Travel Books

Reading this wonderful book gave me the vicarious pleasure of wandering the globe in the company of skilled writers who know just how to crystallize their experiences for the reader. I recommend it to any armchair traveler! (And it's a great book to take on a plane.)

What a refreshing, beautiful book. The essays within are full of powerful and rich personality, which serves to give a full sensory perception of the places of which they write. There is an abandon and adventurous spirit that blows through the pages and inspires the reader not just to travel, but to really experience the places one goes, even close to home.

This book was perfectly conceived and executed. These 24 smart stories by 12 smart women cover the whole tonal range -- funny, poignant, gut-wrenching, beautiful, thoughtful, irreverant, wonderfully sappy... And the publishing concept itself was brilliant, a clever way to crack a difficult market: strength in numbers, taking power into their own hands...in retrospect it seems so obvious, but I'm sure that two years ago these women had little idea how brilliant they were being... I'm 50 years old now, and anyone who has reached my stage of geezerhood knows the value of having even one good solid friend. I attended a salon event these women put on in San Francisco recently, and I mentioned to one of them just how great I thought it would be to have twelve friends as tight as they seem to be. Her response: "Well, now you do!" And that is the feeling that one comes away with after reading their book: Twelve new friends.

This book exhilarated me and ignited my passion for travel to an even higher level than before. The courage (and insanity!) of some of these women; their appreciation for travel, culture and their unrelenting desire to soak up every bit of their experiences, inspired me to - not only travel to every destination listed in the book - but to truly appreciate the journey, with all its flaws. Because, who knows, it might make for a great story someday!

I love this book.
So great to hear all the adventures these women have.
They are all so independent. They go off to see the world in so many different ways. Each one has their own personality and way of traveling.
They go out and do all the things I wish I could do.
Way to go Ladies ...........
Thanks for the inspiration
p.s. I also love their monthly news-letters

As I am serving in the Air Force in the Middle East, I found Mr. Martin's book to be quite timely and an interesting mix of personal accounts and additional history to make it a joy to read and own!

I heard Lou MArtin speak about his book "Wings Over Persia" at the Vette theater in the EAA Air museum on July 31, 2005. After his interesting lecture, I bought his book and read it in two days. It was difficult to put down! It's an exciting book about his life of flying in Iran during the 1978 revolution, and provides a much better understanding of the weird philosophy of the Middle East.
It's a clean book with no profanity or F words, a refreshing change. I recommend it to readers of all ages.

Lou was definitely not bright enough to survive in Persia. His life was saved only by the most fortuitous grace of God. One would think that after a few hints, even an idiot would have bailed country. Fortunately for Lou and us, he has survived to tell a pretty informative tale that gives keen insight on the time of the overthrow of the Shah and transition of Persia to the hard line Islamic state of Iran.

If Lou reads this, please drop me a line samdurbin@yahoo.com.
Sam

Several weeks ago I rode my bike to the local airport to see why there were so many planes suddenly flying around the small community that I live in, and once there I found that there was a fly-in. Now, I'm not very knowledgeable about aircraft but I have had a life long fascination with aircraft of any sort. I enjoyed walking around inspecting aircraft of various kinds and being mesmerized by some formation flying, but couldn't get answers to some of my questions, especially those having to do with WWII (which were the ones performing low level fly-byes, and higher level formation flying).

Eventually I worked my way over to the hangar where breakfast was being served by the local Boy Scout troupe. Right outside the hangar was a small table with a display of pictures and several books on it, and a man sitting there with aviator style sunglasses on engaged in discussion with another gentleman. As I looked at the display I couldn't help but overhear some of the aviation stories he was telling, and became enthralled with not only the information I was hearing but the manner in which it was being conveyed.

After some time I got into a discussion with Mr. Martin about some of the aircraft that I had seen that day. He answered all of my questions and cleared up those that most intriqued me (the WWII aircraft were T-6 trainers, an aircraft that he had experience with). He then began telling me stories about his adventures as a pilot in an Iranian air taxi company during the last days of the Shah's government and the revolution that brought the Ayatollah to power.

To say that I was hooked on his storytelling is an understatement. I really had no intention of buying the book when I first saw it, but my subsequent conversation with Mr. Martin convinced me that I couldn't pass up this opportunity to delve deeper into his experiences during such an important period in world history. Sitting in front of me was someone with vast experience in aviation who had first hand knowledge of some incredible events that still affect our world today.

