Park Books

Purchased for my grandson (age 12) who has read almost all of this series and is collecting the complete set. As a grandparent, these books foster the habit of reading and we have taken our grandson to several of the national parks written in this series. We first bought a book about 3 years ago at Mesa Verde and our grandson got hooked on them.

Thanks to the author!

I think this book was very good. It had a lot of action and suspense. In my opinion this book is one of the best in the series because of all the drama and suspense.


This book is about Jack, Ashley, and their parents going to Death Valley National Park and they bring a girl named Leesa Sherman. They all go to a place named Skidoo which is suppose to be a Ghost Town. Ashley tells them this freaky story about a man who got hung because he killed a lot of people. He was buried in a mine shaft. Jack gives Ashly a two-way radio and Ashley and Leesa go and look at some things before a sand storm comes. They see Leesa running toward them without Ashley and she said she lost her during the storm. They keep trying to contact her on the radio Jack gave her but there was no answer. All of a sudden they hear a voice come over the radio saying, "We have Ashley Landon and we are keeping her until Leesa Sherman is returned to us."


I recommend this book to a 11-13 year old or someone who likes mystery books.

I liked this book because there was alot of action when Ashley was captured.I also liked in the end how Leesa went back with her mother and not to the Unit. This is a good book to read. If your interested in this book pick it up and start reading, especially if you like mysteries.

As an owner of all of the Michael Boyd books in the series "Naked Places," I can report after reading the 5th edition, if you can find the 4th Edition, get it and keep it! The new 5th edition is a huge disappointment in its lack of U-S sites, lack of interesting pictures and overall content. The older third and fourth editions are better edited and have snappier pictures.
Get one while you can and skip the 5th!

This book (and its earlier editions) has been worth its weight in gold for finding clothing optional places in Hawaii, Italy, Key West and even locally here in the Phoenix area. Naked Places led me to what I think is the most gorgeous nude beach anywhere, that being Little Beach on the island of Maui. The photos in the book are very nice, but the descriptions are what really help the reader decide where they want to go. This is my Number One travel guide, as it should be for any man who likes to vacation naked and naturally.

As far as I am concerned, Naked Places is the best gay travel guide out there. True, this book zooms in precisely on my main travel interests, namely gay nude beaches and resorts. But what really impresses me is how amazingly detailed and well written this book is, and the amount of information is really awesome... TOP NOTCH! I have every edition of this book and Mr. Boyd continues to out-do himself with each updated version. I really appreciate the fact that the author has gone to the effort of explaining in detail the risks involved in going to certain "traditional" nude beaches where it is technically illegal to be naked. You can read the facts and then make an informed decision about what risks you are willing to take. One of the things I most like about this newest version is the fact that all photos are reader submitted. The photos are nice to look at (and they do show EVERYTHING) but do not look like posed model shots. You can really imagine seeing one of these guys at a nude beach! This is a terrific book, and if you've ever thought about going to a nude beach or staying at a gay resort with a "clothing optional" policy, this is your book.

Another stunning book of American Landscape!!
He never cease to amaze me after so many years.
Bob Kim

After seeing these photos, I'm further inspired to visit all the national parks!
The essays were unnecessary and took space away from additional photos.

What a beautiful book! Covering all of our nation's National Parks, David Muench's photography is incredible. From the Great Sand Dunes to Canyonlands, from Carlsbad to Glacier, he's captured our nation's most beautiful land. Great quality book--I immediately wanted to hike up a mountain.

My Grandparents met @ this Great Camp on Lake Lila in the mid 1930's, both employed by the Webb family. I found it an interesting live history read from the same era my grandparents were there. Beautiful descriptions of the Adirondacks and life in woods in the early 1940's.

Both my husband and I enjoyed this book. How many women would have even considered watching a fire tower middle of the Adirondacks back in 1942? The book is well written, easy to read and contains some interesting history from that time. I highly recommend it.

