1 comments about Fifty Hikes in Central New York: Hikes and Backpacking Trips from the Western Adirondacks to the Finger Lakes (50 Hikes in Louisiana: Walks, Hikes, & Backpacks in the Bayou State).

1. I found this book to be a great way to learn about public hiking trails in CNY area. It has many details about access, estimated time, and conditions on the trails. One particularly useful feature is that it has a copy of a topographic map of the area with the trail clearly marked. Has a map showing the relative positions of each trail across the region with the table of contents. I like this book because it gives me ideas about new places to explore with lots of specific information.

No comments about The Roads of Louisiana 2nd Edition.

No comments about Rand Mcnally Easy to Read Louisiana.

2 comments about 50 Hikes in the Tennessee Mountains: Hikes and Walks from the Blue Ridge to the Cumberland Plateau.

1. Before getting to details about the book, let me first say that this book does not describe 50 rugged mountain hikes as the title "Tennessee Mountains" would suggest. Rather, it describes 50 hikes of various difficulty in eastern Tennessee (i.e. points south and east of Cookeville). This region includes Big South Fork, Fall Creek Falls, Great Smoky Mountains, and Cherokee National Forest.
   
   Hikes range in distance from 0.5 mile to 11.2 miles, with the average being around 6. Each hike contains excellent directions to the trailhead, always starting from an easy-to-find town. Each hike has a trail map, usually taken from a USGS topographic map. The maps are therefore excellent. As in most of the newer 50 hikes books, there is a summary table in the front of the book that allows you to find a particular hike of interest easily. The author's writing style is pleasant and friendly but well-informed. She brings a lot of practical, "first-hand" knowledge to the table with her writing.

   All of the ingredients for a great trail guide are present, but I have to say that rather often I felt underwhelmed after reading about a hike. What I mean is, based on the trail description, I did not feel excited about hiking the trail myself (although I am an avid hiker who has personally hiked a few of them). This result may be due to poor trail selection (there are hundreds of trails in eastern Tennessee, and Doris had to choose just 50) or a poor job of "selling" the hike. Great trail guides create interest in hiking by either describing great trails or making the reader think they are describing great trails, but this guide does not do either one on a consistent basis.

   In summary, I would recommend this work to people who want information on trails in eastern Tennessee. This book makes for an excellent source of information, but disappoints as a source of reading for the reason mentioned above. Therefore, this is a very good guide that just misses being great.




2. Tennessee is one of the most beautiful of the southern states, especially the section east of Knoxville, and this book shows the reader some choice hiking adventures in that mountainous region. I used it during my visit there and had a great time exploring the Appalachian Trail. This is a fantastic guide book and is highly recommended.

5 comments about 50 Hikes in Louisiana: Walks, Hikes, and Backpacks in the Bayou State, First Edition.

1. This author is equally a hiker, a writer, and a Louisiana lover, and a shining example of all three. With excellent pictures, maps, and information on what to expect as far as animals, plants, and anything else one might encounter, this book is by far the best book on Louisiana hiking I've ever read. The stories about the area are just good Louisiana lagniappe. I can't wait to hike the Port Hudson trail!



2. This is an outstanding book, which breaks down each trail with directions to trailheads, maps, photographs, descriptions of trails and the surrounding landscapes, wildlife and types of plants you are likely to see, and extra information on the history and geography of each area. If you are interested in getting to know the nature of Louisiana, 50 Hikes will get you there.



3. I saw this book in a bookstore over the weekend and am ordering it now from Amazon. I was impressed by the detailed information the author gives for each hike. I am a native of Louisiana but still unacquainted with some of its many parts. I know 50 Hikes in Louisiana will inspire me to get to know the state better from a peripatetic perspective.



4. "50 Hikes in Louisiana: Walks, Hikes, and Backpacks in the Bayou State" is a wonderful help book in getting one started in the pleasant hobby of hiking. What I know comes from reading reviews written by people who live in California and New York and who hike regularly. They make hiking sound so worthwhile that I decided to hike, too!
   
   My area, North Louisiana has five hiking trails listed in the book. Coincidentally, I took the first one a year ago when I took my Pretend Children to visit Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park with its Intrepretive Building and a conservationist on hand to explain and demonstrate and show.
   