Mr. Martin's writing is crisp in its detail and weaves some historical background information to flesh out his stories so that the reader has a better grasp of not only the flavor of the times but of a society and people we Americans (and most Westerners I would imagine) are likely to be unaware of. Not only was I entertained but I learned an awful lot.

Wings Over Persia captivated me from cover to cover, keeping me on the edge of my seat with stories that alternated between high drama, humor, and suspense. Sometimes people who can tell a great story fail miserably when they commit them to paper. Not so in this case. Lou Martin is a storyteller/writer par excellance. It was a lucky day for me when I met him and now I have this jewell of a book to relive some of his fascinating escapades.

This book is suitable for any reader, young or old, as there is no unacceptable language for parents to worry about - just great stories that kids will love and older people will appreciate. It wouldn't surprise me if a lot of young readers will be inspired to persue a career in aviation due to this book.

If you're interested in flying, cockpit humor, and insight into some of the behavior and thinking in the Middle East, you must read "Wings over Persia." It is both informative and highly entertaining. I give it two thumbs up.

Avery comrehensive production covering a selection of dumplings beyond most food lovers knowledge and experience. Thoughtfully put together in an easy-reading, friendly style

This is a great collection of all things dumplings, the definition might be a little loose for some, but that gives you an in to some tasty dishes you might not have tried. Just be warned a few sunday afternoons might be lost to making dumplings after buying this book :)

I love single subject cookbooks because of how in-depth the good ones are. And this is an especially good one. I haven't tried any of the recipes yet, but the book is fun to read, very informative and educational and makes me very hungry while I'm reading it. I can't wait to try some the recipes!

This is a very interesting book with excellent photographs throughout. I have already made the Meat Piroshki from Russia, Cabbage and Mushroom Pirogi from Poland, "Fast and Naked" Gnudi con Zucca from Italy and the Little Ear Dumplings in Borscht from Russia. All were very tasty. The recipes cover specialties from many countries in Asia, the Middle East, Eastern and Western Europe and the Americas. Why 4 stars instead of 5? I was disappointed not to find any dumplings to drop on top of stews or fruit, no drop dumplings for soups and the one recipe from Canada (from Quebec which is where I live) is not one that I or my friends have ever heard of. Maple syrup dumplings would have been really typical but alas, there is no recipe for them. Still, this book is certainly worth having for what it does contain.

`A World of Dumplings' by Brian Yarvin is exactly the kind of passionate treatment of a specialized culinary subject we like to find from `little presses' like `The Countryman Press' up to and including former upstart (and now giant) 10 Speed Press. Yarvin is neither a chef like Rick Bayless nor an established culinary journalist or writer such as Paula Wolfert or Claudia Roden. But Yarvin has what appears to be a consuming interest and passion for his subject which has produced a book which is at the top of its class as a survey of dumpling recipes.
The very first thing Yarvin does right is that he covers the whole world, as promised, but touches of few if any types of food which are NOT easily recognized as dumplings.
My very first interest was to see how he would approach that very special Pennsylvania Dutch contribution to world dumplings, the baked apple dumpling. As it happens, Yarvin lives and works just across the Delaware from Dumpling Central, in western New Jersey, so he was in an excellent position to do lots of first hand research, and that is exactly what he did. As a very amateur student of this dish, I have tried several different recipes from PA Dutch cookbooks, and I have eaten many a sample at local restaurants and fairs. And, I can attest that Yarvin has captured this dish in all its sweet and spicy and doughy glory. This is NOT diet food, kiddies, and Yarvin has applied the sugar, lard, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg at all the right places. Even better, he has not assumed, as many of these PA Dutch cookbooks do, that you know the basics of preparing dough. His recipe is more detailed than anything I have seen coming out of Lancaster County from Best Books!
My second check on Yarvin's recipes was to compare his Steamed Chinese Pork Dumplings (shu mai) to a recipe by an oriental culinary specialist, Ellen Leong Blonder in `Dim Sum, The Art of Chinese Tea Lunch' and I found again that Yarvin again gives us a recipe which is as good or better than one available from specialists in the area.
My third check was to compare his empanada recipe to Rick Bayless' recipe in his authoritative `Authentic Mexican' book and also to the equally authoritative Diane Kennedy's `The Essential Cuisines of Mexico'. Here, I found a somewhat puzzling result. Bayless and Kennedy give two different recipes for the empanada wrapper, with Bayless using only wheat flour and Kennedy using only masa (corn flour). The simple explanation is that Bayless is describing Empanadas de Picadillo from northern Mexico and Kennedy is describing Empanadas de Requeson from southern Mexico. Yarvin splits the difference with his single recipe and creates a wrapper with about ¾ wheat flour and ¼ corn flour. So, Yarvin is not giving us ethnically precise empanadas; however, just like his apple dumpling recipe and his shu mai recipe, his empanada recipe is as detailed and illuminating (or better) than any of the ethnic sources. And, Yarvin gives us five different recipes for fillings using the one `universal' empanada wrapper recipe.
The story of empanadas is repeated for virtually all of the world's varieties of dumplings, from Italian raviolis to Polish Pierogis to Russian Varenicki to Indian Samosas. Every major dumpling genre has its variations which change from region to region and, if you are to believe many writers, from household to household, with everyone believing theirs are the best.
Yarvin adds to his recipes some great stories describing his search for some of these recipes, plus some very nice condiments, such as the dipping sauces for the Chinese dim sum dumplings and pasta sauces for the Italian galaxy of filled pastas and onion marmalade condiments for the eastern European dumplings.
Very few books of this type have ever disappointed me, and this one is better than most. If your interest is exclusively in dumplings from Italy or Mexico or the Ukraine or China, this book may not be the most authentic source, but if you are a foodie omnivore and relish the notion of experimenting with all sorts of dumplings, Yarvin is your man. Of course, if you are in love with Dutch apple dumplings, the recipe for that dessert may be worth the price of the book.

