Mostly a very good resource. Speaking on a pure scenic level, the author shows you some fantastic views and pretty trails. However, he fails to tell you sometimes when the trail is incredibly rocky or steep. Overall, though, definately worth the money

Tom Thwaites has done a lot for the Pennsylvania trails, and is the father of the Mid State Trail, which is my favorite trail to day hike. This edition of 50 Hikes in CPA is nicely updated from the last edition, and the hikes are all excellent. Dr. Thwaites loves great views, and so do I, and this book will get you to the best of them. One thing I especially like about this book is the careful research that has gone into relating the history of the areas you are hiking in--it's nice to know a little something other than where you are! About the only complaint I have about this indispensible guide is the fact that some of the suggested hikes are quite arduous and long for me. I'm a big guy, so I wear out easily, and this may not apply to you. What I've done, though, is used this book in combination with the MST maps to make my own day hikes with the same destinations. I've also done some of his recomended hikes as overnighters. Between this and Jean Aron's "The Short Hiker" you have a great start on hiking in this area. Kudos to Dr. Thwaites and his efforts!

I only began hiking at the end of September but have done 6 hikes so far. I've done 2 hikes in this book (Bohen Run (#36) Pine Trail and Hemlock Mtn (#41?)), which were my first hike and my most difficult hike respectively. I've also done 4 hikes in Thwaites' Eastern PA book. This author is almost always very precise and descriptive. Even as a beginning hiker I found his text so easy to follow. He points out neat things to check out, side trails, etc. but also leaves some surprises out. Some are good, some are not so good. Sometimes his descriptions leave out things like climbs, which beginning hikers need to know. And some trails are badly blazed or have hunters, which should be noted. Some trails need to be updated. But overall, I can't recommend his books enough. Thoroughly interesting, accessible, and informative. I always feel completely safe with his book in my hands. I still don't see how he did Pine Trail and Hemlock Mtn in only 6 hours though! He must be in great shape! We usually finish about an hour less than the hike time, but that one was difficult. He is definitely the authority on hiking! I hope he keeps writing and finding new trails for us to explore!

This book and the city it shows us are a must see for architects, students, and architectural buffs alike. The book is packed with wonderfull black and white photos showing a suprising array of high quality though little known American architecture. It is refreshing and informative to see and learn of architecture which has been passed over by the traditional architectural press solely because it is not in the typical bigger cities. The buildings presented form a rich and diverse portfolio ranging from masterpieces by Sullivan, Wright, and Richardson,to the simplest of victorian cottages, to a magnificent cathedral or a delicate greek revival temple. This book presents the unknown and forgotten richness of American architecture and releases the reader form the monotony of seeing the same cities and the same buildings published over and over agian. The writers of this book ventured out into the great american wilderness and and showed us its refinement.

The book rocks, so does the city. Buy it!

This book acts in many ways as the unofficial guidebook to exploring what is one of the most important architectural cities in America.For those who are familiar with Buffalo and those who are not the book is filled with a splendid variety of both well known Richardson and Wright masterpieces and some not so well known masterpieces. Its divided into sections based on the geography of the city so it makes the perfect book if one wants to set out exploring. Buffalos neighborhoods and amazing housing stock are unparalleled in size and preservation nationwide. Its American Indian inspired art deco city hall, perhaps the finest building of its type in the nation is just one of buildings you will find profiled. Reyner Banham ,the editor,was at the time was on the faculty at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Architecture. His wonderful book about the origins of the modern movement and its ties to Buffalos grain elevators, A Concrete Atlantis could act as a supplement to Buffalo Architecture: A Guide if you are interested in Buffalos industrial buildings as well...

Great trip down Flatbush---I enjoyed this enough to recommend to friends. But what a cheapeskate! Besides trying to mooch drinks and snacks off merchants, the guy moves in with his for months ---- and when her 75th birthday arrives the loving son and daughter say Peter Luger's is too expensive. They take her to Jerry's Ribs instead, for crissakes! If you can get past this guy's tendency to be a tightwad you'll enjoy Flatbush Odyssey.

Thoroughly enjoyable and informative reading. At first I couldn't understand how someone could take the time to research and write about what I assumed was a fairly narrow subject. Then I was surprised at how well it was written. Getting deeper into the book I realized that Allen Abel was a professional writer and it all made some more sense. The historical information gave more depth, insight and appreciation to my growing up in Brooklyn. His humor and contemporary characters were delightful. I have forwarded this book on to friends who were most appreciative.

