5 comments about Waterfalls of the White Mountains: 30 Hikes to 100 Waterfalls.

1. I am an avid hiker of the Appalachian Mountains from the Carolinas to Maine. As such, I have purchased my share of guidebooks. Without a doubt in my mind, this is the best guidebook ever published. It reads more like a novel. I live in both Florida and New Hamphire and I find myself picking up this book to read for pleasure when I'm in Florida, 1000's of miles from the White Mountains. This book is efficient. As the title suggests, one can cover 100 waterfalls in 30 hikes, most of which are not very grueling. The book describes the waterfalls in detail but reads like a novel. It uses descriptions from early guidebooks as well, some over 100 years old! The directions to the waterfalls are clear and well written and include vital statistics like distance to each, vertical elevation gained, difficulty and altitude. A sketch map is shown for each hike (although one would use a separate topographic map for the actual hike). In addition, and I think this really separates this from other guides, a history is included for each hike of the area. These histories include Indian stories predating European settlement, stories of the early European settlements, the first grand hotels and even ski resorts. It truly gives the reader/hiker a sense of time and place. If you hike the White Mountains get this book!



2. I was very pleased with the book all the info in it was excellent!!!!



3. This is one of the best hiking guides written, and is certainly the definitive guide to the magical waterfalls of the White Mountains. "Here," promises the Forward, "are all the cascading torrents, the forest-bound rills, the well-known tourist attractions, and the often overlooked gems." This book not only takes you to all of those gems, it does so with with clarity, with poetry, and with such entertaining background information that you will enjoy leafing through its pages whether you are making your way up the side of Mount Washington or sitting in an office in the heart of Manhattan.
   
   Each waterfall, from Beaver Brook to the intriguingly named Sphinx Cascades, comes with a striking photo. A detailed hiking map is included for each fall, as well as a precise description of how to get there. (You definitely won't get lost.) Distances, location and elevation are also given. Most useful of all, the hike is rated in terms of difficulty, which is very convenient for those traveling with children. A short introduction gives useful hiking and swimming information,photography tips, weather considerations, an interesting explanation of the origins of the waterfalls, and even "waterfall moods." At the back of the book, several useful appendices provide campground information, bedrock geology and nearby trips. There is also a detailed index.
   
   As a hiking guide, I found this book to be indispensable. As a reminder of those enchanting cascades during the dead months of winter, it was inspirational.



4. I'm the webmaster of [...] As such, this book (and my battered, dogeared first edition) has been an invaluable resource. I've probably gotten more mileage out of this book than any other waterfall book on my extensive shelf. If you like waterfalls, if you like mountains, and you live in the New England area, do yourself a favor and buy this book. It'll provide you with endless enjoyment of some of nature's finest spectacles.



5. Wonderful guide showing exactly how far and how to get to each of the many waterfalls in White Mountain region. I am a landscape photographer that has used this guide to find many waterfalls that I could not possibly know exist or how to find on my own. Very few waterfalls in this region can be seen for the road and one must earn the priveledge to see them by hiking along trails. This book will help you find these trails, know how far and how difficult the trail will be. My only nit is the layout of the 'book' is a bit frustrating but the info in each 'chapter' is layed out perfectly. If you want a guide for hiking to the many waterfalls look no further, this is the book, period!!!

3 comments about Frommer's Boston Day by Day (Frommer's Day by Day - Pocket).

1. I am traveling to Boston each year for the last 15 years. I though that I know most of the city. Well, this book is a short and very informative city guide and you can read it without big "fuss".



2. I just returned from my first trip from Boston (5 days of sight-seeing), and this book was priceless! It's compact, so I was able to easily carry it everywhere with me. The maps are terrific, and it gives just enough information about each attraction, restaurant, etc. to help you decide if you want to include it on your itinerary. The descriptions of each location are concise and accurate. I found the ratings to be helpful and accurate, too. There are great suggestions no matter what your interest--for shoppers, walkers, families with children, art lovers, history buffs, etc. I looked in my local bookstore at Boston travel guides before I left and decided on this one--it turned out to be a great choice!!



3. I really liked the book.
   Easy to use, clear, nice recommendations.
   Small footprint - easy to carry.
   
   As for the food - The author must be American. It doesn't stand in any other standards :-)

5 comments about Discover Acadia National Park, 2nd: AMC Guide to the Best Hiking, Biking, and Paddling (AMC Discover Series).

1. Unless you're just there for a day or two to do the driving tour, you'll find good use for this guide and map. In fact, the map alone is worth the price. For example, you'll find parking areas that aren't indicated on the NPS map; no small advantage for visitors to this often crowded park. Another plus, the book has well organized trail charts to use in choosing your outing. And finally, there are descriptions of natural history to help you appreciate the ecology of the park. We found nothing inaccurate in the map or trail descriptions, but it must be noted that we sampled only a small portion of the trips described in the book. And I must add, if you are planning a trip to Acadia and have two reasonably well-functioning legs, make sure you get yourself out on a bike on the carriage paths. I don't know that you can get a cycling experience like that anywhere else.



