This book might better have been titled "52 Romantic EATINGS," because all of the food-obsessed author's recommended dates are primarily about chowing down. None of these activities will spark or enhance romance--people who truly love each other don't need themed activities in order to enjoy being together. Only the truly desperate or romantically challenged would resort to the ridiculous "romantic recipes" in this book.

I think this is a great resource for people new to the city or who may be unfamiliar with the diverse possibilities in their search for spaces condusive to time together.

No guy should be without this book. I bought it on a lark and couldn't put the book down. The author gives us guys so many no-brainer ways to put a little romance into our lives. I recently began dating a wonderful woman and, thanks to this book, she thinks I'm a Cassanova! I like the way the author Miriam Carey gives *specific* places to go and things to do. Believe it or not, when I try to think of where to take my lady, my mind goes blank. Movies are about all I can think about. Now, with this book, I've already taken her swing dancing, and on a romantic lunch break picnic near where she works. I highly recommend this book to guys and girls too.

First impression: Poorly laid out. The contents are organized by the name of the trails. The first three "names" are: "Bike & Hike", "Bike Route -1", "Bike Route -2". There is an ameturish attempt at a map of the whole state with the trails in dark blue and some sort of numbering system. Unfortunately, the numbers are only marginally proximate to the routes (unless they are written over them -YOU try reading black type on a dark blue background!) The map and the legend for the whole book are hidden in the preface - I guess they think you won't be referring to them very often. Some trails are broken up into haphazard sections - I guess to fit the map scale - which varies only slightly from map to map. There is no way to find a trail by either location or length. Unless you know the "name", you'll have to scan the index (guess where it is!) looking for a "vicinity" you recognize. An example: Looking for something east of Cleveland I find one in the vicinity of "Ashtabula/Warren" (if you look at a map you'll find those cities are 45 miles apart) go to the page indicated and ...no, you won't find that map. Leaf forward and it'll show up. Then you can read all about the "future plans" for the trail. You might overlook the information on the length of the trail or the trailheads since the author hides that info in his painfully stiff prose. Show up at the trailhead and there is a beautiful asphalt trail for about 0.06 miles before it turns into golf ball size crushed rock (you'll need new tires - and leave the kids home!) but only for a mile or so. North of there, its all as described, but he obviously didn't do his homework. He seems more interested in what the planned trails will look like someday than what you can use today. Also no good information on traffic, elevation changes, or trail surface. Caveat Emptor.

This book is excellent for any cyclist who would like to find any major bike trail throughout Ohio. As long as anyone knows how to read a map, any cyclist will be able to find any trail with no trouble at all!!! A unique thing about this publication is that Ohio is apparantly going to a Bike Route trail numbering system. However, if a trail such as the Wolf Creek Rail-Trail is known as "Bike Route-38", the trail is listed under both the trail name and the bike route number; as you're out there biking that particular trail, you will actually see the bike route number signs along the trail! A great book for family outings! This book also contains information for other bicycling resources as well. No other book like it!

An "indispensable book for bikers, hikers, walkers, joggers and families who want to enjoy Ohio's Trails." This book is a major update of the original Biking Ohio's Rail-Trails offering more trails to visit. Shawn E. Richardson's book Biking Ohio's Rail-Trails follows an identical format to Shawn E. Richardson's other two books Biking Missouri's Rail-Trails and Biking Wisconsin's Rail-Trails. This colorful paperback book includes detailed maps, photos, and a description to each trail. Trail lengths range from 1 mile to 72 miles and incude information about trail surface (smooth crushed limestone, asphalt), trail use (biking, roller blading, horses, wheelchair, hiking), parking, and points of interest. Shawn E. Richardson provides information about the Ohio Office of the Rails to Trails Conservancy and their involvement with Ohio's rail-trails. If you live in Ohio, or plan to visit Ohio, this book is a must for any cyclist!

I am planning to visit South Dakota this summer and since I manage to turn everything I do into an educational project I have been reading up and writing chambers of commerce for information. This book is written in the neutral public relations politically correct style of a guidebook. (Heaven forbid we ever say anything critical about the Indians or why we're still paying $1.5 billion a year for Indian health care.)In fact I believe the author has a PR background. He conveys a lot of information but he could have made the book much more interesting. For example, the story of the trapper Hugh Glass is one of the best stories ever. Glass was mauled by a grizzly and left for dead by his companions. He vowed revenge on those who left him and literally crawls back to civilization to kill the men who left him. However, the author here really does not get into the revenge theme. I had to get that from a Chamber publication. The pictures in the book are great and I would rate the pictures five stars. However, there just aren't that many books about South Dakota. So if you are going to South Dakota it probably is worth picking up. For an interesting book about the entire Great Plains which includes South Dakota read Great Plains by Ian Frazier, which is a five star book.

At first , I didn't think this book was of much help in planning my trip but the more I read it, the more great information I found. I would advise you to read it like a novel and not just skim through it looking for specific information.

An ideal book for those intending to visit South Dakota. As well as giving places to visit and stay it provides an interesting insight into the history of the state. A few more photographs would be even better.

