Book Reviews/Travel Guides

Good Reads For Your Adventure Travels

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Smart Packing for Today's Traveler by Susan Foster

SMART PACKING FOR TODAY'S TRAVELER Third Edition By Susan Foster is filled with Traveling Light ideas, Safety and Security Tips, and Packing for Business and Vacation hints. The new edition this year is even better and more complete with up to date hints that were not in her previous editions. An experienced travelers herself, Foster tells up to date ideas of products and clothing that is made for easy travel and she suggests specific items for each different kind of trip, itemizing just how many pieces you need and what they should be for camping, cruises, adventure travel, sports, resorts, and business. She has terrific ideas for packing for kids too. She offers suggestions for selecting luggage and for packing each piece. Her safety tips and product knowledge are worth the price of the book. She details worthwhile gadgets to purchase and items that serve as comfort en route. This book is a valuable tool for frequent travelers. As a travel writer who used to be the world's worst packer, I am grateful for her book and thoroughly endorse it! Click Here To Order

Sailing Down the Moon Beam A Memoir By Mary Gottschalk is a well-written and fascinating book about her and her husband's brave experience of leaving it all behind and following a dream. They had lucrative jobs with high stress and decided instead of the rat race they would buy a sailboat and spend five years going around the world. But, not having all the knowledge they wished when they set sail, they had to overcome many problems with the boat along the way. Mary describes with sailor terms the difficulties and how they solved them, while weaving the story of their interpersonal problems within the long-time marriage while they were confined to the company of just each other in relationship-straining circumstances. The descriptions of the many places they visited and the people they met and the friends who visited them make this story intriguing, poignant, exciting, and WORTH THE READ!!! Order here

A Walk For Sunshine by Jeff Alt is the story of his 2,160 mile trek-through on the Appalachian Trail, from the southern end in Georgia to the Northern end in Maine. This is the oldest trail in the United States, started in 1921. Jeff's dream since childhood was to walk it without interruption, but it was not until the end of his college degrees in marketing that he was able to do so and to accomplish the feat with an extended purpose. He has a mentally retarded, cerebral palsey brother who is in a care center, Sunshine, in Toledo, and Jeff decided to promote his walk and gather sponsor's money for equipment for Sunshine. With lectures, slide shows, newsletters, emails, and magazine and newspaper articles he gathered more than his goal of $10,000. He perservered through six months of blistered feet, rain, sleet, snow, heat, varmits, doubts, fears, and lonliness to go all the way to Maine. His book, a portion of which goes to Sunshine, is the fascinating detailing of the dream trek, which thousands wish to do and only several hundres accomplish. Jeff now sponsors annual fundraisers and leads short Appalachian hikes to continue to raise funds for Sunshine. He has raised now over $100,000. A really gripping and inspiring book!

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Inca Trails: Journey Through The Bolivian and Peruvian Andes by Martin Li is a very well written and fascinating book in which the author describes in great details his ambitious trek through the Andes. He is an ambitious hiker and made his journey to discover and trace the history of the last great pre-Columbian civilisation in South America, the Incas. The vast empire the Incas built and the civilized society they formed who built the amazing places such as Cuzco and Machu Picchu was conquered by a small band of Spaniards after only about three generations on the Inca Empire. Li's journey explores all the history of the Incas, visiting each significant place across the beautiful and rugged terrain of the Andes. His book is fascinating and informative as well as descriptively beautiful. Anyone going to the Andes should read it first in order to get a lot more out of your trip. We highly recommend it and wish we had had this book before our trip to Machu Picchu. a portion of the proceeds from the book is donated to help finance solar energy and other development projects in Bolivia and Peru. A MUST READ! Click Here To Order or here www.inca-trails.org

Along the Templar Trail by Brandon Wilson Along the Templar Trail by Brandon Wilson is another fascinating book about the author's amazing treks across continents. In this book Wilson and his senior French friend Emile whom he had met on a trak in Spain, attempt to walk across two continents on a Peace Mission. Wilson flew from his home in Hawaii to meet Emile in Paris, France. They both bid their wives good-bye for an anticipated seven months' journey, to follow the trail of Crusaders and the original Knights Templar, an historic trail of many warriors, all the way to Jerusalem. Brandon and Emile determined to promote peace and friendship all along the way, attempting to walk from 20 to 50 kilometers each day. They accepted food and modest accommodations from "angels" along the way, and directions from strangers who told him where they might find a hostel or simple food or water, but they refused to accept rides that were offered. They trekked thousands of miles through war-torn lands, over rugged mountains, across barren lands, along seashores, through villages and dangerous highways and busy cities, always pushing onward, exhausted, thirsty, hungry, but determined to speak of peace with everyone they met. In every situation they found people to be the same all over both continents, and all wanted peace. Did they make it all the way in spite of the dangers inherent in the Middle East? You must read the book to find out! This book is a MUST READ. You'll be inspired by the author's amazing determination and fortitude and dedication to his mission. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! Click Here To Order

