Related Vacation Book Subjects: Minnesota
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Books to read if you're planning a vacation in "East Central", sorted by average review score:

Hunts Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Published in Paperback by Midwestern Guides (July, 1997)
Authors: Mary Hunt and Don Hunt
Average review score:

An unusual guide to an unusual destination!
I've just returned from a vacation to the U.P. and I can't imagine having taken the trip without this wonderful guide. Almost every town and village in the U.P. is covered with detailed, honest, useful information. This is literally the only guide you'll need.

All travel guides should be written like this.
Frommer's, Lonely Planet, Fodor's and Baedeker's take note:
This is one excellent travel guide! More than hotels, motels, watering holes and restaurants, "Hunts' Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula" goes where other guides don't: into the hidden crevices of a community to ferret out little-known facts.The Hunts help you find local color as well as food and lodging. This book is for the traveler who is tired of the usual- or for anyone who goes to the U.P. for day trips and getaway weekends.. This is not a standard guidebook. It's quirky and interesting - and reads like a good magazine feature story. How about we send the Hunts to San Francisco or New Orleans or Savannah - to get the real scoop on those wonderful destinations?

Excellent Resource!
This book is a "must-have" for anyone who wants to get the most out of any trip to the Upper Peninsula. After dozens of visits to the U.P., I had thought I'd pretty much covered it all... until I picked up this book. The Hunt's have apparently combed through every nook and cranny of the U.P. and present everything a visitor would need to know! Much reccommended!


Moon Handbooks Wyoming: Including Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, Third Edition
Published in Paperback by Moon Travel Handbooks (April, 1997)
Author: Don Pitcher
Average review score:

Excellent travel book, excellent value
An outstanding guide to a wonderful state. One book, of course, cannot cover all there is about any area this big, but this book does an outstanding job for Wyoming's history, lodging, attractions, background information, etc.

As for any area, it's good to supplement with other specialized topic and / or area guides, but for a general guide to a large state, this one does a great job.

Logically arranged, well-written, and very readable, you can almost read it straight through; it's one of the better travel guides available.

Wyoming Handbook - Moon Travel Handbooks
I happened on this book in the library and thought it was the best travel book I have ever used. This is nothing missed in this handbook. Great maps and advise.

Yes, the best guide there is to Wyoming
Most of the "name brand" travel guides are for fly-by tourists (though I do appreciate Frommer's guides much more than the rest of the big names). Well, if those books are for tourists, then Moon's handbooks (along with Lonely Planet's guides) are for TRAVELERS. And Moon's Wyoming Handbook is, as others here have said, one of their best. It's thick, it's juicy, it's meaty, it's expansive, it's authoritative and wry. So wherever you are in that great big "empty" terrain, it's got some practical information for and historical and cultural insight into places all around.

Wyoming has fewer people than any other state (yes, fewer than Rhode Island and Alaska). But it's places of interest are many and varied, though scattered far and wide. You need a good guide and a GOOD READ to cover the miles and the days. I admire author Don Pitcher's efforts here.

If you choose one guidebook, make it Moon's Wyoming Handbook. If you'd like to get a second general guide to the region for comparison and cross-reference (including more descriptive listings of selected accommodations), I'd add Frommer's guide to Wyoming, which includes Montana as well.


Arkansas: A Guide to Backcountry Travel & Adventure (Guides to Backcountry Travel & Adventure,)
Published in Paperback by Out There Publishers (March, 1999)
Author: Bryan Hendricks
Average review score:

The Best "Arkansas Outdoor" Book
Arkansas A Guide to Backcountry Travel & Adventure, by Bryan Hendricks, is in my opinion, the best source for information about outdoor activities in Arkansas currently available. I have read several titles that have promised useful information on this subject, but Mr. Hendricks' book has got the most complete listings of places to go and things to do in the most reader-friendly format of any of my previous purchases. I have 3 young children, and accurate information is vital to me when it comes to planning a trip. This book lets me know exactly what to expect when I'm considering a weekend jaunt with my family. Nothing can ruin an otherwise nice outing for me more than getting to a place and finding it totally different than it has been described to me. I have already been to several of the recreation areas mentioned in this book, and have found the author's assessments to be right on track. Therefore, I feel like I can trust Mr. Hendricks' observations when I am planning future excursions with my family. Arkansas A Guide to Backcountry Travel & Adventure, published by Out There Press, covers every region of the state in an easy-to-use layout, complete with locations, maps, activities permitted, contact information, ranger station locations, and also gives you names of businesses in the immediate area which may be of use while on an outing. Everything is easy to understand, with emphasis placed on hiking, camping, canoeing, fishing, and my personal favorite, mountain biking. It is so hard to get accurate information on what is permitted, and when and where, that the contacts included with the book will make it a valuable refernce for years to come. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to find outdoor activities in Arkansas, as I feel there is not a single wasted page between its covers.

Excellent Guide for Canoeing and Hiking
I recently read the book "Arkansas, A Guide to Backcountry Travel and Adventure", written by Bryan Hendricks in anticipation of a combined canoe and back-country exploration of the Buffalo River Area in North west Arkansas. I was pleasantly surprised to find all the information I needed for both the canoe trip and back country hiking trip contained in the same book! Usually, my trips require purchase of at least two different books: one for the whitewater and one for the back-country; but not in this case. This is the first time I've planned a combined journey with the luxury of finding all the needed information, map references, portages, and trail heads in one comprehensive volume. Great work, Bryan!

I was also fascinated upon further reading by the anecdotal information in the book which made for an interesting and "not-so-dry" read. The story of the "Legend of Boggy Creek" was particularly enjoyable and should provide a good discussion point for any family camping trip.

Thanks again for the excellent book and perhaps I'll see Mr. Hendricks on the Buffalo River this April.

A Guide to Adventure and Happy Trails
If you are looking for an expert, detailed guide to a backcountry adventure or just a highly readable armchair simulation, read this book. It offers detailed suggestions not only to surviving the wilds but thriving in them. ARKANSAS appeals to hiker, naturalist, and layman alike with each district and area offering a general overview for trip selection. Following each of these are detailed maps with topographical descriptions, seasonal guides to vegetation and animals, climate expectations, clothing needs, and equipment recommendations. Also, there are comprehensive activitity guides to camping, canoeing, fishing, biking, and hiking. The book traverses the state like its rivers: from the high-plateau Ozark Mountains of the Northwest, down the Arkansas River Valley, through the piney woods of the Ouachita Mountains, across the fertile cotton, rice, and soybean fields of the Delta to the blackwater swamps of the Southeast. The author's expertise is impressive, but more than this, the book reflects a deep appreciation, respect, and love of backcountry Arkansas.


The Great Lakes Cottage Book: The Photography of Ed Wargin & Essays of and Kathy-Jo Wargin
Published in Hardcover by Sleeping Bear Press (June, 2000)
Authors: Ed Wargin, Kathy-Jo Wargin, and Ed
Average review score:

A Must
I gave this book to 25 family members and friends for Christmas and I have received most wonderful comments from everyone. They praise the photography and the text. One person wrote that she could "see" the grandparents walking down the path to the beach with their grandchildren. If you know someone who has ever summered in the Great Lakes in their own summer home or in a rented cottage this book is a must. It does capture the essence of cottage living in this area.

A specialty title recommended for those who love cottages
The Great Lakes Cottage Book is a specialty title recommended for those who love cottages and Minnesota. The authors present fine photos and recollections of Great Lakes cottages and scenes, focussing on subjects which reveal the cottage experience. The result is a coffee table book celebrating a special place and structure.

Captures Emotions in photgraphs and words
Ed Wargin's photographs capture the emotions of these much loved cottages with a sesitivity and beauty that few others could accomplish. His use of natural light is extraordinary and gives a warmth that reflects the feelings that abound in these cottages.