There are many autobiographical books concerning the Adirondack wilderness, but few come as close to the heart or reality as Frances Boone Seaman does. Set during World War II, the author describes wilderness life in great detail and realistic dialogue. Having grown up in the hamlet of Long Lake, N.Y., the author has the opportunity to first be a waitress at the famed luxurious mountain retreat of millionaire Dr. Seward Webb, the man who built the first major railroad through the Adirondacks. Working as a waitress at this lodge on the remote Lake Lila, Francis experiences the lives of the rich and famous. The people as well as the incredible beauty mesmerize her. Later, she is asked to be the first woman to occupy an extremely remote fire tower for the duration of the fire season. During this stay she experiences isolation, bear confrontations, severe thunderstorms and the constant fear of another major fire. Meanwhile she longs for her boyfriend who has since gone off to war. Never losing her sensibility or her love for her wilderness job, Frances takes the reader to a period and a place that few have had the opportunity to experience. It was another time long gone, but the sheer romanticism she writes about is immensely rewarding.

This book is terrific. He is very detailed, and offers such useful info as which trails and climbs allow dogs, horses, etc. I leafed through the book for this reason; I like to bring my dog to new places as much as possible. I only wish I had this book 8 years ago, because my dog is nine! The rating system is outstanding as well; 1-5 for difficulty, 1-10 for atmosphere/view. This book has inspired me to make plans to enjoy more of these hikes and to get in optimal shape. The feeling I had on the first small mountain I climbed with my dog was overwhelming - such beauty to behold, but also the feeling of accomplishment I felt. It has changed my outlook on life. On a practical note, if you live in Eastern MA like I do, you know there are few places you can take your unleashed dog; well read this book, hop in the car and drive! I cannot praise this book or its author enough. I wish this had been a bestseller - Lanza deserves it.

I'm just beginning hiking and found this book to be great in locating a variety of trails. Whether you're a beginner or expert you'll find the right trail for you. This book has trails that range from 45 minutes to 5 days. "Butt Kickers to strolls in the park".

Mike Lanza's ``New England Hiking'', published by Foghorn Press, is an excellent guide to more than 350 trails in all six of the New England states. The guide is useful for both experienced and beginning hikers. Major features of the guide include: - Six state maps that show numbered references to particular trails, and locate the trailheads. Accompanying each state map is an index that cross-references detailed trail information in the guide. - Individual trail descriptions indicate hiking distance and time, directions to the trailhead, maps and contacts, and notes that tell the hiker what to expect on the trail. - For each trail, there's also the author's overall rating from poor (1) to great (10), and the degree of difficulty from ``a stroll'' (1) to ``a real butt-kicker'' (5). In my experience on about 10% of the trails in the guide, the ratings are accurate, and should be especially useful to beginners or to those new to New England hiking. One of the outstanding features of the trail notes is the author's personal observations and advice, which in most guide books tend to be stilted and impersonal. For example, concerning the Isolation Trail in the New Hampshire White Mountains, Mike writes: ``On day two, hike north three-tenths of a mile on the Davis Path to where the Isolation trail turns west (left) toward the valley of the Dry River; be careful, because this trail junction is easily overlooked -- especially, I can tell you, when it lies under four feet of snow.'' In his description of the very challenging Huntington Ravine Trail on Mt Washington, tallest peak in the northeastern U.S., he cautions: ``Discard all your preconceived notions of hard trails. Huntington Ravine has earned a reputation as the most difficult regular hiking trail in the White Mountains for good reason,'' and then he goes on with detailed descriptions of that trail's particular challenges. The index to the guide shows not only the trail name but also geographical features such as mountains, lakes, state parks, and towns, making it easy for the user to find trail descriptions in the text. If you use this guide it will be almost like having Mike Lanza along to recommend a hike. The final section of the text lists Mike's recommendations of the best hikes in New England in each of 23 categories, including Fall foliage viewing For children up to age seven Coastline or island hikes Easy backpacking Solitude and remoteness Mountain biking Cross-country skiing. The ``New England Hiking'' guide is highly recommended for those who plan to hike in the northeastern U.S. It's the single guide that all hikers -- from beginners to peak-baggers -- should have. And Mike's lively writing makes it ideal for the ``armchair hiker'', who prefers to read about the sport rather than actually swatting black flies or avoiding thunderstorms on the trail

