Resorts Books

As a 10 year old girl, I was stricken with Polio. This was in 1944. My home was in Florida. Within two weeks, my hometown doctor had contacted a doctor friend at Georgia Warm Springs Foundation and I was admitted to that wonderful facility. That year I spent 8 months undergoing Physical Therapy. I was one of the fortunate ones who recovered enough to walk without the aid of braces. I had a spinal curve and while it never got better, it never got worse. Three years later I had some surgery on my right foot.

While I was at Warm Springs Foundation in 1944, President Roosevelt was able to come for the annual Founders Day Dinner at Thanksgiving. I was included in a short skit during the prepared program of entertainment. At the end of the dinner, President Roosevelt sat at the doorway in his wheelchair and shook hands and had a few words with each of us as we wheeled past him. That is an unforgettable memory I have. I didn't realize then (now age 11) how amazing it was for the president to even be at Warm Springs. After all, he had just been elected to a 4th term as president and World War II was raging in both Europe and Japan. He was tired and was not really doing well physically.

I was able to return home that December. In April, 1945, President Roosevelt died at his Little White House in Warm Springs. I felt as though I had lost my best friend.

This book included many pictures of things I remember well. I would recommend it to anyone interested in history, polio, President Roosevelt,
or physical therapy. It is really a picture book with a narrative. I treasure it.

Lynn L. Rice

As a polio survior, I have been to the Warm Springs Clinic, so I am interested in anything I can find on this subject. I was very much impressed with the books' detail and overall reading and pictures. I would recommend the book to anyone who would have an interest in this type of book.

I bought one at the Bulloch House in Warm Springs and went to pick up two more for Christmas gifts and they had sold out. Amazon had them luckly and I received before Christmas. The book is really incredible and I agree with the other reviews. Between the hbo movie and their museum, this book is a treasure of photographs. Arcadia has some really good photo books but this is one of their best.

After I watched the movie on HBO about Warm Springs, I was so impressed with the subject that I bought and read everything that I could about Warm Springs and FDR. I have come to the conclusion that one can talk about FDR without mentioning Warm Springs but one cannot talk about Warm Springs without mentioning FDR. The authors have done a magnificent job of researching the subject. Their story flows seamlessly from their introduction and throughout each of the carefully written photographic captions. I loved it. I encourage every American to read this book, it's uplifting and educational at the same time. Well done to the authors for writing this book.

My father was a polio at the Warm Springs Foundation during the 1940s and he was at the Thanksgiving dinner in 1944. FDR was there but I had never seen a picture of him as many do not exist of the Thanksgiving dinners Roosevelt attended. All of the children performed skits and this book covered everyone of the things dad talked about regarding his stay in Warm Springs. Although I have some photos given to me of Warm Springs, this book did more than just add images to my dads memories, I was able to learn why Warm Springs is, and why FDR came there and how America benefitted from FDR going there. If you want to see images of President Roosevelt in a way that has not been portrayed before, this is it. I loved the Little White House chapter. Each chapter begins with a nice quote from Roosevelt stating his thoughts and the chapters are chronological from the times when Indians used the springs to today. I also saw the HBO movie with Kenneth Brannagh as FDR and it too only whetted my appetite for more information. I am giving mine to dad for Christmas as a visit down memory lane that honors the president of his time. Good picture book altogether and a good story read.

Many in our "free" country are not free from emotional pain from the past. They are not free to act and react in ways they choose, as if an unseen grip kept them locked in patterns of behavior that are self-defeating.

Such a person is the main character of "When the Heart Soars Free." Jerry truly wants to live responsibly but unseen forces smother his best intentions. How he finds help and what he discovers about his self-defeating actions makes this book a must read. I'm ready for the sequel!

I read Kay Moore's book about a month ago and I couldn't put it down. I'm 16 and I'm a pretty big reader but When the heart Soars Free is on my top ten list. It takes so many twists and turns it is completley unpredictable! If you read When the Heart Soars Free you will not regret it. I don't want to give the whole thing away but this book is amazing!