This book is hard to put down. It shows there is still a lot of kindness left in this world.

My ex-husband just completed walking the Appalachian Trail, so I tried to locate Steven's WORLDWALK book to give to him. While Steven's walk took 4 years & my ex's trip took 4 months, I still felt sure it was the same type of exciting adventure. I was amazed at Steven's story when I read it, & like Lou, I also heard him speak--his story couldn't be any more exciting than the fiction novels that I usually read. Guess I'll have to loan him my signed copy.

I'll admit to having a penchant for nonfiction. However, the next two sentences from Chapter 18 of Worldwalk stopped me COLD (not easy to do).

"I sensed a pocket of time and space where the past still weighed heavily on the second hand of the present. Where, instead of being trampled under, history was allowed to crumble away at its own pace."

They, alone, are worth the price of this book.

If you don't learn from, appreciate humankind more, and enjoy this book, I will remain forever in awe of an unreachable person who happens to occupy this planet at this time.

Do yourself a favor and curl up in your most comfortable place and allow Steven to "do the walking" for you - not through the Yellow Pages, but Around the World.

This is a great book. One of my favorite of all time. The adventure is well written and keeps the readers interest. It is educational, entertaining, and heartwarming.

This work has been around for a few years now and is one of those I kept meaning to read, but never seemed to get around to it. Thanks to an Amazon Friend who read my "wish list," I received this one on my birthday...Thanks Terry! Anyway, as I suspected, I have missed out on a great read for all of these years.

Worldwalk by Steven M. Newman is the true story of a young man, who at the age of 28, left his front door on a small town in Ohio, and walked around the world alone. This was not one of those walks with a gigantic support team or financed by some company or cause. This was a walk undertaken by a guy who wanted to see the world, to meet its people, who lived simply off the charity of others for the most part, and who sincerely wanted to learn. It is actually more of a pilgrimage that a journey. While it is certainly an adventure of the highest sort, it is so much more.

To begin with, this is one very lucky young guy. I have been to many of the places he walked, alone, with no support, no guide no special language skills and no special help. I on the other hand, was usually with people, heavily armed people, as I was myself, and I was still fearful many times. There is absolutely no reason that he should not have been killed a dozen times over, either through exposure, accidents or human intervention, i.e. robbery or murder. His journey began in Ohio, on April 1, 1983 where he walked east. He, in his travels passed though Scotland, Ireland, England, France, Spain, several countries in North Africa, Turkey, Greece, some of the Balkans, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Australia and the Western United States. He actually crossed around twenty countries. Steven Newman gives us a first hand account of the country, and more importantly profiles of the hundreds of people he met on his journey.