The New Jersey State Parks Camping & Recreation Guide by Scott Zamek is a wonderful book for people want to explore the beautiful wildlife areas of New Jersey. To quote the book's preface, "It is for anyone wishing to explore New Jersey's little-known corners, quiet campgrounds, and mountain corridors...".

Because our family enjoys camping, I especially appreciate how the author goes into detail about each campground of each state park. He includes maps and tips on which sites are the best.

Within each state park chapter, the author also includes a section called "Surrounding Points of Interest". These sections include wildlife areas from all parts of the state.

I highly recommend this book. This book is about some of New Jersey's greatest treasures.

As avid birders and outdoorsmen we plan to use the especially
well defined section of New Jersey State Parks Camping and
Recreation Guide which refers to where migrating birds and
horseshoe crabs can be located. Thanks to this well organized
guide we were able to plan our upcoming trip from Michigan to
New Jersey. One should not limit the purchase of this book to
just camping as we were able to find a great cabin near the
Reeds Beach area mentioned in the book. Great maps and trail
guides for other areas as well.

I visit state parks a lot, and this is the first book I've seen with all the information I'm looking for.

The trail maps and mileage tables are great - I can go for a quick hike after work without having to find a map behind the park office desk. I like the campground maps as well. They have desriptions of all the prime camping spots and recommendations for both wilderness campgrounds and family oriented sites.

I also do a lot of obscure sports like butterfly watching and cross-country skiing, and the guidebook covers those activities, plus rock climbing, birding, and horseback riding (it also has the mainstream activities like picnicking and swimming).

The book covers about 80 or so wildlife areas in New Jersey, and it's been a great help for the ones I've visited so far. I would recommend this book to anyone living in or near New Jersey who likes the outdoors.

A stellar tome on the perils past and present of nuclear waste disposal. The best book I've read about the Yucca mountains in a long, long time.

A wonderful and comprehensive look at the situation facing Yucca Mountain and the nation as a whole. I couldn't put it down - Ms. Ginsburg is a gifted writer!

A stellar tome on the perils past and present of nuclear waste disposal. The best book I've read about the Yucca mountains in a long, long time.

"O Lord Have Mercy" is the endearing and provocative story of a generation of young women striving to create meaningful choices for themselves in an era of limited options.

`O LORD HAVE MERCY' is a well written easy to read story of Lucy and her
classmates, fresh out of high school, learning to cope with a "shock treatment" introduction to nursing care in the early fifties.

The story takes the reader along side by side with the naïve young students as they
learn to deal with life and death situations, form deep friendships and maintain a `normal' life of dating.

To anyone who grew up during the late 1940s and early 1950s, this enlivened read should prove a nostalgic remembrance. But, no matter in what era a reader earned their own right of passage, most will find plenty they can identify with throughout the pages of this coming of age through "trial and error" tale - a first book by Mary Lou Parks.

The author is a typical middle American high school girl of her time, plucked by graduation from that relatively comfortable routine, and plunged into responsible adulthood virtually overnight via enrollment in a draconian school of nursing where, on some occasions, a young student had better do, or the patient die.

Already conflicted with resentment and anger at being deprived of her rightful entitlements by "normal" societal "attitudes" of those days, not to mention a stern and disapproving mother, the young girl is paradoxically shy and timid, yet brave and adventuresome -- naïve and ignorant, yet wise and astute -- possessing of a soft heart, yet tough-minded.