While Motoviloff's book promised to offer insight and wisdom on the unique natural beauty of the Driftless region, it ended up failing in the end. The author claims to understand the area's inhabitants, both human and animal, and the ecosystem they share. However, he also feels the region's natural resources are at his disposal. The entire book, which perhaps might have discussed the delicate balance of plants and animals, consists entirely of hunting and fishing stories, and poorly written ones at that. The book lacks a plot, or even a hint of excitement. It stirred only disgust at his total lack of respect for the land. Motoviloff, who only vacations in the Driftless region, lacks the experience and knowledge that only years of living in the region can give. The region doesn't need another man to harvest its fish or kill its wild game. It needs a conservationist who understands the land and respects it.

Billed as a collection of hunting and fishing essays, Motoviloff brings the sights, sounds and smells of the driftless region to life with his vivid prose. While some are straight hunting and fishing tales, most are splendid little vignettes which reveal a telling, almost religious, bond between the author and the places of which he writes. A wonderful little book.

a great book for father's day a. Any outdoors person concerned with nature and balance will love this book.

Sure could tell English professor wrote it. Was way too fluffy. Lots of slow places. Not enough description of the fishing experience.

Ted Leeson seems to have spent most of his life coaxing trout out of forested pools of water. From his current home on the west coast, he thinks back to his youth and the spring creeks he and friends used to fish in southwestern Wisconsin. That small region is called "driftless" in geological terms; it's the only part of the state that escaped the flow of the last glacier and thus has more rolling hills and valleys than the rest of the central and upper Midwest. Leeson's reminiscences are supplemented with casual factual information about glacial and nonglacial geology, the science of meandering water, the differences between freestone rivers and spring creeks, the known history of fly-fishing, the Amish methods of sustainable agriculture, and concerns about private ownership of waterways. Interjected bits of natural wisdom provide food for thought: "It is no coincidence that the salinity of blood and seawater are the same." Now there's a nugget to throw to the next person you see.

Throughout the book's journey, we remember along with him, back to youthful days and times spent with good friends. While the author admits he might not be much of a fisherman -- his first attempt at casting practice in his backyard snagged a small boy from the neighborhood -- he's good at sharing his memories and life observations with us. He paints scenes with words to give us landscapes based in text, not oils. Jerusalem Creek and Emerald Creek (sobriquets to protect their real identities) contained "trout of the usual two varieties: the kind we could catch, which were scarce, and the kind we could not, which were abundant." Stream-side attacks by territorial red-winged blackbirds were not uncommon. Now living in Oregon, this displaced Cheesehead still waxes poetic about his homeland: "[T]hough the state may not be precisely in the middle of the country, the human heart too is somewhat north and east of center."

One gets the distinct impression that Leeson wrote this book as a tribute to a brother now gone. Though the topic is not fully addressed, there are hints at loss and at having "a hole in your heart." And that's OK, the way it reads. If he relayed his personal history to us over a few cold ones in a nearby tavern, we'd probably be polite enough not to ask the direct questions. But we'd always wonder what really happened. And here the reader is also kept wondering.

When Leeson and his comrades return as adults to fish in Jerusalem Creek, the memories and realities come full circle. They see that while things are not quite the same, it is not necessarily the place that is different.

Ted Leeson captured the experience of fishing the intimate spring creeks of Wisconsin's Driftless area. I like to think I share more than a few parallels with the author's experience. Once an active fisher of Wisconsin's spring creeks, I know rarely get to return. Their magic isn't in large fish or even pastoral setting though both certainly do exist. I think the author wonderfully explains how these creeks glory is in their intimacy. They feel "cozy" yet are never necessarily the same.
I think the story should appeal to people who've never fished the spring creeks of WI but just enjoy a wonderfully told story about a kid growing up fishing familiar streams whose now long removed from those streams but the streams never leave your memories.

it wasn't a real true story about her at all it was based on her aunt's and uncle's life.it didn't make since that she put her words into a story that didn't make since for her life.She used her aunt's and uncle's personel lifes in the book with out even asking them at all with out permission.and shouldn't even be sold at all. and makeing money out of her aunt's and uncle's life they should recieve it.and stuff that didn't even happened to her and it wasn't true at all the stuff she said about her aunt's and uncle's should have been personel and the media shouldn't even now the stuff at all.

I have worked with Judith for years and I knew she would always write a good book This One I really Likes Jan

This wonderful book, talks of family life. If they would read the book it is true to the heart. The storys are to encourage and instill memories in all. Family is what makes life more interesting in this cold hard world. Learning about farming is what was in this book. If you read it you will find it is not to tear down but show our lives in a positive light. As for Aunts and Uncles it is not to destroy anyones reputation but to acknowlege their existence on this planet earth we live on. IF names were changed it was to protect them. If they were used it is in honor to them. The author has no intention to hurt those who were shown love in the book. Read the book and feel the love for if anyone of you read this book. If is not about her aunt and uncles but about her and her family. The aunts and uncles are in everyones life. And yes the stories are true. The book is a biography. If anyone reads it they love it.

