Best Alaska Travel Guides
Travel through the coastal rainforest, the fishing towns and ice fields of Southeast Alaska; the glacier-carved landscape of Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords; through the major cities of Anchorage and Fairbanks; and on to the crown jewel, Denali National Park. The quality of the photography is first rate, and varies from the small scale of flowers and wildlife to the grander scale of mountains, fjords, and glaciers.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A good balance of pictures and narrative, ideal for anyone contemplating a drive through Alaska."
"Just received this beautiful photographic book and we couldn't be more pleased to view and read all about Alaska."
"Bought this for someone who went on an Alaskan adventure and cruise, and they said it was amazing to have to remember their trip."
"Absolutely superb photography by Mark Kelley and stories by Nick Jans."
"Wonderful book."
Strategic itineraries for any timeline or budget, including five days in Anchorage, to a weekend in Denali National Park, and a two-week adventure exploring each region Curated advice for outdoor adventurers, culture mavens, wildlife enthusiasts, budget travelers, and more Must-see attractions and off-beat ideas for making the most of your trip: Embark on a day cruise to admire the stunning fjords, and watch brown bears catching wild salmon out of a river. Take an intrepid "flightseeing" tour to secluded glacier landings in Denali National Park, and discover the best spots to see the northern lights dance across the sky Honest advice on when to go, how to get around, and where to stay, from local author and Alaska expert Don Pitcher Full-color, vibrant photos and detailed maps throughout Detailed, thorough information including background on the landscape, climate, wildlife, and local culture. He moved west for college, receiving a master's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where his thesis examined wildfires in the high elevation forests of Sequoia National Park. Wild places continued to beckon, and over the next 15 years Don built backcountry trails, worked as a wilderness ranger, mapped grizzly bear habitats, and operated salmon weirsanything to avoid an office job.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great travel book about the state of Alaska, what to see and when to travel."
"Super helpful with planning our camping trip in Denali National Park."
"A very thorough guide to all aspects of travel in Denali National Forest and environs; trails, tours, hiking, biking, lodging, restaurants, as well as cautions involved in the area and in. touring the area."
"Good background info and recommendations for activities and restaurants."
"love it 6 of us are going together so we are passing it around and marking what we would like to see friends who live in AK didn't know about some interestings places and things."
"Used this very often on our trip!"
"great Alaska travel book."
With beautiful photography and rhyming verse that makes you smile, Mark and Nick express their deep passion for Alaska in a kid book that deserves a place on your coffee table. Longtime Alaska photographer Mark Kelley and writer Nick Jans have teamed up to create a children s book. But this is his first time writing for kids, something Jans says intimidated him: It took me nine books to get up the nerve to finally write a kid s book cause kids are the toughest audience there is , Jans says. Once Upon Alaska, A Kid s Photo Book features 25 photographs by Kelley that were shot mostly in Southeast over several decades. Once Upon Alaska is a new children s book, released today, written by Nick Jans, photographed by Mark Kelley, and designed by Heidi Reifenstein.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The words are sweet and help contribute to making this a book that will be loved by their family for years to come."
"Great photos and cute sayings on each page."
"When a description says "A Kid's Photo book" that's exactly what you get."
"Great pictures and wonderful book."
"I opened our study of Alaska with this beautiful picture book and my students loved it!"
"Great Book for anyone who loves Alaska."
"This book has beautiful photos and tells a great story!"
"Prior to travel, kids learn about the great state of Alaska."
Best Anchorage Alaska Travel Books
Strategic itineraries for any timeline or budget, including five days in Anchorage, to a weekend in Denali National Park, and a two-week adventure exploring each region Curated advice for outdoor adventurers, culture mavens, wildlife enthusiasts, budget travelers, and more Must-see attractions and off-beat ideas for making the most of your trip: Embark on a day cruise to admire the stunning fjords, and watch brown bears catching wild salmon out of a river. Take an intrepid "flightseeing" tour to secluded glacier landings in Denali National Park, and discover the best spots to see the northern lights dance across the sky Honest advice on when to go, how to get around, and where to stay, from local author and Alaska expert Don Pitcher Full-color, vibrant photos and detailed maps throughout Detailed, thorough information including background on the landscape, climate, wildlife, and local culture. He moved west for college, receiving a master's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where his thesis examined wildfires in the high elevation forests of Sequoia National Park. Wild places continued to beckon, and over the next 15 years Don built backcountry trails, worked as a wilderness ranger, mapped grizzly bear habitats, and operated salmon weirsanything to avoid an office job.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great travel book about the state of Alaska, what to see and when to travel."
"Super helpful with planning our camping trip in Denali National Park."
"A very thorough guide to all aspects of travel in Denali National Forest and environs; trails, tours, hiking, biking, lodging, restaurants, as well as cautions involved in the area and in. touring the area."
"Good background info and recommendations for activities and restaurants."
"love it 6 of us are going together so we are passing it around and marking what we would like to see friends who live in AK didn't know about some interestings places and things."