Being an ardent reader of Christian fiction, I am continuously searching for books that are more than a "love story". "WHEN THE HEART SOARS FREE" balances the romance of young love with practical Bibical principles that must be applied to strengthen relationships. I recommend "WHEN THE HEART SOARS FREE" to anyone who has ever struggled with loss, lack of self-worth, or wondering if God cares about the events in our lives. Thank you, Kay Moore, for showing human conflicts that can be resolved through the power of God's forgiveness and love.

WHEN THE HEART SOARS FREE is an insightful book with a powerful message that can almost be read in a single sitting--it is virtually impossible to put it down until the last page is read. Kay Moore's writing style is so definitive and given to such detail that it is almost like watching a movie in your mind as you read--the rich descriptions make visualization so easy. The story is so "today" as there are people everywhere hurting in much the same way as the book's main characters, Jerry and Carol. This book is such a source of hope in the way it reveals the beauty of God's forgiveness, and His desire to "wipe the slate clean" and offer the hurting a new, fresh start. It offers hope not only to those lost and in search of meaning in life, but also to those needing to grow and mature in their spiritual walk and earthly relationships. The story is so touching and so beautifully revealed that I often found myself reaching for a tissue to dry my eyes so that I could read on. I can't wait to share my copy of WHEN THE HEART SOARS FREE with friends and family!

I am an avid reader of Christian fiction. I found "When the Heart Soars Free" refreshingly different as it deals with heart issues that are common to many of us. The salvation message is clearly presented as are ways of breaking free from emotional issues which can keep us defeated. I highly recommend "When the Heart Soars Free".

I found this book extremely helpful, covering every aspect of the rides,food, accomodation & recommendations.

Even if you have been to Disneyland before, this book is fun, informative and entertaining. I started buying these guides in 1997 and have bought one every year since. We are planning a big multi-family vacation and I recently bought each family their own copy!

This is a really useful book, tons of tips, saved me a lot $$ and time. The most valuable thing I learn is to rent a multi-family vacation house with my friends, 16 people for $199 a day. We all enjoy the stay at a luxury emerald island resort. check this out: http://www.cyberrentals.com/index.cfm/property/126687

I never plan any "Disney" trip without this book. They keep it as up to date as possible (always call before going). And have wonderful "tips" that others don't know about.

Our family are Walt Disney World veterans who are now thinking about heading to California to see what Disneyland has to offer. We really enjoy the Birnbaum's Official Guide to Walt Disney World and when we began to research Disneyland, I knew that along with the Unoffical Guide, The Disneyland version was a guidebook I had to have. The photos are great, the information is complete, and it does not have an "official" slant feeling. The extra section detailing the 50th Anniversary Celebration is a great bonus, as well as the information on things to do in the general Disneyland area. We do plan to head west before the celebration is complete and this guidebook has given us a real feel for what to expect. I highly recommend it.

Has there ever been a more unlikely hero than Richard Gillies? I don't know one.

A socially awkward, somewhat introverted, Social Security claims analyst in Manhattans lower east side, our first glimpses into his inner landscape show a slightly creepy office savant whose most joyful moments arise during his innocent but fantasy tinged interactions with a married coworker. From these humble beginnings, however, he evolves into a highly principled and courageous bureaucratic knight in shining armor, risking all that he has and even endangering his dream girl, so that a wild collection of bizarre and unfortunate individuals can justly partake of society's benefits. Even when he is finally discovered and threatened with prosecution, he remains courageous and true to his ideals,and in so doing provides inspiration for others to display their better selves.

The strength of character which he comes to display was always there, it seems, but never reached the surface, mostly because it wasn't needed. Crucial to its emergence is the General, a father figure and martyred leader, who may be roughly and partially modeled after a real psychoanalytic business maven named Leonard Strahl. The conjunction of Richards own unique brilliance at the SSA bureaucratic process with his innate sense of justice and compassion, nudged on by the General, creates an underground superhero who we can all marvel at, however unhappily improbable he may be in real life.

Throughout the tale, there are numerous fascinating and lascivious subplots showing others besides Richard who develop and bring to the surface their own higher aspirations and potentials...or not....It's kinda like a snow ball effect when one person breaks free of the things which limit their own true expression, and in realizing their better self inspires others to do the same.

