My family enjoys day hiking and recently completed the Knobstone Trail in southeastern Indiana. We purchased this book in order to get ideas for future hiking trips. If you enjoy hiking, you'll find this book an interesting read and a great resource. It begins with a short introductory section containing general information, especially useful for novice hikers or people (like myself) who are relatively new to this part of the country. The remainder of the book consists of sections organized by geographical or geological themes, with each section summarizing from five to ten possible hiking trips. With hikes ranging in distance from less than a half mile to over twenty miles, both novice and experienced hikers should find something to suit their fancy.

The summary of each hike is complete in a broad sense, including driving directions, general information about the location, decent (though not topographic) maps, mileages to key points along the trail, and somewhat detailed hiking descriptions. Having just completed the Knobstone Trail, I would have benefited from having the mileage and hiking descriptions in this book which are not available in this detail in any other source.

The only details that detracted from this book, in my opinion, were two apparent factual errors -- one in a road name, the other in describing a short segment of the route of the Knobstone Trail. I have seen both errors in other sources including some official publications cited by the author. Although some readers may question the lack of topo maps, the author includes details of elevation gain in each description. Furthermore, most hikes which are lengthy or strenuous enough to require such information are likely to be located in state forests or other public lands for which topo maps are frequently available.

Overall, I highly recommend this book especially for people like myself who enjoy rugged day hiking. There are certainly some hikes described which will appeal to campers and through hikers, as well as some moderate to easy hikes for novices. Whether you live in Indiana or a nearby metropolitan area such as Chicago, Louisville, or Cincinnati, you will likely find several hikes within a drive of an hour or two.

Minnesota has an immense variety of places to hike. It's the size of the British Isles. And it has a more complicated river drainage system than any other state -- rivers to the Gulf of Mexico, to the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. It has far more lakes than any other state, too. Plus it has more different kinds of habitat than any other state -- hardwood forest, northern evergreen forest, tall grass prairie, savannah and bog.

The 87 Minnesota hikes described here will introduce you to the best of this, if you're just passing through there, or keep you busy for years if you live there.

Organized and well researched. Interesting era in Michigan's history.

The latest in Trail Books' outstanding guidebook series, Sharyn Alden's Historical Wisconsin Getaways is an ideal introduction for touring Wisconsin's historical sites of interest and significance. Readers will become acquainted with Wisconsin's agricultural, mining and manufacturing history in every region of the Badger State. A veritable compendium of information, each region of the sate is showcased with historical overviews, including details for each historically significant city. There are listings of historically related attractions and events ranging from museums and restaurants to festivals and inns. Whether native born or a tourist passing through, from day-trips and weekend holidays to extended vacations anytime of the year, Historical Wisconsin Getaways is an ideal, highly recommended reference for planning Wisconsin trips and excursions.

History Just Ahead: A Guide To Wisconsin's Historical Markers is an impressively presented guide to Wisconsin's numerous historical markers, identifying and designated key people, places, and events in the Badger State's history. Profusely illustrated throughout, History Just Ahead is divided regionally into Southeast, South Central, Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast sections. Each section is preceded with a regional map, the villages, towns, and cities within each region are presented alphabetically. Very highly recommended for personal as well as Wisconsin school and community library collections, this authoritative, "user friendly" guide is enhanced with an informative introduction, a "How to Use the Guidebook" section, a Map of Wisconsin, a Photo of State Historical Marker, a numerical list of official Wisconsin historical markers, and a comprehensive index.

Dr. Schell has a supreme flare for writing that will capture the interests of the avid historian as well as the casual reader with interests surrounding the establishment of this great midwest territory.

This is a terrific book! Anyone who has ever lived in a SD small town should have this on their coffee table. From the stars over Capa, a sheep show in Howard, & children on a swing in Millboro, to a wedding in Henry, bagpipes in Scotland, and an outdoor theatre in Redfield, Latza does a marvelous job of capturing the essence and spirit of life in a small town.

Indiana holds a well-earned reputation as a basketball-loving state. And not surprisingly, many a book has been penned about "Hoosier Hysteria," the state's longtime love affair with its high school cage teams.

One might assume that this 343-page title would fit neatly into that genre. Indeed, there is much here to please the diehard Indiana sports fan. Virtually every school in the state is referenced by its enrollment, its team name, the age of its gymnasium, its noted alumni, and its crosstown arch-nemeses.

Yet the Hoosier Hysteria Road Book covers far more ground -- succeeding not only as a sports publication, but as an Indiana travel guide, a history book, and a humorously incisive work of sociology.

For some years, author Dale Lawrence has been the chief singer and songwriter of the Vulgar Boatmen, a critically-acclaimed rock band. As something of a sports outsider, he brings a unique perspective to the world he explores. He also offers prose that is observant, intelligent, and often borders on the lyrical.

On the dimmed lighting and atmosphere of a recently retired gym in Zionsville: "The game was played in a smoky haze, how I've always imagined watching a prizefight used to be. It was like having a dream about a basketball game."

On the horn in Columbus North's gym: "It's in stereo: two simultaneous but separate noises emanating from opposite corners. One is a sputtering BZZZ, like a novelty hand buzzer or an alarm clock on its last legs. The other sound is a sustained TOOOT, like a cartoon tugboat whistle. You can hardly believe it hasn't been replaced ages ago, and no doubt some misguided soul will someday do just that."

On Logansport's school mascot, ostensibly Felix the Cat: "The current live mascot is a rather paunchy incarnation of the famous cartoon character, which you probably wouldn't immediately recognize as Felix (or even a cat). With its mouth permanently screwed open to one side, it most closely resembles a bear doing an imitation of Buddy Hackett."

Reasoning that no game is complete without dinner afterwards at a local restaurant, Lawrence also devotes a fair portion of his book to recommending funky local eateries across the state. In fact, he seems willing and eager to review virtually any tidbit that wanders across his path. An ancient Presbyterian church in Williamsport. School pep bands. The lyrics of school fight songs. The crowds. The gyms. The popcorn at the gyms' snack bars. Public address systems. Game announcers. Call-in radio shows heard on the way to and from particularly distant destinations. All are dutifully considered with a mix of reverence and affectionate amusement -- a tone that steers thankfully clear of condescension and irony.

Lawrence has an evident and heartfelt love of Indiana basketball, and a passion for all things unique. In a world where the individual is being overtaken by the corporate, where chain stores are homogenizing the national landscape, where distinctions between peoples and places are fast disappearing, the Hoosier Hysteria Road Book is an homage to the singular and eccentric -- an invaluable celebration of those small, oft-overlooked differences that make our lives worth living.

See Idaho as you've never seen it before through the eyes of photographer Mark Lisk. He has captured the essence of the State's diversity -- from the beautiful plains to the majestic mountains. This is an exceptional book and one that stays on my coffee table for guests to enjoy! I give this one five stars.

Whether you are looking to plan a week-long family journey full of unique things to do, or just looking to escape to a relaxing mineral bathhouse for a day, this is the guide for you! It covers the entire state of Illinois with comprehensive lists of museums, festival dates, restaurants, hotels, historical places and much more. This guide will help you find whatever it is you are looking for. It is also filled with fun facts and interesting trivia. Did you know Illinois is home to the world's smallest headstone, one of four rare tiffany grandfather clocks ever made, and the largest Indian burial mound north of Mexico? This book offers something to catch everyone's interest.

Christina Bultinck chicagosouth.guide@about.com A Native's Guide to Chicago's South Suburbs