General Books

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail)

Bill Bryson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 967 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Your initial reaction to Bill Bryson's reading of A Walk in the Woods may well be "Egads! What a bore!" But by sentence three or four, his clearly articulated, slightly adenoidal, British/American-accented speech pattern begins to grow on you and becomes quite engaging. You immediately get a hint of the humor that lies ahead, such as one of the innumerable reasons he longed to walk as many of the 2,100 miles of the Appalachian Trail as he could. "It would get me fit after years of waddlesome sloth" is delivered with glorious deadpan flair. By the time our storyteller recounts his trip to the Dartmouth Co-op, suffering serious sticker shock over equipment prices, you'll be hooked.

When Bryson speaks for the many Americans he encounters along the way--in various shops, restaurants, airports, and along the trail--he launches into his American accent, which is whiny and full of hard r's. And his southern intonations are a hoot. He's even got a special voice used exclusively when speaking for his somewhat surprising trail partner, Katz. In the 25 years since their school days together, Katz has put on quite a bit of weight. In fact, "he brought to mind Orson Welles after a very bad night. He was limping a little and breathing harder than one ought to after a walk of 20 yards." Katz often speaks in monosyllables, and Bryson brings his limited vocabulary humorously to life. One of Katz's more memorable utterings is "flung," as in flung most of his provisions over the cliff because they were too heavy to carry any farther.

The author has thoroughly researched the history and the making of the Appalachian Trail. Bryson describes the destruction of many parts of the forest and warns of the continuing perils (both natural and man-made) the Trail faces. He speaks of the natural beauty and splendor as he and Katz pass through, and he recalls clearly the serious dangers the two face during their time together on the trail. So, A Walk in the Woods is not simply an out-of-shape, middle-aged man's desire to prove that he can still accomplish a major physical task; it's also a plea for the conservation of America's last wilderness. Bryson's telling is a knee-slapping, laugh-out-loud funny trek through the woods, with a touch of science and history thrown in for good measure. (Running time: 360 minutes, four cassettes) --Colleen Preston

Nantucket: Island Living

Leslie Linsley

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Imagine a place of unspoiled beaches, windswept dunes, and dramatic natural beauty. A place free of traffic lights and blaring commercial come-ons. A place whose rich historical heritage is visible everywhere—from the antiques-shop windows filled with handmade baskets and scrimshawed ivories to the spare, shingle-clad houses that coexist harmoniously with the surrounding land- and seascapes. Imagine a place designed, by man and nature, to relax and restore you.

Nantucket Island is that place. Thirty miles off Cape Cod, Nantucket is both geographically isolated and—as an internationally regarded vacation resort—culturally sophisticated. Nantucketers are rightly proud of a manner of living that couples the casual comforts of small-town life with an urbane sense of glamour, taste, and style.

In this handsomely illustrated book, longtime Nantucket residents Leslie Linsley and Terry Pommett give you an insider’s look at the on-island lifestyle: the restored historic homes of Nantucket town and ’Sconset village, the appealingly humble beachfront cottages that dot the island’s shoreline, and the beautifully tended gardens—formal and informal—that grace Nantucket’s private houses and public buildings. More than 200 color photos document the other attractions—panoramic views, home-grown handicrafts, seasonal celebrations —that make Nantucket such a rewarding place to spend a day, a summer, or a lifetim

The Kid's Guide to New York City (Kid's Guides Series)

Eileen Ogintz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

nice guide to Manhattan 4 out of 5 stars.
13 of 13 people found this review helpful.

We recently visited Manhattan and used this book (among others). It was well written and informative. It covered highlights rather than being comprehensive, but we did get good information. Chapters cover: NYC's neighborhoods, Times Square, must-see sights, museums, parks and zoos, cultural venues, sports, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, eating and shopping. Easy to read print and boldface information make the guide easy to use, and tips often include web addresses, which was handy. Nice guide.

A FUN BOOK WITH GREAT IDEAS 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 13 people found this review helpful.