When you add Kathy-jo's unique ability to convey loving sentiments in short essays, this becomes an heirloom book. I will never again hear the screen door slam, or sit in on a rainy day or do any of the other normal activities in a cottage without remembering Kathy-jo's essay about that activity and how she captured emotions that I have had but never before seen expressed so beautifully. Thank you Ed and Kathy-jo for seeing into our hearts.


60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Cleveland
Published in Paperback by Menasha Ridge Press (March, 2003)
Author: Diane Stresing
Average review score:

Great ideas for things to do outdoors in Cleveland
Very well written book with lots of good hikes. Great when you are looking for someplace new to walk. Descriptions are clear and accurate. I haven't gotten lost yet!

60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Cleveland
If you are poor with directions like me, this is an excellent book. I bought it in anticipation of the upcoming hiking season, vowing (YET AGAIN) I was going to hike with my kids this Spring. I found the book informative, to the point, and very easy to follow. I never realized what wonderful treasures we had available to us in the greater Cleveland area. What a great read!

Down the path...
Well, found this most interesting, as I thought I'd find new paths and new directions and that is just what happened. Startled to find things indicated or new things about paths and hikes I was familiar with, already took these and then a new bit of information about them. Unexpected, but nice. Very good style, very personable - voice of the author - easy to read, follow, and enjoy, which I very much have. Helpful and to the point. Like it much. Easy to follow directions, paths, maps, and found it a pleasure to read and use. Half the time I keep it in my car. Real pleased, and have already told any number of friends about it. Thanks.


Lonely Planet Chicago (Chicago, 2nd Ed)
Published in Paperback by Lonely Planet (September, 2001)
Authors: Ryan Ver Berkmoes and Ryan Ver Berkmoes
Average review score:

lonely planet chicago
excellent book - great presentation, well written, super photographs. much information that can really be used while at the same time being highly readable. wouldn't think of arriving in chicago without it!

The book is better than the climate!
I moved to Chicago a few months ago, and so I was able to road-test this book extensively. I found it to be an invaluable resource to just about anything going on in the Windy City. You can feel that the author lived here for an extensive period of time. As with most big cities, things change fast in Chicago, so I am eagerly awaiting the second edition!

Great guide to the Windy City!
This thoughtfully written and informative guide answers all the questions that a traveler would have before setting off for Chicago. In fact, it would benefit someone who has lived in Chicago for many years. The author's knowledge of what it is like to live in Chicago - as opposed to simply knowing something about the attractions, restaurants, hotels, etc. - sets this guide apart from others.


Amazing Tennessee: Fascinating Facts, Entertaining Tales, Bizarre Happenings, and Historical Oddities from the Volunteer State
Published in Paperback by Rutledge Hill Press (October, 2000)
Author: T. Jensen Lacey
Average review score:

Amazing TENNESSEE
Not only is this book helpful, it is very interesting. There were parts where I couldn't stop laughing. I shed a few tears on some pages. I really learned a lot about the State of Tennessee.
It's the kind of book you can carry with you and read anytime.

Good Book for finding out little-known material
The title of Lacey's new book might well be "Everything you ever wanted to know about Tennessee, but couldn't find elsewhere." Crammed full of interesting and little-known facts about the Volunteer State, the book is sure to be a hit with trivia buffs. Everything is in here, from historic information about the 1877 rainstorm of snakes in Memphis to current listings of the state's best fishing streams. This book will make a great "stocking stuffer," and it's out just in time for Christmas. Anyone who has the least connection to Tennessee should own this book and read it cover from cover. I'll guarantee you'll learn something about our great state you didn't know.

Tennessee is an Amazing State!
This is a really good book about a state I love to visit. I especially liked the chapter about the Civil War in Tennessee. One of the most fascinating stories involves Cravens House atop strategic Lookout Mountain. During the Battle of Chattanooga the house served as the headquarters for the Confederates and the Union on the same day. I think the tragedy and chaos that must come in little anecdotes like that really personalize a major conflict. There are tons of stories about real people and delightful destinations for day trips in this book.


