Pacific

Insider's Guide to the Olympic Peninsula is a must. The book is well organized and the "inside tips" are great. I have purchased several books on the Peninsula, but they only give you descriptions of the hiking trails, some history and geology. That's good, but I need to know what to do when I am not hiking. That's where the Insider's Guide is great. It gives recommendations and information on restaurants, lodging, museums, stores, festivals and much more (there is some hiking information). Also, it includes websites, other reference books and phone numbers to look into more detail on the towns, etc. If you want to do anything besides hiking for your time in the Olympic Peninsula, then you should purchase this comprehensive book.

As one of the co-authors of this travel guide, I just want to point out some of the features that make Insiders' Guide to the Olympic Peninsula stand out from other guides about the area. In writing the book my wife Natalie and I worked to find the shops, lodgings and restaurants that stood out in each town along the Olympic Peninsula - things that were unique to the community. And the same goes for the local recreation opportunities, trails and campgrounds. This book is the result not only of a year of memorable travel and research but also of our years of visiting some favorite places on the Peninsula.

We hope that others will enjoy our first edition and be sure to contact us if you know of revisions for any upcoming editions!

I recently visited Portland for the Fourth of July weekend and this book along with {Best Places Portland} were my constant companion. Extensive information regarding EVERYTHING from Shopping, Restaurants, Lodging to detailed information on each neighborhood.

If you are looking to visit Portland and need a Visitor Guide, Grab your highlighter! and get a map. I carried this one with me constantly. The only flaw I could find in this one is that it didn't seperate the restaurants by Meal Type ie; Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Respectfully Reviewed

Whether you live in Portland or are visiting for an extended time or have just moved, this is an excellent guide to the Rose City. Everything from shopping, restaurants, recreation, sites of interest, etc. You name it, this book covers it. Want to find a new place to go out to dinner? Look here. Want to figure out where to take a visiting friend from out of town? Look here. This is an excellent guide to all aspects of living, working, and playing in Portland. The one shortcoming this book has is that it has very limited coverage of the surrounding metro area. If it's not in Portland, it's probably not in this book.

The Insiders Guide to Santa Barbara is a very well written and useful book for anyone traveling to or considering a move to Santa Barbara. The book is written concisely and in an entertaining style that make reading about the beautiful Santa Barbara area almost as good as being there. Almost.

I was very pleased with this book. It contains all the detailed information that I wanted. A good book for folks who enjoy planning their trips as much as they enjoy taking them.

This is an excellent book, not only for tourists and visitors to the Monterey Peninsula, but also for those considering relocating there (like me). I wanted a book about the region that describes the neighborhoods and towns in order to get a general feel for the area (information pertinent to those contemplating a move), and this book does just that. It is amazing how much information the authors have managed to jam into each page, and they have included a good deal of local history. The book is written in a witty, engaging, almost conversational style. Unlike many books of this genre, the blurbs about restaurants, inns, and everything else are written descriptively, rather than subjectively or from the authors' personal points of view (which may differ from the reader). In short, this is a very well-written book from two people who clearly love the peninsula on which they live!

This book was invaluable to our trip to this beautiful area. A very informative, fun read and a great way to learn about where to go, what to see, and what's available. I highly recommend this book.

Kendall H. Brown begins his history of Japanese-style gardens with a quote from James Rose to the effect that Japanese gardens outside of Japan are fakes. Brown's attitude is, however, more ambiguous than ambivalent. He seldom says he doesn't like something. His liking may be found between the lines. At the end of his history, Brown concludes that Japanese-style gardens are meant for play. It is pleasant to think of people having a smiling time in Japanese-style gardens . . . the wistaria, azalea, carp and waterfalls call for that. Nevertheless, Japanese in Japan are as out of touch with their past traditions as are Americans with their's. There is pleasure in knowing the symbolic uses of gardens in Japan and in their transplanted versions in the United States. Gardens in both countries should be more creative as is the case with "California Scenario" by Isamu Noguchi, the last garden Brown describes. (It is popular with skateboarders!) "Japanese-Style Gardens of the Pacific Coast" is a splendid book and the only book extant that gives the historical background of West-Coast Japanese-style gardens. Melva Levick's photographs whet the desire to see the gardens, if for no other reason than to see which is better . . . the photographs or the gardens. A small objection: If Brown had included acreages, one might be better able to compare the problems and successes of the individual gardens.

This book is one of the few books on US Japanese-style gardens which compares and contrasts the real gardens of Japan with efforts to recreate the essence of their beauty in the western US. Beautiful Photos

This is one of the lesser-known books on the JMT, and I bought it with some trepidation. But boy, was I pleasantly surprised! This is a true little gem. I have thru hiked the Muir Trail from north to south and found this book is very informative and containing some very useful information. The maps are adorable and hand-drawn, but highly accurate. The book is not marketed as being geared towards novices, but there's no doubt it would benefit a beginner and be less beneficial to a seasoned backpacker. But even old pros with be delighted with the format and presentation here.