Whether you want to go to a Yankees game in the summer or skate at Rockefeller Center in the winter, you'll find great leads in this portable book. New York City can be overwhelming, but this guidebook is accessible, handy, inspiring, and fun. There's even room for your kids to write down their impressions.
Carol Weston, author of MELANIE IN MANHATTAN (a New York novel for girls 7 to 13)

Editorial Review:

The Kid's Guide to New York City explores approaches the Big Apple by neighborhood, supplying kid-tested tips on where to go and what to see. Fun facts and tips on the area's best snacks and souvenirs are also included.

Relocating to New York City and Surrounding Areas: Revised and Updated 2nd Edition (Relocating to)

Ellen R. Shapiro

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Making the Big Move to the Big Apple Just Got Easier!

Moving to New York City and its neighboring areas can be overwhelming and expensive. What you need is a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the diverse neighborhoods, cultures, and lifestyles–not to mention the entertainment options, trends, and hidden gems that are the heartbeat of your new home. In Relocating to New York City and Surrounding Areas, Revised and Updated 2nd Edition, you get an insider’s view of New York plus all the practical information you need to make your transition smooth and more affordable, including:

•How to find a place to live–fast, and in a neighborhood you’ll love
•Where to look for a job
•How much it costs to live in the city and its environs
•Where to find the best restaurants and entertainment in town
•How to get around New York
•How to move, ship, and store your stuff easily and affordably

Not just a neighborhood directory for newcomers, this is also a bible for those already living here, offering advice on the best schools, bargain shopping, discount tickets, and free events. Whether you’re planning a move or already here, you’ll want to keep this definitive guide in reach for the handy checklists, savvy tips, website listings, and fresh advice. Bursting with up-to-date statistics on every neighborhood and information on everything from post offices and grocery stores to health clubs and theaters, Relocating to New York City and Surrounding Areas will help you negotiate the city like a local on your very first day.

Learn about New York’s hottest neighborhoods

Greenwich Village
SoHo
East Village
Morningside Heights
Park Slope
Williamsburg
Cobble Hill
Brooklyn Heights
Dumbo
Astoria

The Best in Tent Camping: Florida, 3rd: A Guide for Car Campers Who Hate RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos (Best in Tent Camping - Menasha Ridge)

Johnny Molloy

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Why Bother? 1 out of 5 stars.
3 of 11 people found this review helpful.

This book is terrrible; I found same information on internet & in free Fla. State Parks booklet available at www.myflorida.com
SAVE YOUR MONEY!!!

The best guide out there--but there are limitations. 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This guide is my camping bible. I live in Orlando, and I like to go car camping often. And, since this is Florida, I often compete with the r.v. folks for limited space. And tent campers often do not dwell peacefully alongside the generators and sheer size of an r.v. This is the only guide I've reached for, time and again, which allows me to stay far from the r.v. behemoths to pitch my little piece of heaven and enjoy a small campfire.

The [limited] campgrounds listed here (more on that in a moment) offer details that enable a camper to choose the best site to pitch the tent and relax. There are also details about the activities of each campground, so campers who own a boat or kayak, bicycles or hiking shoes, can plan activities to begin the moment they claim their site.

All of that said, the guide does have its limitations. For example, there are literally hundreds of campsites in Florida that are not listed here. A Florida camper should not limit herself to this guide--check out websites of the national parks, state parks, and private campgrounds as well. Also, because of constant changes in the natural habitats of Florida (caused by hurricanes, brush fires, etc.), the guide is often a bit late with important information, e.g., a state park that's closed due to damage from a hurricane. If you want to camp in Florida, these are the challenges you'll face. So check the websites of each park before you book your campsite.

It's still the best guide out there. Nonetheless, potential campers in Florida should do their homework to check current conditions.

Editorial Review:

Offering essential details on facilities, reservations, fees, and more as well as accurate, easy-to-read maps, The Best in Tent Camping: Florida will lead you to the 50 best campgrounds in the state.