"Used this very often on our trip!"
"great Alaska travel book."
Best Fairbanks Alaska Travel Books
I'm going down, I'm going Do--". Author, airline captain and popular blogger (capnaux.com) Eric Auxier brings his former Alaska bush flying to life in his second novel, The Last Bush Pilots . Two young pilots, Daniel "DC" Alva and Allen David Foley, take on the world's most dangerous flying: the Alaska bush. Meet legendary bush pilot Jake "Crash" Whitakker, equally adept at landing planes and ladies--and "crashin' 'em" as well; prankster pilot Ralph Olaphsen, who once set an extinct volcano ablaze on April Fool's Day; and no-nonsense Check Airman Holly Innes, trying to cut a respectable niche in the notoriously macho bush pilot world--while escaping a dangerous past. While this novel is entirely fictional, many larger-than-life characters and "tall tales" are inspired by real people and events I encountered while flying the Alaska bush in the summer of'87. Moreover, the way both pilots handle their emergency landings come from hours plying the Southeast Alaska skies, contemplating exactly just what I would do if faced with those situations. While those real-life cubs found homes in zoos in the Lower Forty-Eight, I wanted to spin a fun yarn exacting poetic justice on said poacher; hence, the Doyle brothers in the book. I also have to confess that real-life credit for character Ralph Olaphsen's genius "volcanic" April First hoax goes to one. Oliver "Porky" Bickar. .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This tale spins the lives of "as tough as you can get & the cheechacko (greenhorn)" Alaskan bush pilots, aviation, the beauty of the land, the unforgiving weather, and the meeting of friends new and old , all woven together into one great novel. Each chapter brings on new adventures and for anyone that loves life's mystery, history, geography, humor, a little romance, danger, twists and turns that you never expected then you will highly enjoy this novel. This novel left me satisfied, entertained, and surprisingly enough gave me a new found admiration and knowledge of aviation, and the wild beautiful land known as Alaska or more appropriately "The Last Bush Pilots" of The Last Frontier."
"Never been to Alaska and can't imagine living there, but, for what it's worth, this story could change a person's overall outlook on Alaska."
"I grew up in Alaska, and Auxier's narrative took me back to my days living on the southern coast of the state; I can almost smell the pine trees and fish, and feel the light summer rain and mist from low ceilings on my skin."
"This was an interesting read - made me wonder why anyone would be so crazy to be a bush pilot, but also gives such good insight into the reasons why, that by the end of the book, I understood better."
"It becomes obvious in the first chapter that the author knows his stuff, and by the end of the book, you know more than you ever thought you would, or should, about Alaskan weather and how to fly in it."
"So if you are looking for something to make that long flight in a middle seat really short and exciting get this book - you won't regret it."
"It's a really good book and you will find yourself emotionally vested in the characters."
"The Last Bush Pilots."
Best General Alaska Travel Guides
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Read how Richard Proenneke built his cabin by hand and thrived (mostly alone) in the bush. What This Book Is: - An important introduction to Richard Proenneke's story. - Heavily edited (I would even say rewritten). - A pleasant, easy read (goes great with the 2-part documentary that airs on PBS). - Easy to get your hands on very quickly. What This Book Is Not: - Richard Proenneke's authentic journals, in his OWN words. - Proenneke's story told in his own voice. I was captivated after watching the 2-part PBS documentary, "Alone in the Wilderness". Bottom Line: - I would rate this book ("One Man's Wilderness") 3.5 stars if I could. - I would rate "The Early Years" 5 stars, hands down. - I recommend this book as an easier, quicker read."
"I have been to Alaska and my family made memories we will tell for the rest of our lives, the desire to go back and explore more is a fire that's been fully ignited."
"I was telling my husband about this book as I started reading it. There is nothing dull about this book and I suspect the people who find it dull haven't any interest in living in the wilderness without Blackberries, i-pods, automobiles and restaurants."
"I've read it a couple of times."
"Not because it has a sad ending, I was just sad to no longer share in the adventure."
"What a fun read."
"Dick could fabricate or make virtually everything he needed...pots and pans out of gas can tins, forks and spoons out of stump wood, tables, chairs, bunk beds, even wooden hinges!"
"If you have never traveled to remote Alaska, you will want to after reading his book."
Best Alabama Travel Guides
Alabama poet laureate Sue Walker set out to capture the Delta in words, which are accompanied by the lush color photographs of internationally acclaimed wildlife photographer and documentarian Dennis Holt. Sue Walker is poet laureate of Alabama and the chair of the English Department at the University of South Alabama.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It's the story---natural history, botany, zoology, anthropology, sociology---of the Alabama Delta, three hundred thousand meandering acres of swampy wilderness, a magical place. In breathless air. presence. lies gathered in congregations. of kite and mottled duck, osprey and sparrow, cottonwood and pondweed: all together, all in their accustomed place."
