Regions Books

How the States Got Their Shapes

Mark Stein

Amazon Price: $15.61 List Price: $22.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Collins Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $11.49

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Subjects -> History -> Americas -> United States -> General
Subjects -> History -> Historical Study -> Social History
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Social Sciences -> Human Geography

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Why does Oklahoma have that panhandle? Did someone make a mistake?

We are so familiar with the map of the United States that our state borders seem as much a part of nature as mountains and rivers. Even the oddities—the entire state of Maryland(!)—have become so engrained that our map might as well be a giant jigsaw puzzle designed by Divine Providence. But that's where the real mystery begins. Every edge of the familiar wooden jigsaw pieces of our childhood represents a revealing moment of history and of, well, humans drawing lines in the sand.

How the States Got Their Shapes is the first book to tackle why our state lines are where they are. Here are the stories behind the stories, right down to the tiny northward jog at the eastern end of Tennessee and the teeny-tiny (and little known) parts of Delaware that are not attached to Delaware but to New Jersey.

How the States Got Their Shapes examines:

• Why West Virginia has a finger creeping up the side of Pennsylvania
• Why Michigan has an upper peninsula that isn't attached to Michigan
• Why some Hawaiian islands are not Hawaii
• Why Texas and California are so outsized, especially when so many Midwestern states are nearly identical in size

Packed with fun oddities and trivia, this entertaining guide also reveals the major fault lines of American history, from ideological intrigues and religious intolerance to major territorial acquisitions. Adding the fresh lens of local geographic disputes, military skirmishes, and land grabs, Mark Stein shows how the seemingly haphazard puzzle pieces of our nation fit together perfectly.

The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2009 (Unofficial Guides)

Bob Sehlinger, Len Testa

Amazon Price: $13.59 List Price: $19.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley

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Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> South -> South Atlantic
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> States -> Florida -> Disney World
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> States -> Florida -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

More than 4 million copies sold! This series is the only one that offers evaluations based on reader surveys and critiques, compiled by a team of unbiased inspectors.

• Hotels, attractions, and restaurants in all price categories

• Extensive information on shopping, nightlife, and sports

• Easy-to-use, two-color design

• Detailed, 2-color maps

From the publishers of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World

"A Tourist's Best Friend!"
—Chicago Sun-Times

"Indispensable"
—The New York Times

Five Great Features and Benefits offered ONLY by The Unofficial Guide:

1. Exclusively patented, field-tested touring plans that save as much as four hours of standing in line in a single day

2. Tips, advice, and opinions from hundreds of Walt Disney World guests in their own words

3. Almost 250 hotels rated and ranked for quality and value, including the top non-Disney hotels for families

4. A complete Dining Guide with ratings and reviews of all Walt Disney World restaurants, plus extensive alternatives for dining deals outside the World

5. Every attraction rated and ranked for each age group; extensive, objective, head-to-head comparisons of the Disney and Universal theme parks

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

Bill Bryson

Amazon Price: $7.99 List Price: $7.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Anchor Amazon Marketplace: 68 new & used starting at $3.58

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Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Excursion Guides -> General
Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Instructional
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Essays & Travelogues

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 61 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Probably Bryson's Best Book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book as a replacement for a lost borrowed book. I had started reading it in Phoenix when I lost it. But the few pages I read there prompted me to buy this book from Amazon when I returned home. (And yes, I did return the new book to the lender.)

Very interesting book - some off color language scattered throughout though. 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Overall this was a very interesting book that I enjoyed reading. Off color language scattered throughout book though. Too bad that was not left out.

Editorial Review:

The Appalachian Trail trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America–majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaing guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way–and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the great outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in).

Maui Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook (Maui Revealed)

Andrew Doughty

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wizard Publications Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 27 new & used starting at $7.95

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Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> West -> Pacific
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> States -> Hawaii -> General
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> States -> Hawaii -> Maui

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 321 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

WOW! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Fantastic guidebook. Simply put, the most outstanding I've ever used and I just happened upon it by chance, after finding out last week my wife and I will be vacationing in Maui next month. Covers everything one would possibly want to know about visiting this island gem and then some. Revised every 2 years by Andrew Doughty, with updated info all the way up to press time. Mr. Doughty takes you on a journey down each road, and even points out hidden finds you won't read about anywhere else.