Hikes in the Mid-Atlantic States: Maryland Pennsylvania New Jersey New York (Exploring the Appalachian Trail)

Glenn Scherer, Don Hopey

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Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Walking

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

Excellent book for detailed sectional or thru hikes on AT 5 out of 5 stars.
26 of 26 people found this review helpful.

There are many books about the AT, but this one is superb for it's detail and attention to partial sections for hiking. Can be used for thru hiking as well. Gives day and overnight parking details, profile of terrain, degree of difficulty, recommended direction, water and shelter locations, topo maps, mileage etc. Everything that a hiker needs!! Excellent.

Must-have for scout leaders / Excellent for planning hikes 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

It is clear that these authors were not kidding when they stated that they have a love affair with the Appalachian Trail. The descriptions not only cover all you need to know to be prepared to hike a certain section, but there's lots of history and local color as well.

I've used this book successfully to plan hikes for a youth group. I must admit I disregarded the advice that a certain section (Knife's Edge) was not for those suffering from vertigo and sure enough, the group of kids I took on this section included one who suffered severely from fear of heights. But the kids worked together to get through that section and all was very well in the end.

This book is by no means dry. Sprinkled here and there are humorous passages, like the classification of vampire rocks versus jumping rocks. A pollution-damaged section is described as "shaved clean."

An experienced hiker who has decided to hike section-hike or day-hike the trail between Harper's Ferry and the New York / Connecticut state line needs no other guide. I also recommend this book for the library of every youth group, particularly scouts, in this geographic area that would (or should) plan hiking outings as part of their yearly plans.

Editorial Review:

BOOK, HIKES IN THE MID-ATLANTIC

Backroads of New England: Your Guide To New England's Most Scenic Backroad Adventures (Pictorial Discovery Guide)

Kim Knox Beckius

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Perfect Suggestions for Wonderful Winding Drives 5 out of 5 stars.
27 of 28 people found this review helpful.

When fall comes in New England, the trees turn into a splendid mass of reds, oranges and yellows that temporarily distract us from the coming winter. At the same time, the first fresh snowfalls have a special beauty that New Englanders love as well. But the first blush of spring causes a special joy to burst out from our hearts. In the lazy days of summer, we love to watch the wind blow the grasses and trees from languid poses.

At any one of those times, I find myself thinking how much fun it would be to see some new sights in the context of those favorite New England conditions. In the forty years I've lived in New England, I've found many of my favorite locations purely by accident. The back roads are always the best. But I don't have the time to randomly drive all the back roads to find the best ones.

That's where Backroads of New England comes in. Kim Knox Beckius has found 30 delightful drives over back road that mix scenery, history, culture and just plain fun. I have taken about half of the drives in the book, so I can swear by those. I am looking forward to doing the rest now that I know where to go.

How can I tell I would like the others? First, Ms. Beckius provides helpful essays about where to begin, what to see, and what to stop and do along the way. She even includes some suggestions for hiking to beautiful waterfalls. Second, William H. Johnson's gorgeous photographs colorfully illuminate the main sights for each drive. Whether you love covered bridges, snow-capped peaks, delightful streams, pounding surf, or mysterious vistas, you can page through the book to find the places that speak mostly fervently to your soul.

The book is also organized by state. So if you are planning to go just to Maine and arrive by air in Portland, you can simply focus on the Maine trips and those in New Hampshire and northeast Massachusetts that are not too far away. If you live in New York, and want to drive for no more than two hours, you can focus on that radius in western Connecticut and Massachusetts.

I have been looking at travel guides for New England for many years. I've never seen a finer one for back roads adventures.

Give it a try!

Editorial Review:

From the sandy shores of Cape Cod to the distinct ridges of Vermont’s Mount Mansfield; from Connecticut’s Quiet Corner to the Kancamagus Highway through the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire; and from tiny Lubec, Maine, at "the Beginning of America," to the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" at Point Judith, Rhode Island, thirty of New England’s most varied and vibrant attractions are presented here, inviting you to explore them.