"Its compelling prose and eloquent poetry by Sue Walker, Poet Laureate of the State of Alabama, and its magnificent photographs by Emmy-Winner Dennis Holt make this book on Alabama's Mobile-Tensaw Delta an invaluable contribution to stimulating our awareness of the significance of this ecosystem."
"Having much experience with endangered wetlands, I found Sue Walkers' book to be excellantly educational and entertaining."
Best Nebraska Travel Guides
In this sequel to the best-selling If I Never Get Back , Sam Fowler manages to break into the past once again—but this time it’s 1875. Brock's sequel to If I Never Get Back promises the quaint historical charm that distinguished its predecessor, but some erratic plotting and a decision to virtually eliminate the baseball motif hurts the follow-up effort.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Brock's treatment if the "gay" Indian was equaly offensive to me as a 2 spirit person."
"Into the mix we now find Mark Twain, international intrigue, and the metamorpheus of professional baseball into our National Pastime."
"Great time-travel book - sequel to "If I Never Get Back" - Couple of episodes with Mark Twain, riding the rails with hobos in 1875 - gambling in Saratoga Springs, coal mines in Pa. - and settling a village in Old West Nebraska."
"Not as good as the first one."
"Like its predecessor, "I Don't Care if Never Get Back", Two in the Field is a great read."
"Sequel to "If I Never Get Back..." I was so happy to read the rest of Sam's adventures."
"It could have had more vintage baseball in it like it's predecessor."
"The book was interesting and did hold my attention."
Best Arizona Travel Guides
In full-color throughout, Fodor's Arizona and the Grand Canyon helps travelers take advantage of the state's myriad pleasures, including outstanding museums and galleries, Navajo and Hopi cultural experiences, top-notch golf, three national parks, and excellent Mexican food and tequila. “Fodor’s is pitched a few notches higher….aimed at a fairly discerning traveler with an appetite for background and the occasional surprise.” – New York Times.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Got this for a friend who was moving to Arizona."
"Helpful book."
"My first solo trip was all guided by this book."
"Very detailed and informative."
"Nice quick reference guide if you are traveling to Arizona."
"Easy to use and priced right."
"Great book, happy with the information provided."
"Fodors is my go to travel guide always!"
Best Iowa Travel Guides
Taken by a true insider who has lived in Iowa his entire life, Frazier’s photographs are rich in emotion and give expression to the hopes and desires of the people who remain, whose needs and wants are complicated by the economic realities remaking rural America. Years of working, walking, photographing, carefully making notes, names, places. Inhabitants: Farmers, Migrant Workers, their families, Hunters, Churches, Trailers, Storms, Open Fields, Sunday Night. “I wanted to explore the lives of the people who stay, who are casualties of the growing economic divide that separates America’s rural and metropolitan classes. Having lived in Iowa all my life, these forgotten communities are part of my own history.”—Danny Wilcox Frazier.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Driftless: Photographs from Iowa. fantastic book, great illustrations, excellent quality."
"Typically, the photographs show the lower classes, but a few of the images depict well-dressed people practicing their religion, or engaging in a civic activity. Other examples of this genre include: (1) IN THE AMERICAN WEST (1996) by Richard Avedon; (2) PHOTOGRAPHS FROM ONE YEAR (1983) by Nicholas Nixon; (3) SOCIAL GRACES (1984) by Larry Fink; (4) APPALACHIAN PORTRAITS (1993) by Shelby Lee Adams; and. (5) GRIMM STREET (2005) by Mark Cohen. I saw an exhibit of IN THE AMERICAN WEST in the Corcoran Gallery in Washington D.C. APPLACHIAN PORTRAITS is excellent in terms of composition, uniqueness, and image quality, but some of the images in APPALACHIAN PORTRAITS are so bizarre that a typical person would find no solace in looking at them (we find snake handlers, and hillbillies looking like escapees from a mental institution). To conclude, DRIFTLESS:PHOTOGRAPHS FROM IOWA features sharp-focus images, with excellent contrast (ranging from bright whites to jet blacks), and plenty of variety. Variety takes the form of inhabitants of trailer homes, hunters toting rifles, tawdry scenes in taverns, and straightforward landscapes."
"They are depressing pictures."
"The sugar-coated, romanticized, or one dimensional view of "Middle-America" would have us believe that Iowa is only a land of covered bridges, fields of dreams, or over weight mall moms casting their red state ballots."
"The idea has merit: to capture the feel of a changing Iowa, with the relentless agri business taking over the individual farms, small towns built up over decades on many of the State's crossroads now disappearing, their inhabitants, having either worked on the land or in local industries but now drifting away. They clearly have a sense of place and tell a story which I felt was more or less missing from Frazier's contemporary look at Iowa because his photos are too personal and subjective (and I wonder if he takes them quickly, too)."
"Danny Wilcox Frazier's book of photographs, Driftless, is just that."