A wonderful, readable book, and a must for anyone who grew up in Brooklyn. The author walks the entire length of Flatbush Avenue, from Dumbo to the ocean, chronicling the changes he sees. I have read this book twice, and thumb through it often. I loved it!

I picked up this book not too long ago. I loved it I have already begun planning my travels. I want to start with the firt place mentioned. I would recommend it to anyone!

This is the most enjoyable travel book I've read to date! I enjoyed just reading it & can't wait to plan some of the trips! As a resident of New York City, my access to a car is limited. I love the idea of not having to worry about getting a rental car, paying for it, or having to return it! Not to mention, being able to start my vacation immediately rather than waste time sitting in traffic! To the authors: Keep up the good work! I'm waiting for a follow up!

for the person who lives and works in New York City, this handy book provides a great way to beat the fall and winter doldrums of spending everyday in the city. Instead of just renting a video or fighting the saturday night crowds at Manhattan's movie theaters and eateries, you can actually go to another place (one hour away) visit a museum and some galleries, wander into charming boutiques and collectable shops,dine under candlelight and spend the night in a room overlooking a forest, with beds turned down and a chocolate kiss on your pillow, awake to an elegant brunch... and return to the city refreshed and rejuvenated, ready to begin your work week. And you don't have to have a car, big bucks or a significant other to do it! What a revelation ... this book tells you how.

It is obvious that Phil Brown, despite his workmanlike description of nearly every square inch of New York's Adirondack Park, has a passion for the region unmatched by any other expert. His descriptions of trails, waterways and other attractions of the Adirondacks expose his intimate relationship with America's most beautiful environment. This book is all you need to guide your exploration. It is an instant classic.

Even though I spent my summers as a kid in the Adirondacks this book was a tremendous help in planning a trip back to there after being gone for 20 years. I couldn't believe the things we did that I had never seen within 20 miles over our old summer home! In addition to the help in planning a trip we brought it with us everwhere we went and it helped us get some great ideas on things to do once we got to our initial destinations. Wish they had one for the mountains in VA.

If you want to know what to do in the Adirondacks this is the book to have. Phil Brown's knowledge of and feeling for the region is astounding. I've lived in the Adirondacks for twenty years and Brown's book has given me a whole new enthusiasm for the region. It's also accurate and up-to-date. I have a pretty good knowledge of my own area and Phil Brown's advice is right on the mark.

Beware: The author has not indicated the quality of markings within these trails. On my wife's and my first outing we chose an EASY trail. The 'trail' was no more than single track, overgrown, and after 2 miles we were lost. We finally hitchhiked back to the start along 4 miles of highway (thank God we found that --- there had been evidence of bears!). Although trail maintenance is not the author's responsibility, the book may lead the uninitiated to believe it's a "walk in the park".

Anyone who has even the most basic understanding of the woods and of hiking will find this book a fine companion for a hike in NJ. The author has a nicely literary style (pretty rare for this genre), and gives equal time discussing geology, flora, fauna, and history. There are a number of new and interesting hikes, not just the "same old" ones that are so commonly written up. The maps are also very good. Scherer also has a lot of interesting insights on ecological matters. All in all, it's a book that should become a standard for New Jersey outdoor lovers.

From one nature lover to another: I've done a few hikes in this book and I plan to do more, these are the best hikes ever. The layout of the book is superb, and the descriptions of the hikes as well as the trail markings, are accurate and easy to follow. I had no trouble finding my way along the trails, even late in the day. This book really does guide you to the best hikes in NJ. I recommend the Terrace Pond hike, its a 10!

Get the "New Jersey Atlas & Gazateer" primarily for its comprehensive recreational listing (gazateer), second for the topo maps and third for the city street maps which are well explained in the other reviews.

I bought this book for someone who just received a kayak. After the commotion of birthday present opening subsided, he spent about a hour just looking over all the wonderfully detailed maps with his father-in-law. That's how I knew this atlas was the best present I could give. Everything the other reviewers wrote is true.

If you are a paddler, fisherman, hiker, camper skier or just plain outdoor enthusiast, this is the guide for you. In addition to pages of topographic maps which cover the entire state, the atlas also includes an index of all outdoor recreational activities and the recreational areas that support each. Complete listings of NJ golf courses, ski areas, scenic drives & trails, wildlife viewing areas, hunting & fishing areas and a very comprehensive list of public and private campgrounds make this a reference you will want to have to plan your next NJ outdoor adventure.

Although this is not a collection of street maps, some street maps of larger cities such as Trenton, Jersey City, Newark, Camden, Elizabeth, Hackensack, Paterson and Atlantic City are included.