There are route descriptions of each facet of the trail, such as explaining the drop off points, elevation gains and topography of Thousand Island Lake in Mammoth to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite. You could do a thru hike without this guide, but if you're the least bit apprehensive, then this would ease your worries. Even if your an armchair JMT thru hiker, I think you'd enjoy this nifty book.

Wow! This inexpensive, slim book of less than 150 pages--easily carried along-- manages to cover the highlights of the entire JMT without being superficial. It even covers East and West approach trails and surrounds. The most outstanding feature by far is the series of wonderful hand drawn and colored relief maps of the JMT and nearby lake basins (and some areas a fair distance from it such as Emmigrant or Hoover Wilderness). Trail milages are given and elevations graphed for route planning. I'm an angler and so appreciate the commentary and map notations about the fishing along the trail and in nearby lakes. The photos are old style black and white but there are plenty of them and they give a good impression of what to expect along various segments of the trail. I've already been there and done most of the trail and am still glad I discovered this gem. Despite a few rough edges in the typesetting, you couldn't beat this concise, well illustrated, and useful little book as a place to start planning a trip along the JMT.

Jon Van Zyle's Iditarod Memories, Alaskan artist Jon Van Zyle has captured the twenty-five years of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race year by year with his commemorative posters celebrating the triumph, heroes, historic tales, and spirit of this classic dog sledding event. With true-life Iditarod stories by Jona Van Zyle, this 64-page book is a fitting memorial testament and celebration of human and canine endurance, courage, perseverance, and accomplishment, as well as "must" reading for anyone who has ever thrilled to an Iditarod event.

This small-format lavishly-illustrated book accomplishes everything it attempts. The posters are reproduced nicely, although in postcard size. To readers with questions about the actual canine work of a race, this book explains quite a lot. Siberian huskies are the stars of "the last great race," and there are many modern-day improvements to their lot - food-warmers, airlifted straw drops (for their sleeping comfort) and more. The Van Zyles' dogs are varied and gorgeous. Jon Van Zyle is a handsome bearded man who appears - with great success - in some of the posters. Jona Van Zyle offers a wealth of information. The drawings are romantic and even heroic - without being kitschy. For example, the piercing blue eyes of a Siberian husky are actually hauntingly beautiful in real life - and a Van Zyle painting might confirms that. A great look at beautiful, hardworking dogs by two people who love them.

Here is a thinking person's story of terror, resolve, fatigue, death, and redemption - of the vicissitudes
of war. No overblown theatrics diminish the drama of Mr. Veatch's experiences. Instead, in a most tender manner, the solder's story unfolds with increasing excitement at each new war venue. This book's beauty are the descriptions of a young soldier's medley of experiences, any one of which was life threatening. This book well illustrates the wondrous nature of the American soldier.

Here is a thinking person's story of terror, resolve, fatigue, death, and redemption - of the vicissitudes of war. No overblown theatrics diminish the drama of Mr. Veatch's experiences. Instead, in a most tender manner, the solder's story unfolds with increasing excitement at each new war venue. This book's beauty are the descriptions of a young soldier's medley of experiences, any one of which was life threatening. This book well illustrates the wondrous nature of the American soldier.

Your guide book "The Kenai Canoe Trails" was an invaluable resource on my son's and my canoe trip through the Swan Lakes route and out the Moose River. The detailed maps of the campsites and portages were absolutely accurate and very needed on this route. Other tips like, "hip boots recommended" proved wise advice! Thanks for hleping my son and I have a great Alaskan vacation.

I've canoed the Swanson Lake system in the Kenai canoe trails for years, and this is by far the most useful guide to this area. I've never met Mr. Quick, but his book offers very detailed information on such matters as the character of each portage trail, the location of campsites on the various lakes, the presence or absence of fish, and so on. The information provided is highly accurate (even if Quick does overlook a campsite or two). One might quibble with some of his recommendations on gear, portaging methods, etc., but such matters tend to be subjective among experienced outdoors people, and this book isn't primarily intended as such a general how-to guide anyway. "The Kenai Canoe Trails" is highly recommended for anyone planning -- or even dreaming of -- a trip into one of the most wild and pristine wilderness canoe systems in North America.

I am a former book editor, and I admire the brilliant integration of illustrations and text on every page spread of these Knopf guides. The San Francisco guide is no exception. The city is covered from every angle, and every angle is done so well.

I love the new Knopf series of travel guides. They are visually strong, easy to use, give great overviews of everything from geography to ancient history to architecture to the standard restaurants, museums and hotels. I highly recommend this guide!