. The more I look at it the more I like it. You can find RV parks in several ways:
   
   1. if you know the name, use the index
   
   2. if you are looking for a certain area, use the map at the beginning of each section or look in those pages
   
   3. if you have an interest such as fishing, seeing wildlife or camping along a pretty river, check that listings in that section for ones in your state
   
   Each campground is described according to general location and nearby recreational opportunities, RV sites and facilities, reservations and fees. Directions and contact information are given. Icons give you certain information at a glance, such as whether pets are allowed.
   
   Two things make this book unique:
   
   * One is a scenic rating. The rating is just that and does not take into consideration noise level, facilities, maintenance, recreation options, or management. It is basically rating how picturesque the campground is, not the quality of the experience.
   
   * The other unique feature is listings of his the best parks in several categories: best coastal sites, best fishing, best wildlife-viewing, prettiest lakes, prettiest rivers. For those with a specific interest, this information is quite helpful.
   
   Stienstra does not include all campgrounds, nor those that are in extremely remote locations, very difficult to reach or where the access road is extremely narrow or twisty. Included are many state parks, some national park and other federal campgrounds. He does mention the longest RV the campground can accommodate but not how many sites of each. If you have a rig longer than 35 feet, you may want to verify that there are open sites of the size you need. Also, prices can go up anytime so verify the price if that is a concern.
   
   If you are like most RVers we know, one campground guide is not enough. If you will be spending time in these any of these three states and want to enjoy their beauty, this is one campground guide you must add to your collection.



4. Looking through the pages of this book, I thought it would be helpful to my husband and myself while RVing. We went to two of the sites listed for Tehachapi, California. The listings made the campsites sound clean with many modern amenities. Both sites were neither- they were primitive and run down. This book needs to be updated. I was very disappointed with it. I will definitely cross-check any information from this book with another guide.