Her autobiographical story chronicles the typical nursing education experience of the era -- via a process benefiting from too little proper academic study, too little prior classroom experience, too little financial resources of the institution - and inadequate equipment, inadequate time available for duties, inadequate patience and understanding of superiors, not to mention inadequate sleep for the slavishly overworked students.

Too often, superiors are intimidating, cruel, and abusive tyrants - sadistic Sisters of Mercy in charge of the institution - egotistical and misogynic surgeons -- occasionally mitigated by a few who are understanding and kind. Too often, incidents of tragedy illustrate the agony experienced when the ill-equipped, or barely equipped (sometimes all alone), student nurse must fight with every resource she can muster -- only to lose a mother in childbirth, or a young child to cancer -- afterward retreating into a closet to cry -- and we want to go in there, close the door, and cry with her.

All the while, the young student nurses are forging friendships which will last forever, while simultaneously contemplating the uncertainties of their evolving core beliefs, working through their inner conflicts, and wondering how God can allow such cruel and painful tragedy to befall innocent victims - as well as sneaking out of the dorm after hours for pizza, climbing up to the forbidden rooftop to sunbathe, borrowing one another's clothes, attending "mixer" dances to meet guys, dating, parking and "making out," and hoping to soon meet Prince Charming and retire to the ideal life.

The accounts are vivid -- situations and predicaments the young student nurses find themselves in almost daily are often menacing, creating tension and suspense. But there are sweet and tender moments too, as the young student's yearnings and anticipations -- daydreaming of saving lives, graduating, successful careers, marriage -- or simply of gaining revenge for unfairness -- create another type of tension and suspense, but more of the feel-good variety.

All in all, the story is compelling and rewarding reading. Not only does it present a colorful reflection of one young student nurse's coming of age in our 1950s culture, it paints a good picture of how we all come of age when faced with "do or die" situations. Most of us, should feel fortunate not to need to routinely deal with the frustration of watching helplessly while someone dies. Although, surely, we are less well equipped to deal with life and with our ultimate destiny than those who have gone through "training."

Reviewed by Jimmy Zimmerman

I think I'll give the book a 5 star rating because I've seen it before; but, I have been waiting for 6 weeks for it to be delivered. Anyone have an idea how I can get Amazon to respond and get this book moving thru the system to reach me? Obviously, they think it's been delivered since they sent me this email to review it !

I received the book in a very quick fashion and was pleased with this transaction. Hopefully my boyfriend will enjoy the book as his christmas present. Thanks!

Jack Park is a historian of Ohio State athletics and is often featured on local or national specials on university sports.

The encyclopedia is an outstanding resource for Buckeye gridiron fans or for those who appreciate the heritage of the team, though the rooting interest may be for some other school.

It takes the reader back to the beginning of football at the school and how it grew from a regional program to a national power. Ohio State football parallels many of the programs that yearly make strong runs at conference and national crowns & the history has numerous personalities, star players and wacky games that makes for great discussions.

There has not been an updated edition or a separate book as a companion edition - to bring the material up to the recently past season - but it is not "old." The enthusiasm of Park chimes through such events as the Snow Bowl, to the Rivalry Renewed - Buckeyes vs. Notre Dame, and the rich heritage from the Illi-Buck games and the contests against that school from up north!

Just want to say that this is really a fantastic book.
Carl Jennings did a really great job. I have gave several
copys to friends for Christmas. I new Carl at the old Peony Park
and I wish him all the best at his new Peony Park in Wahoo Nebraska. The many pictures cover Peony Parks history in 1919
to the present. Just learned the book is now in it's second
addition, and a movie is being made,"Peony Park an American Legend" this year. Great!

Love ya,

Barb

This is a fantastic book on Peony Park!
I had no idea how famous it was. The author did
such a nice job with all the pictures.
So happy to see there will be a new Peony Park soon.

Sincerely,

Barb Berg

The book is so cool, really neat story.
Peony Park has such a neat place in history!
I look forward to going to the new Peony Park
this summer.