3 comments about North Cascades Crest: Notes and Images from America's Alps.

1. This book is a wonderful marriage of clear prose and stunning photographs. Few people know about the highest and most rugged corner of the Cascades, but Martin conveys its grandeur and beauty.I expected climbing stories and natural history, but a chapter on beatniks? It's a quirky book but it all hangs together. Worth it for the photography alone.



2. This book really captures the grandeur of the North Cascades (Washington's end of the range). While Martin's text is occasionally a little tough to plod through (seven of the eight chapters are written in a journal format, which drags once in a while), his mesmerizing photographs make up for this minor shortcoming. The vivid photographs show us the breathtaking beauty of these still wild mountains, the beauty that has captivated and still captivates people as diverse as Fred Beckey (the legendary climber who claims hundreds of first ascents in the range) and Pulitzer Prize-winning Zen poet Gary Snyder (whom Martin once took a hike with).

   Martin takes us up some of the major peaks, from gentle Ruth Mountain to gorgeous Mt. Shuksan and from massive Glacier Peak to the rugged ridges of the Pickets. In between, he devotes a chapter (the best in the book) to poets Kenneth Rexroth, Jack Kerouac, Gary Snyder, and Allen Ginsburg (one of the only major Beat poets not to cultivate a life-long relationship with the Cascades). There's also a chapter on mountain wildlife.

   All in all a great book not to be missed.




3. Great photography and clear prose. The book left me wanting a little more, though. You can breeze through this in a couple hours! The subject matter covered is diverse and uniformly interesting. Again, I just wish there could have been a little more.

No comments about Adc the Map People Washington County, MD Atlas.

No comments about Recreation Guide to Washington National Forests.

No comments about Washington City: People, places, and events in two centuries of history of the capital of the United States.

No comments about Washington, DC 50-Mile Radius Wall Map.

No comments about Stehekin: A Valley in Time.

4 comments about Seattle Cheap Eats: 300 Terrific Bargain Eateries (Best Places Budget Guides).

1. This book is very comprehensive as far as cheap Seattle eats. I have yet to discover a restaurant in the book that is below average. Bon appetite!



2. My wife and I always kept the first edition of this wonderful restaurant guide in the car, and we are just as happy with this newer addition.

   Although I grew up in Seattle, we've lived about 45 minutes out of town for over 20 years, and it's hard to keep up with the restaruant scene when we return "home" sporadically. We're the kind of people who prefer to avoid fast food joints and chains, and being school teachers, we're always looking for a good deal. On top of that, we're always open for something off the beaten path. This guide has never failed to tip us off to a satisfying dining experience.

   We recently attended a performance in West Seattle, and checked out "Cheap Eats" for some family-friendly restaurants in that area, since we had three kids along with us. We had it narrowed down to three possibilities, but the kids decided on a delightful Italian restaurant. Good food, good price, and great atmosphere for all of us.

   Fortunately, many of our favorites from the first edtion survived in the new book. One of them is The Sunlight Cafe in the Roosevelt area, where we can always count on a tasteful vegetarian meal.

   This guide has two helpful indexes in the back, one for the type of cuisine--whether it be Japanese, Thai, or Italian--and the other for listings by Seattle neighborhoods. The main body of the book has the restaurant reviews listed alphabetically. The reviews do a helpful job of describing the menu, what's good and what's not, the atmosphere, hours, whether or not credit cards and checks are accepted, and if live music is available.

   If you're in Seattle, get this one and keep it in the car!




3. I visit Seattle enough that I needed to know where I could get decent food at a decent price - this really fits the bill. Some of these places have nondescript exteriors, and so you would expect run-of-the-mill eats - but I tried four suggestions and found them all to be places with good food, fast food, and reasonably priced. Easily saved enough in two days to pay for the book.



4. Folks, this is a fun guide that can aid native Seattleites and visitors alike. I've used it many times to get a good, reasonably (or dirt cheap) bite to eat in an often expensive town.
   The cool thing is, you can look in the index for categories of food (say, Barbecue or Breakfast), restaurant names, or even better, neighborhoods. That makes it a fun "let's check out this neighborhood" guide also!
   A worthy purchase. I've worn mine out!

2 comments about The Pocket Guide to Seattle and Surrounding Areas.

1. This book is a great resource for anyone who is visiting Seattle for the first time, and would like to make the most of their time spent in the area. It has useful tips on places to go, clothing to wear depending on the time of year, and maps of Seattle and the surroundings. Overall, I rate this book as a thorough source of travel information on Seattle and the Puget Sound area.



2. We took two guidebooks with us on our recent trip. The other book had better maps, so we did not use this one as much. If you're looking for something to carry with you around Seattle, I'd keep looking. If you're looking to read about Seattle before your trip, this might work out for you.

No comments about The Adventures of Captain Bonneville, U.S.A.: In the Rocky Mountains and the Far West (American Exploration and Travel Series).

1 comments about Seattle Impressions (Impressions (Farcountry Press)).

1. I purchased several copies of this book to hand out as gifts when I traveled to India some time back.
   
   I was thrilled with the care and attention the author gave to putting this book together. It is a wonderful representation of all that makes life in the Seattle area so delightful.
   
   Plus, now my family in India can flip through to find images of the places I tell them I visit on the weekends. Way to bridge that international divide!