2. Because our trip focused on hiking and bicycling, this book was perfect. We didn't paddle, but the hikes and bike rides were well-described. Because this is not a general guide like the Moon book, more space can be dedicated to these activities. The appendices and index were a nice touch. Although the book comes with the paper version of the wonderful AMC Hiking, Biking and Paddling Map, I'd highly recommend buying the separate tyvec version, as it is more durable. You'll use the AMC map almost exclusively because it has all the hiking trails, the carriage roads, the regular roads, and the shuttle bus stops.



3. Just returned from our 2nd Annual Bar Harbor trip. This book is extremely helpful and accurate. We've used the majority of hiking and biking trails with this book, but no kayak trips yet. Totally recommend!



4. The Amazon preview pages would not work, so I bought this book soley on the user reviews. Wow, am I disappointed. I would recommend "Hiking Acadia N.P." instead. It gives you page size maps of your hike, not a huge fold up, pull out map you have to squint to see because of the colors and items. Also Hiking Acadia has an additional overall map with all the trails numbered so you can easily visualize where everything is. If you can't preview inside pages either, try going to Google books instead. Refunds?



5. I was very disappointed in this book. Though I was interested in the biking information, I am mainly a hiker, and the information on trails was woefully lacking. Sure, the map in the back was great, but I can buy a trail map when I actually get there. My time in Acadia is going to be very short, and I need something to help me chose which hikes I want to take BEFORE I arrive. This book was not it. Gave it two stars instead of one because of the map and biking information, though in all honestly, I haven't looked at any other books on biking to compare it with. I have looked at another hiking book -- Hiking Acadia National Park by Dolores Kong, a MUCH better book, in my opinion.

5 comments about Maine Atlas & Gazetteer.

1. After reading reviews on Amazon, I bought this book with a couple of others for my sister-in-law who moved to Maine. Within a week of moving to Maine, they got lost and used this atlas to find their way! They really like it.



2. I've been camping in Maine for a few weeks... Mainers expect you to have one of these. They say "get out your DeLorme's" not "do you have a map?" Some people I've met have pointed me to the right page without looking at the back.
   
   The details in this atlas are great! All of Maine's public reserve land and campground are clearly marked. If you are trying to do some real camping in some remote areas, get this map. This is a must if you are going to be doing anything outdoors in ME. I never thought I'd say a map is fun to read.



3. This book has categories of attractions in the front that you can use to find parks and natural features.



4. This is a great atlas for the state of Maine. We have purchased other Gazetteers for other states, and this one was purchased as a Christmas gift for a family member who recently moved to Maine. She wanted the detailed type of map that these provide, taking up where state maps usually leave off.



5. DeLorme map books are a tremendous resource. Not only do they have detailed maps, they have info on natural and historic sites, fishing, camping and more.
   These books should belong to anyone who likes to travel, be it near or far!

1 comments about Frommer's Cape Cod, Nantucket & Martha's Vineyard 2010 (Frommer's Complete).

1. This guide book is full of political opinions regarding land development policy on Cape Cod and short on reveiws of some major lodging and dining establishments. A great dissapointment and definately not up to Frommers standards. Dont waste your money - buy a different guide book! This is written by someone who is usually a huge Frommers fan.

5 comments about Frommer's Maine Coast (Frommer's Complete).

1. We referred to this book frequently during our stay in Acadia. We didn't find any errors or misinformation, and so I'm giving it the highest rating because it served its purpose well.



2. I live on the coast of Maine and have many requests from friends to visit during the summer and fall. I always send this book out before my friends arrive so that they can see everything the Maine coast has to offer and so that I can adequately make a plan for them to see the things that matter most to them. It is an invaluable guide and it "spot on" with descriptions.



3. I purchased this as a gift for someone moving to the Maine coast. Frommers has always been helpful to me when I move to or visit a new region.



4. This is an outstanding book. We used the book for all of our reference points for Bar Harbor and the surrounding areas. I would recommend this book to anyone who is not familuar with Maine and all that it has to offer. Buy the book and use it to plan all of your activities and places to eat.



5. well written lots of information, but several years old, I thought it would be 2008, some things are gone others have changed owners, but we'll take it with us and over all good information

4 comments about Streetwise Transitwise Map - Laminated New York Metropolitan Commuter Rail Map - Folding pocket size travel map with LIRR, NYC subway, NJ transit, path trains & Amtrak.