Best Nevada Travel Guides
This authoritative guide will show you how to navigate the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tahoe and the exciting nightlife of “The Biggest Little City in the World.”. For more than twenty years, the Insiders' Guide® series has been the essential source for in-depth travel and relocation information―from true insiders whose personal, practical perspective gives you everything you need to know. From world-class ski resorts and rugged mountains to pristine beaches and magnificent golf courses, there's more to Reno and Lake Tahoe than just spectacular entertainment venues and casino gaming.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I certainly have picked out other day trips and activities for future return visits."
"I have just moved to Reno and this book was on my hit list so I can understand and get acquainted with the area as soon as possible."
"I look forward utilizing it during my trip to Reno."
"Wow what a extensive book on what all is offered in that area !"
"This book provided the information I needed."
"We got this updated edition because we were moving to Reno and had to have the latest scoop on all the information this book holds, and it holds a lot of information."
"haven't had time to look at much."
"This book is very helpful and full of information, however I was disappointed that a book about such a gorgeous place had no pictures of the places it was describing."
Best Oklahoma Travel Guides
After the death of his son, Will, in the 2001 airplane crash that took the lives of nine additional members of the Oklahoma State basketball team and support staff, survival became a common word in Bill Hancock's vocabulary. It became a pilgrimage, even if Hancock didn't realize it upon dipping his rear tire in the Pacific Ocean near Huntington Beach, California in the wee hours of a July morning. Possibly, he could lose it around a corner in one of the small towns he would traverse through: Hope, Arizona; Chickasha, Oklahoma; Onward, Mississippi; Pleasant Hill, Georgia. Bill lives in Prairie Village, Kansas, with his high school sweetheart, Nicki, an award-winning high school English teacher.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I found myself grabbing a highlighter as I read through this book marking off all the passages and reflections that were so very familiar to anyone having experienced the grieving process in the “early days" of grief (his bike ride took place only six months after his son Will was killed in a plane crash)."
"Bill Hancock does an excellent job of conveying his family's feelings after the tragic crash of the Oklahoma State University plane in 2001."
"You will be in tears in the first chapter and again at the end but you will learn about dealing with the death of a loved one, about the beauty of our country and its people, and about a wonderful couple willing to share their story which may help many others. NOTE: I heard of this book from "Outside the Lines" the Espn weekly show which discussed the 10 year anniversary of the OK St. basketball team plane crash."
"After the first chapter the book moves into the difficult ups and downs of getting on with every day life with while being gripped by overwhelming grief. I found myself disappointed as I was nearing the end, because the book was so well written that I wanted to keep on going with Bill Hancock beyond his cross country bike ride."
"Now, Bill Hancock, had to see if those things were true...If he could find those elements in his life that he had taught to others...This is the story of one man's remdemption through grace and a most unusual odyssey."
"I visited Gallagher-Iba Arena to see the memorial after reading this book.I appreciated Bill Hancock talking of his relationship with his sons."
"I enjoyed the read and the journey it took you on."
"Knowing the family and having been a good friend of Will's in high school and college, it took a long time before I was ready to read this incredibly personal tribute to him and the way his family (and father in particular) chose to work through their grief."
Best Arkansas Travel Guides
Original Disfarmer Photographs is the first publication to present these vintage prints, made by Disfarmer's own hand at the time the pictures were taken--at once family mementos and the original work of one of America's greatest portraitists.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Had just watched a documentary on this man and was so fascinated by him, his life and mostly his amazingly stark, raw portraits that I needed to buy the book to always have those photos with me."
"A nice companion piece to the other Disfarmer book of photos."
"And you really have to be grateful to Mr. Albright for having bought and preserved all this stuff for feeling something in common with the man and his work."
"There is another book called "Vintage Prints" which came out around the same time as this and there is no overlap so if you are a collector you should get both of the books."
Best Kansas Travel Guides
An invaluable companion for exploring new trails or learning about accustomed routes, this comprehensive guide will tell you all you need to know (as well as what it might surprise you to learn) about the trails that crisscross Kansas—history and geography, wildlife and scenery, park locations and cultural possibilities, and, now and then, even a bit of geology and botany. This book is a great starting place for people wanting to explore some of the adventurous and recreational trails our beautiful state has to offer. "— Lyle Riedy , President of the Kansas Trails Council "Grab your binoculars, camera and lunch, pack up the family, and let the Conards lead you on an adventure. "— Bob Gress , Director emeritus of Great Plains Nature Center "With photos, maps, and detailed descriptions, this book will take you down trails that you’ll never forget. This book is a great starting place for people wanting to explore some of the adventurous and recreational trails our beautiful state has to offer.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Although there are other trail guides for Kansas trails, most are sport-specific (i.e., focusing on mountain bike trails or hiking trails) and none are as comprehensive as this."
"I bought this for my boy and his wife."
"A great resource for all outdoorsy types!"
"Excellent written book!"
"Great family effort!"
"I bought this book in anticipation of a trip to Kansas next Spring."
"Very well written and indexed."
"I really liked this because it explained the various trails enough to get you started on them effectively."