This is a very inspirational book. Newman pretty well proves his beginning belief, that is, that people all over the world are a pretty nice lot, and that despite cultural differences, religious differences, races, creeds, histories, and we are all pretty much the same. Most of us are down right good and a few of us are bad.

The author has told of his four year journey through simple prose, almost always upbeat, almost always realistic. I feel the author was a bit naïve at times, but perhaps that was an advantage and perhaps that is one of the things that allowed him to complete this spectacular journey. I was quite struck with the author's faith, not only in his God, but in the goodness of mankind...a rare thing these days.

I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the various individuals the writer encountered on his journey, and the record of the conversations he had with these individuals. I also enjoyed his description of the physical challenges he faced on a daily basis. This was truly inspiring.

Now this walk took place over twenty years ago and you would think that some, or most, of the material might be a bit dated. Not so! I suppose the one part of the book that did discourage me some what is that not all that much has changes in those twenty years, and if anything, things have gotten a bit worse. Still good people, but, as usual, poor governments. This is a very enjoy able read and I do highly recommend it. It is one of those books that you will hate to put down.

Craig Mathew's brief but detailed writings for each water is just great and stating plain facts. It's even just fun to read. Also, his store "Blue Ribbon Flies" is probably the best in West Yellowstone. Fly-fishing guides are very experienced and the store has lots of fly-tying material in high grades. I also recommend to review Craig's other book "Fly Fishing the Madison". That's also well-written with his smooth and detailed explanation. SY

Craig Matthews gives you great information and helps the reader pick and choose where to fish in YNP. With Matthews knowledge of the Park and insect activity it's hard to go wrong with this book. Great information on hatches,locations and whether the hike is worthwhile to take make this a great book. If you are planning on fishing YNP you need this book. I would also purchase his dvd on fishing Yellowstone National Park and on fishing the Madison.

This guide provides very detailed information on the rivers, streams and lakes in Yellowstone National Park, the fly hatches and terrestrials found on each (by month of year) and the best patterns to fish with. It also shows which fishing areas can be accessed by car and which require a long hike. I found it invaluable for planning a fly fishing trip to Yellowstone.

The "Go to Book" for fishing in the Park. Has all the information one needs to find "backcountry waters" as well as the "hotspots". I've fished Montanna for the last 7 years, but have never fished in the Park until last year. This book cut the learning curve by a considerable margin. Not only does he unleash his considerable knowledge of the "spots". He is very complete in informing the angler of the certain flies and times of the year to use them. I read this book practically every time I sit down to the flybench. Just to jog my memory on what to prepare for the coming trip. I wsih I had bought this years ago and fished the park alot earlier in my years. Could have cut alot of corners! Thanks Craig---great job!

This book is easy to use and extreamly useful. It splits the park up into four regions, tells you where (or not to) fish, and where to start looking in your flybox. I have used it the last 3 or 4 years and will use it as long as I vacation in Yellowstone. I have looked at several books on fishing in Yellowstone and this is by far the best that I have found.

This guidebook was perfect. It included all the information you would want to know visiting Yosemite. The pictures are beautiful and give you a great idea of what is to come. I think his descriptions of the trails were very accurate and helped make my trip to Yosemite perfect. I am going to buy all his books!!

Thought this was the best of the Yosemite guides I previewed. Great mini typo maps covering different areas of the park. My only complaint is that the maps are not oriented with North at the top, so it took some time to get the orientation correct. Other than that, the book is great.

Bought this book back in March for a trip in early May. At the time, there was only one review, but I bought it anyway as it was the most recently published guide available.

Wow - the day it arrived, I sat down and read it front to back. The history of the park, the geology, the history of the Native Americans who lived on the land ... I was so impressed that it was more than just a "camp here" and "eat here" kind of guide.

What this book has over the others out there:
- The most gorgeous photos. It made me giddy with excitement to go and see those places for myself!
- a small but helpful section with pictures of the most common wildlife and plantlife that you encounter in the park (ended more than one debate about "what flower is this?!")
- Information about the native tribes' names and legends for the features in the park, or other important history of a particular place, highlighted in boxes set off from the main text.
- A sizeable section on the High Sierra Camps and hikes around them. Absolutely made me want to do the whole circuit (maybe next year...)
- This guidebook was clearly a labor of love for the author. This wasn't compiled from a bunch of staff travel writers ... it was written by someone who obviously knows the park extremely well and has chosen to highlight only the best parts, to give readers the best experience in Yosemite.

