Tours and Travel Books

This will lead you to interesting places that are mostly not well known. The views are stunning. A hiker on the Appalachian Trail said the view from Wayah Bald is the best on the trail. The only problem we had is that road numbers have been changed to names, but most of the numbers were still in fine print on the signs.

I was introduced to this book by a friend and ended up buying the whole series! If you want to know more about western NC and spend your days enjoying a well written dialog that accurately directs you to place the other guides don't even mention, Buy this book. If you want a restaurant guide look elsewhere. I can wholeheartedly recommend the entire series from this publisher. Similar to the "off the beaten path" series only better, written by life long residents that obviously love their home state!

This guidebook, unlike most, is so encyclopedic in scope that I give it as a gift to newcomers to the area. It is also an invaluable reference for the visitor who wants to see more than the fabulous Biltmore Estate. Even though I am a native of the area, I learned nearly everything I know about Western North Carolina from this book alone and it is my primary reference. I am still amazed at how much fact, history and folklore [just enough to bring alive the curve of the road, the odd landmark, the abandoned building] is packed in its 300 pages. The author, who must have collapsed from exhaustion when she finished it, takes you on a detailed tour, laid out by the tenth of the mile, of carefully drawn sections of backroads that you can follow leisurely without getting lost. The author is completely absent from the text. The lucid style will please readers who want the facts, not editorial comment. This book, as well as the others in this publisher's backroads series, makes an excellent gift for anyone, especially the many seniors who have relocated, or are considering relocating to this fascinating region. It is also a valuable reference for natives, like me, who didn't know how much they didn't know.

Since I recently moved to North Carolina, spending my free time towards the mountains became a must. Carolyn has saved me countless hours of researching where to go and what to do. I am glad to find such an informative book.

A trip to the Grand Tetons this year was greatly enhanced by this book, which I came upon with a search on Amazon.com. We used it to plan a car trip from Portland and we followed the Oregon Trail home from southern Wyoming. The maps were wonderful and the information accurate. We even golfed 9 holes at the Soda Springs municipal golf course to see the swales on the 8th hole, in addition to many other stops of intetest!

My husband and I recently made a trip out west and used this book as our guide to follow the Oregon Trail. It was excellent! Her directions were right on the money and the book was easy to read and follow. She breaks the trip down to a day by day driving guide which was great so we knew how much time to plan. I would encourage visiting the 'out of way' options she offers. She also offers several driving options depending on your time allowance. A must have for an Oregon Trail trip!

Julie's book is very useful in traveling the Lewis and Clark Trail. Highly informative and illustrated, it includes specific as well as local information about the various sites included in the book. Well worth having and using.

This was an absolutely wonderful book which helped my family to see every interesting bit on the Oregon Trail. Many sites were really off the beaten path and I'm sure rarely visited. It was clearly written, fairly assessing the different sites and had very clear directions. We are a family of 6 so the time allotted for travelling place to place was a little short, but all in all this book is a "Bible" for those who want to embark on this great trip.

Incredible pictures, written well making it easy to read and understand. Palka makes you feel like you've been in Denali, even if you haven't. Outstanding book!

Having been to Alaska I am aware of the landscape and its unigue place in our worldly environment. This presentation truly touches the key elements of the Alaskan adventure and its place in the travelers journal. I was truly impressed by the pictures and the ability of the author to portraite the imense landscape and the importance of the countryside in his work

The writer manages to combine the human interest and interaction while, at the same time,uses his experience in Denali as a teaching instrument. Makes me want to visit Alaska and Danali!

This is a great book about Denali National Park and the importance of national parks in general. Palka does a nice job of explaining the history and physical environment of the Park. What makes the book unique, however, is the section that focuses on the experiences of Park visitors. He describes Denali as a "therapeutic landscape" and focuses on the great range of emotions it conjures up in its visitors. Interesting!

