My husband and I are new to camping and picked this book up a couple of months ago. The amount of detail is amazing, and it has helped us to pick the right places for "beginners." The great thing is that as we become more experienced, we'll still be able to use this book. If you want to camp in Alabama or Georgia, whether you're a new or veteran camper, you need this book!

I've been camping in the Southeast all my adult life, moving from a tent to a popup, then to a motorhome, and this is the first complete camping guide to the area that I've found. This book has it all. Where else are you going to find everything from RV parks to wilderness areas, along with information on where to find wildlife, where the hiking trails are, and even recipes for camp food? It even has a section about camping with children. This is the only book my husband and I need for camping here. When is Windle going to do the Carolinas and Tennessee?

Great guide! It covers everything - RV sites, tent campgrounds, backpacking areas. The best part is how to get your spouse to like camping. My wife used to hate it, and we've been on three trips since I got this book. Better than anything else I've seen on camping here. Get it.

Has 2 critical and unique features for each site -- GPS address (in addition to street address) and the accessibility for public viewing. Before this book, I've wasting much travel time trying to find sites and then finding them completely hidden from view.

As a practicing architect and architectural historian living in California, I have found this book to be an essential part to my research for projects designed by FLW. The photography is rich and alive. I have visited most of the buildings included in this book, the photography could not be more powerful. What else can be expected from such a talented author as Mr. Heinz? Another fine book by Mr. Heinz and cannot wait to see his upcoming book on Green and Green's Blacker House.

The reader from California must have the wrong book. There is no photo of a decorative detail of the Hollyhock House. I checked on the cities and found that some are noted differently than other texts but are accurate. One example is the Sturges House (page 49) listed in Los Angeles, most others list it in Brentwood. After the OJ trial, everyone now knows Brentwood is actually a neighborhood of Los Angeles. The photo of the Millard House (page 61) is printed backwards but the house is symmetrical and is still recognizable.

The book reveals a great deal of new, previously unpublished material that adds a great deal to our understanding of Wright's work such as the sections on San Francisco and Los Angeles that give locations and information of the clients or sites for buildings that are demolished to those only proposed. It helps to make the work more real and exciting.

The California reader must keep in mind that the purpose of this book is to assist all the Pilgrims making their way to every one of Wright's work. For that it is one of the greatest books available as Wright's work needs to be seen in person to be appreciated.

I am sure we are all eagerly awaiting the last of the series, The East!

If you're from the Mainland and have visited Kaua'i, you are no doubt still haunted by its charms - this book will bring you right back. The photography is wonderful.

My wife and I have been to Kauai several times and have not, until now, been able to fully relate to friends on the Mainland the awesome, magical sensation that is Kauai. This collection of embracing color photographic art does just that and even more. Absolutely phenominal color photography. Panoramic, comprehensive and select Island views that truly capture the magnificient beauty that is uniquely Kauai; unspoiled, tropical island paradise. If you've been there, this book will vicariously return you; If you haven't been there, well, this is the second best place to experience "da kine" Garden Isle. Aloha!

I really enjoyed seeing the towns, instead of all the usual scenic things, like those unavailable westside beaches. I had spent 6 weeks over there after hurricane Iniki working and had driven to so many areas that it was nice to see where I had driven from the air. I liked seeing where roads went from a new perspective and the towns like Kapaa where I lived near, and Wailua, etc.

Current US international policy shows just how brilliant and enduring Frederick Turner's Frontier Thesis really is.

The basic idea is that after the initial explorations by Spain, England, etc., the real colonisation of America was a flight from conditions in Europe (including Ireland and Britain) which led to a European-style culture and settlement of the East Coast.

This led to a second flight from European-like influences into the interior - which simply pulled European-style culture further west. And so it continued until Europe finally reached the West Coast.

There are numerous ramifications of the thesis, including the "force majeur" (might=right) attitude of the settlers towards the Native Americans - with its ominous overtones on the eve of war in the Middle-East.