Plus the good guy gets the girl in the end !

Something for everybody !!! WooHoo!!!

Bureaucrat is a compelling read, which is surprising because the protagonist is one of the least sympathetic subspecies of homo sapiens: the Social Security Administration claims representative. The author makes one care about the claim rep Richard and his two beloveds, one a fellow worker, one a client. Just as notable an accomplishment is he also forces us to care about Richard's many other clients, memorable characters from New York's homeless population. Be carried along as the plot unfolds and as Richard acquires and avoids self-knowledge; it is an engaging journey.

Eric Rosenblatt mines the subterranean world of New York City--and the human heart--in this perplexing new novel. His protagonist, Richard Gillies, is Elckerlijc--Everyman--wrestling with moral ambiguity. Ultimately, Gillies understands that in the end, a person will only have his good deeds to accompany him beyond the grave. A significant work of staggering complexity from a promising young author.

The people in this novel are related to Chekhov's characters: they live submerged lives and they evolve in fascinating and surprising ways as the story turns. This is a great unknown work of art--and it's also accessible to people who like Pee Wee Herman.

This is a story of a middle-income guy risking it all to give the city's loonies a proper chance at life. This along with a romantic twist and a clever plot becomes an intriguing, page-turning, honest novel with wit and integrity. And the imagery of New York City is fascinating! I absolutely recommend this book - I couldn't put it down!

The only improvement that could be made is the coupons in the back of the book could have expiration dates a little later in the following year. I purchased this book in January of 2000 for a trip in Febuary and the coupons touted as saving up to $1000 expired in December of 1999. Other than that the book is very eazy to understand and will be very useful in our upcoming trip.

We used this book on our trip and saved *much* more than the cost of the book by using the coupons inside.

This is the best guide I have come across for Walt Disney World and the Orlando area. I had purchased several different books in 1999 when we took our first trip. I am purchasing this book again for our upcoming trip. Each park and it's attractions are covered in detail with helpful Power Trip info that helps make the most of your time. In addtion there are several other Orlando attractions that are covered in this book with detail covering Universal's parks and Sea World.

The book also reviews many hotels including Disney's, critiquing each in detail. Includes pricing and some of the ameneties, tips on the best times to travel to Orlando in relation to crowds, weather, and how to negotiate the best packages and pricing.

The candidness of the author and reviewers of the parks contained within this book are remarkable and really helped us plan our trip using our limited time to the best of our advantage.

I highly recommend this book as one to use to plan your Orlando vacation.

I think this book is great for fun family vacations. I have used it myself. My family had the best time. We knew where everything was and how to find it. This guide is easy to read and gives great directions. It shows maps great detailed maps of anywhere you want to go. Buy this book. Your family and you will have the best time!

We used this book on our vacation and saved *much* more than the cost of the book by using the great coupons inside.

An outstanding book covering the founding and development of one of the great ski and resort areas in the country. .

The photographs alone are worthy of buying this book. There are plenty of rare b&w shots of mammoth from the turn of the 20th century on up and prime photos of the Mccoy legend. One of my favorite shots is Dave's Harley with skis strapped to it--circa late '30's! In addition, the text is nicely written giving you a sense of the key players in the development of mammoth as a ski town, mammoth in the world of ski racing, and nice vignettes on some unique things to the eastern sierra--from Schat's Bakkery to big horn sheep.

This book is awesome! The pictures are excelent and the information is great. Nice to know what Mammoth used to look like before it became the famous place that it is today.

Anyone who likes skiing will love this book. Forstenzer's familiarity with the Sierra makes it one that won't just sit around on the coffee table. He writes engagingly and tells great stories about the early days of skiing in Mammoth and its culture, how the ski area was built and some of the people involved. The photographs are astonishing and well worth the price alone, but in combination with the writing Forstenzer lets us glimpse what made Mammoth Mountain the great ski resort it has become. This is a terrific book about past and present skiing days at Mammoth. Like most any ski item associated with Warren Miller - breathtaking!