Why this might not be the book for you:
- There are no compass markings on the detailed mini-maps. This bothered others in my group more than me.
- Very few details on lodging. Not a problem for me, as I already had accomodations booked, and the lodging choices in the park are few anyhow, but this book is better for planning your TRIP, not your STAY.
- The descriptions of the hikes are kind of vague. If you are going to Yosemite to back-country hike, this isn't the book for you. If you want the best day (or 2-day) hikes, he hits the great ones. I was relieved to see how well-marked they are once you're on the trail.

I thought this guidebook was absolutely cream of the crop. So did my mother and sister-in-law - they each wanted to steal it from me and keep it as a coffee table book! (I bought them each a copy once we returned home)

A great general information/guide book for Yosemite.

I highly recommend this book for everyone. If you haven't been to Yosemite before, you get high quality photos of what is to come and some great general trail information to help plan your trip. If you have been, it is still a good buy as it is more than just a trail guide. The first 100 pages provide history and geology of the area and are a quick but fun read. In my opinion, it is just a great overall book to own. I plan to purchase the author's books about other National Parks in the future.

I also purchased the Moon book for Yosemite. It has more details on hikes, but for the average vacationer, I think this book is better.

I purchased several books on Yosemite and found this one to be the
easiest to read and most useful.

Genre: Travel

Title: 31 Months in Japan: The Building of a Theme Park

Author: Larry K. and Lorna Collins

How do you prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in Japan? Every step is a challenge, from procuring the turkey to making the pumpkin pie. But Larry and Lorna Collins of California thrive on such adventures, and they've written an enthralling account of the joys and frustrations of their "31 Months in Japan."

Larry worked as an engineer on a major theme park project in Osaka. He writes about topics such as unexpected engineering challenges involving dinosaurs and sharks, field-testing the park's rides (and restaurants!), surfing Japanese-style, and the bureaucratic hassles of buying a car. Meanwhile Lorna delighted in the people they met, and she writes with warmth and enthusiasm of cross-cultural experiences shared with new friends. She also devotes a chapter to typhoons and another, perhaps even scarier, to driving in Japan.

This is a super book that radiates joie de vivre. You'll be inspired as you read of life-enriching episodes, and a little overwhelmed as you learn about the many small misunderstandings and irritations of expatriate living. At times humorous, surprising, and moving, "31 Months in Japan" is a must-read for all travelers, armchair and otherwise.


Highly Recommended by Reviewer: Julie Falkner, Allbooks Reviews.

This book accurately captures the experience of the working expat in Japan - coping with culture clashes in the office as well as adjustment pains in a foreign land. Larry and Lorna Collins tell the story of their trip to build Universal Studios Japan - the preparation, the work, the life in Japan and then the return.

As a reader with similar experiences, there were many, "The same thing happened to me" moments as they peeled the onion of Japanese culture, encountering and then digging through stereotypes. The book also provided quite a few "I wish I knew that back then" lessons. The old Japanese hand will also note the odd ironic event here and there, for example, being complimented on using chopsticks is a universal experience.

The mix of good nature and naive wonder experienced by Larry and Lorna come through strong. Perhaps the sincerity is why they made so many connections. Of course the cultural cynic won't be able to finish the book.

Worth the read, and makes me want to return to Japan.

I was utterly charmed by the experiences related from the viewpoint of the author husband and author wife. Not only were the glimpses of the Japanese culture intriguting and fascinating, but I was also awed by the descriptions of the different places visited by the authors. The insights into the actual building of a theme park in a foreign land kept me turning pages.

Having had the opportunity to see the authors at the recent Epicon made it even more interesting as I could imagine them as I read their words.

This is definitely a book for anyone who likes to read about new places and learn more about a different culture from first hand sources.

Thank you for many pleasant reading hours.

Marilyn Meredith, author of Wingbeat, latest in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series.

From the very first chapter, "31 Months in Japan : The Building of a Theme Park" by Larry K. and Lorna Collins, immerses the reader in a fascinating discovery of Japanese culture and the ingenious secrets that make the magic of a theme park real. This detailed and personal account of the trials and surprises involved in creating Universal Studios Japan is told in a warm familiar voice that many times had me musing that I would have reacted the same way as the narrators.