Mr. Meck does an admirable job of profiling numerous Keystone State trout anglers and their home waters as a way of pursuing his subject matter. As a lifelong PA wild trout addict however, I think much of the information here is misleading, particularly to the fledgling fly fisher. Meck's concentration on the given hatches on a particular PA waterway is not tempered with an parallel explanations that in many cases, matching the hatches described is not necessary, let alone critical to success on the waterway being profiled. Or at it's worst, the hatch being profiled is not one that tends to interest trout on the subject stream. This can lead to situations where you get to see a decent hatch, but no fish. If Meck says a hatch exists on a given waterway, you can pretty well bank on it's being present. His research and hatch information is accuate. What cannot be banked on is the trout in the stream paying any attention to the hatch under discussion or even showing any preference for same in their feeding. This can be very confusing to the neophyte and many newcomers have to be disabused and "deprogrammed" of the notions Mr. Meck advances. All in all, if one remembers that Mr. Meck appears to be just as enamoured of insects as he of trout causing him to wax on at significant length about hatches that are in reality not all that important, this can be a useful introductory guidebook to Pennsylvania's trout streams. However, it's utility pales compared to that of the similiar Landis book. In my opinion, if you want a decent book to get started in the sport, the Meck book will do. If you want a PA stream guide that you will wear out over and over and will never outgrow as your knowledge increases, the Landis book is far superior.

I read a review saying that Charlie's book couldn't actually catch the trout. Well no kidding, however, it has led me to many unknown streams in the entire state. I have compared it to the Landis book and there is NO comparison. The Landis book contains NO hatch information. PA Trout Streams is THE guide book for flyfishing any of Pennsylvania's top streams. I wholeheartedly recommend it. Beware of imitators, stick with Charlie Meck. It has indepth information on where to fish, and the hatch information is second to none - Landis. I have both books, don't make my mistake, buy Charlie's books (PA trout and Mid Atlantic Trout Streams and Their Hatches), they won't let you down.

I've always thought that it was a good sumation of all the information that you seemed to worm out of us and then present it in an intelligent form so that even I could read it and understand what you were talking about. Once again I wish to thank you. Curt.

an interesting collection of photos of youths living in brooklyn during the 50's
im not quite sure why this is referred to as a gang--as there is no gang type of life really shown in these images. a better name for this book should have been BROOKLYN FRIENDS

This is some of the most emotional pictures I have seen. Brooklyn Gangs rates as my favorite photo books of all time.

This new edition of Bruce Davidson's classic study of tough New York youths in the 50's, marks a most welcome and sure-to-be-collected photo book. The reproductions and layout are superb, rich and textured, and the accompanying text is illuminating. And this doesn't even begin to describe the superb images Davidson, one of the world's great "street photographers" captures here. In all, without much of Davidson's work in-print, aside from "Central Park," this is one that art photograpahy fans and those interested in New York's colorful past will surely want to own.

I used this book to plan a recent trip to Pittsburgh and was generally pleased. I especially liked the information on local restaurants-- it was very detailed, and they took care to point out restaurants with vegetarian options, which I found helpful. However, some of the other recommendations were way off. The authors fall all over themselves praising Pittsburgh's Strip District, which is mildly interesting but also dirty (and it gives off a faintly creepy vibe)-- trust me, we found much better shopping/dining areas on our own. More maps would also help a lot! However, given that there are very few Pittsburgh travel guides on the market, I would recommend this book over the others that I glanced through (CitySmart, etc.) It also seems like it might be useful to people who are moving to Pittsburgh-- it has lots of information on childcare, healthcare, real estate, etc. which is basically useless to the common traveler but would probably help the new Pittsburgh resident.

With summer travel in full swing, I found this guidebook pointed out several things about Pittsburgh I hadn't known -- namely, the great architecture and kids-oriented activities (amusement parks, science center, museums just to name a few). I'd once read an article in an airline magazine by one of the authors, and it piqued my curiosity to take a closer look at Pittsburgh. Glad I did. Also, I had no idea there were so many golf courses in Western Pa. I know people who will use that chapter more than myself, but still....lots of new facts learned about a city that has progressed over many decades.

What a valuable book! Here is a great guide for entertaining out of town guests. Festivals and annuals events, area attractions, the arts, nightlife, restaurants, recreation, kidstuff, and much more are described in the book. Each description includes an address and telephone number for easy reference. The book is well organized and includes something for everyone in Pittsburgh - including seniors. The Insiders' Tip, a small rectangular box highlighting the authors' suggestions or comments, adds a special touch to almost every page. Now we have a book that answers the question, "What can we do?".