Absolutely the most beautiful collection of photos of Mammoth and the surrounding area can be found in this book! It provides a wonderful history and insight into the creation and life of this skiing Mecca. This is a must have for any Mammoth lover!

I really enjoy this book. I've checked it out at least five times. Each resort section has alot of helpful information. It makes planning a trip a breeze. David Holyoak really nailed it.

Very informative but dated. The lift ticket prices listed are significantly below the actual rate in some cases (i.e. Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Moutain). They should be updated.

David Holyoak's Ski North America Guide is first class. Nothing like this has been published before. This stocky, well-illustrated guide to all the significant North American ski resorts contains intelligent, un-flowery text and good practical advice. A must for any skier or snowboarder seeking the reality behind the American dream, I wish I'd written it myself.

Arnie Wilson, ski author and editor, Financial Times ski correspondent for 18 years who, in 1994, became the first person to ski for 365 consecutive days (Guinness Book of Records), including more than 100 resorts in North America

This book by far surpasses excellent. If you are planning a ski trip and are interested in going somewhere new this book seems to have it all. It lists every major ski area in the United States. Every ski resort mentioned is chronicaled by state and gives you area and mountain facts and most have their trail map pictured as well. It also lists local airports, directions from most areas to the ski resort as well as lodging suggestions. I could go on and on about the other little tidbits within the publication but you'll just have to read it yourself.

Being new to the States as well as a crazy skier I spent hours on the net trying to collect information about different resorts. This book is the first, and so far the only book, that gives very detailed, professional overview while providing non-biased information about resorts. I visited many resorts in the States in the last 2 years and compared my impressions with the reviews in the book - you can relay on the book! Great advantage of this edition is a an amount of illustrations such as aerial photos, maps of the area, etc. I wish there will be similar book about skiing in Europe.
On the down side I would expect more info about resorts on the NE (for example, my favorite Whiteface is not included).

A surprise-package of superior recipes, using fresh regional ingredients. Even in a land-locked city, these recipes work. Frequently, a simple twist - imagined by a seasoned chef - lofts standard foods to mouth-watering levels. Once discovered, this book will be treasured.

I especially enjoyed this cookbook with some of the most creative yet simple recipes, from the premier restaurants, resorts and luxury hotels. Rarely do you get a "who's who" of chefs providing the most delicious recipes in one cookbook. This cookbook gives one the opportunity to test his/her culinary skills and impress those coming together to enjoy good food. I can't wait try the recipes and enjoy the outcomes with family and friends.

An outstanding cookbook, one I refer to often for casual dining and entertaining. Emphasis is on seafood, poultry and pasta. Most of the recipes are provided by the most highly regarded chefs from Florida's finest restuarants and resorts. If you love cooking (and great eating) you will love this book. I bought two in Williams-Sonoma since I knew my sister would "borrow" one. (About 80% of the recipes are relatively easy, 20% are slightly more difficult. All are excellent!)

M. Prudhomme

Every now and then you come across a special cookbook. This is my bible of cookbooks. I refuse to let it out of my sight! Keep in mind that these are restaurant recipes, so you might need to cut the ingredients in half. Everything is pretty easy and does not extend futher than basic cooking skills. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

I don't care for cookbooks that are filled with recipes that are too difficult, or calling for ingredients I rarely used.

The Special Taste of Florida was recommended by a friend in Colorado who owns a condominium in Florida. I have in turn recommended the book to a number of other friends throughout the country. This is a indeed a special book.

Of the 400 recipes in the book, I would say 75% are absolutely outstanding..easy to prepare with wonderful taste. With over 200 cookbooks in my collection I would put this one in the top ten without hesitation.

Only problem with these books is that they are not complete in explaining the Disneyland resort. Plus, they do not give correct negative reports on lines and other problems.

I used the book to plan my family's first trip to Disneyland Resort. Lots of information on :best time to go, where to stay, info on admission options,description of rides/attractions/shopping, etc... it helped me plan what my family really wanted to see and answered all of my questions about Disneyland and California Adventure. There is also info on attractions outside of Anaheim that would be helpful. Very informative without strongly voiced opinions..