As far as I understand it, for all the "warts", Turner was looking to UNDERSTAND the American mentality/culture, as shaped by by historical experience, and the Frontier Thesis is a critique, NOT a criticism.

Read this book and gain a whole new, or at least greatly expanded, view of what it means to be an "American".

Current US international policy shows just how brilliant and enduring Frederick Turner's Frontier Thesis really is.

The basic idea is that after the initial explorations by Spain, England, etc., the real colonisation of America was a flight from conditions in Europe (including Ireland and Britain) which led to a European-style culture and settlement of the East Coast.

This led to a second flight from European-like influences into the interior - which simply pulled European-style culture further west. And so it continued until Europe finally reached the West Coast.

There are numerous ramifications of the thesis, including the "force majeur" (might=right) attitude of the settlers towards the Native Americans - with its ominous overtones on the eve of war in the Middle-East.

As far as I understand it, for all the "warts", Turner was looking to UNDERSTAND the American mentality/culture, as shaped by by historical experience, and the Frontier Thesis is a critique, NOT a criticism.

Read this book and gain a whole new, or at least greatly expanded, view of what it means to be an "American".

Mr. Turner ingeniously express's who we are and the reasons why. This work produced last century harbors a number of ideas on what made this country the greatest nation in the world. Mr. Turner correctly weaves his thesis on the frontier in a very short span.

By reading this work you will realize what separates the United States from every other land. All other works on the history of this special place we call home are details and footnotes on the events that have taken place over our brief span of time.

This is Utley's second volume on Frontier Regulars as it documents the modest army that dealt with the plains wars, Apache and the remoteness and often boredom of army life. The book starts with the post Civil war era and Red Cloud's war over the Bozeman Trail to the Fetterman's massacre in 1866 and stops shortly after Wounded Knee when most of the tribes are all virtually on a reservation with their lives forever changed. It's not like the movies with daily Indian attacks since the Indians rarely attacked in mass and they were difficult to find or corral particularly in the summer. Anyone reading this book will understand how imperative it was for Custer to attack when he discovered his quarry since they could evaporate on the plains. Besides Indians, the commanders had to fight poor rations, incompetent or dishonest Indian agents, lack of social life (particularly few women), desertions and alcohol. To make matters worse, limited promotion. John Ford captures it pretty well in his movie "Tie a Yellow Ribbon with the running line "keep it up and you'll get promoted in seven to 10 years". Columns of fours though rarely occurred unless you were in dress parade.

Frontier Regulars is an entertaining and informative read. Robert Utley has done a fine job of bringing to life the average tempo and quality of the US Army on the frontier.

Utley uses memoirs and Army records as sources for his descriptions of military life. I was especially interested in his detailed accounts of how company commanders, platoon leaders and senior NCOs conducted themselves. There is one account describing how the CDR, 1st SGT and officers would make copies of documents during their daily staff meetings that is quite interesting. Having attended scores of company level meetings it struck me how much things have both stayed the same and how other things have changed.

There is a substantial amount devoted to the low quality of enlisted soldiers and the day-to-day hardships of camp life. Foodstuffs weren't always provided by the Army and isolated units had to scramble to come up with rations for the troops. This lead to moneymaking ventures, small plots of produce and other creative "financing" to supply the soldiers.
Interesting, well written and recommended.

Quite simply the definitive work on the frontier Army in the post-Civil War era. Read it in conjunction with Utley's history of the antebellum frontier Army (_Frontiersmen in Blue_), for the most complete and accessible account of the Army's sorry history of entanglements with Native Americans from the post-Mexican war era on.

I've been using this handy reference book since the first edition in 1995. My kids and I have visited many of the places contained in the book. By and large, I agree with the author's assessment of each place we visited. I found the information provided on hours of operation, special program times and fees to be very accurate. The book really helped me expand my children's horizons as well as my own because we visited some great places we probably would have never known about without it.

