Tours and Travel Books

I build houses for a hobby, various types and sizes (26 total). I am an engineer.

Buy the travel edition, and go to any university library for the huge atlas. I have found it at 6 so far around the country. It takes a little extra time, but hey - so does building, especially a house not well thought out :(,

Currently I have a bluff lot overlooking the pacific, next to a cemetary with a ton of open space around it, in a funky town (mobile homes below???). Green is in in So Cal (LA is going green? yea right...pigs fly). I would like to put Fallingwater on the bluff..hee hee.

This book rocks and has become my companion along with the Wright companion, Survey and Hogue. I am fairly proficient with Auodesk Arch. Desktop (now 2008). My dream - have all this material importable into Arch desktop for 3d orbits on a iPhone - those flying pigs :)

This nice little book lists some architecturally interesting building, but is missing nearly all my favorites. Listing geographically is a good idea, but I prefer online databases.

For those of you interested in the praticality of this as a travel companion, trust me, it works. The maps are not enough alone to find buildings in their respective cities but between knowing their general locations and addresses you can easily navigate your way to find them. I carried this book in my pocket around Europe and can say first hand that it was the best travel guide I had. A must for any Architect or student planning on traveling.

I think this is a book EVERY architect student should posses as a reference. It contains a large selection of references from all over the world. In comparison to the large version, which is rather costly for a student, this version contains brief descriptions and its a good size. I just wish there was a version on DISK!!!

When the original Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture was released in My 2004, several reviews were more enticed with the size of the tome in contrast to its contents. Frankly, I was put off by the price tag (albeit well deserved).

However, the recently released Travel Edition of the tome has become one of the essential resources of my library.

First, don't be put off of the fact that the softcover book is referred to as a Travel Edition as it contains a wealth of projects (subdivided by continents then countries). For each project there is a single project photo, project address, and the project architect. With each building a sentence or two states the significance of the project to 'Contemporary World Architecture' (an overly broad subject in itself).

Second, there is a grand diversity to the projects profiled in the Travel Edition in terms of project types and locations. I haven't come across another book to date that offers such a variety of projects within the covers.

Lastly, the Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture Travel Edition provides project insights and narratives that are free of any bias or criticism. The lack of both is something that is rarely found in a subject as subjective as architecture, and is welcomed in this context.

The Atlas suffers from a minor foreseeable problems. The book limits itself to projects that were complete as of the time when the book went to press. Any building completed during its printing or afterwards suffers the fate of being excluded from the Atlas; perhaps it/they will be included in future editions.

There are nice photos in this book. I wasn't crazy about the way the book was organized. It is broken up in little chucks of imformation. It just wasn't easy to get through.

Good reference to Totem Poles past and present. Wonderful pictures. Could be a coffee table book if it was larger and hardback.

A short summary of history and variations of artistic evolutions. Pictures are in good shape. I was also hoping to get some information on the manufacturer process.

I think it's a very good option if you are interested in totem poles. This book tells you about the history of totems, ceremonies, how to make your own totem pole and also the quality of the pictures are very, very good too. Definitely an excelent choice for totem-lovers just like me...

An Altitude SuperGuide: Totem Poles by Pat Kramer is the perfect guide for anybody wanting to know more about Totem Poles or anybody who wishes to visit the Pacific coast. The book is broken into four parts. The first chapter deals with the origins and history of Totem Poles. The second deals with symbols and ceremonies. The third part deals with identifying the Totem figures from Bear to Wolf. The last chapter deals with where you can find authentic, well-designed, totem poles and totem pole collections. I got the book from a store when visiting Stanley Park in Vancouver and used it while visiting Ketchican, Juneau and Sitka Alaska. It really does help understand the importance and beauty of the Totem Pole to Native culture and to Alaska's history.

I've been to Paris many times and even lead tours there. When I saw this book, I thought it would be a fun read but wouldn't tell me anything I already knew. I was pleased to discover that there is still a lot I don't know (thank heavens!). Jill's book inspired me and gave me some new nooks to explore next time I am in Paris. The illustrations are delightful and inspiring. I gave this book to a friend of mine whom I am taking to Paris for her first visit. I told her to flag things she wants to do and see. She's an artist and this seemed like the perfect guidebook to introduce someone to Paris's many delights.