Best Utah Travel Guides
User-friendly highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices, emergency information, park seasonality, hiking trail junctions, viewpoints, landscapes, elevations, distances, difficulty levels, and durations Focused on the best - hikes, drives, and cycling tours Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, camping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, summer and winter activities, and hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Contextual insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, geology, wildlife, and conservation Over 65 full-color trail and park maps and full-color images throughout Useful features - Travel with Children, Clothing and Equipment, and Day and Overnight Hikes Covers Zion National Park, St George, Snow Canyon State Park, Cedar City, Glendale, Bryce Canyon& National Park, Red Canyon, Panguitch, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and more. The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet Zion & Bryce Canyon& National Parks, our most comprehensive guide to these parks, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It stated to take the Queen Garden trail first and then make the ascent up Wall Street and it was 100% accurate on this."
"Excellent guidebook, and we used it to prepare for our trip, though once we were at each of the parks, the park documentation was excellent."
"This book is packed with information about Zion and Bryce Canyons."
"A nice travel book and was useful on our recent trip to the area."
"This was the most useful and informative guide I found for Zion and Bryce."
"Comprehensive info on parks with map inserts,pictures, trip plans, history and geology, and, of course, detailed information on all the hikes."
"I'm still making my way through this book; it's so loaded with useful information."
"purchased for my upcoming trip."
Best Florida Travel Guides
The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2018 explains how Walt Disney World works and how to use that knowledge to make every minute and every dollar of your vacation count. And because they've found that "spontaneity and self-discovery work about as well at Walt Disney World as they do on your tax return," The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World is packed full of essential advice for anyone braving the frontiers of the mother of all theme parks.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If you’re lookin for info about making a trip to Disney World, this book is absolutely amazing!"
"You don't want a rained on Kindle (God forbid ) It seemed as thought there was a lot of "filler" in this book, I understand this is a subjective book , but just my opinion."
"If you get it, go ahead and spend the $10 for their online access (touringplans.com) - it's an essential piece to customize travel plans in the parks for what you want to see and when."
"However, many rides in WDW have been closed (Maelstrom, Backlot Tour, Pirates of the Caribbean, the sorcerers hat in DHS, etc) that are so significant they need to urgently put out a revised edition."
"This book was very valuable in planning our Disney World trip in March."
"So informative, it's insightful, and it's the go-to book for how to successfully navigate Disneyworld."
"I have used this book every time to help plan my trip. I have learned that if you do not plan a WDW trip as a "type A" personality, you will lose out not only on time, but money, and in the case of Walt Disney World....time equals your money spent."
Best Texas Travel Guides
Author and Cowboys employee Nick Eatman, through interviews with current and past players, provides fans with a one-of-a-kind, insider's look into the great moments and the lowlights throughout the team's history. Nick Eatman writes for DallasCowboys.com as the featured columnist and has been with the Dallas Cowboys organization since 1999.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As a Dallas Cowboys fan, I pride myself on knowing random tid bits of knowledge or facts that people rarely know."
"There were a few, but not a lot."
"Pick it up for the Cowboys fan in your family, I know they'll enjoy it."
"I really enjoy reading Nick's articles and finally got around to ordering his book; great book, brought back some memories and hit some things I had forgotten about."
"Christmas gift that I already gave a little early."
"Very informative."
"The author is also a gifted journalist, a knowledgeable and witty talk show host on The Cowboys Break streaming online."
"If you are a big fan of the Cowboys, and grew up watching the glory days of 90s and loved the Parcells era, this book is for you."
Best Montana Travel Guides
Glacier National Park and the Great Northern Railway became synonymous in the early 20th century. C. W. Guthrie is a freelance writer who lives in the Ninemile Valley west of Missoula, Montana.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Bought this book for my husband for Christmas."
"great read about a beautiful place."
"All Aboard for Glacier is a we done book about the Great Northern RY and Glacier NP."
"Good coffee table book."
"Very well researched & interesting read."
"Wonderful illustrations and delightful writing."
"This was a nicely done book about the history of Great Northern in general in addition to highlighting how important the development of the U.S. was on the railroads."
Best Indiana Travel Guides
In an era dominated by huge railroad corporations, Indianapolis Union and Belt Railroads reveals the important role two small railroad companies had on development and progress in the Hoosier State. An interesting history not only of these two railroads but how they ultimately served as a model for the many other belt railroads . This is a great history book, neatly telling the value of railroads in the development of the United States as well as in Indianapolis.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I worked in Indianapolis for over seven years and was fascinated by Union Station and the railroads."