"Backroads of New England"--written and photographed by local experts—takes you on routes that lead to the area’s most secluded and overlooked natural areas and sites that capture New England’s colorful history.

Whether you’re planning a day trip, looking for unusual destinations, or simply want to learn more about the locale, "Backroads of New England" will lead you deep into the soul of New England--beyond the bustling cities and common tourist attractions.

Pittsburgh Then and Now (Then & Now)

Walter C. Kidney

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Not as in depth as I would have liked 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Although the photographs were interesting, I was hoping for a little more in the way of what remained, why a building didn't remain, the history of the buildings, etc.

Comparisons are good. 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book places Pittsburgh as it was then on the left pages, and as it is now (although not quite up to date) on the right hand pages. I found it fascinating. There were many names I found from old Pittsburgh that have been used in the city since I can remember - and without this book perhaps I would not be able to clarify how they came to be used. Great resource for anyone who is is Pittsburgh architectural history lover. The Pittsburgh History and Landmark Foundation does a great job with all the books they publish/publicize. For more about Pittsburgh in book form, go to their website[...]Pittsburgh is a great city that has a lot of valuable architecture, and fortunately, a lot of it has been saved thanks to organizations like Pittsburgh History and Landmarks. This book is definitely worth buying.

Editorial Review:

As part of the popular Then and Now Series, Pittsburgh is celebrated with archival photographs shown alongside specially commissioned contemporary images of the same scene. We find that the evolution of Pittsburgh over the last century has produced a compact urban landscape of older buildings blended with more recent architectural development. Downtown, the office blocks are still punctuated by traces of Pittsburgh's industrial heritage—the so-called "sliver" warehouses—mingling with the conveniences of modern city life. Over 100 photographs are featured in this amazing view of a fascinating city.

DogFriendly.com's East Coast Dog Travel Guide: Includes New England, New York, the Mid-Atlantic States, Florida and the Southeast

Tara Kain, Len Kain

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Editorial Review:

Get the full and complete Dog Travel Guide to the East Coast from DogFriendly.com, used by millions of people annually for pet travel information. Want to read about our Top-200 "Must See" Dog-Friendly Places on the East Coast, plus over 6,000 more places to visit with your dog? From New England and New York through the Mid-Atlantic States and down to the Southeast and Florida, you'll find a variety of great dog-friendly lodging, B&Bs, campgrounds, RV parks, pet-friendly attractions, parks, beaches, hikes, dog parks, outdoor dining, highway guides and more. Our highway guides for I-95 and other highways list accommodations by city and exit. Also includes a section on Canadian cities Toronto, Montreal and Quebec. From resorts like Key West, Bar Harbor, Cape Cod, the Adirondacks, Asheville and the Blue Ridge, Hilton Head and Jekyll Island to cities New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington, Atlanta, Orlando and Miami this guide covers everywhere to go with your dog.

Dog-Friendly New England: A Traveler's Companion, Second Edition (Dog Friendly)

Trisha Blanchet

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Animal Care & Pets -> General

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

Editorial Review:

The dog-lover's guide to all six New England states, now completely updated.

With the aid of her trusty mutt Sadie, intrepid traveler and dog lover Trisha Blanchet has journeyed throughout New England and completely updated this best-selling guidebook to dog-friendly attractions, activities, lodgings, and restaurants.

There is a plenitude of places to go with your dog, and Blanchet seems to have found them all throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Packed with more than 100 new listings, descriptions include a lively array of details to help you choose where to roam with your four-footed pal. Blanchet includes restaurants with outdoor service, dog-friendly bookstores, historic sites, hiking trails, doggie daycares and boutiques, veterinarians' offices and pet stores, and dog parks. New in this edition are listings for animal-related nonprofit organizations, such as animal shelters and humane societies. 40 black & white photographs, 25 maps, index.