The cover lists "Everyday Travel." Common sense and experience with other atlases led me to believe I would see cities mapped as well as parks, lakes and swamps. NOT SO. I was better-off squinting at Mapquest.com.

First of all I absolutely love this atlas!! I look at it all the time. Its great for taking a trip through the state because it doesn't leave out a detail (or so it seems until you look harder). It features parks, forests, tourist attractions, natural features, fishing spots and more... The ONLY reason that I give this otherwise 5+ star atlas four stars, is that it has a good amount of missing information. I own the 1989 edition of this book and recently looked at the newest edition (2001) to find that there was NO added information from the old edition. I couldn't find a single difference between the two versions. The problem is, there is probably a couple DOZEN roads within 10 miles of my home that are not listed! I've also found one of their phone numbers for a state park to be the wrong one. Well, they do say to contact them "if you should find conditions other than what is listed in this atlas". So that's what I'll do and I hope to help other people by stepping in and making the right changes. (The changes will be listed in the next edition).

check out Topo USA 4.0. It features up-to-date data for the ENTIRE U.S....

The Wisconsin Atlas and Gazetteer is a very fine atlas with very detailed road maps for the whole state. One drawback of the atlas format though is that the maps of adjacent areas that are on different pages do not overlap. It would be nice if there was a least a few miles of overlap between maps on different pages so you wouldn't have to flip between pages so much when you're driving into the next map.

Quality of photos was very poor. I want to see details of the various lighthouse not photos of the sky, trees or water. Photos of dark shaded lighthouse against a dark background on a very clouded day does not make for good photography. I have seen better pictures on the internet.

The photgraphy is beautiful and the stories well written and informative. Directions to lighthouses are pretty good. I was disappointed that every light was not included. They actually only cover selected lighthouses. I have since found a real good book that covers all lighthouses in the eastern Great Lakes.

There are directions and other info for finding and visiting lighthouses. They do not always show all lights for a given area. The photos are all color. I own 3 of these books. There are not many other guide books out there so if you are looking for guide books these are good to have....

Maybe this book is good for people who already live in the area who don't have to worry about lodging or meals, but for someone plannig a vacation, it is not very useful. I would recommend The Acorn Guide to Door County instead.

I am a bit disappointed with this book. It provides excellent descriptions of the Door county area parks and towns but it offers no suggestions on lodging or food. It also talks a lot about bikes and kayaks and yet does not mention where one can rent either one. The book has a lot of historical information and descriptions of what is available in all the parks, but it is not a real "vacation guide." After reading the book I am going to have to buy another one to get the complete picture so I can plan my vacation.

As a frequent traveller to the Door County area, I was very surprised to find information in this book that I did not already know. This book offers comprehensive information on all of the outdoor activities in Door County. The information is so detailed that it even maps out specific hiking trails within the parks. For those persons looking to explore the many wonders of Door County, grab a copy of this book before you go. It is a great reference tool for first time and seasoned visitors.

The author is (properly) defensive about his state's lack of scenic wonders. For a fact, any random square mile of Utah probably will have more visible, interesting geology than the entire state of Illinois. That being said, Mr. Wiggers manages to make what geology there is fairly intersting. I think this book would be ideal for someone who lives in Illinois. He provides thirty-seven sites spread thoughout the state that could be visited on a day or weekend trip and teach you a lot about your state you probably didn't know.

Geology Underfoot in Illinois nicely points out that this state is not all corn and fields! The book is divided into chapters by county, so quick reference is easy. Directions to the interesting geologic formations are given, but sometimes these directions can be ambiguous and confusing. The explanations of how formations occurred are concise, interesting, and easy to understand. This book is perfect for geology students, travellers, and people living in Illinois. It's best when used as a field book; as a casual read it tends to be repetitive and dry.

... and he shows his affection in every word of _Geology Underfoot in Illinois_. Here the reader will learn, in a casual and sometimes humorous way, the history of the Prairie State, what rocks and minerals it holds, and prevailing overall, how the glaciers impacted North American terrain during the Ice Age. Because the book proceeds regionally from north to south, natives and tourists alike can follow along by car or on foot. But even if you never visit Illinois, there are juicy tidbits for you to chew on and be surprised by. Like the fact that Illinois is NOT flat. Like the bizarre origins of the Streeterville neighborhood, which was created in the 1880s only after George "Cap" Streeter grounded a ship along the Lake Michigan shoreline and encouraged construction waste to be dumped around it to form a landfill. Or what happened to the Amoco Building when its pricey Italian-quarried marble sides were exposed to the extremes of Chicago weather. Or the fact that the kitty litter capital of the world may very well be located in the southern tip of the state. Sadly, the black and white photos chosen to accompany the text miss the mark in capturing the true beauty of the sites. You'll simply have to see the places in person.

The author continues to make numerous appearances at nature centers and society meetings throughout Illinois. His presentation style in likable, informative, and funny, and audience members walk away knowing more about geology than they would have guessed possible. If you get a chance to see him speak, take it. You'll find the time well spent. [This reviewer was an Illinois resident when these comments were written.]