Best Idaho Travel Guides
In her new book Rusch to Glory: Adventure, Risk & Triumph on the Path Less Traveled , Rusch weaves her fascinating life's story among the exotic locales and extreme conditions that forged an extraordinary athlete from ordinary roots. Rusch has run the gauntlet of endurance sports over her career as a professional athlete-- climbing, adventure racing, whitewater rafting, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking--racking up world championships along the way. “ Rusch to Glory tells the story of Rebecca Rusch, a 38-year-old whose sporting career has had more twists and turns than the singletrack upon which she currently dominates the sport of ultra-endurance mountain biking. “ Rusch to Glory is an easy read about the rise of Rebecca Rusch from an average Chicago kid to one of the best known female cyclists in the country and the determination it took to get there.” ― Outside. “Rebecca Rusch turned to the bike to cement her position as one of the best endurance athletes in the world.” ― VeloNews. “You name it, Rebecca Rusch has tried it―get inspired by her adventures mountain biking, white-water rafting and climbing in exotic locations around the world.” ― Triathlete.com. “Written by multi-world and national champion mountain bike racer Rebecca Rusch (with Bicycling’s Selene Yeager), Rusch to Glory contains plenty of tales of riding and racing. “You name it, Rebecca Rusch has tried it―get inspired by her adventures mountain biking, white-water rafting and climbing in exotic locations around the world.” ― Triathlete magazine. “Rebecca Rusch of Ketchum is among the best endurance athletes on the planet, and how that happened is a fascinating story and a great read. She got a taste for adventure as a rock climber, then spun that into an adventure racer and mountain bike racing with lots of detours on the route to becoming a world champion. “Rebecca Rusch [was] not just one of the top female racers out there, she [was] flat-out one of the best all-around [adventure] racers of either sex.” ― Jacques Boutet, professional adventure racer.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Rebecca Rusch is a world-class endurance athlete who reached that status by facing her fears, taking calculated risks, working hard and not giving up. She is honest about the issues she has struggled with, which include an eating disorder and the death of her father in the Vietnam War. I've put sticky notes in the book so I can quickly find helpful passages when my running isn't going well or I need a boost."
"As opposed to Jens Voigt's autobiography, which was my first attempt at a cycling based book, this book is written in a smooth,professional style."
"This is certainly not a 'Christian' book - but it is a great book about a wonderful young woman (young to me:) who doesn't give up - who is a model of the word persevere and who is giving back to her community and to many others (including me) who want to live life to the end with purpose."
"I am an active 46 year old mom who loves to try all sorts of athletic activities, including mountain biking (which I find few women on the trails). Now I know where to look for some fellow biking women."
"If you want to read about someone who is a go-getter and truly lives life to the fullest read this book!"
"She was the featured speaker at a Women's Intersport Network Awards Luncheon in Columbia, Missouri."
"Ms Rusch is a true champion athlete that comes across real and approachable."
"Amazing, that's what this book is."
Best Hawaii Travel Guides
The finest guidebook ever written for Maui. Wizard guidebooks take over a year to compile and the writers are residents who personally and anonymously review every facet of the island.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After reading this guide from cover to cover, making all kinds of notes, and cross referencing it with information from internet sources such as Trip Adviser, it's easy to see why it has such high reviews. But after making that decision, this guide devoted to Maui offered FAR more specific insight about things to do and see, where to stay and eat, and all kinds of great details. I generally consider travel guides to be completely useless when it comes to lodging and dining because the information is always so generic, and it is often there because the business paid to have it included. This is the first guide book I've ever used that actually has useful information about lodging and dining."
"We have used Andrew Doughty's Big Island version in the past."
"Mr. Doughty and his team really do get to every nook and cranny on the island and give very honest reviews of simply anything you can imagine."
"Given the nature of the road system and the traffic, it's absolutely necessary to have a guide book that lists more than just the sights to see."
"The best guide book, period..they really have great restaurant recommendactions which we follow and are never disappointed."
"Many of the top picks for activities and so forth have been seconded by my friends who have traveled to Maui therefore I have confidence in the recommendations found in the book. This makes for a very long table of contents to scroll through and I have found it to be overwhelming to read through this section in general. Don't get me wrong, there is some method to the madness as far as the organization of the restaurants (by cuisine and some region), I just don't see the need to list them all in the contents. If I'm really interested in one particular restaurant I've seen along the way then I can search through the book in the Kindle, and I imagine in the paper version there's an index? There are links in the writing to other parts of the Kindle book for things such as photos, maps, or more detailed information on a given topic."
"This is a really great book, but a lot of the pages are blank on my devise."
Best Maine Travel Guides
Maine: A Portrait is the result of Lucian Niemeyer's desire to explore the Maine viewed by his inspiration, Eliot Porter.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A beautiful rendering of Main."
"Mr. Neimeyer shot this book plain, not fancy: he apparently did not use a digital camera and states he did not use filters or image manipulation tools."
"This book contains two sections of photos: the coast and the woods."
"I bought this book sight unseen as a birthday gift for a friend."
"..great pics I love Maine..gave it as a gift..I hope the recipient is worthy of it!"
