Lake Superior's Historic North Shore: A Guided Tour Review

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(More customer reviews)As two Minnesotans one native and one not we both enjoy traveling along the North shore of Lake Superior.
This book outlines some of the major things and not so major things to see along this fantastic scenic backdrop.
We would recommend this book to people who are both Minnesotan and non Minnesotan who want to explore this region.
It is compact enough to take along whether hiking, biking, or in the car glove box.
Hit the road with this book along route 61 and you will be in paradise from Duluth, to Two Harbors, to Grand Marais.
Explore historic sites like Split Rock Lighthouse, visit State Parks like Gooseberry Falls and wander along the lakeshore.

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Lake Superior's North Shore–the vast stretch between Duluth and Grand Portage–is nearly 150 miles long, with an abundance of state parks, state and national forests, streams and rivers, and more than thirty distinct communities representing a broad range of ethnic and religious groups. Many visitors have made the famous drive along scenic Highway 61, the central artery of this popular vacation destination, but few are aware of the historical significance of the villages, homes, and markers that they pass along the way.

In Lake Superior's Historic North Shore, Deborah Morse-Kahn takes vacationers and armchair travelers alike on a unique journey along old roads and byways and into the hidden history of the land and communities along a stunning section of this great inland sea. This informative, easy-to-follow guide offers the history of First Nation peoples, the historic fur trade years, the development of Norwegian fishing villages, and the heydey of splendid tourist lodges like Babe Ruth's famous Naniboujou–traces of which can be found in the grand sites and unassuming structures that still stand today. Detailed maps and practical visitor information help vacationers hit their favorite destinations with ease.

Deborah Morse-Kahn works as a specialist in historic preservation and cultural resource management and is the author of A Guide to the Archaeology Parks of the Upper Midwest.

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Lonely Planet Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest (Lonely Planet Travel Guides) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is another outstanding travel guide from our friends at Lonely Planet. This book is primarily aimed at budget travelers, and contains a host of practical information on places, lodgings, climate, and things to do. Many consider the Pacific Northwest to be the most appealing part of the USA, and this guide provides excellent information on its prime attractions. First, readers will learn about the area's two large cities (Seattle, Portland), both of which are worth a major look. There is also a host of information on superb outdoor sights and activities, including Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Olympia National Park in Washington, the Columbia River Gorge (forming the border of the two states), plus Oregon's Mount Hood and Crater Lake. As the book suggests, hikers, campers, and outdoor types should enjoy the enticing landscape but exercise normal caution on potential hazards from weather, terrain, animals, etc. The book also covers a nearby slice of British Columbia, Canada (including Vancouver), and those wishing to visit should bring their passport. If this guide has a downside, it's relative compactness means imperfect maps and a lack of complete coverage on several interesting locations. Still, this is an excellent overall guide to a very attractive destination.

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Catch a breath of sea air as you watch orcas leap and splash off shore at Lime Kiln PointFind yourself sleeping in a classroom after drinking in the Kennedy School's Detention BarNavigate the Cascades' jagged ridges by eco-friendly llamaBrush off your snowboots and snuggle up by a 92ft fireplaceIn This Guide:Local authors, 217 days of research, 76 detailed maps, five rock concertsYou asked for it, we checked it out - everything you need to know about microbreweries, island-hopping and offbeat locales

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The Rough Guide to California 9 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) Review

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(More customer reviews)In the mid-nineties I spent about a month living out of my car in California. I drove, camped, and couch surfed from Eureka to San Diego, and many points in between. Before returning home, I went to Lake Tahoe and then continued north to Washington State via Mt. Shasta. I didn't take a guidebook with me; it didn't occur to me since I knew I wouldn't be needing hotel and restaurant reviews. At the time I lived on an island, in a cabin, without a computer or internet. When I rolled into a town, I just picked up the local "city paper" or equivalent and found the friendliest looking coffee shop to go to and learn what I could about where I was. I read bulletin boards and just walked or drove around to see what was there.
The Rough Guide to California would have been a fabulous addition to this trip. The writers let you in on everything they know, and they are consummate travelers. You can get major hotel information, of course, but you also get hostel and camping information, the secret sweet spots in a city, and some history and bits of information that make travel that much more enjoyable. For instance, I was not aware that more lesbians are moving over to Oakland from San Francisco these days, but I feel like I am 'in the know' now that I do.
A lot of guides also forget about the details of visiting the deserts, mountains and park trails, and the best ways to go about seeing them, but here you can get that. Since my rubber tramp days, I have traveled to a lot of places around the world. And as my means increased, I utilized travel websites to get insider information on where to go and what to look for. I also incorporated the more standard guides into my research; Frommer's and Fodor's became companions of mine, along with Lonely Planet. From now on, Rough Guides will be included in my library.
I love to travel. I love the smells, the sights, the people, the food, the feel of a different place, and I want to understand why and how it all came to be that way. I am obsessed with finding the inside spots, staying in odd and eclectic places and avoiding tourist traps whenever possible. If you are like me in this predilection, the Rough Guides are a great find. Travel guides tend to tell you about what they find most interesting or worthwhile in a place, and in the 9th edition of The Rough Guide to California, you get to explore California with authors who are not only interesting and funny, but also witty and talented writers. I enjoyed reading it, even in the sameness of my own living room.
www.jennifermwilson.com

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A comprehensive guidebook to California with full coverage of the state's sights and attractions and detailed listings of accommodation ­– from budget to upscale - restaurants and nightlife. In-depth coverage of all the national and state parks and reserves, including Death Valley, Sequoia, Yosemite and Lassen, with detailed information on hiking, rafting, and other outdoor activities. A full-colour section introduces California, and three new full-colour inserts explore California food and drink, opportunities for outdoor pursuits and Californian music. From stuffing your face with tacos in San Diego to searching for Lemurians around Mt Shasta, this guide brings California to life.



Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to California

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Michelin Green Guide California, 7e (Green Guide/Michelin) Review

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(More customer reviews)I love the Green Guide series because:
1) It's subjective. They tell you what is good, not what is hyped or what the travel agent has a package for. It does not re-hash some handout by the local Chamber of Commerce. Some little-known places get two & three stars because Michelin visited them.
2) It's geared towards road trips. Monsieur Michelin wrote these books to encourage people to wear our their tires. The guides suggest itinararies and put an emphasis on scenic views and scenic routes that Fodors and other guides little heed. It also gives brief road descriptions if the road is dirt or really winding.
3) The green guides give short and interesting background on the history, culture, & economics of the area. These passages are short so they are not boring.
4) The green guides themselves have a lot of maps. Articles are cross-referenced to the map in the Green Guide & regular Michelin road maps.
5) The form factor (shape & size) is easy to carry and stow in a glove box.
6) I mostly agree with their opinions: no stars: so-so; 1 star: Interesting; 2 stars: worth a detour; 3 stars: worth a trip by itself. Surprizing how some major tourist destinations only get 1 star.

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Respected cultural travel guides featuring Michelin stars and tours.This completely revised new edition features the best of California, which thanks to the film and television industries, can seem a familiar place to first-time visitors. Its sun-baked beaches, city streets, picturesque villages and desert canyons have appeared as settings for countless movies and TV shows. But beyond the familiar backdrops, an endlessly fascinating variety of sights, attractions and experiences invites exploration and enjoyment in the Golden State?s many regions. Tours, maps, full-color photos, illustrations and plenty of new content help you to explore California, while Michelin's celebrated star-rating system and respected maps make sure you see the best that California has to offer.

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Lonely Planet Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Review

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(More customer reviews)A very well assembled collection of recommendations and facts for planning a trip to Yosemite. If you want to get the most of your trip to the region, planning is essential. Just showing up will severely compromise the options you have available. If you are planning to also visit Sequoia/Kings Canyon, you might want to opt for the Frommer's Guide or Lonely Planet's "Hiking In The Sierra Nevada." Personally, I think this guide has a little more detail and better organization than the Moon guide, with the maps being far better.
Planning: The book does a very nice job giving you phone numbers, camp locations, amenities, and tips on which sites will fill up first. This really is the most important, especially if you want to camp at a popular location or want to do overnight hikes in one of the more popular destinations. If you want to stay in one of the valley hotels think a year in adavance (at least), camping in the valley needs reservations 6-8 months in advance.
Trip descriptions: For the places I visited the descriptions were thorough but not overwhelming in detail. The book has both short trips (1-3 days) as well as longer excursions, but many of these can be abbreviated to suit your needs.
Maps: You will certainly need your own big topo map when on the hike, but the maps here (and in other Lonely Planet guides) are among the best you will find in this sort of guide. First they are topographic, which helps you with overall planning, even if you will eventually make use of a big map later on. Second, the maps are in two colors, which facilitates reading immensely. Finally, the printing is fine and crisp. Some other guides have blurry reproductions of USGS maps that look like they were printed onto a paper towel.
Other: The book is compact and lightweight. If you are an obsessive type you could carry it along on your hike without adding too much weight.
Overall, this is a great guide to aid in planning a trip to the region, especially those on their first couple of excursions to the region. For those who want more details on other trips check out Sierra North and Sierra South, as well as books by Mike White, R. J. Secor, and Steve Roper.

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Yosemite's granite domes, sweeping vistas and graceful waterfalls amaze visitors, while giant trees tower over Sequoia & Kings Canyon. Whether you want to sit among flowers in Tuolumne Meadows or scale the heights of Half Dome, gear up with this top-selling guide to these well-loved national parks.Detailed Itineraries - explore Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon with over 20 great itineraries, plus trips to Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest and the rustic Gold CountryBest Hiking Routes - includes 53 of the most enjoyable hikes through valleys, around lakes, up peaks and into the backcountry with easy-to-use charts and topographic hiking mapsFamily Friendly Options - information on education programs, campfire talks, ranger walks and the best kid-friendly hikes in our special Kids & Pets chapterAdventure Ideas - covers rock climbing, mountain biking, swimming, horseback riding, rafting, kayaking, skiing, sledding, volunteering and much moreWith 2000 hours of in-park research and over 400 miles of trails hiked, our authors offer sound advice for visitors]

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Insiders' Guide to California's Wine Country, 8th: A Guide to Napa and Sonoma Counties (Insiders' Guide Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)THE INSIDER'S GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA'S WINE COUNTRY, 8TH: A GUIDE TO NAPA AND SONOMA COUNTIES is a great book about an area noted for its wine, but teetotalers can also enjoy it, because it features a great deal about recreation, dining, nightlife, shopping, and outdoor activities as well. There are also great sections on relocation and radio stations as well, though the latter change formats regularly. This book is a must-own for anyone interested in the West at all.

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Insiders' Guide to California's Wine Country is packed with information on the best attractions, restaurants, accommodations, shopping and events from the perspective of one who knows the area well.

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