   The trail is divided into parts, designating length and time to hike. The longest is 2.2 miles and subdivided into shorter segments. We took the half mile hike because we had a three-year-old with us, who did most of the hiking on her own feet then part clutched to my side and on my two feet. What was missing and what I now know because of this book and the accoutrements to take.
   
   1. Wear comfortable shoes like tennis, walking, or running shoes.
   2. Take a water resistant rain jacket in your pack.
   3. Wear two pairs of socks (described in detail and reasons why)
   4. A pack which contains first-aid kit, flashlight, knife, compass, toilet paper, waterproof matches, a plastic bag for trash, and food and water.
   5. Insect repellent. Wear long pants because of ticks, spiders, fire ants.
   6. A walking stick to knock down spider webs when necessary
   7. A poison ivy remedy
   8. Sun block
   
   Since none of the trails in North Louisiana are difficult, this set of supplies is quite complete. I plan to take the Pretend Children again this summer to Walter Jacobs and try the one-mile trail and go to Cypress Park for its Nature Trail.
   
   The book is organized beautifully. The first chart lists the hikes, location, distance, time length, features, if the hike is good for kids and brief notes of what to look for. Next is a state map with locations numbered and marked. The introduction provides the information in my above list. Then comes the local map with ordnance points and black and white photos. Each of the 50 hikes is detailed thusly.
   
   Happy hiking. And don't feed the bears or snakes or any other animal. They become too curious and demanding then.
   
   Dedicated to Fritz and Bob



5. I borrowed this book from the local public library, hoping to find some interesting hikes within an hour drive from Baton Rouge, where I live. Unfortunately the offerings within that radius are uncreative and disappointing. The local suggested "hikes" are along the nature trails at Bluebonnet swamp and Highland observatory. I wouldn't consider these hikes at all--they are light strolls of at most 15 minutes!

3 comments about Louisiana Atlas & Gazetteer.

1. I used this atlas to travel around Acadiana and the Pontchartrain district recently. Great for secondary roads but, as with many other DeLorme products lately, they have cut out detail on major roads for the sake of trying to make this like a tourist atlas like Ran McNally, etc. The beauty of my NC atlas is the finite detail on freeway exits and the like. I wish they would cut down on highlights unless they are going to keep the ramp details. Otherwise, it was much better than the "Roads of Louisiana" for my back-road jaunts.



2. This could have been an excellent map book, but there are no inserts for cities. Not even New Orleans has a decent close-up and the rest are left out altogether. I've never travelled without at least having to go through a city and the majority of the time my trip is to a city. The free state maps given at welcome centers did a better job than this.



3. A great atlas and just what I needed for touring around Louisiana. I had the atlas sent to my brother, based in N. Orleans (I am from the UK) and he was pretty impressed by the content. We toured up country Louisiana and the atlas proved invaluable - finding a few of the smaller roads quite easily. Well worth the money.

No comments about Frommer's New Orleans Day by Day (Frommer's Day by Day - Pocket).

5 comments about The Unofficial Guide to New Orleans (Unofficial Guides).

1. Great tips from a New Orleans native. What you read about in the book matches what you find on the streets once you're there--something that can't always be said about travel guides.



2. I've used quite a few guidebooks, but have to say this is the worst I've ever come across. I was given this book as a gift before moving to New Orleans, and was hoping to get a good idea about the city before arriving. Had I looked at the book myself, I would never have purchased it.
   
   The prose is confusing and overwhelming, the maps are difficult to find and sparse (the book offers an entire section of walking tours without highlighting a single route on a map). Additionally, the authors seem to constantly be telling the reader how they're different from other guidebooks, touting themselves as easier to use. The comparisons get old, and lend the unofficial guide a sense of amateurishness.
   
   Extremely disappointed in this book, threw it away upon my arrival for something easier/more useful, with actual maps, and pictures.



3. Early on in the Guide, the author mentions that the average visitor to New Orleans only stays 2-4 days. Despite being a relatively small city (you can bicycle across the entire city in less than an hour, even at a relaxed pace), there's an overwhelming amount to learn or experience within it. Accepting that getting the "real" picture, or a complete one, is impossible, this Guide is actually full of informative and accessible information.
   