Best Ohio Travel Guides
Mouthwatering treats from Hough Bakery and traditional ethnic flavors from the local market. Join in as dozens of Northeast Ohioans share their personal stories of Christmas past; includes recollections of people who made Christmas happen, too: former Santas, retail window dressers, entertainers, and of course parents. Every year that passes, the Christmas memories of our youth grow sweeter and more perfect. A 1965 photograph of holiday shopping at Higbee's or an original Atari 2600 box can momentarily transport us to times as treasured as they are impossible to revisit. That's the emotional territory author Gail Ghetia Bellamy covers in Cleveland Christmas Memories. The photo-heavy, 120-page book not only documents the city's bygone retail traditions, but also steps inside our homes to look at how we celebrated the holidays. What resonates are the photographs of artifacts from Christmases past, be it a kid's shopping bag from the Higbee's Twigbee Shop, a WMMS advertisment with the FM rock station's iconic buzzard pulling the sleigh or Frankie Yankovic's 1964 album Christmas Party. I would recommend each CLE-lover have a copy on hand for those nights sitting around the fireplace with a mug of hot cocoa and holiday tunes in the air .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Mostly people aged 60 and older will appreciate this more - I am younger but still remember some of these things - either personally or from family members reminiscing. For example I had no idea the stores hired off duty policemen to play Santa."
"Had some great reminders of Growing up in Cleveland."
"But it's also a huge gift for me, being able to sit on the couch with them and watch them get so excited when they remember a place from the book and then tell me stories about them."
"Anything about Cleveland is fun."
"So many of the photos in the book looked just like photos we had of our chilhhood! I gave one book each to my mom and my sister and they couldn't stop reading it--everything else stopped while they kept saying ."
"We loved seeing the department stores at Christmas time when we were kids, especially the animated windows, so just had to have this book."
"one of the best books about Cleveland history that I ever bought."
"Great collection piece for all Clevelanders, but i think it's great for all that love Christmas season and nostalgia in general..."
Best Georgia Travel Guides
Whether you're headed to downtown or to the ethnic mecca that is Buford Highway, you’ll find Atlanta’s best chefs innovating and continuing to redefine the culinary food scene in the big Peach. Part-cookbook and part-tour guide, Atlanta Chef’s Table. manages to capture the complexity and breadth of Atlanta’s modern restaurant landscape, and serve as a resource for those interested in emulating the flavors of this pivotal time in Atlanta food, at home. Atlanta Chef's Table. is more of a food-focused narration of where Atlanta came from and where it's going. Atlanta Chef's Table is a stunning book worthy of your kitchen counter or your coffee table." Atlanta Chef's Table. highlights that authentic zeal, the focused precision and the gastronomic excitement that Atlanta restaurants have been working on for the last decade and it is a stunning collection of recipes to behold.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'm generally not a fan of traditional cookbooks as you can find virtually any recipe online and they take up a lot of space in the kitchen cabinets."
"I found just the perfect item in Kate Kordsmeier’s book “Atlanta Chef’s Table.” This is the kind of book you like to sit out on the porch to read, pen in hand, so you can take notes of where you want to dine or what dish will be the main focus at your next dinner party."
"Great book for foodies who not only love new recipes but also like to have a little knowledge about the history of Atlanta's best restaurants."
"The benefits of this book are two fold - It allows you to get to know the wonderful chefs and restaurants in your city and allows you the ability to create their dishes right in your own home!"
"Wonderful book and I love the photography as well."
"This book is a nice resource for the culinary happenings in Atlanta."
"Not only does it provide some great recipes, but also gives a great overview of some of the best restaurants/chefs in the ATL."
"Just received this cookbook as an early Mother's Day gift from my daughters."
Best Delaware Travel Guides
One Day Adventures complete with: 60 road and town maps; Full travel directions; Time & weather considerations; Restaurant suggestions; Do-it-yourself tours; Practical information on visiting hours, fees, parking, handicapped access, and more; Thorough descriptions of all worthwhile sights; Background material & Internet sites. For over 35 years he has been refining his carefree style of daytripping while working in New York, London, Paris, and other cities; first as head of a firm specializing in promotional photography and later as a professional writer.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book is very detailed and is full of helpful hints."
"Just what I needed, and a great purchasing experience."
"Lots of great places to visit."
Best Oregon Travel Guides
The new cartography is about much more than just land! David Banis has managed the Center for Spatial Analysis and Research in the Geography Department at Portland State University since 2006, working with a wide variety of partners at the federal, state, and local levels.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It documents the most absurd things, from house color by neighborhood to noise level in Providence Park by minute in a Timbers game."
"This book is PACKED full of interesting maps, facts, history, images, and impressions of Portland past and present."
"Got this for my best friend's birthday after she moved to Portland and she's loved it as fun way to get to know her new city even better."
"Fun way to explore Portland from many different perspectives."
"this is a great book written by Portland State University professors and their students."
"A creative and smart approach to visualizing the culture of a city."
"I bought this as a gift."
"If you thought you knew about Portland you're wrong!"