Ms. Peterson's book was right on target for our extensive homeschooling needs...I was very pleeased with the easy layout & cross-referencing of the book. Sooooo many things to do and never enough time. We do unit studies and have found this gem of a book to be quite the treasure that we need to guide us on last minute field trip ideas, outtings, and just all-around fun! One thing always relates to another and i usually can include both children (9 & almost 15) in the same activities/events. I truly appreciate the effort Ms. Peterson has put into this book...I got it from my AAA club...and from one resourceful homeschooler to another (Ms. Peterson), I whole-heartedly THANK-YOU!...

Wonderful fieldtrip ideas - - we have gone on at least 50 outings based on this book's suggestions. We use this book at planning meetings to organize our calendar each year. Lots of wonderful activities for school-aged children. Details from the common destinations (zoos, public museums) to less common destinations (ex: lollipop and candy cane factories, Casa de Tortuga) and private museums (ex: the Holyland Exhibition). Our homeschooling experience has been enriched by this guidebook!

It is nice to see new geological tour books come out. This is a good book for both the novice and the professional. It is very hard to present geology to a novice without losing them with the technical end of the profession, and yet the author's pull it off. The trips are great for weekend exploration in southern california.

This book has triggered day-trips & camping expeditions in our family. I've had the pleasure of leading my children and their friends to moments of discovery and learning & shared wonder and beauty with my father--all based on this book.

It starts with a six page description of SoCal's geological history, then jumps into 20 sites of interest. A glossary, "Sources of Supplementary Information," and an index round out the book.

Each site receives its own chapter, replete with photographs, maps, geological diagrams, and even driving directions, as needed. I'm not a serious geologist, but landscape features fascinate me. The explanations that the authors give work well for me: I can understand them well enough to explain them to children.

If you're interested in how the land has been shaped, if you're willing to turn off the tube & make contact with the natural world, then this book is for you. One of the best "field guides" to geology I own. One of my favorites, too. (The companion volume, GEOLOGY UNDERFOOT IN DEATH VALLEY AND OWENS VALLEY, is also an excellent book).

(If you'd like to dialog more about this book or review, click on the "about me" link above & drop me an email. Thanks!)

If you've used the "Roadside Geology of..." series, this is a bit different. It's more of a "sites of interest" type of book. It lists 20 sites in the southern California area, from Mammoth Lakes out to the coast, and south to Needles and San Diego. The sites are wonderfully explained, with aerial photos, illustrations, and maps. This is definitely aimed at the casual tourist, with very little knowledge of geology necessary. As a professional Geologist, it's one of those books I'd give a non-Geologist friend.

This book, by Mary Pope Osborne is 10th in an excellent series,the Magic Tree House stories.This is a wonderful antholgy for children between ages of 7 and 12. From ghosts playing the piano to rustlers stealing wild horses,this is is a great book about the wild west.So I recommend you pick this book up and start reading it as soon as you can!!!

It was extremely awesome to go somewhere in the treehouse with Annie and Jack. All of the Magic Tree House stories are mysterious because in Ghost Town at Sundown, every night the ghost would play the piano at the bar. My favorite part was when they were riding and the herd of wild horses was after them. Something had scared the horses. I am seven and a half.

On Jack and Annie's 10th adventure, they go back to an old Western town, nearly a ghost town, by a sorceress from Camelot, Morgan le Fay. In Rattlesnake Flats, Jack and Annie meet a mustang herder named Slim Cooly. In this terrific book, meet a ghost, learn what it's like to wear brand new cowboy boots, and also learn how to change (and how it feels to know you've changed) a cowboys life.

A great book on the subject! The only reason I did not give it five stars is the lack of maps and the antiquity of the maps shown. Otherwise this book is a great source of information!

I have been to many of the locations given in this book. It is almost a shame that some of them are no longer in the same shape as when this book was originally published. I think that the research used by the author to be very accurate and makes for very entertaining reading. When I wish I was out exploring but can't go I pull this book off the shelf and it is as if I am there. The pictures leave a little to be desired but that adds to the mystery of the ghost town being described. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a thorough guide to western ghost towns. Well worth the cost of the book.

This book has the best information of any ghost town book that I have read. I would recommend it highly to anyone interested in learning about the mining camps and people of the old west.