   The restaurants, hotels, and attractions mentioned aren't ones that I, personally, would frequent, sometimes due to expense (I don't know many locals that can afford to eat at Emeril's or Commander's very often), and sometimes because, well, they'd be full of tourists. And a few of the eateries that I adore, such as Port of Call and Lil' Dizzy's, are given shockingly low ratings. But as a tourist, who may want to return home with tales of great, if brief, experiences of the city, perhaps K-Paul's is the right way to go, although I'd rather regale friends with a story about how I sat next to a shedding cat in Coop's eating red beans and rice with an Abita in hand while people screamed at the televisions.
   
   The "local" information is sometimes accurate, other times puzzling, and sometimes outright incorrect. However, the inaccuracies are mostly harmless, and heavily related to information about the city's neighborhoods. Discussing the various histories of neighborhoods, including their boundaries, is likely to inspire a lively and heated debate even amongst those of us who live here or grew up here, but by any metric many of the maps and neighborhood comments (such as placing Lil' Dizzy's in "Mid-city") are grossly inaccurate. Which is unfortunate, since the maps are touted as one of this book's strong points. The cover also claims a "Full Post-Katrina Update", but this must consist of some hurried revisions, as there are bizarre anachronisms, such as referencing the streetcars (which, by the way, I hardly ever hear anyone, even a "local", call a trolley) as a "secret weapon", since when this book was published they weren't functioning. At another point in the book this fact is referenced, stating that they will be working "soon", but have been replaced by bus lines (they're working again, for the curious, but for the 3 years after the storm it took to get them running, this guide can't have been helpful.) The short section on how to pronounce the street names is gold, however, as there are few things more irritating than a tourist claiming we pronounce them "wrong". It's our city, and you'll damn well say "Ka-lee-ope". Other great restaurants, such as Elizabeth's, aren't deemed worthy for the guide's pages, and these omissions would only be minor if not for some of the crap that does get rated.
   
   The section on crime may strike some as being alarmist, but since it follows discussing how dangerous it is here with how friendly the people are, it's also humorously accurate. I tend to skew towards the alarmist scale when talking to visitors, because the worst that will happen is they'll go home safe and make fun of me for claiming how scary it is, instead of getting hurt or killed because they were cocky, arrogant, and careless.
   
   So to sum up this review, if you're passing through town, on a business trip, or on a short vacation with or without the family, the Unofficial Guide to New Orleans is a great book chock full of lists and ratings that will help you narrow down and select from among our city's many great attractions, and no doubt you'll go home having had a great time. Which is the entire goal of a travel or tourist's guide. However, if you're planning to stay for any length of time, or even considering moving here, then toss it in the nearest trash can and make friends with a local. What you learn from your local friends may be less comprehensive, but it'll damn sure be more adventurous, unique, "off the beaten path", and fulfilling.



4. We read this book out loud on our drive to New Orleans. When we arrived we had an idea of what we wanted to do with our time and where we wanted to eat. The sample itineraries gave us good ideas on how to plan our days - just wish there had been more of them.



5. This book like the other unofficial guides are fantastic. they don't beat around the bush, tells it straight and help you get prepared. Great advise for all ages and travel styles and easy to read

5 comments about Streetwise New Orleans Map - Laminated City Center Street Map of New Orleans, Louisiana.

1. I was a bit hesitant to buy this map since I was staying outside of the French Quarter. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the map was very accurate for the Metarie area. When I did go to the French Quarter the map provided great landmarks. I'm a permanent fan of Streetwise maps!



2. This map and the Zagat guide were indispensible on my vacation to New Orleans. Never having been there before I was terribly disoriented the first day. Then with my trusty map I was able to figure out the streets without looking like a lost tourist. Water resistent, a good thing.



3. This is will be very handy to slip into my shoulder bag as we see the sights in New Orleans.



4. This map made traveling around New Orleans easy and less stressful. It even helped us with the streetcar routes and stops.



5. I used this map to supplement a travel book. We mainly stayed in the French Quarter but got to the Garden District as well. The map certainly helped us stay oriented and at times, we left the book in the hotel and just went with the map. It is sturdy and easy to fold. I have used several of these maps on my travels and generally like them.

5 comments about Frommer's New Orleans 2010 (Frommer's Complete).

1. For the most part, I thought this was a good resource, but it could be helped by having more specific details. For instance, it told us to hop on the St. Charles Trolley, but never listed any of the places where you can pick up the trolley. Also, there were detailed maps of neighborhoods, which I thought was great, but it didn't include one big map of New Orleans, so I couldn't figure out where one place was in relation to the other. Lots of good ideas, but you had to fill in the blanks a lot of times. Good resource, but pair it with something else, like a big map of New Orleans.