Along Florida's Expressways, 2nd Edition by Dave Hunter is another of Dave's Excellent travel guides, designed particularly for the fly/drive visitor. The book is filled with a wealth of information because the author and his wife personally drove every inch of the state's expressways in both directions. The couple tell points of interest you would never find on your own, vital information about rest stops, gas stations, museums, restaurants, and fast food places. But they also include fascinating trivia and fun facts that make the book a good read along the way. The many pages of detailed maps show just 25 miles at a time and tell everything you need to know! This is a MUST for your drive anywhere in Florida. Click Here To Order

DON'T MIND ME, I'M JUST PASSING THROUGH BY KREG P.J. JORGENSON is a humorous travel memoir written by this well-known columnist who continues to tickle our funnybones with his witty observations. His descriptions of places and people he encounters all over Europe are brilliant, tongue-in-cheek, intellectual humor for those who have been there or want to go there. He has many classical and literary references which are not understandable to the traveler who is not well-read, but to those who are, this book is a fun, laughing experience. His witticisms and puns and twists of reference are truly brilliant. You'll enjoy this one!Click Here To Order

TAVUA THE WHITE CANNIBAL BY RICK WILLIAMSON is a fascinating account of the New Zealand author's ten years' experience of living with and intimately experiencing the lifestyle and deeply spiritual and superstitious ways of one of the world's last remaining totally primitive tribes who live in the high mountains of Vanautu's largest Island, Espirito Santo, off the coast of Australia and New Zealand. Because of abuses by Spanish explorers, slave traders, and Christian missionaries in the distant past, these people of te village of Winea are hostile to white people and are practicing cannibals. Rick was in great danger of being killed and eaten when he first arrived, and even though he was adopted by one of the chiefs and taught the extremely secret kastam and tabus , he was constantly in danger for his life as he learned how to walk through the minefield of superstitions and forbidden ways, punishable by being castrated and boiled and eaten. He endured untold, excruciating torments both physical and mental in order to be accepted, initiated, and taught their secrets. His story is so fascinating I couldn't put the book down until I had read every word. Click Here To Order

The Top 100 Most Beautiful Rustic Vacations of North America, Second Edition by Dusty Dave is a beautiful guidebook of ranches, lodges, cabins and other wonderful places to visit in cozy, woodland settings. The book was awarded the Bronze Medal for Best Travel Guidebook 2007 at the Independent Publisher Book Awards. None of the places recommended in the book paid to be named but were personally chosen by the author, who has visited thousands of rustic lodges and accommodations around the world. He is the owner of the www.RusticVacations.com where you can find also many more of these special places. This Second Edition of The Top 100 Most Beautiful Rustic Vacations of North America is attractive to thumb through and easy to make selections because the same format with several photos is used on a double page spread for each property. The indexing is easy to follow with maps showing where each place is. Dave's descriptions are interesting and thorough, telling what activities and amenities are available, what is close by. Dusty Dave has done a fine job with this enticing travel guide... Makes me want to escape to the woods and enjoy it all! Click here to order: www.rusticvacations.com

The 100 Best Vacations To Enrich Your Life by Pam Grout is a new National Geographic travel guide book with a special twist: these vacations are not to get away and veg out but to get your creative juices flowing, or to educate you, or to heal you, or to enable you to share what you know to help others. The 100 best vacations book is divided into four sections, each focusing on one of the types of trips mentioned above. The vacation experiences are described in detail, as well as what you will learn, how you can give back, and the type of people who will enjoy such an experience. The trips are within the U.S.A., Canada, and Mexico and the book is written by an outstanding experienced travel writer, published frequently in top publications and the author of 13 travel books. This compilation of tour ideas and opportunities is meeting the needs of the new kind of travelers who want to have a meaningful vacation and give back to the places and people they visit, or to learn away from stresses of their normal environment. The book is EXCELLENT, with all the information you need to choose and sign up for leisure time well spent which will keep you smiling and promises to change you forever. Click Here To Order