Initially, I figured on maybe thumbing through a few choice pages, but ended up reading from cover-to-cover. The author has personally traveled these routes on numerous occasions, and even sampled the food at nearly every establishment. You won't find a single black-and-white photograph amongst the hundreds of breathtaking examples of Maui's beauty, compliments of the 2 photographers, one of which is Mr. Doughty himself. And those map illustrations that are so helpful? Once again, partial credit goes to Mr. Doughty in that department as well.

Even if you've never thought of visiting Maui, I believe this guide will spark the desire. And done with the perfect balance of humor too. It's like having your very own personal tour guide. I can't say enough good things about this find. Bravo!

Editorial Review:

USA Today calls it, "An authoritative and in-depth look at all that the island offers." The author is a resident who personally and anonymously reviews every facet of Maui. From restaurants to helicopter companies to scuba to beaches to trails, he sees it all and shows you the best Maui has to offer.

1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. & Canada Before You Die

Patricia Schultz

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Workman Publishing Company Amazon Marketplace: 92 new & used starting at $6.99

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Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Guidebooks
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> General
Subjects -> Travel -> Canada -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 56 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

No Rick Steves 1 out of 5 stars.
10 of 11 people found this review helpful.

1,000 places to go before I die? More like 1,000 spas and resorts and resturants. Big deal - the more money you spend, the bigger the wall you create between yourself and the local culture. Who wants to know about exotic resorts and five star restaurants? Don't tell me about the big ticket items! Tell me about quirky offbeat places with personality and charm, things I cant get anywhere else. Tell me about Hole in the Rock, UT. Tell me about The Last Stoplight on I-90. Tell me about a PLACE, not about how to spend money at generic locations.

Worthless.

Editorial Review:

It's a traveler's life list, a guide, an inspiration, a memory book. Open it to check out where you've been, and where you should go next. What to see and what to do and what to show the kids. Where to eat and where to stay. And how to change your life.

Covering the U.S.A. and Canada like never before, here are 1,000 spectacular, compelling, essential, offbeat, utterly unforgettable places. Pristine beaches and national parks, world-class museums and the Corn Palace, mountain resorts, salmon-rich rivers, scenic byways, Chez Panisse and the country's best taco, lush gardens and Holden Arboretum, mountain biking on the Maah Daah Hey trail, historic mansions, vineyards, hot springs, the Talladega Superspeedway, classic ballparks, and more. Includes more than 150 places of special interest to families, and, for every entry, the nuts and bolts of how and when to visit.

The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed (Ultimate Kauai Guidebook)

Andrew Doughty

Amazon Price: $10.85 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wizard Publications Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 45 new & used starting at $8.79

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Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> West -> Pacific
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> States -> Hawaii -> General
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> States -> Hawaii -> Kauai

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 415 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Wonderful book! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is great. Buy it before you go to Kauai, and leave it in your glovebox and pull it out when you're driving around the island. It's the best!

Made our 10th anniversary trip a dream! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

We bought this book as soon as we decided to go to Kauai last year for our 10th anniversary. It was read cover to cover numerous times prior to our trip and was referred to hundreds of times during our stay. It was not only informative, but fun to read. I still pick it up from time to time just to read it. Thanks Andy, for making our trip to Kauai so much better than it could have been.

These are GREAT Books!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book (along with the other ones in the series focusing on the other islands) are fantastic information and highly, highly entertaining. They are insightful, funny, honest, helpful, and point you to lesser known sites and other interesting places. They give you the real rundown on what is interesting and what is not worth doing. We relied on these heavily for our trip. The maps are for the most part very helpful, he is up front about prices and quality of service, and we found the reviews of restaurants and lodging to be moderately helpful. The best features of the book are that 1) It is very informative and gives you the lowdown on the island & 2) It is highly entertaining. You will laugh. It's fun pleasure reading on its own. Best guidebooks I have seen.

Editorial Review:

The finest guidebook ever written for Kauai and the only one written by writers who anonymously review the island. They visit every beach, restaurant, activity and trail on the island. The result is this comprehensive, humorous and easy-to-read full color guide that will lead you to more adventures than any other book. A must for travelers.

Hawaii The Big Island Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook

Andrew Doughty

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wizard Publications Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 10 new & used starting at $11.01

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Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> West -> Pacific
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> States -> Hawaii -> General
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> States -> Hawaii -> Big Island

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 240 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Best Hawaiian guidebooks 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

First rate guide to the Big Island. I bought their Kauai book years ago when I visited, and this one is just as good. You truly feel like your getting insider tips, and not just a project for a travel writer on assignment. Don't hesitate on this one.