The Collins embark on their adventure with enthusiasm and open hearts, and this attitude enables them to make meaningful contact with their Japanese hosts, not just in the workplace where they face the challenges of turning dreams of an exciting theme park into smoothly-functioning reality, but also on the busy and often confusing streets of Osaka. If you wish to experience a view of another culture that goes beyond rapid tourist impressions or the surface veneer of international negotiations, this book is for you.

Another wonderful layer of the book is the intriguing behind-the-scenes perspective of the complicated mechanics that make all the parts of a major theme park mesh together to form a magical world of imagination come to life. I was spellbound by the innovative solutions that the team of engineers used to solve the complex problems involved in making giant mechanical dinosaurs and sharks interact with an artificial landscape and waterscape to produce a living theater capable of thrilling visitors again and again.

By the time you finish "31 Months in Japan" you will know the Collins well, and will appreciate having joined them on their rich journey to Japan and back. The theme park they helped create is a testament to how drawing on the strength and vision of many individuals and even different cultures can take a project to admirable and unexpected heights. I strongly recommend this outstanding book.

Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (3/06)

Co-author Larry K. Collins was a project engineer assigned to the construction of the amusement park Universal Studios Japan, and Lorna, his wife was in Document Control. For 31 months, Larry and Lorna lived in Japan during the building of Universal Studios Japan, moving to Osaka in August 1998 from their permanent home in Dana Point, California until the park opened on March 31, 2001. "31 Months in Japan" is the story of the culture shocks the Collins encountered, the wonderful friends they made, and the sharing of their many interesting challenges and adventures, beginning with the first obstacle in May 1998 when they learned their building site was contaminated and the subsequent 18 month clean-up.

"31 Months in Japan" will entice those curious about traveling to or possibly living in Japan. The behind the scenes work that goes on during the construction of a theme park is also covered, so if you are enthralled with all the plans that go into building a theme park from the obtaining of the land until the gates are opened to the public, you will be entertained.

The book is written like a journal, Larry writing about his encounters as a project engineer, working on the Jurassic Park and JAWS water rides, along with the Water World show, then Lorna sharing her experiences with obtaining housing, cooking and working in Japan. They cover the gamut in telling us about Japanese fashions, home furnishings, festivals, holidays, weather, roadways, maps, parking, waste removal system, communal bathing, golf, rituals, work ethic, appropriate social behavior, and obtaining and preparing familiar food.

At the beginning of each chapter, a new Japanese word is introduced with its pronunciation and meaning, and we are then told a story of how that Japanese word relates to an encounter shared by the Collins. By the end of the book, we should have a few Japanese words in our memory.

The differences between America and Japan were eye opening. Larry experienced driving with only ½" between his left front tire and a three foot ditch running along the side of the road. When passing another vehicle, Larry relates there would be only a scant 1/4" space between the two vehicles door-to-door. Also, before purchasing a car in Japan, the Collins learned one must first have an assigned place to park it. A final random thought I found interesting was that American pizza in Japan has corn atop, is drizzled with mayonnaise, and has toppings of seafood and seaweed.

The Collins eagerly and enthusiastically share with us their experiences of Japan. They tell us about Jurassic Mark, Raouf Iskander, the Nihon Cowboy, their Japanese "daughter" Yasuko and Jurassic Jack. The Collins came back changed individuals but only for the better. It is obvious of the great love they felt for the many special friendships solidified by their times in Japan. The Collin's book is a tribute to the great number of colorful personalities that came together to make the building of Universal Studios Japan a success!

This is my third copy of the Cosmic Ray book; the other copies have been "borrowed" and not returned. The maps are amusing, and it fits into a jacket pocket pretty easy...Good book if you like a cartoon type picture.

I have both hiking books--Best of Phoenix and Best of Flagstaff/Sedona. In fact, I am on my second copy of both as I have lent my first Phoenix copy to a friend (it disappeared) and wore out the first copy of my the Flagstaff/Sedona book. The maps are easy to follow and the topographical maps are awesome. Whenever I go hiking, I have two little girls (ages 1 and 4) in tow, so it is necessary to know the terrain inside and out before ever leaving home... Cosmic Ray is so detailed and so accurate that I never worry about being misinformed. Buy a copy for yourself and buy one for a friend... That way yours won't go missing!

