Tours and Travel Books

If you want to learn more about museums in America without getting museum fatigue, this is your book. It is a good read, wonderfully informative and offers rare insight into the factors that made American museums what they are today - not just the broader social/historical context but also the individuals and colorful personalities. The text, photos and quotes are all chosen with care and the book is beautifully produced while being affordable.

For a book on art museums - the photos are pretty darn poor quality.
As a coffee table book - you would be embarassed.
Of course if you are really into museums, and I admit to be, there is some content here worth reading. However, it definitely could have used an editor. It reminds one of Mark Twain's "I didn't have time to write you a short letter, so I wrote you a long one." As in we hurried this out to market, put little effort into it, and hope it will sell to well-heeled customers that won't care or have much time to read it anyway.

So for those that LOVE the subject matter - 3 stars, for those that are only mildly interested - beware.

Schwarzer deftly gathers threads from many sources, weaving together a beautiful, inspiring tapestry of museum work. Perhaps what is most fun about this book is that you'll find your own history here... waiting in line as a teenager to see King Tut, going on a field trip to see Juno the Transparent Woman at the Cleveland Health Education Museum, or recognizing a favorite diorama from these richly illustrated pages.

The book is coffee-table beautiful, while its soft-cover price makes it affordable. The gorgeous design showcases the amazing photographs, unearthed from a variety of archives. The photos bring the text to life, as Schwarzer spins tales of brave souls dedicated to the craft of museums. Schwarzer clearly loves museums, warts and all, and she showcases how museums and interpretive sites have served America by saving our culture, teaching hundreds of thousands of children, showcasing diversity, supporting the war effort in World War II, and healing spirits after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A must-read for anyone in the museum (or cultural) field.

Experienced world traveler and writer Rick Stevens brings his usual talent for personalization to Rick Steves' Rome 2000 travel guide. Rick includes the best sights and activities in Rome; friendly places to eat and sleep (heavy on character, light on the budget); walking tours of Ancient Rome (Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, and more); self-guided tours through Rome's most interesting museums and churches; and offers suggested day plans and trip itineraries that mix famous sights with little-known discoveries. As with his twenty-two other travel guides, updates on the hotels, restaurants and sights covered in Rick Steves' Rome 2000...

Rick Steves' friendly, relaxed style is very appealing, and he does have a way of imparting not only WHAT you should see, but when you should see it and how you might come to enjoy it more. I also enjoy his "back door" philosophy, which makes Europe into more than just an "Epcot Center-like" attraction. His Rome guidebook is fairly small and lightweight as well, which is a plus for those who take his sage advice and pack light!

Rick did a very good job on leading my family and me through the city of Rome. He gave us great new ideas on where to go and see that i had never heard of before. His book was used to choose our hotel and the fantastci places to eat. I recomen Steves to anyone trevleing abroad.

I ordered this guide and the Lonely Planet Guide. I had previously toured Costa Rica using the Lonely Planet Guide and it worked out very well. This time I wanted to see if there was any additional information in the Rough Guide that would be helpfull. I have not yet gone to Eucador so I can not comment on the accuracy, but the detail in the Lonely Planet guide is much greater than that of the Lonely Planet Guide. Besides that it is much more compact. 440 pages vs 590. Basically Lonely Planet is more concise and more informative. If you are going to Ecuador and have room for one book, I recommend Lonely Planet rather than Rough Guide.

We have just returned from a month in Ecuador and found the new Rough Guide invaluable. Each chapter is clearly laid out and gives an accurate summary of regional highlights. It definitely made our trip planning and travel much easier. Ecuador is an amazing Andean country, with rainforests, tropical pacific coastline, high active volcanoes and the Galapagos Islands.

The Rough Guide provided us with essential information on how to travel and tips on safety and health proved very helpful.

Thanks also to the authors for including information on the damage being done to Ecuador's pristine rainforest and indigenous communities by a few oil companies. This is something that senstive tourists need to be aware of - the rare and fascinating tribal communities, the jungle wildlife and natural beauty we travelled to see are in real danger because of the actions of a few short term organisations who are right now planning a big push into the Oriente region.