This precious little book is picturesque and pleasant. The watercolors are lovely and the detail is delightful! An entertaining literary gem.

This book was a pleasant surprise, with the artwork alone being worth the purchase! My husband and I are planning a trip to PARIS in August, and are learning all we can that will make it enjoyable. I thought in the stack of books I already had on Paris that I had a map of the neighborhoods called "arrondissements" but couldn't find ANY until I opened Jill's "Wandering Paris" which had just arrived. I found a very colorful map of the arrondissements right in front! It got better from there. I want to swim while in Paris although my husband, who was there for a week in 2000, said there aren't any places to swim. Well, Jill points out that "Public swimming pools are abundant in Paris, and some are exceptional." She writes that you can even "Go to the beach along the Seine." ... "you'll find sand, palm trees, umbrellas, rollerblading, bikes and Pétanque plus a swimming pool..." In his defense, he was there in DECEMBER! ha! We're also learning FRENCH, and Jill provides an abundance of vocabulary words WITH a pronunciation guide for each. For the night life, we had no idea that Friday is "Friday Night Skate", "rollerblading by night on escorted journeys through the city". We can't take all of our books with us on this trip, but Jill Butler's "Wandering Paris" is going with us for sure! [We're going to buy her other book as well! Rendez-vous with France: A Point and Pronounce Guide to Traveling, Shopping, and Eating

Wandering Paris is a travel guide and much more. It is a whimsical look at traveling in Paris. In addition to the solid information it provides, it also offers wonderful insights into the world that is Paris. And, the author provides you with a delightful, artful look at the Paris scene. Her illustrations add whimsy and color to the guide. This is not a heavy tome that drones on about the city of Paris but a light and refreshing approach to Paris from someone who wants to share her love of the city with you. A definite addition to any travel library.

I wrote Wandering Paris because it's the way I like to travel. My experience of sharing the book has been very rewarding. Mostly people say "It makes me want to go to Paris". With time and distance of it's creation, it does the same thing to me. Bon Voyage!

A fun book that makes you want to visit some of these quirkly places. I made a point to go to the mystery hole after reading this!

Its almost as much fun to just sit and read as to use it for a guide to travel the state. This book makes folks look at WV in a new and more exciting light. I really like the chapters on Great Plumbing and Shopping Treasures. The food chapter was also a treat.

If you are at all interested in knowing about or exploring West Virginia, this book is for you. I have never read a better example of an interesting, comprehensive, intelligent and knowledgeable guide to a U.S. state. Mozier and her husband flew around the state in a small plane stopping and gathering interesting and important information about every place you can think about. Don't head to WV without it.

Jeanne Mozier came up with a great idea when she started collecting information for this book. There are so many guides to natural wonders, historical and educational sites, monuments, and so on. This is really something different for people who have a lot of imagination and curiosity. I live right next to West Virginia, but now I can't wait to get out and explore some of the more "way out" aspects of the state.

Found this book to be amusing, informative, easy to use and read. I felt like the book was written just for me to reminisce about how much I miss the beauty anf uniqueness of West Virginia. Please don't stop with West Virginia. I'm sure there are lots of oddities in many other states. Even here in Florida I meet people from WV and always tell them about the book and they now all enjoy their own copies.

I would have said a waste of time, but it only takes about 45 minutes to read the entire book, cover to cover. If you want the cliff notes on travel in New Mexico, I guess this would kind of be the book for you-- even though it's a little brief for that, too.

I'm really just perplexed as to the point of this book. The small amount of actual writing in the book is fine, and the pictures are kind of quaint and rustic, but the book doesn't really TELL you anything. About anything. There is a paragraph on most topics. You will find out stuff like: there is indigenous pottery, weaving and metal-working in New Mexico. Or that you can find good southwestern food, with chilies, and that they are one of the state's contributions to American cuisine. Et cetera.

Buy the "The Hidden New Mexico" book (can't recall the author) if you are looking for a nice overview of interesting sites in the state. It may not turn over a huge amount of anything too 'hidden,' but it is a nice guidebook for pretty much any taste.