Just got back from Arizona- and we used this book extensively as it was easy to read, the maps accurate, and the book is quite entertaining. My 6 year old son stated that the Lava River Cave trail "changed his life" (in a good way). The trail trips turned out to be the highlight of our trip!! The authors advise is excellent and the designation of level of difficulty is on target.

This is it...look no further...

Trail maps and information as well as local business area beta....covers all the well-known hikes and even some of the lesser known...

A must hiking guide for Northern Arizona.

Both Sedona and Flagstaff are covered....the book is stout and put together very well; this sturdiness provides needed protection in your pack!!

As a transplanted Montanan, I don't trust much advice on hiking in Arizona. I thank you for the Favorite Hikes book. I used to hike in the Glacier and Bozeman area but have been out of the action for a few years since moving to Flagstaff and having a baby. I have found this guide to be accurate and reliable when planning hikes with my son and/or dog. Thanks again. Buying this book is the best 10 bucks I ever spent.

REALLY, REALLY liked this book. There are 52 chapters with 52 great weeknd adventures. This is a perfect book for someone new to Arizona like me, but I'm sure locals will get some good use out of it too. The maps and all the extra information are really useful. The color photos are spectacular. Much, much better than other Arizona guides out there.

The authors do a really good job of motivating readers like me to get off the couch and try something new. After I bought the book, our first weekend escape was when I took my wife hot air ballooning in Sedona. Then about a month later, my wife and I contacted one of the outfitters listed in the Grand Canyon hiking chapter, and we took a long weekend 4-day hiking trip down to Havasupai. When we got there, we couldn't believe we're still in Arizona with the beautiful waterfalls and all the incredible scenery. Plus we saved about $$$ thanks to one of the coupons in the back of the book -- this coupon alone paid for the book and then some. Thanks! (Great idea! I figured the least I could do was write a thorough review.)

I'm looking forward to the winter so we can go try a weekend of dogsledding... Who would have thought dogsledding in Arizona! Thanks a lot guys. Great book!

This book is great for anyone who lives in Arizona and is looking for some exciting things to do on weekends. The book is set up by season and the degree of difficulty for each adventure, so there is something for everyone. The pictures are beautiful and the directions are really great. If you are going to visit Arizona and would like to try some different activities this book is for you.

Great book. Tons of amazing pictures that inspire me to get off the couch and get outdoors. I lived in Phoenix for 3 years and never knew that all of these awesome adventures were right at my doorstep. Writing is informative and entertaining. I would highly recommend this book.

I really liked the book alot! It's pretty hard not to come up with something to do when you have 52 options. We've had the book for just over a month and and when we bought it, we decided to go have some fun this year.

First, we went Paragliding on Lake Pleasant and had a blast! Plus saved money from the included coupon. Then last weekend we hiked Peralta Canyon. It's amazing what's out there.

This book is the ultimate guide. You are not an Arizonan unless you have experienced its glory, and this book will get you there. I moved here from New Mexico and now feel more at home than the few natives I know. I can get out every weekend and enjoy my life, and it's not expensive. In addition I can save with the coupons.
Recommend: Go try the Parasailing and the Hummer Tour! (Coupons!)

I bought it as a gift for my husband who is into photography. He's really enjoying it. It arrived before Christmas too even though I got an email that said it would be late. I've had good experience w/ amazon on book orders.

This is a beautiful book of photography done by one of the most outstanding nature photographers America has ever known. The photos from all over N. America are outstanding. A wonderful coffee table book. Also an inspirational book for photographers or anyone desiring to be amongst the glories of nature. Galan Rowell knew what to look for in a great photograph.

I love this book! I'm in to landscape photography and this book is some of the best examples out there.

This book is packed full of breath-taking scenery with every page, from front cover to back, presenting exquisite photos of North American treasures. It is a picture book filled with eye candy for the nature lover, world traveler, and science enthusiast. I highly recommend this book to inspire your soul, renew your mind, and lift your spirits.

I have been a fan of Galen Rowell's work for years, and I had been anticipating getting a compendium of his North American work for a while. If you want to see some of Rowell's best from a technical standpoint, then by all means grab a copy, but be warned that this is some of the worse image quality I've seen in a photography book published in the last 10 years. Most pictures are overly grainy, there are some major pixel problems where colors blend (particularly in colorful sky shots), and color casts often don't match his originals. With the technology as good as it presently is, this is inexcusable for such an expensive book. Rowell deserved better.