Overall this is a really good, clear guide book with excellent recommendations for where to stay, what to do and even good tips on where to eat, drink and party. Don't go up the jungle without it! Thanks from Carmel McConnell and Catherine Purkiss

We just returned from visiting Ecuador for the first time. Between the four of us, we had several choices for guidebooks, but found The Rough Guide to Ecuador to be the most helpful when looking for a place to eat or to sleep. We'll only take this one if we go back!

Although this book is aimed at backpackers planning to spend 1-3+ months in Europe, it applies to low-budget backpackers on shorter trips as well. The book is divided into two main sections: the first section (about 2/3 of the book) is the information you'd use for planning, the second is a snapshot of 20-30 individual European countries with highlights and facts for each. There aren't more than a few pages per country, so plan to buy country- or region-specific guide books in addition.

I am planning a 10-day trip to Italy and I found the packing, transportation, and pricing information most helpful. The book has comparison charts of the costs of hotels and food in each country, which help you figure out where (in what countries) your money will go the furthest and help you calculate a realistic budget. It also has a whole chapter devoted to packing, with suggestions on what to take (and what to leave behind!) and a sample packing list.

This isn't a book you would take on your trip, but I think it is an invaluable resource before/while planning a trip. I'm just planning my flight and figuring out the rest of my agenda on my own, and this really helped give me an idea of what to expect.

... definitely a great one to start with. The Rough Guide to First-time Europe tells you all the things you need to know about travelling in Europe, before you get there and make the mistakes you don't want to. It has excellent ideas about packing, sample itineraries, and how to avoid cultural faux pas' in most places.

It does have recommendations about what to see in various places, but it isn't necessarily a book to take with you, especially if backpacking!

If you've never been to Europe before and are looking for an easy starting place to plan a trip, The Rough Guide First-Time Europe is the item of choice: it's a pre-trip guide for destination-bound visitors and covers everything from planning an itinerary and budgeting and packing to traveling the continent. General tips blend with country profiles throughout, maps to help plan, and insights on European history and culture, making this a top recommendation any general library with a strong travel section will want.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This book was right up my alley. I have lived in NYC my whole life, and I know that there is so much history here, that we walk right past every day. I also think that after the tragedy of September 11th, we need to have an understanding, and appreciation of the different groups that make up the great city, plus make a place for spirituality in our lives.

This is the book all New Yorkers need to help them get over the horrible events of September 11th. Looking at our great city's more spiritual side is not only an interesting idea but it also allows New Yorker's and non New Yorkers alike to grasp a deeper meaning and an intimate knowledge of New York. This book perfectly illustrates the point that no matter what you do to this city and it's people, we'll get right back up because we have heart and soul!!! Bravo to Ms. Cook on a well-written and inspiring tome. This book also makes a perfect holiday or birthday gift. Do yourself and New York a favor and buy this book, it'll show you a side of NY that you forgot existed.

What an interesting book. As a native New Yorker, I look forward to using it on a walking tour of Manhattan. There are so many things to see in Manhattan, and it is not all in the museums, and large tourist attractions.

I have never been to Scotland and wanted more info than a directory style book.

A great book. I wanted to explore Scotland and its golf and Scotland's Golf Courses: The Complete Guide was the perfect guide to the country and the game. Not only did it tell me all about the famous courses but also the hidden gems which I will go back and play again. It had so much information in it that all I had to do was turn up and play.

Congratulations to Vic Robbie on his revised edition of Scotland's Golf Courses. The first book was good but this is even better with more information and write-ups on courses, including all the new ones that have sprung up in recent years. The photographs by Brian Morgan, the world's No.1 golf photographer, are great and give you a real taste of golfing in Scotland.

The book provides an opportunity to check a theatre and know something more about the location of your seats than just a stub number in an easy to use design.

Following in my father's footsteps, SEATS : NEW YORK has arrived in a new, updated second edition. SEATS is your guide to the best SEATs in the house and features: 150 Seating plans to New York metro area theatres, concert halls, and sports stadiums with SEATS pricing guide. It also includes: "insider" tips on locating the best SEATS at the best discount prices, detailed maps of the SEATS Theatre districts around NYC, user-friendly directions and transportation information to get you to your SEATS, parking locations convenient to your venue and four seasons of FREE SEATS around the town. All this information is compiled into a nice pocket-size format which is a must for every theatre-goer. As Mayor Bloomberg says: "So be sure to consult your SEATS guide and enjoy the show!"