1. Purchased for my daughter prior to her attending college in NYC. She says this has been very helpful in navigating her way around



2. I've been using this map (multiple copies) in my classroom during my class' New York City unit for the past several years. It is perfect for our needs, though it only shows half of Manhattan on each side, so it is not great for display purposes. We also take it with us when we visit the City on our class trip and it is perfect for walking/riding around - very clear and easy to read.
   Good value for the money.



3. While planning my second trip to NYC, and remembering the frustration of relying on that "free" subway map which was completely tattered and torn by the end of my first day in the city, I researched several laminated options with seemingly the most comprehensive information and went with this one. I was not disappointed. It stored nicely in my interior coat pocket, and I used it several times as a convenient bookmark for my travel guide book. Most importantly, the information contained on the map is quite easy to read considering the overall size of this product.
   You can purchase numerous city maps with subway overlays, but this one had (in my opinion) the most useful information. If I had to pick just one map to take along, this would be it.
   
   One slight disadvantage of this map is that to have all the subway trains from the Bronx to outer Queens represented, it's simply not possible to include a city street grid along with the subway lines and still have it readable. So, it is helpful to also have a second city street map for reference purposes while using this product. This is the only way to determine, for instance, specifically how many blocks one might need to walk to a particular station. To me this was not a problem, however, because my travel guide had any number of maps I needed for this purpose, so they complimented one another and worked together well. My friends ended up relying on me to be our group navigator because this method turned out to be the most efficient system for determining where we needed to go and exactly HOW to do it.
   
   I think the most important and helpful feature of this map is that EVERY train stop along all subway lines is included along with which SPECIFIC trains actually stop at each station. The most confusing aspect of the NYC metro rail is knowing which trains are "express" or "local". You sometimes have a number of train options to take from one location to the next, but it is possible to jump on a train which might travel through the particular station you want without stopping during certain hours. Most other maps include only the station information and what number/letter trains go through, but NOT which lines are express or local. You avoid using a third reference source to get this information by using the Streetwise map. It's all right there! You can quickly glance down and see if the train approaching will stop at the destination you're seeking, making it possible to adjust your itinerary on the fly instead of sticking to one you and your friends just plotted out at the restaurant (which took ten minutes to do as everyone argued about the "best" way to get from point A to B!) This info lets you save time by glancing quickly at the map to see if the train just arriving (not necessarily the one you planned to take) might also take you to the same destination, reducing wait times and averting the need to tediously plan out each and every move with no flexibility. I liked being able to use the map in this way because we seemed much less like tourists. A quick glance, and we were on our way as the map slipped rick back in my pocket. I giggled a few times at some other tourists who were juggling the five maps they needed to get the same information, and thought they should have bought the Streetwise.
   
   A very wise investment of a few bucks. The map is durable and I will be using mine again and again. The best part is that with my new familiarity of how to use this particular product in the most efficient way, getting around my next trip will be a snap! Buy this map...you won't regret it!



4. This map held up during the rains in New York. When we weren't sure which train to go where, this map made it very clear.

5 comments about Drive I-95: Exit by Exit Info, Maps, History and Trivia.

1. Surely you've heard the catch-line "don't leave home without it." If you're driving down the east coast of the United States, please take that phrase to heart and don't leave home without a copy of Drive I-95. Husband and wife team Stan Posner and Sandra Phillips-Posner share their love of learning and travel with readers in this highly informative, extremely well-organized travel book that guides drivers on an exit by exit tour down I-95.
   
   The first section of the book provides maps of I-95 from exit 12 (where it meets with I-93) in Massachusetts to the very end of the road in Coral Gables, Florida. The maps in Drive I-95 are clear and concise, just right for gleaning quick information at a glance for navigators and drivers. These handy one-page maps (no folding!) supply the reader with the exit number, gas stations, restaurants, lodging, shopping, RV service centers, drug stores, car washes, laundromats as well as nifty places to visit along the way. On these maps, the authors even let you know what the speed limit is at various sections of the road in addition to toll booths and fees, campground/RV sites, golf courses, and possible locations reported or observed as radar traps! Even with all this vital information supplied for drivers, the maps in Drive I-95 are so cleverly designed that they remain impressively easy to read on the fly.
   
   For all the usefulness of the maps, it's the tourist information and stories provided in the rest of the book that adds charm to Drive I-95. There are 111 pages of exit-by-exit stories relating to key sites you'll drive by on your excursion. These tales are presented in a companionable style as if a friend had thoughtfully written a travel journal just for you. The authors didn't miss a chance to poke around wonderful stores or sites in order to gather all the information in this book. For example, at exit 10S in Massachusetts, readers learn all about Furlong's Cottage Candies including recommendations for the better treats. At exit 138 in North Carolina, the authors share their experiences at Gardner's Barbecue `n' Chicken, "Okay we'll admit it, we ate fried gizzards and actually like them...Don't miss the little corn sticks or the hush puppies. You can take out for a car picnic." It seems as if no detail has been left overlooked by Drive I-95, for instance the authors warn that at the Lumberton Visitors' Bureau in North Carolina there are no bathrooms in the information center but you'll find one a few doors down.
   