A friend of mine recommended that I read "Along the High Road". I had mentioned that New Mexico was one state that we had not spent much time in as we traveled by motorhome. The book sure opened my eyes, not only to what New Mexico has to offer, but how much we probably have missed by hurrying thru other states.
Margaret really does a grand job in not only telling of the history of the area between Espanola and Taos, but also what awaits today's traveler who takes the time to "smell the roses". Great book and waiting for more from Margaret.

I loved this book even though I was a little put off by the bland cover. I know we all know the saying "Don't judge a book...." and I'm glad I didn't go by the saying because I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it to be filled with insightful facts and stories that I haven't read elsewhere. This was a great buy and a fascinating and very useful book. Anyone traveling to this area would greatly benenfit from reading this well written book.

I've lived in New Mexico all my life and never knew there was so much to do on the High Road. Like many other people, I usually drove the road on my way to someplace else. Now, after reading this book, I'm going to take my time.

This was my first published book. Some people liked it, others didn't. Either way, if you're going to be in the Santa Fe, New Mexico area and want to take a trip on the High Road, you might want to have this book along.

As someone who has haunted Paris for decades, I can say that there is no more wonderful companion than Thirza Vallois. Her three volumes of Around and About Paris, covering every arrondissement with both erudition and joy, are almost as deep and rich and rewarding as the city itself. They are to be carried about for consulting on foot, and read in your armchair for pleasure and information you will not find in the run-of-the-mill "guide." These books are for explorers and dreamers, scholars and lovers. If you want to know Paris, you can not do better.

After reading every travel guide I could get my hands on concerning Paris, France, finally I've found one that actually quenches my thirst and feeds my hunger! This is the Bible of Paris. The little details are so fascinating and exquisite, you can read this book over and over again. If I were stuck on a deserted island, as far from Paris as possible, I'd still want this to be one of the top five books I took with me. It would keep me going for a long, long time. Don't go to Paris without it. In fact, don't go to the doctor's office without it-- perfect to take everywhere.

If you like to roam around Paris on your own and get a feel for the history of the most beautiful and exciting city in the world, then this and its sister companions (Vols II and III) are for you. Thirza Vallois (for the sake of transparency,I have meet the author and have visited with her several times) has covered every street in the city and gives a fascinating view of the evolution of the city. The first volume is a must read, both the introductions and the tours are vibrant and illuminating. Don't miss the Hotel Carondelet.

Around and About Paris, Volume 1, reads pretty much like a medium-quality textbook; it's dense (*tiny* print and very small amounts of white space), it's informative (*filled* with trivia and fascinating - as well as not-so-fascinating - facts), and it's obtuse in places. The book does provide lots of information and some very nice Paris walks, but you'll have to sieve through a lot of junk to get to the meat of it.

The book's most serious problem, at least for me, is the writing. I suspect, though I don't know, that the author's English was a second language. The sentences are at times torturously constructed. Often, subjects and verbs are in places where a native English speaker probably wouldn't put them; sometimes one or the other is even missing - when you parse the sentence, you realize it's actually just a very long fragment, with lots of clauses that confuse the issue. Sometimes, too, it isn't clear what a modifier is supposed to be modifying, or which noun a pronoun refers to. In the worst cases, the meaning of a sentence cannot be divined at all because an error has been made at a crucial point. Some careful, detailed editing could've made this book a lot easier to read and use - and more informative, too.

However, there is still a lot of information in Around and About, even if you do have to work to get at it. The maps aren't the clearest in the world, but they're good enough, especially since prominent landmarks are marked. And the walks themselves provide an interesting take on Paris; the idea of walking through history is a great one. Parents with older children could probably use this as a resource for some very educational traveling, though I would recommend that the adults do the reading and then condense and prune somewhat for the kids.

All in all, despite the book's flaws, it's a nice supplementary resource for people visiting Paris - or those studying French history. You will, however, also want more conventional guidebooks or textbooks unless Paris and its history is already very familiar ground indeed.

How would you like to have a personal guide as your companion when visiting Paris? A guide that will not only give you a brief history of each and every "Arrondissement" from the first to the twentieth, but as the author states, "a journey into the depths of Paris" and "an invitation to scratch beneath its surface of dazzling vistas and imposing monuments and to probe into the souls and lives of the restless people." Author Thirza Vallois's three volumes entitled AROUND AND ABOUT PARIS accomplishes all of the above and more.