Should appeal to anyone interested in national parks, geography, Alaska, or sacred places. Very enjoyable!

this was a fantastic trip - the first time we toured an area specifically for wine tasting, and became comfortable stopping into wineries and interacting with those from the industry - the recommendations were fantastic and we lent this book to another couple who were also grateful for it's recommendations

If you are planning to visit the Finger Lakes region and tour the wineries, this extremely well written guide will tell you everything you need to know. The author explains what to look for when tasting wines, the various kinds of wine you'll encounter, and the specific grape varieties the region is known for. There is information on all of the wineries in the area, with special emphasis given to those that are producing the most consistently outstanding wines. There are gorgeous pictures of many of the wineries and information on dining at the ones that have a cafe or restaurant. A dozen noted wine connoisseurs--the author included--each provide a list of top recommendations for purchasing wines. Finally, the text and photographs are beautifully presented on high quality paper. The Finger Lakes Book: A Complete Guide also covers wineries in the region, but if a major focus of your trip is visiting the wineries,you will find this guide to be by far the most informative resource.

As I prepare and pack in order to move to the Finger Lakes region of NY state, I enjoyed reading Wine Tour, which further reinforces my love of the area. I have visited a few wineries and look forward to my permanent residence and a greater dedication of exploring the wine industry there. The book is well organized, informative and has many beautiful photographs of the region and its wineries. It is must read before wine touring.

WINE TOUR OF THE FINGER LAKES is a well-produced, lovely tour of some of the most beautiful scenery in the country--the wine country of the Finger Lakes of New York State. And by leaps and bounds, the Finger Lakes wines are competing with the best of California and Europe for awards. Learn more about the wines in text and pictures. And come visit!

Just a quick note. Louis Divone, or better known to us in Skywagon land as Lou and Old Charlie passed away last week. He will be missed by the aviation community. Thanks for your wit and wisdom. You are missed.

Lou Divone has written an excellent compendium of the history of aviation preserved in the musuems of Europe. His book is laced with stories that breathe life into the mechanical relics that once filled the European skies. In an age when flying is an common occurence to most people, it is fascinating to read about the artifacts of an age that awed those who lived just a few short decades ago. This book belongs in the library of anyone who wishes to recapture the era when aviation was new and pilots were exploring the frontiers we now find so familiar. Lou's love of aviation and his admiration of those who built and flew the flying machines of the not-so-distant past illuminates each page.

Using aviation museums throughout Europe as a backdrop, some wonderful, little known facts of aviation history are presented as only a passionate aficionado of the topic could do. For example, many know of the retirement of the Schneider Trophy by the British, but this book presents the details in glorious fashion, taking as motivation the awe inspiring presence of the Supermarine racer in the British Science museum. The prose is occasionally a bit on the amateur side, but the author's passion for aviation makes up for it and it never really gets in the way of the story.

This book is a total surprise. I haven't figured out why he put the word "museum" in the title. It's full of stories -- 25 or 30 of the best short stories I've read about people who flew early aircraft that ended up in a museum (ugh) somewhere.

Just got back today from two weeks out west, spending 5 days at Yellowstone. This book was GREAT and we used to plan our trip and during our trip. The only thing is that there are a lot more hikes available so if you are really into hiking getting a hiking book is good. This is a good all around book!! It is well worth the money!

We just got home from Yellowstone and bought this book about a month prior to going. Even though we bought a couple of guides this was the only one that got any use. It's layout is helpful. The information is right on and the CD are helpful too. We got to listen to information about an area before we visited it. Just buy this book and you will be happy.

Lots of information! Maps, pictures. Great book worth the money. The audio tour and CD are an extra bonus!!!! Probably the only book you need.

This is one of the best books I have seen on touring Yellowstone National Park. It's full of maps, information, and beautiful pictures of sights to see. The book also includes sections on popular hiking trails, their difficulty and distance, as well as planning your trip to Yellowstone. The Audio Tour CD and the Virtual Tour CD-ROM that are included are also excellent. If you've never been to Yellowstone before or even if you've been there several times and want to learn more about the park, this is a great book to have.

If you are looking for a book with a wide variety of interconnected tours in the Lake Champlain Region, you cannot do much better than this one! From easy juants to planning 10 days around the Lake, it is a great resource. Really looking forward to doing some bike exploring in the region.