   What's more, readers can't help but learn historical facts about the towns that are whizzing by. At New Jersey's exit 15W they write, "Thomas Alva Edison had two labs, one in Menlo Park and one in West Orange. It was here in 1889 that the first motion picture studio was set up." Folks might end up passing the time in the car by debating which interesting stop to make on the route: Will it be the Collingwood Library and Museum on Americanism, where you can find the lantern used to signal Paul Revere? Or the United States Patent and Trademark Office Museum? Or should you stretch your legs in Occoquan, a pleasant little town on a river? All of them are possibilities while you're driving through Virginia. You'll never have to settle for a hastily eaten fast food burger at a rest stop again!
   
   But I've saved my favorite part of Drive I-95 for last: the flip-out chart of the radio stations you'll find along your drive. For each major city along the way, the authors considerately provide readers with the call numbers to thirteen different types of radio stations, from Jazz/Blues to Top 40, from NPR to Spanish. No more frustrating rounds of flipping through the stations in search of your listening pleasure!
   
   Quill says: This book is a MUST HAVE for anybody planning to drive I-95!



2. This book is a godsend to those of us who drive up and down the east coast. The information is accurate and up-to-date and makes it a breeze to find places to stop on the way. It made our recent trip so much easier.



3. I purchased this book because we are traveling to Disney using I95. We are looking forward to following our travels using the interesting facts along the way. It looks very helpful by having the resturants and gas stations all marked for you. Thanks, Cathy Philadelphia



4. This book is great for traveling form MA to FL. The restaurant and hotel/motel information is very valuable. It even provides rest stops. We would never make the trip without it. Soon we will be taking advantage of the side trips.



5. I'm a brazilian traveler who is planning a trip from Miami to New York in july 2010 and Drive I-95 has been very useful in this planning. Every interesting places to know, restaurants, rest places, hotels, motels and so on. If you are about to travel through I-95 I recommend it. Have a nice trip.

5 comments about Streetwise Boston Map - Laminated City Center Street Map of Boston, Massachusetts - Folding pocket size travel map with MBTA subway map & trolley lines.

1. I have several Streetwise maps and this one was just as helpful as the others. I was able to sightsee and commute with no problems and I love the convience of the map!



2. i rarely feel compelled to write reviews for products, and to be honest, they are usualy more of a warning than a compliment. this is the exception. twice now i have been traveling by myself in cities (Chicago and now Boston) and found my Streetwise map to be a far more acurate guide than my (very expensive and brand new) GPS navigator. i consider them indispensible whether i am traveling for business and need to quickly navigate like a native or just sightseeing.
   
   great feature of this map-its laminated so you can write on it without ruining it. we had it on hand while visiting some friends and they took a dry-erase marker and circled fun place to go, numbered their priority (from can't miss to so-so) and even drew X's through areas to avoid. when we accomplished what we wanted for the day, we just wiped it off and started over.
   
   in particular, i love the detail of these maps. several times i have been just around the corner from a fun shopping district or museum and would never have known if not for these maps-something my GPS fails to share with me. i have often been able to find shorter, savvier routes with these maps than what my GPS was indicating. even if you spent an obcene amount of money on one of these devices, i insist to everyone i know to supplement their travels with one of these maps. the GPS was $600, the streetwise maps was $6. you do the math.



3. The laminated Boston street map is clear and gives a wide range of Boston's different districts and streets in those areas. It gives a visitor to Boston an idea on where to stay and sightsee.



4. I was excited to take this map with us to Boston but found it hard to read because the print was so small. In fact, I ended up sticking it in my purse and not using it at all because the map that the hotel's shuttle driver gave us was so much better. That map's print was large and in bright colors so it was easier to use. It was dog-eared at the end of the trip but it went in the trash because we no longer needed it anyway.



5. This map has a lot of information packed into a small space. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to read. We took this to Boston for a week-long honeymoon and actually used the cardstock-printed map from the Concierge's desk. We primarily used this to figure out the T (Boston's subway system) stops.
   
   The lamination, though, is a plus because you can write on it with a grease pencil.
   
   All in all, there are much better on the market that are not as difficult to read.

1 comments about Frommer's Boston 2010 (Frommer's Complete).

1. This is an excellent guide to Boston. The best part is a guide to the public transportation system which is essential in getting around. Boston is worse than Los Angeles to drive in. Just get a hotel near public transportation and search out art museums, go find great sea food or even Mexican restaurants, have a wonderful time.