Best Minnesota Travel Guides
The stories of these grand houses are, above all else, the stories of those who built and lived in them—from the fantastic saga of Marion Savage to the continent-spanning conquests of James J. Hill, to the all-but-forgotten tragedy of Olaf Searle, a poor immigrant turned millionaire who found and lost a dream in the middle of Lake Minnetonka. The first book to take an in-depth look at the history of the Twin Cities’ mansions, Once There Were Castles presents ninety lost mansions and estates, organized by neighborhood and illustrated with photographs and drawings. Larry Millett is an architectural historian and the author of Lost Twin Cities, Twin Cities Then and Now, and AIA Guide to the Twin Cities.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As a preservationist I feel this book should be sitting on the desk of city planners nationwide as an example of how we haphazardly destroy the very elements of our cities that make them unique."
"This is a lovely book and a must-have for coffee tables across the Twin Cities."
"If you have any interest in the history of the Twin Cities, Historic Architecture, Victorian Homes, or the 19th century, this book is definitely a worthwhile purchase!"
"My brother in law saw an article about this book in our local news paper."
"We open the gifts one by one so everyone can see who got what...this book was the hit of the party...everyone was jealous of the person who received the book."
"This is a beautiful book with many memories for my parents and a few for me, too."
"The book is well laid out, and has great pictures."
Best Louisiana Travel Guides
The next day he began to photograph, house by house: "All the places I went in, the doors were just open. Amidst all this, Polidori has found something worth saving, has created mementos for those who could not return, documenting the paradoxically beautiful wreckage. Oversize photos capture the stark reality: whole neighborhoods under water and later in shambles, and close-ups of sodden bedrooms, mud-scoured kitchens and painterly mold spores.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is as if his books on Havana and Chernobyl were mere foretastes to this exceptional and moving work, and certainly anyone who has seen these two books came away with a feeling of the power and storytelling that Polidori's images can convey. In "After the Flood", he presents us with an almost encyclopedic presentation of the aftermath of the hurricane, flooding, wind, water and mud damage showing the fragility of our cities and the power of nature. The first images show parts of the city still under water and the receding water. Succeeding groups of images show the effects of mud, water and wind on buildings and cars that have been tossed around at random like toys."
"Ridiculous amazing amount of detail from this 8x10 photographer."
"These high quality photos come without captions."
"There are likely a thousand awesome photos in the book, but not the one I remember from the exhibition."
"This book captured the aftermath of the storm to its precise destruction."
"The best photographic essay of New Orleans after the flood."
"I bought this book as a gift for my sister-in-law."
Best Virginia Travel Guides
Detailed, waterproof navigational chart book of the entire Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Chesapeake bay chart."
"I found it to be what I expected."
"Received on time and was exactly what was expected."
"As expected."
"The charts are very informative & detailed."
"The format is the same but the quality of the binding is just OK."
"Just what I needed to supplement my Lowrance HDS unit for planning my fishing trips."
"I bought this as a gift for a new boat owner."
Best Maryland Travel Guides
This guide to all things Baltimore Oriole covers the team's history as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, including the incredible legacy of Cal Ripken, Jr., memories from Memorial Stadium, and how singing "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" during the seventh-inning stretch has become a fan-favorite tradition. The Baltimore native first covered the Orioles as a beat writer for the York (Pennsylvania) Daily Record in 2001 before becoming The Baltimore Sun ’s national baseball writer/Orioles reporter in 2005.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book was a great read for fans like myself that may have missed out on what the Orioles were up to before the 1990's."
"My husband loves this book."
"You have to be an O's fan to appreciate this book."
"Well, I'm old enough to have lived through and known most of the "100 Things"."
"must have fore any Orioles or baseball fan."
"Anything that you wanted to know about the Os."
"Gave as a gift but the recipient really liked it!"
"An easy read of an historical review of my favorite team!"
Best Illinois Travel Guides
Produced in cooperation with the Chicago Public Art Group, Urban Art Chicago effectively conveys the vibrancy of community public art (now a national phenomenon) and how it alters the relationship of artist to audience. This terrific guide opens the doors of Chicago's public art to the caring tourist.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"good photos and details about the murals."
"Quick shipping."
"Also adding to the book's usefulness is a bibliography and a collection of capsule biographies of major artists in the mural movement. But my favorites include the following: William Walker's "Childhood Is Without Prejudice," with its interlocking faces of many races; Christopher Tavares Silva's "Soaring Toward Excellence," a symbolic, energetic celebration of books and education; Aurelio Diaz' "Latino Youth, Inc." mural, with its stunning pre-Columbian imagery; and Jeff Zimmerman's "Paid Programming," a visual satire in which the United States flag is morphed into a bar-code."
"Urban Art Chicago is a beautifully produced guide to many of Chicago's murals and would be an excellent gift for any school teacher."
Best Colorado Travel Guides
Including hikes near Fort Collins, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Denver and Boulder is the only guidebook that pinpoints great hikes that are also close to home.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Some good hikes that I didn't know about!"
"Great book with so many great hikes!"
"It had lots of great options with varying degrees of skill for different hikes in and around Denver and Boulder."
"Very informative and well illustrated.very well pleased!"
"Can't wait to get some of these hikes in."
"This is a great book."
"Great great book!"
"This book has it all - from moderate to aggressive hikes, hikes for kids, dogs, horses, whatever your pleasure."