Bed & Breakfast Getaways from Cleveland
Published in Paperback by Gray & Co., Publishers (October, 2000)
Author: Doris Larson
Average review score:

A Great Guide and a Good Read
Not only does Doris Larson's new book give all the important details about the destinations she writes about. It offers descriptions so personal and vivid that one feels they had already visited these places in another life. Nuances abound, describing ambience, innkeeper personalities, surrounding culture and little known gems to be discovered in each location. Points of historical interest are described as much more than a footnote. Architectural highlights abound. All in all, this book surpasses its status as a guide book and qualifies as a good read.

Beautifully Covered
The eye-catching cover is just one of the many delightful features in this easy-to-read guide. Ms. Larson has filled its pages with informative research, maps, and events near and around the inns. That the author herself meticulously researched the inns and surrounding areas is enough to reassure even the most cautious traveler that they won't be disappointed. The locations she's selected are not limited to Ohio, but include lovely locales in Canada, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania and Kentucky - the perfect getaway guide for travelers and romantic stays.

Best In Ohio
Ms. Larson has written a complete and wise guide to the area. I have visited a couple of the Inns she discusses and found her observations to be very close to my experiences. Her local commentaries are wonderful and reflect a very thorough knowleged of her topic. She writes with warm perspective and lovely appreciation for the Inns, their histories and their owners. I am looking forward to trying a few of her choices. For anyone in the region or thinking about visiting I would consider this book as one of the best resources available.


Dixie Before Disney: 100 Years of Roadside Fun
Published in Hardcover by Univ Pr of Mississippi (June, 1999)
Author: Tim Hollis
Average review score:

Nostalgia without irony
Tim Hollis' book is an entertaining, informative, and evocative tour of the glory days of tourism in the South -- mostly before the arrival of the interstate highway system, but certainly, as the title suggests, before the opening of Walt Disney World in 1965 changed the nature of vacations. A veteran of many of the roads and roadside stops pictured here, Hollis has a real feel ... and a real affection ... for his topic. In these hip days, when so many writers feel the need to ridicule or treat with arched eyebrow anything less sophisticated and post-modern than *right now,* it's very pleasant to read a book about popular culture and "commercial archaeology" that's not encrusted in irony.

This book is also a celebration of Southern culture, especially that part of Southern culture that developed in order to separate visiting Yankees from their money. For, as Hollis notes, it was the arrival in the South of northern vacationers seeking warmer weather that prompted the birth and growth of the attractions listed here. It also promoted a number of important, and lasting, businesses. Among the companies born in the South to capitalize on the tourist trade, KFC (of course), Popeye's Chicken, Long John Silver, Red Lobster, Burger King, Hardee's, and Holiday Inn are just some of the more recognizable names.

From water parks to Wild West shows, Cypress Gardens to Stone Mountain, Dogpatch USA and the Grand Ole Opry to Stuckey's and countless attractions now nearly forgotten, this book is a great nostalgia ride through a largely vanished time. If you were fortunate enough to have seen that time, this book may bring back some happy memories. And if this is your first time through you may find yourself wondering what you're missing as you cruise in air-conditioned comfort on the soulless interstate.

Fun Read filled with Memories
Tim Hollis has done a great job of showcasing the unique, quirky, and sometimes down right bizarre, attractions of the South. I, too, am a Southerner and I miss the days when Gulf Shores was not more than a few cottages on the beach. I enjoyed reading about the places I remember and the ones I never knew. This writer has done a wonderful service by perserving the memories of a bygone era.

Dixie Before Disney
What a refreshing look at family travel! Even though many of the places mentioned are either greatly altered, torn down (or should be), Mr. Hollis's delightful peep into the past provides insight as to why we Southerner's are so eccentric and also makes many wonder about the eccentricity of those Yankees who were flocking to our aquarium-ski-lodge-Indian-reservation-botanical-gardens complete with wild-west-shoot-outs-in-the-sky! Mr. Hollis's humorous descriptions of the many 'um... "interesting" things the South had to offer families was like traveling with my brother!


Day and Overnight Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Published in Digital by Publications Unbound ()
Author: Johnny Molloy

Related Vacation Book Subjects: Minnesota
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