2. We purchased this guide about three weeks before our first trip to New Orleans, and studying it really made a difference in sorting out the plethora of options, especially when it comes to food and restaurants. Even though we were staying with a close friend who was very helpful in pointing us in the right direction, I would not have had a clue what I wanted to do in this busy, historic and unique city if I hadn't done my homework first. We were able to hit the must-see stuff first (Cafe du Monde, French Quarter, Bourbon Street, cemeteries, Garden District), then venture out of the city on the fourth day for a swamp tour, and spend the remaining days hitting some additional interesting places (Harrah's Casino, Insectarium, Audubon Park, City Park). It was fun going back through the book mid-trip and checking off all the stuff we'd seen and done, the uniquely-New Orleans foods we tried and cocktails we sipped.
   
   Pros:
   The writing was easy and conversational, and really made you feel like you were getting some insider scoop. The reviews were glowing and critical and seemed honest, even sharing personal like and dislikes. The love the author felt for the city really came through.
   
   Plenty of information, historical rumors and facts, anecdotes.
   
   I appreciated the "best of" lists in the very beginning of the book - it's a good place to start getting a taste of the city.
   
   Cons:
   Even though we got the most up to date version of the book (2009), there were of course things that were out of date, like restaurant closings and such. In the face of post-Katrina recovery and the economic problems, it would be difficult to find one that accurately reflects the city's quickly changing dynamics. I will gladly say that the city was not as dangerous as it was made out to be, and we were often in the "dangerous" areas outside of the Quarter without any problems. (That being said, we do live in NYC and are used to the big city life)
   
   Another criticism is the layout of the book, which was confusing and not very instinctual. A lot of information repeated, a lot of maps were not where it seemed they should have been, causing one to flip back and forth through the book quite a bit. But how to do it better? I'm not sure. I've experienced this same issue with other Frommer's guides.
   
   
   If you're planning your first trip to New Orleans, I would recommend getting this book, studying it thoroughly before you go. Then when you hit the city, leave the guide in your room and let the city unravel before you. Then when you return each night, check the guide again for what you saw and did, and see what else there is to do the next day. It worked for us, and made the trip well worth it!



3. I have read many travel books about New Orleans. This book is very inciteful and very useful. I have not taken my trip to New Orleans yet so I do not know about the real life application aspect but I look forward to many of the recommended restaurants and attractions on their to do list.



4. I've purchased many, many guidebooks for both domestic and international destinations over the years. Without a doubt, this was THE BEST guidebook I've ever purchased--better than the Lonely Planets or other Frommer's guides or even those vaunted blue guides to Hawaii. Though it is more conversational in tone than some other Frommer's guides and contains personal insights, the focus is always on New Orleans and not on the author--no easy feat of writing, but she nails it. As other reviewers have noted, her walking tours contain excellent suggestions, and the multi-day recommended itineraries are thoughtfully planned.
   
   Importantly, I developed a trust for this author's suggestions which I haven't felt for other guidebooks. Food is important to us (as it wold be to most visitors to New Orleans, I imagine), and the restaurant/food experience suggestions are abundant and useful. The book will help you get off the typical tourist track and find some great grub. There is also thorough advice regarding tours, music and nightlife (the book also contains essays on the music scene and voodoo, which were great reads), shopping...and everything else, really. Though the author has obvious affection for the city, the book is very clear-eyed in its advice regarding personal safety and other practical matters. It also provided great historical and cultural context for neighborhoods.
   
   Now that my trip is over, my appreciation of this book has only grown. We took it everywhere with us and it always contained the info we needed. I will buy new editions as long as Mary Herczog continues to write them!
   
   P.S. One reviewer noted that there was not a complete, large-scale map of New Orleans in the book to see how one neighborhood related to each other. That might be true, but once in New Orleans, all hotels will give you a free map showing street detail of some of the more commonly visited areas. That map and this book were all I needed! Oh, and get a copy of the free Off-Beat magazine and check out the WWOZ website for information on live shows, and you'll be set.



5. We are spending part of our vacation in New Orleans this winter before we set sail on a carib cruise. Great information and maps.