Just like mboothby, I also buy this every year at Christmas and have a good read. It helps me remember the time I've spent there with my family, and the descriptions of the attractions are always a blast to read. The information is great (as if I didn't already have it memorized) and completely accurate. Very good insight for an "official" guide. This is highly recommended for anyone planning either their first trip or their 10th.

Every year I buy the new edition of this book and it never disappoints. Always colorful and chock-full of valuable information. It's a wonderful source for an upcoming trip to the Happiest Place On Earth or just to get a sneak peek of what the Disney magicians have up their sleeves for the coming year.

Half the enjoyment of Golf just seems to be about being outdoors in beautiful settings.

If you are in the mood to travel, these are some of the places you can travel to in your mind.

The Northeast: Regal Retreats
The South: Grand Tradition
The Midwest: Lakeside Links
the Northwest: Rugged Resorts
The Southwest: Sunwashed Escapes
Hawaii: Ancient Pleasures

Personally, I think playing golf might just be a good excuse to go to one of the resorts in this gorgeous book. Page after Page of beautiful scenery is sure to make you want to start packing your bags, whether you play golf or not.

I think my husband is dreaming of The Phoenician in Arizona.

"Those who visit the Phoenician year after year describe its ambiance in a single word: freedom. The spacious lobbies, tranquil guest rooms, and even the Arizona sky liberate visitors from their usual day-to-day concerns."

Frankly, I thought the resorts in Hawaii looked rather tempting. My husband can just drop me off at the Four Seasons Resort, Hualalai on the way to the course.

~The Rebecca Review

I bought this book for my father in law and he loves it!! it is a great book for anyone who loves golf! the pictures are awesome, they catch some good shots and it's got details on everything. I don't know much about golf, but I even liked the book! It is truly a great gift, and I recommend it to anyone interested in Golf!!!

One of my favorite vacations is to go to a top golf resort. Once I am there, my only discomfort is to wonder if I am missing a better one somewhere else out of habit. With this guide, I was able to check out many resorts that I had heard of but had never visited. I can see that I can skip many famous resorts that I had been considering, but should consider some others that I had never heard of. This book will add enormously to my planning of future golfing vacations!

The resort ratings are compiled by travel writers, and the ratings reflect all the aspects of the resort . . . not just the golf. The categories include golf challenge, beauty, lodging, food and amenities. Amenities aren't very important for me, so I can ignore that category. Food is fairly unimportant unless it is inedible, and local restaurants can usually solve that problem . . . so I discount that category as well. I am very sensitive to the golf, the beauty, and the lodging, so I can select on that basis. You can do a similar weighting of what's important for you.

I thought that the golf challenge rankings were much too similar. For example, Indian Wells in California was ranked much like La Quinta and for me there is no comparison. But you can read the slope and index, and look at sample holes and make your own judgments.

I suspect that resorts that are well known got a little overrated. I like Spanish Bay, but I wouldn't rate the course number two for golf challenge ahead of 98 other resorts, including nearby Pebble Beach.

But the best part of the book can be found in the spectacular two-page color spreads of views of the courses and natural beauty of the surroundings. It felt like a vacation just to see these lush scenes! I was impressed to see that many midwestern courses offer interesting challenges, which I would never have realized had I not seen this book. The overall top rated resort from the perspective of this book is The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin. It definitely looks like a resort I would like to try, and I would never have considered it otherwise.

The main drawback of this book is that it only rates the golf resorts in the United States. Since golf resorts are expensive compared to air fare, it would have been better to rate the worldwide golf resorts. Many of the top resorts in Europe would easily nose out all but the top 20 or so on this list. A secondary drawback is that the rating is done as though the resort is always attractive to visit. Some of these places are only worth playing on for a few months of the year (such as Mount Washington in New Hampshire), while others are terrific for 12 months a year (such as the Hawaiian courses). So be careful when you plan to go!

After you finish examining these beautifully interesting choices, I suggest that you also consider what else can be done in the area. After all, you usually won't be playing 36 holes a day.

Have a well rounded vacation!

This book is unreal! The pictures are captivating . . . as if I was looking down the 18th fairway at Harbour Town! A must have for the avid golfer.