Good recommendatons 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I found this book to give good recommendations for places to see on the island. Some were not as spectacular as described. Also it would have been helpful to have better overview maps. Those are obtainable for free in other publications such as rental car guides. Places to eat were good recommendations.

Great guide book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This revised edition is very comprehensive, written with a sense of humor and candor. Looking forward to visiting the island with book in hand to "test out" the recommendations.

Editorial Review:

The finest guidebook ever written for the Big Island and the only one written by writers who anonymously review the island. They visit every beach, restaurant, activity and trail on the island. The result is this comprehensive, humorous and easy-to-read full color guide that will lead you to more adventures than any other book. A must for travelers.

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2008 (Unofficial Guides)

Bob Sehlinger, Len Testa

Amazon Price: $13.59 List Price: $19.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 52 new & used starting at $8.75

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Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Tourist Destinations & Museums
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> South -> South Atlantic
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> States -> Florida -> Disney World

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 79 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

From the publishers of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World

"A Tourist's Best Friend!"
—Chicago Sun-Times

"Indispensable"
—The New York Times

Five Great Features and Benefits offered ONLY by The Unofficial Guide:

1. Exclusively patented, field-tested touring plans that save as much as four hours of standing in line in a single day

2. Tips, advice, and opinions from hundreds of Walt Disney World guests in their own words

3. Almost 250 hotels rated and ranked for quality and value, including the top non-Disney hotels for families

4. A complete Dining Guide with ratings and reviews of all Walt Disney World restaurants, plus extensive alternatives for dining deals outside the World

5. Every attraction rated and ranked for each age group; extensive, objective, head-to-head comparisons of the Disney and Universal theme parks

Rand McNally 2009 The Road Atlas Large Scale: United States (Rand Mcnally Large Scale Road Atlas USA)

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Rand McNally & Company Amazon Marketplace: 26 new & used starting at $12.95

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Subjects -> Reference -> Atlases & Maps -> World
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> General
Subjects -> Travel -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Disappointing layout overshadows convenience and quality of maps 3 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I agree that the spiral binding makes the large atlas more convenient to handle, but a *glaring drawback* of having each page a separate leaf bound together by a large plastic coil is that all the maps are split down the middle by more than an inch. When you're following a big highway and you've reached the edge of the left-hand page, it's relatively easy to find it on the right-hand page after the jump (over the page margins and the space the coil takes up), but if you're looking at local and city streets, forget trying to match them up quickly and easily and in lots of cases, at all. Plus, a large majority of the detailed inset maps (which I've always found very useful) are placed right in the center of the binding, so they get cut in half too, rendering them less readable and less navigable. Seems like no one at Rand McNally has actually used this version of the atlas...or else they might have noticed how frustrating and confusing the current layout is in combination with the spiral binding.

Oahu Revealed: The Ultimate Guide to Honolulu, Waikiki & Beyond (Oahu Revisited)

Andrew Doughty

Amazon Price: $10.85 List Price: $15.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wizard Publications Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 33 new & used starting at $8.90

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Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> West -> Pacific
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> States -> Hawaii -> General
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> States -> Hawaii -> Honolulu

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 112 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

5 Stars is not enough! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book is awesome!!! We brought it on our honeymoon to Oahu and found ourselves never leaving our room without it. At first my husband wanted to explore on our own and not have to worry about what other people had to say about different areas but after 2 days - he made absolutely sure we had the book with us wherever we went! This book not only gives excellent recommendations for dining, hotels, activities, etc., it told us about incredible "hidden treasures" we never would have even known about, as they are off the beaten path. Just to name some examples - a little macadamia nut farm near the north shore and the Maunawilli Trail hike and this beautiful rock formation that had the center blown out of it during a storm years ago. Friends of our who didn't have the book couldn't find it because its hidden in a neighborhood. We found it NO PROBLEM! Incredible! I've bought this book for many other couples going to Oahu and they have thanked us Sooo much for it! Buy it! It's worth 10 stars!

Editorial Review:

The most comprehensive yet easy-to-use guidebook series to Hawaii brings you the second edition of Oahu Revealed. Written by the author of the best-selling guides, Maui Revealed, Hawaii The Big Island Revealed and The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook. He actually hikes all the trails, rides the boats, scuba dives the reefs, dines in the restaurants, reviews all the resorts, snorkels the coastline, explores the hidden waterfalls and shares all the secrets that he finds. Everything is reviewed anonymously. This book and a rental car are all you need to discover what makes Oahu so exciting.