With all the "waste of time and ink" publishers are inflicting on the reading public, it's about time that a publisher has released a book that makes sense. SEATS explains clearly how to buy theater tickets at discount prices, some at the unbelievable price of $3. I tried it and it really works. The seating plans are unbelievable! I ordered my tickets from Ticketmaster and the salesman mumbled, "oh, Seats again," when I told him exactly what I wanted. I could tell from the colors where to find the best values. Horay for Sandy Millman, Seats is a brilliant idea.

as a recent transplant to seattle & a new dog owner, i love this book. it maps out about 10 walks to take in different neighborhoods- fremont, queen anne, the international district, etc. and lists the time each should take as well as a wealth of information. there are features on buildings you'll see, maps, suggested parking places, and more. it's much more interesting than your standard guidebook that just lists museums & stuff.

I AM NOT A RESIDENT OF SEATTLE, BUT I VISIT AS OFTEN AS I CAN. I HAVE READ THIS BOOK WITH GREAT ENJOYMENT. IT IS VERY INFORMATIVE AND EASY TO READ.

As a newcomer to Seattle, I have made good use of this book. When searching for a place to live, it really gave me a taste of each neighbourhood. The walks are fun and informative, with accurate maps, great layout, and something to interest everyone. So, if you are kean to learn the history of Seattle neighbourhoods, this book is a must.

Very interesting book. I haven't read all of it but what I have read was great. I am using it for research at this time and will hope that in the future that I get the chance to visit all I am reading about. Good for the money!

One of the outstanding "Interlink Walking Guides" series, Secret London: Exploring The Hiddin City: Exploring The Hidden City, With Original Walks And Unusual Places To Visit is a travel guide especially for the walking tourist determined to explore the greatest sights of London, including obscure treasures such as rivers long buried, ancient buildings, and sites where anyone can enjoy free lectures. Full-color photographs, extensive descriptions, street maps clearly illustrating the route of the walk, contact and opening time information, and much more fill this handy travel guide for the visitor who wants to see it all.

I love this book! It has detailed instructions to find (and history of) little known spots in London that are marvelous. There are several color pictures and hand-drawn maps to help guide you on your walk.

Some of the fascinating bits of London that you can track down with this book are the rooftop gardens in Kensington, the underground tube stations that are no longer used and the rivers that have been tamed and paved over but still peek out here and there.

Even long-time residents will find new insight into their favorite city. Every time I go to London I search out one thing from this book and I'm always glad I did. For tourists, if you bring this book and an A-Z, and a copy of the latest Fodor's or Eyewitness, you won't want for anything else.

We recently returned from a visit to Manhattan, having used this guide (along with several others); we found it enjoyable and useful. There are eleven tours: Lower Manhattan, Greenwich Village/East Village/SoHo, Flatiron District/Gramercy Park/Chelsea, Midtown Manhattan, Central Park/Upper East Side, Central Park/Upper West Side, Harlem/Northern Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island; each tour includes a map of the tour, an introduction, readable text concerning authors, book settings and the history of New York City, small pictures and line drawings, and lists of additional authors connected to each area. There is no information about amenities along the way (restaurants, bathrooms, playgrounds). We found a wealth of information and many literary references -- it would be smart to read this ahead of time so you can select and read some of the referenced books before your trip.

With clarity and affection born of familiarity and delight, Marcus covers over 200 places and spaces in New York that have made an appearance in books for children and teenagers. He tells you how to get there and what you will see when you do. It is a lovely size, easy to carry and to hold, and it will take you on a virtual journey even if you and your children can't do a real one.

Leonard Marcus hit upon a great idea and developed it perfectly. As a teacher, it is difficult to teach history or literature to the young and make the readings come to life. "Storied City: A Children's Book Guide to New York City", besides being a charming idea, is also a handy tool for parents and teachers. With this extremely convenient guide, you can walk the kids through the neighborhoods they've read about and enliven their reading experience. And, most importantly, Marcus writes in a way that doesn't talk down to children, and that's a tremendous asset.