Most other guidebooks pertaining to Paris are merely directories that list where to stay and eat with a little history and antidotes thrown in. Vallois's tomes do not contain any listings of hotels, restaurants, phone numbers or web sites. They are, however, similar to information contained in college textbooks and would probably be suggested readings if a course were to be given entitled "Paris 101." Not only are they invaluable tools for the traveller to Paris but also for those of us who are so called "arm chair" travellers and who never intend to leave home.

Each chapter is devoted to a distinct Arrondissement describing their unique history and character. These introductions are followed by comprehensive descriptions of the walks you must pursue. After all Paris is made for walking!

Very often when visiting Paris we are too much concerned with the usual tourist attractions such as the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and various other well known sites. Consequently, we tend to loose sight of the history and background information concerning the area where we may be lodging or the areas where we are taking our promenades. We are also ignorant of the many "nooks and crannies" that make Paris a city of romance, drama, triumph, tragedy, crime and passion.

Vallois has lived in Paris for over thirty years. For eight of those years before writing these guides she "journeyed into the depths of Paris, walking its every street, reading in libraries whatever came my way" as she mentioned in an article appearing in Paris Kiosque No wonder the guides are so comprehensive and detailed.

To appreciate Paris is to understand its history and culture. Thanks to authors such as Thirza Vallois we can explore Paris with a greater understanding and enlightenment.

Please note that their are three books: Volume 1-concerns the 1st to 7th arrondissements: Volume 2- 8th to 12th, Volume3- 13th-20th

Norm Goldman Editor Bookpleasures.com

This was a nice looking book, but I bought it for my grandmother, expecting it to be more of a tour/guide book. It's more like a history book, and not really what I was looking for so I returned it. It's not the kind of book you'd be able to look at while on the road (like say have the navigator point things out - too wordy for that). It does have some really nice photos though. Also, when I received the book the cover was a little worn, even though it was supposed to be new, so another reason I didn't want to give it as a gift.

If you are looking for places to drive around PA, this is must have. The photography is amazing. It shows hundreds of places that you can visit on 1 or 2 day drives. It reminds everyone how diverse PA is.

purchased item as a gift. It seems very useful for those interested in seeing things off the beaten path

The photographs in this book are fantastic. Judging by the picture of the photographer in the back he took them with a large format camera, and it shows. A few even seem more realistic than if you were actually there when they were taken.

All in all, the book is money well spent for anyone with a bit of wanderlust and easy access to Pennsylvania.

When I "searched inside this book," I found a text section on "Holtwood" & "Conowingo" Dams, not far from the Maryland border. I'm from around that area & have always been in awe of its beauty, so when I ordered this book, I was hoping there would be at least one nice photo or two of those places. Much to my disappointment, there was not a single one! The other photos were still good, but a great injustice was done by not showing that beautiful area!

Beeing a director of a museum in Spain I felt I must buy this book. After reading it, I must say that Beyond the Prado is a partial book; relating to a part only ( a part of Spain and a part of museums), and also inclined to favour just one point of view (about Spain and about museums). Poor.

Beyond the Prado is required reading for anyone who cares about the national unity debate that is taking place in Quebec. Holo provides a sensible blueprint for Canada by elucidating the process through which Spain has used museums as institutional structures in the rebuilding and reshaping of a democratic nation. Make no mistake, Beyond the Prado is about more than art and museums. It is about nurturing and protecting parts of diverse and local cultures in order to preserve and reshape whole identies of nations. And let's all face it! This isn't a problem that is unique to Canada or Spain. Reversing the trend of disintegrating national entities is going to be the major political challenge of the next century.

As frequent visitors to Spain, we were fascinated by Holo's account of the political and emotional impact of that country's museums. Every collection one tours grows in stature and significance. This book is a must for anyone interested in the larger, cultural role of museums.

Beyond the Prado surprised me because it was not a traditional art museum guide book! It made me understand that museums are integral parts of a society and are connected to politics in ways I never considered before. Fascinating especially was the chapter on military and church museums. To think that allowing pictures of Franco himself might encourage progressive thinking actually blew me away.