BAD KARMA by Tamara Sheward is the strangest, perhaps funniest, travel book I ever read. This is the Confessions of a Reckless Traveller in Southeast Asia and will keep you shaking your head in amazement. Written by an Aussie, the book has a lingo that is at first difficult to adapt and understand, unless you are also from "Down Under" and a hippie back-packer. Her tales of back-packing her way through the underbelly of South East Asia, on an unplanned, wing-it-as-you-go escape from the mundane work-a-day world on a somewhat non-traditional Australian walk-about. She and her friend get into the grimiest places, meet the most undesirable people, and stay in accommodations that give even the reader nightmares, but her tongue in cheek ramblings are twisted and hilarious and often make you want to gag and to be SURE you never go to any of the places they stay or eat. First published in Australia, the book is one of the most unique travel tales, but definitely NOT for the conservative reader...filled with bad words, slang, and drinking, and getting stoned. Order here

Eat Smart in Peru by Joan Peterson and Brook Soltvedt, Illustrated by Susan Chwae is a travel guide for food lovers which guides the traveler in Peru through the market and the menu in order to have a savory tasting adventure. The unique concept of this book is one of many in the EAT SMART series. The guides include a history of the culture and development of its unique cuisine. There are many recipes sprinkled through the book to try before making your trip to Peru or to enjoy as a special memory after returning. Especially useful is the chapters about shopping in the market with the needed languages phrases.And every traveler to Peru needs this book even if it is just for the restaurant guide which lists the dishes and food items in alphabetical order with descriptions of what it is, with national and regional Peruvian favorites indicated. With this guide you will no longer be ordering mystery foods when you dine. The book is unique and really well organized. Be sure to pack it for your trip! Click Here To Order

A Quick Guide To Customs and Etiquette is a new series of travel guides which seems so ideal I had to wonder why it has been such a long time coming. Each guide focuses on the customs and etiquette of each specific country and tells pleasure and business travelers what they need to know in order not to make embarrassing or insulting blunders in a foreign country. With a brief overview of the history, geography, and religious customs that helped develop the country, the reader gains an understanding of what to expect and how to respond. There are sections on the land and people, values and attitudes,religion & festivals & rituals, banquets and entertaining, visiting in a home, conducting business, communicating, food and drink, and more. These little guides fit into our purse so you can read one on the plane en route and be familiar with the society's do's and don't's as you arrive. These guides are terrific and important to each of us as the world grows smaller. You may even be visiting a cultural section within your own city, such as China Town, and want to have this guide to help you understand and appreciate another way of life. Excellent! Buy one for each place you travel. Click Here To Order.

Maui, Lanai & Molokai by Sharon Hamblin is one of the Hunter Travel Guides and is a necessity for planning a trip to Hawaii. The book is pleasant to read and gives valuable information from hiking, points of interest, accommodations, dining, to shopping and much more. This is the most complete guide to these islands that you'll find for walking trails, dive sites, boat trips,waterfalls,snorkeling, surfing, and a pony tour to Haleakala Crater.The book is enjoyably readable and well indexed, so it is easy to find information you need, from phone numbers and addresses to websites and prices. This is an excellent value to make your trip perfect. Click Here To Order

The Alaska Wilderness Guide 9th Edition If you are going to be more adventurous than the average tourist visiting Alaska, or if you live and enjoy hiking, camping, etc., this guide is a MUST for you. From the editors of the famous Milepost (the Bible of road travel in Alaska) this is the book your very life, and certainly your success in the Alaskan wilderness experience, depends on. The guide details where to camp, sportfish, sea kayak, fun rivers, hike and anything else you might wish to do in the backcountry. There are detailed descriptions and information about over 250 towns and bush villages. Not only the ease and fun of your trip, but your life could also depend on this book for know-where/how in emergencies that arise in remote, rough landscapes.

How To Rent Vacations Properties By Owner by Christine Hrib Karpinski is the Bible of how to purchase, advertise, and own vacation rental properties. It has complete details and how-to's for the potential buyer and manager and advertiser of these properties around the world. This is thruly the Complete Guide to Buy, Manage, Furnish, