Reviews (2)

Should have been titled City Walks: Manhatten
We've spent a lot of time in NYC, and I can attest from experience that each walk is well worth taking. The format is easy to use, with a master card showing the location of all the walks, and clear directions in the cards.
Love the idea - Wish there was more detail
What a great idea. 50 adventures that you can stick in your pocket and enjoy without looking like you are a tourist. I pulled out a few cards written about parts of the City I know and love to see if the author knows her stuff. Take card 15 - the Ms. Fay touches the high spots: Abingdon Square, Ottomanelli's, Zito's, Murry's Cheese, Rocco's Pastry and more. Walk these streets led by her map and prose and you'll have a wonderful visit. Flipping through the cards, I think every significant neighborhood has been captured. I know in warmer weather, I'll use a couple of her cards to explore Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens - boroughs that are a lot more of a mystery to me than Manhattan. Naturally, with a map on one side of a 4X5 card, there isn't much room left for text. Having said that, I wish we had more detail about each area - a small complaint. Maybe in V.2.0 some folded cards?
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Subjects:  1. Cards - Playing / Tarot    2. Travel    3. United States - Mid Atlantic - New York City    4. United States - Northeast - Middle Atlantic (General)    5. New York    6. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY    7. Travel / General   

Reviews (7)

A Yenne for the past
Bill Yenne's photographic essay about the similarities and differences between San Francisco's past and present is one of several "past and present" photographic themes published by Thunder Bay Press involving a number of prominent American cities. See for your self
When visiting S.F., one couldn't help wonder about the history of this "young city". When walking the Embarcadero, reading all the "history stands", you wish you could go back in time and see what it was really like. I did just that, when i bougth this book. It made it possible to visit some of the buildings that still exists and visit places that once was. nice book
What makes this book special for me is the "now" photographs.The book's editor/photographer has made a sincere attempt to reshoot the photos, physically, from as nearly as possible from the original, without changing the photographic perspective.This allows the books' reader to view and compare the photos and know that streets, buildings, and other landmarks give an accurate view of how the city looked at a certain time.Accurate directions and locations listed in both historical and contemporary photos greatly enchances the value and arm chair travelers' enjoyment of the book. Buy a map of the city if you're not familiar with it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California - Local History    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History - U.S.    5. History: American    6. Photoessays & Documentaries    7. Pictorial works    8. San Francisco (Calif.)    9. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S./West    10. United States - State & Local - General    11. California    12. Local history    13. Travel & holiday guides    14. Sale Books   

Reviews (7)

Don't buy for Texas
I gave this four stars because most of the book is awesome and we've good experiences with the other additions. My wife and I love to travel to natural hot springs and we bought this after visiting most of the springs in the Northwest US.
Excellent guide!
This is a great guide and the updated version is wonderful.GPS coordinates are a definite bonus, particularly for some of the more elusive springs.There is so much more information in this latest guide.We've been using an earlier edition for over 10 years, and enjoy each and every soak.Looking forward to exploring more!

Buy it!!!
I absolutely LOVE this book.If you're a hot springs addict (like I am) you'll never leave home without it.It has remote hot springs with excellent directions, she-she spas, photos and honest descriptions.Clothing optional to "Versace only bathing suits required." It's the only book you'll need for hot springs if you travel on the west coast.It's definately the most thorough one I've come across. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Travel - United States    3. United States - South - West South Central (General)    4. United States - West - Pacific (General)   

Editorial Review

Bill Bryson follows his Appalachian amble, Read more

Reviews (361)

"Que Sera Sera"
I checked this out of the library and read it on the way to Australia to visit my daughter during her study abroad semester in Brisbane. She read it while we sailed the Whitsundays and dove on the Great Barrier Reef - well, not when we we actually in the water. Before whe started reading it, in conversations I regularly sited Bryson having commented on many of our topics, by saying something, "Just like in the book," or, "Bryson talks about that in the book." A little like Seinfeld having done so many topics, that we live parts of them in our daily lives. Anyway, we left the book on a plane. So, I'll buy a copy for the library and one for me - money well spent. It was a great introduction and punctuated much of the trip. A bus driver in Brisbane was actually whistling "Que Sera Sera," which,I think, was mentioned in the book. I'll find out when I read it again. I'd read Bryson's Sort History of Nearly Everything a couple of years ago. It's also a good read.

Audio CD review: His prose is annoying when spoken aloud
You get your money's worth here--there are a ton of CDs in this audio book. Unfortunately, I found Bryson's prose (which I enjoyed a lot when reading silently, as I have done with his other books) to be greatly irritating when spoken aloud. To me, he sounds kind of 'affected' in parts, and sometimes there is a sort of "moist" sound when he pronounces words. Hard to describe until you hear the CD, but trust me on this one. I think a lot of the positive reviews on here are for the book, and not the CD. I would stick with the written word on this one.

Why I read it twice...a review in two parts.
I took this book with me on a recent trip to Central America and absolutely loved it.While there is less narrative flow than, say, A Walk in the Woods, reading Bryson's thoughts on Sydney harbor, Australian-rules football, former Prime Minister Harold Holt (peace be upon him), forever walking through Canberra, and his near run-in's with a seemingly endless list of nasty (and apparently deadly) native animals was engaging and thoroughly enjoyable.He does this all the while encountering some pretty terrific and endearing folks, drinking many Victorian Bitters, and relaying an impressive and affectionate recounting of Australian history.There really is a lot to like here.So much so that upon finishing the book while still in Central America, and realizing that I committed the unpardonable sin of only bringing one book with me to read (you try finding a decent bookstore in Central America), I turned to the first chapter and started all over again.And it was equally engrossing, witty, and informative if not more-so.I can think of no higher compliment for a book and I recommend it whole-heartedly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - Australia    3. Australia & Oceania - General    4. Bryson, Bill    5. Description    6. Description And Travel    7. Essays & Travelogues    8. Journeys    9. Travel    10. Travel - Foreign    11. United States - General    12. Travel / United States / General   

Reviews (1)

Here's a great book about some not well known great places.
Although you could probably find books on the Four corners, the Gulf Coast, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Chesapeake Bay, the Great Basin, the Ozarks, and the badlands/prairies of the Upper Midwest, it would take you a very long time, and a lot of money to find books covering these regions as well as they are covered in this single book. Read more

Subjects:  1. Guidebooks    2. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    3. North America    4. Travel    5. Travel - United States    6. United States    7. United States - General    8. Travel & holiday guides    9. Travel / General    10. USA   

Reviews (37)

The Girl In Tower 1
The absolute best book out there on 9/11.I wish they had a volume 2 and 3 and 4, as there were enough photos.
A book that focuses on a powerful event in our country.
I am glad to have this book in my collection on the tragedy that gripped New York City on September 11th. The pictures showed the emotion of that day. It was well worth the money to purchase this book.

Words can not describe...
This book is so special to me that I bought a copy to put away for my two year old son.It is important to me that someday he will fully grasp the enormity of that day and the consequences that he will experience from it throughout his life.
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Subjects:  1. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001    2. Photo Essays    3. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S./Mid-Atlantic    4. Photography    5. Photography, Documentary    6. Photoessays & Documentaries    7. United States - State & Local - General    8. Photographic reportage    9. Places & peoples: general interest    10. Social impact of disasters    11. Subjects & Themes - Portraits    12. Exhibitions    13. New York    14. New York (State)    15. Pictorial works   

Reviews (46)

Maui - the adventure guide
I definitely recommend this guide for anyone visiting for the first time, especially for those who want to do as much as they can and don't have very long to do it. They've produced an honest, informative book which greatly enhanced our experience.If you're looking for a planning guide, buy this one first.The "Best Of" callouts on pages 17 through 20 were so handy; start there first.

owning the series
They fit our comfort zone and after two trips to Maui we still haven't exhausted all the hiking possibilities.The fact that they're heavy on sports and leave out the hype is what makes them click for us.They haven't left out family outings and provide a complete rundown of where it's safe to swim and snorkel.For beach days, we still find Maui our #1 choice and for stand alone guidebooks, the Maui Trailblazer fills the bill.
the good life
We've found a good guidebook is worth its weight in gold and the Maui Trailblazer by the Sprouts got a thorough testing as we explored the island -- sublime listing after listing.Mandatory for preplanning.We reserved our Haleakala primitive cabin weeks ahead.For getting around in the jungleworld and waterworld, it bulges with all the good stuff. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Hiking    2. Sports & Recreation / Hiking    3. Travel    4. Travel - United States    5. Travel Guides - U.S.    6. United States - Pacific - Hawaii    7. United States - West - Pacific (General)    8. Water Sports    9. Maui    10. Maui (Hawaii)    11. Outdoor recreation    12. Sports & Recreation    13. Surfing   

Reviews (4)

Thumbs Up
I would recommend this book if you're looking for something with great pictures and a brief narrative.The photos were good in that they weren't all taken in the summer, as in most books of this type.It was nice to see these historic homes in the spring bloom, fall colors and winter white-scape.Of course the summer shots were also beautiful.A good book for your own or for a gift.

Gorgeous Old Dominion
Gleason really excelled in books of this kind, he really knew how to capture these old grand buildings.This book is first rate and it covers all of the well known homes as well as some that may not be so familiar.All of his books of this genre are consistantly top notch.The colors are vibrant and just pop off the page.I recommend this book to anyone interested in the grandeur of the Old South, it's just amazing how many of these houses survived the Civil War, with battles often within earshot of the veranda.

Beautifully presented
Beautiful photos, good text, but awkward size (doesn't fit on book shelf) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Dwellings    3. Houses    4. Pictorial works    5. Plantations    6. Residential Buildings Architecture    7. Travel    8. U.S. Architecture - South    9. United States - State & Local - General    10. Virginia    11. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (17)

A wealth of facts and figures for retirement wannabes
In the growing field of books offering suggested places to live or retire, RETIREMENT PLACES RATED is one of the few to base its findings entirely on statistics rather than opinion. David Savageau, the author, has authored prior editions of this book as well as the popular PLACES RATED ALMANAC.Feeding into the statistics here come metrics on each of 203 locations from six specific areas:Ambiance (by which the author means largely historic charm and outdoor recreation), Costs of Living, Climate, Personal Safety, Services (availability of medical services, for example) and The Economy.We're also given a useful Appendix with Chamber of Commerce addresses, income-tax information, and the like.
Reader Beware!
Save your valuable time and steer clear of this train wreck!Worse yet, you could be making the biggest mistake of your life if you make an important decision based on Retirement Places Rated.
Retirement Places Rated.David Savageau
Apart from its main function as indicated in the title, the book provides a very good source of information about our Land.
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Subjects:  1. Aging - Retirement    2. Gerontology    3. Housing (Economic Aspects)    4. Social Science    5. Sociology    6. Sociology - General    7. Travel - United States    8. United States - General    9. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY    10. Travel / General   

Reviews (5)

A fantastic book for a very much loved park
Did you know that the elm lined mall leading to the Bethesda fountain and the view of the ramble are actually based on the layout of a church? Or that all of the lakes in Central Park are manmade. This and many other very interesting facts are interspersed with lovingly taken photographs of the park which were taken by the author of the book as well. Miller starts decribing how the park came to be and the leading ideas and ideals that lead to its creation by Olmsted and Vaux. She proceeds to describe systematically the various sections of the park providing historical information as well. She delves into the some of the controversies and compromises that Olmsted and Vaux encountered in the creation of one of the finest examples of 19th Century art but it is not a comprehensive history of the park. There is a 2 page map of the park at the of the book with a legend identifying each of the features discussed in the book. If you are first time visitor to the city wishing to explore the park in detail or a life long New Yorker this book will delight and surprise you.

Definitive Review of the Finest Work of Art in NYC
As an avid fan of Central Park who has been exploring it and studying the books on it for decades, I was amazed at what there was still to learn about it from Miller's book. For example,other historians allude to a connection between Central Park's design and the Hudson River School of landscape art: Miller provides actual sources of the designer's inspiration and shows the results explicitly in the photos. And all in a way that is not at all "bookish" but instead makes you want to go right in and see for yourself the scenes she shows so well in the book's illustrations. The beautiful photos and fascinating stories and the well chosen historical prints all work together in such a compelling and entertaining way that one might never realize one is being educated by a superb textbook in the field of art.
New York's Oasis
Central Park is breath taking and this book does a fine job of giving the reader a feel for what makes this 850 acre masterpiece so special.The book is quite thorough and does an commendable job of disecting various sections of the park.The color photos are vivid and well thought out and the text is highly informative.The author has a real love for the park and it comes out in her writing.If you have never visited Central Park or have visited and fell in love with it like so many others, you will love this book.This oasis really is the heart of New York City and to understand New York you have to understand the parks historyand its vast importantance to the city.Central Parks importance to New York and New Yorkers cannot be overstated, I can't imagine the city without it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Central Park (New York, N.Y.)    2. Description and travel    3. Gardening    4. Gardening/Plants    5. History    6. Landscape    7. New York (N.Y.)    8. Parks & Campgrounds    9. Pictorial works    10. Travel - United States    11. United States - Mid Atlantic - New York City    12. Architecture / Landscape    13. City & town planning - architectural aspects    14. Local history    15. New York   

Editorial Review

Whether we're beret-bearing beatniks or Lexus-driving cosmopolitans, road trips still beckon. Gas up the tank, load up the trunk--it's hard to resist. But who has time to waste on wrong turns, getting lost, and bad choices? When it comes to finding fun, time is of the essence, so Jamie Jensen's guide takes the pain out of the road trip, be it across the continent or a Sunday jaunt. With directions to pit stops, scenic routes, bizarre museums, and the best apple pie stands, all you have to do is drive. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Used it on our 10,000 mile vacation
We drove over ten thousand miles in the last two months going acros the country on Route 2 and returning on Route 20 plus many side trips and some time in the Maritime Provicences.I drove and my wife read about what was coming.We found it fairly handy.Many of his resturant suggestions were very good. We found several errors like the address for a resturant listed that turned out to be an old garage on a graveled back street one block long.

Great resource
I just returned from a 7,250 mile road trip, following many of the routes in this book, specifically the Great Northern to the Pacific Coast Highway to the Oregon Trail.Jamie's book contained so many useful stopping places, although if I had stopped at all of them, this trip would have taken months rather than weeks.In using the book, you have to choose what works for you - and not everything is of interest.However, he did lead me to some wonderful places like Sullys Hill Nature Preserve in Devil's Lake, MT; the Buffalo Bill Historic Museum in Cody, WY; and the museum dedicated to lumbering in Grand Rapids, MN - all of which I might well have bypassed had it not been for Jamie's recomendations.
Road Trip
My dad got me this book for our trip this year. Usually I don't like family trips but this year is different. We're mapping out our routes and it's going to be a good summer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Travel - United States    3. Travel Guides - U.S.    4. United States - General    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / United States / General    7. USA   

Subjects:  1. HotelsInnsetc.    2. Restaurants    3. Travel    4. Travel - General    5. Travel - United States    6. United States - Mid Atlantic - New York City    7. United States - Northeast - Middle Atlantic (General)    8. New York    9. Restaurant & pub guides   

Reviews (1)

so hip it's one revelation after another
Wallpaper Magazine --- the bible of all that is cutting edge in international design/fashion/travel/interiors --- is celebrating its 10th birthday.
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Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Travel - United States    3. United States - General    4. United States - Mid Atlantic - New York City    5. United States - Northeast - Middle Atlantic (General)    6. New York    7. Travel & holiday guides    8. Travel / United States / Northeast / Middle Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA)   

Reviews (4)

Good Guide
We're not what you'd consider wine snobs and bought this book for the good excuse of checking out wine country which is just a short drive away.It's nice they included restaurants.After all the tasting stops it made our outing complete and we drove home totally content as well as sober.

Excellent little book
This small book (only 172 pages) is perfect for planning your next Sonoma/Napa visit.In fact, although I have been many times to Napa, I wanted a new place to stay with a fireplace and jacuzzi bath and privacy.I found a great place in the book called Cottage Grove Inn - with 2 Frommers stars.
A must have on a trip to Wine country
I used this book to plan a short weekend trip to Napa Valley from Los Angeles. This book packed with all sorts of great information for each different wine country city (napa, yountville, etc) from best types of hotels for every budget, nearby attractions, spas, picnic spots, restaurants, etc. And of course a concise review and rating of the wineries in each city. Read more

Subjects:  1. Special Interest - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - United States    4. Travel Guides - U.S.    5. United States - Pacific - California    6. United States - West - Pacific (General)    7. Wine And Wine-Making    8. California    9. Travel & holiday guides    10. Travel / United States / West / Pacific (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA)    11. Wines   

Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Travel - United States    3. Travel Guides - U.S.    4. United States - Mid Atlantic - New York City    5. United States - Northeast - Middle Atlantic (General)    6. New York    7. Travel & holiday guides    8. Travel / United States / Northeast / Middle Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA)   

Subjects:  1. Description    2. Disneyland (Calif.)    3. Guide-books    4. Guidebooks    5. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    6. Travel    7. Travel - United States    8. Travel Guides - U.S.    9. United States - Pacific - California    10. United States - West - Pacific (General)    11. Florida    12. Travel & holiday guides    13. Travel / United States / West / Pacific (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA)   

Reviews (4)

Locating Photo Sites
This book helped me find a lot of little known places to photograph in S.F. with stories about their backgrounds.

A Love Only for The Bay ...
I finally have my heart and body in San Francisco ... and this is one book that explains why many who love the Bay can love no other city like San Francisco. A must read for those who are traveling to the Bay Area and wonder why it is the most beautiful city in the world.

A little history about my home town -- 20 years later
I'd signed up to take a History of San Francisco class as an elective during my first two years of college.It was cancelled because there were only three students signed up that were interested and a class had to have at least 11 students in order to happen -- unbelievable!!I was deeply disappointed.Well, I think this little book covers more than I would have learned in that class, if it had taken place, a little more than 20 years ago.Next time I go home to see friends & family, I'm going to conduct my own history walking tour with this book in my pack! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art    2. General    3. Miscellanea    4. San Francisco (Calif.)    5. Travel - United States    6. United States - Pacific - San Francisco    7. North America    8. Places & peoples: general interest    9. Travel / General    10. USA   

Editorial Review

First published in 1982, William Least Heat-Moon's account of his journey along the back roads of the United States (marked with the color blue on old highway maps) has become something of a classic. When he loses his job and his wife on the same cold February day, he is struck by inspiration: "A man who couldn't make things go right could at least go. He could quit trying to get out of the way of life. Chuck routine. Live the real jeopardy of circumstance. It was a question of dignity."Read more

Reviews (99)

