Pacific

For those of us who aren't able to trek up tough mountain trails...this book guides us through the trails that go to some beautiful spots in the backcountry...but that you can still take a wheelchair. The book includes detailed descriptions of the trails, and directions how to get there...And they've checked for things like the width of the trail and how steep---and have rated them by how easy it would be to get a wheelchair up them. A really valuable book---and the other cool thing is that this book has raised awareness and committment for the Forest Service to keep up the wheelchair accessible trails.

This is an excellent and much needed book on the history of railroad building in the Interior Northwest. Some of the chapters include the various Palouse lines, Stampede Tunnel, Coeur d'Alene area, NP's Central Washington Branch, and more. Well written and researched. A few photos, mostly text. Lengthy appendix. Highly recommended. I hope somebody writes another book on this area continuing on from 1893.

Across The North Pacific by Charles Potts is a literary tour de force of sweeping, free-verse poems projecting a future torn in three directions by the languages and attached cultures of English, Japanese, and Mandarin. Dividing its pages into spheres of influence, Across The North Pacific culminates in a verbal thunderhead explosion that will leave poetry devotees yearning for more. The North Star: This is not Polaris/But a one man satellite/In permanent geosynchronous orbit/Over the North Pacific/Trying simultaneously to see and understand/All three great North Pacific cultures at the same time.

Across The Pacific: An Inner History of American - East Asian Relations was a great starting point. This book was my first exploration into the relationship between the United States and Japan before World War II. Across the Pacific does not just cover 1800 to WWII, but it covers the relations up until the late 1960's. The whole book is interesting, but the section that I personally found the most interesting was the issues that the United States and Japan were facing as the two countries moved apart before the second World War. It made me think about how much the world economic state and the control of resources play in foreign relations. It also brought to light some issues that surround imperialism, and in this case, the Japanese and the old British Empire. This book also made me aware of the power of perception if it is Cordell Hull or John MacMurray, and the role that they play.

I strongly recommend this this book, especially if you are looking for a starting point. I found Across the Pacific fascinating.

I know best the title of this book as "A Long Vacation". In English,
other variants are "Boy Castaways", "Two Year Holiday", "Two
Year's Vacation", "A Two Years' Vacation", "Adrift in the Pacific", etc.
The "Adrift" part is misleading, since most of the book the boys are
actually on land. I have also heard of this book being published in
two volumes: #1 Adrift in the Pacific, and #2 Two Year's Holiday.
In any case the story is about a group of boys on a ship that has
drifted away from her dock and they are blown across the globe to an island
off South America. Unlike Mysterious Island, there is no Civil War,
no adults, no scientist like Cyrus Harding, etc. so there are many
more differences than similarities. As usual Verne anticipates
the future with things like para-sailing. A very good, exciting story.
Compare it to Golding's "Lord of the Flies".

Out of all the travel books I purchased for my Alaska trip this one proved to be the most entertaining and useful. When I recieved this book I expected just another guide book but I couldn't stop reading - the anecdotes and suggestions were as compelling as a good novel. It felt like a nice, long letter from a friend who wanted to be sure I had a great trip. While traveling I found most of their suggestions right on the money. I tried the activities they suggested and was glad I steered clear of their warnings! It turned out to be the only guide book I brought along that I actually used regularly on the trip. One draw back is that there are very few maps of the smaller local areas and the maps that are included do not give you a sense of scale. Also, the title is a bit of a misnomer, I almost did not order this book because I thought "adventure guide" meant it was only for sportspeople, kayakers and campers. But that is far from the truth, this book is great for the independant traveler who wants a leisurely trip, as well as a person who wants something a little more challenging.

If you like to hike, swim,snorkel, mountain bike, or pursue another active hobby while traveling, you will probably find this book a valuable guide for the Hawaiian islands. It is an overall guide, and I think you will probably also benefit by supplementing this book with a specific guidebook oriented towards the island(s) you are spending most of your time on. Avid snorkelers (I am one) will also benefit from the Malinowski series on snorkeling in specific islands in Hawaii. The best feature of the book is a list of the "top ten" adventures on each island. Useful for penetrating the immense amount of information to identify the most unusual or spectacular attractions on each island.

The print edition of this book is 210 pages. It's a guide to every corner of Nevada - what to see and do, where to stay, the best places to eat, the ghost towns, the mountains, the lakes the towns and the cities - with an accent on enjoying the great outdoors. The author details the best places for hiking, mountain biking, jeeping, boating and fishing, with info on all the outfitters and guides. There are 22 state parks in the state, plus 14 national recreation areas, 14 wildlife refuges and a sliver of the newest national park, Death Valley. He covers them all - what to see and do, how to get there, how to get around. Lake Tahoe and Lake Mead are covered as well. While everybody else heads for the Strip, with its faux Sphinx, plastic volcano and campy lounge acts, you can head out to the Great Basin, with this book on your laptop, where you will have the whole wild and naturally amazing state almost to yourself.

I am inlove with this state, and I love adventure as well, so why not... I'm 14 years old and I collect travel books, I travel a lot and want to see everything there possibly is to see out in the world. This book is not only a good guide, it's fun to read as well. I recommend it to anyone considering a trip to the wildest state in the country.

The best guide to Napa Valley's food scene we've seen--dozens of places we'd never know about without this book. It's got everything, in all price ranges,from gourmet restaurants to fantastic picnic sites. The insider "tips" on each page were invaluable.