I used this book to take a six-day bike tour from Burlington, VT to Montreal, Quebec, and I had a great trip. The author's directions are so accurate that I was able to ride all the way to Montreal without consulting a map! The author recommended hotels that are conveniently located for cyclists and chose roads and bike paths that were scenic and generally had light traffic. This book is a valuable resource for any bicycle tourist!

Part of the outstanding "Backcountry Guide" series from The Countryman Press, 25 Bicycle Tours In The Lake Champlain Region: Scenic Tours In Vermont, New York, And Quebec offers wonderfully satisfying bike hikes through New York's Adirondacks, Vermont's Green Mountains, and the scenery and charms of Quebec's historic towns and villages. Including a wide range of lodging and dining options, cyclists can explore the southern tip of the lake in Whitehall, New York, to the quaint college town of Middlebury, Vermont. The various tours range from scenic and flat 10 mile loops to adventurous 82-mile rides through the easter Adirondacks. Whether for an afternoon's pleasant exercise or a weekend of high cycling adventure, 25 Bicycle Tours In The Lake Champlain Region is an enthusiastically recommended regional guide.

I agree with the other reviews: these ACCESS guides are by far the best for cities, and I am really sorry there isn't one more recent than 1999 for Santa Fe. I bought more recent guides for Santa Fe - ehh. The others are very limited in the scope of information.

I buy and Access guide for any city which I am about to visit. I have found their reviews to be topnotch.

I wish they would publish and updated guide to Santa Fe!

I always find the ACCESS Guides to be the best travel guides overall, and look for them whenever I am about to travel to a new location. So far, I have used their guides to Alb/SantaFe/Taos, Seattle, Montreal/Quebec City, Phoenix, San Francisco, Hawaii, San Diego, and London.

I like their format - they are organized by neighborhoods, so you don't have to seach around through the book all day; and they have an empasis on restaurants and shopping, which I find the other guides don't give enough info on and which are my FAVORITE activities when travelling. Also their print is large, clear, and color coded, which also makes it easy to find what you want (restaurants in one color, shopping in another, tourist sites in another).

It's the best guide to carry around each day while travelling.

If you'd like to take any of several self-guided automobile tours of Los Angeles and nearby areas, Laura Massino Smith's books are excellent. Each tour book has clear directions and easy-to-read maps, lots of fascinating notes and information, plus photos of what to look for. I've lived in LA for over twenty-five years, and Smith's books have surprised me with things I'd never seen or hadn't noticed. There are three of her books in my glove compartment so far (Hollywood, Silverlake, and Hancock Park/Miracle Mile) and I'll be getting the rest as well.

These are great guides to view all the architectural gems in my neighborhood and surrounding areas. Highly recommended for locals or people who visit Los Angeles often. You wouldn't think there are so many historical houses and buildings to see in this town, but Laura Massino Smith has compiled them into these handy books with great photos as well.

I loved Laura's architectural tour of Hollywood. Her directions are clear. She includes lots of interesting places that are both on and off the beaten path. The pictures enable the reader to easily identify the buildings she features. And, she includes helpful descriptions of the architecture and interesting facts about the buildings' history. Great tool for travellers intersted in architecture.

If you'd like to take any of several self-guided automobile tours of Los Angeles and nearby areas, Laura Massino Smith's books are excellent. Each tour book has clear directions and easy-to-read maps, lots of fascinating notes and information, plus photos of what to look for. I've lived in LA for over twenty-five years, and Smith's books have surprised me with things I'd never seen or hadn't noticed. There are three of her books in my glove compartment so far (Hollywood, Silverlake, and Hancock Park/Miracle Mile) and I'll be getting the rest as well.

A lot is packed into a great "carry with you as you tour around the hard to fully describe area of Silverlake". I give my `I keep in my car' copy to visiting out of towners so they don't have to figure out what the big deal is; it's all in the book and they can then see it for themselves right in front of them. A wonderful series of architecture books for both natives and visitors of Los Angeles.

These are great guides to view all the architectural gems in my neighborhood and surrounding areas. Highly recommended for locals or people who visit Los Angeles often. You wouldn't think there are so many historical houses and buildings to see in this town, but Laura Massino Smith has compiled them into these handy books with great photos as well.