On Maps Where There Are Large Red Highways And Little Blue Highways, He Took The Blue Roads To Discovery
A generation ago writer William Least Heat-Moon, getting away from the tangles of his own changing life, bravely undertook a road trip that crossed the quiet places of the American landscape, and on his journey he met a number of wonderfully unique men and women, all people of depth and individuality, and he learned their stories. Describing in this slow-paced, pure-spirited book a disappearing aspect of (rural) America most of us will never know or even be aware of, this writer crafted a non-fiction classic that is both a time capsule and a recounting of a modern-day human-centered pilgrimage of growth. The lesson Least Heat-Moon learned that sticks out above all in my mind is how he found time and again that it is the people who possess the least in their lives who are also the most generous and welcoming. An inspiring, interesting, moving sort of book about a time much longer ago than a mere quarter-century, and about places that most likely have already given way to change. I read this book in college and have found it unforgettable.

Tedious
Not at all as interesting as I hoped it would be. The back roads of USA should be able to offer a much more colourful and interesting web than this.

A Gift
William Least Heat-Moon's Blue Highways is referred to by many as a "cult classic".If so, it's a shame this book is not better known.It is 1978 and William Least Heat-Moon is 38 years old.Upon the near-simultaneous loss of his college teaching job and his marriage, he needs to get out of town, to leave places of sadness, futility and routine, to clear his mind and renew his soul.William leaves Missouri driving a '75 Econoline that he also intends to live in for the next several months; the truck has been named "Ghost Dancing".He has determined that he will drive only the blue highways, the old map color for single-lane rural highways and county roads, the roads that lead to all the small places in America, lost and forgotten by time, faded in economic or historic significance.He will travel and look around and listen, meet new people and learn new things and new ways of thinking.Most of all he will think, taking an inward journey as well.
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Subjects:  1. Description    2. Description and travel    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. Heat Moon, William Least    5. Travel    6. Travel - United States    7. United States    8. United States - General    9. Journeys    10. Travel & holiday guides    11. Travel / Essays & Travelogues    12. Travel writing    13. USA   

Reviews (10)

A must for any Disneyphile!
A wonderful small book and a worthy sequel to the Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom.Whatever you want to know about Epcot, its history and attractions, is covered here.A perfect companion to any trip to Walt Disney World.

very awesome addition to a collection
I loved this book and was glad to pass it on to other family members as a well to psych them up about our upcoming trip to florida. I always love the book editions that are affiliated with the disney company.

Very interesting
This book was great! It explains the reasoning behind why and how all the current attractions were constructed. I would have liked to see a little more on the past and the potential for future attractions, but it was good. They spent a considerable amount of time on world showcase and not as much on future world.Also, forced perspective is one of the strong topics - they must explain it 5 times.Regardless of the disappointments, it was overall an interesting look into the concepts of what went into Epcot. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    2. Parks    3. Pictorials    4. Travel    5. Travel - United States    6. Travel Guides - U.S.    7. United States - South - South Atlantic (General)    8. United States - South Atlantic - Florida    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (2)

Enjoyable read
I strongly recommend this book to people who like poetry, and even to those who don't. Full of great phrases that stick in your head.

An intensely personal style, grace, & storytelling approach
Setting The World In Order is an impressive compendium of poetry showcasing Rick Campbell's intensely personal style, grace, and storytelling approach to the genre. Legend: He came from a land that didn't need words./Fire singed the sky, soot and ash/settled on the tongue. Speech/was furred and superfluous,. He grew older and left, crisscrossed/America, sat silent and stranger/in the loud seats of cars. Salesman/and truck driver wove their special language,/piston-driven to talk and brood./He listened and thought his shadow/saved them from their lost dreams./Throughout his land he became legend./Buck's boy who never talked. No one/at the Legion or VFW; no one/ at the hundred Bohunk and Italian bars;/no one at J&L, Armco, Coppers,/Phoenix Glass, or American Bridge;/no cops; no railroad dicks;/no coaches named Maccalini/ever heard him speak. he saved it./It's for you and you haven't come yet. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. American Contemporary Poetry    3. Pennsylvania    4. Poetry    5. Voyages and travels