I found Beyond the Prado fascinating in that it showed me a Spain much different from the one I visited in 1960. Those memories are of a militaristic, totalitarian society. Through Dr. Holo's book, a modern Spain emerges that encourages political and cultural democracy as reflected in the policies of the country's museums. Dr. Holo's book is a thoughtful, analytical thesis on Spain's museums and their place in the grander context of a country's political philosophy. What a fascinating way to explore history and a country's attempt to satisfy both an agenda of regional integration and regional diversity. Brilliant! Coming from the province of Quebec in Canada, where a serious power struggle is occurring between the people of French and English descent, I will follow closely Spain's gallant attempt to encourage diversity and regionalism and yet retain political integrity. Spain is a place I want to travel to once again. My next visit to its museums will be with a new perspective and a much deeper understanding as to their significance than I had prior to reading this book.

I bought this newer edition to replace the old one I lost. This edition has better coverage, photos, etc., and is improved over the old one. But it no longer has the spiral binding that made my old one easier to use. That's disappointing, but I guess its what inside that counts, and that part is still good.

California Desert Byways is an invaluable resourse for 4WD. The trail descriptions are extremely accurate, concise and helpful. I liked the photographs because they give a perspective on a tour. The list of resources, parks and places of interest in the back of the book is invaluable. I wish I had time to go on all the drives. Good job.

I find California Desert Byways really to be just right, since I'm not a hard-core four-wheeler. I just like getting off the beaten path and do some fun exploring, actually using my SUV's off-highway abilities. Since most of S. Calif. is desert, this book is a real good resource.

I bought this book for a spring fling in Death Valley and other desert areas. I never realized before the places I could drive to, all the little dirt roads to really neat places. Glad I bought it.

This spiral-bound book has a great one-page description/one-page map format which makes it easy to use in the car. Huegel has travelled backroads both familiar and less-known and his descriptions are accurate if a little bland. At times I wish he had expanded his prose beyond the rigid one page format but the visitor with a sharp eye can find the sites and sights he omits. He adventures with his family and avoids rough roads like the Lippincott Mine Road in DVNP (a wise decision as drivers need experience here) concentrating on easier routes, although the Inyo Mountain trip definitely needs 4WD (its pretty tough in spots). He also includes many routes outside the familiar park system proving that you don't have to go to a designated scenic area to enjoy driving in the California desert.

After living in NYC for a few years, I got this for some friends visiting the city. There were cool places I did not previously know about (especially in non-Manhattan areas like Bronx and Queens). The cards can help you plan trips around each attraction, which is helpful so you often don't have to do extra research to find out transportation, for example. The illustrations are colorful and fun, but definitely kid-ish in design. The cards and box are slightly clunky to carry around, however.

This is a great resource for either a New Yorker or someone who is planning a visit with kids. These cards are portable and contain a good bit of information, including phone numbers, subway routes, and websites. Each card focuses on one destination, but mentions other attractions near the "walk," which makes it easy to plan out your excursion.

This is an interesting product, packaged and produced in a very high quality manner. It would be nice, though, if it would also include more unexpected sites to visit (if so, I would've given it 5 stars instead of 3). Thanks.

This is a great resource for locals or tourists visiting NY. It's also the perfect hostess gift for savvy parents. A real winner!

Our family recently returned from a visit to Manhattan. We used 5 or 6 texts as well as this boxed set of walking tours. The set consists of 50 3-3/4 by 5-1/2 inch heavy stock cards and a folding master card that shows all the walks in the context of a five bouroughs map.

There are 3 walks in Central Park, 6 Midtown, none north of the park and 20 south of the Flatiron Building. Four walks cover The Bronx, one is in Queens and 4 in Brooklyn. Each walk card shows a moderately useful map on one side, which does not show all streets but does list subway and bus information as well as web and phone information; on the other side the text points out historic buildings, book stores and museums.

It was very convenient to grab a few cards as we went out the door. There is also information about kid-friendly restaurants, which was very helpful. We also had the City Walks set (for adults) and while there was overlap in areas covered, there was not much in content, which made this worthwhile.

I would definitely buy this set again.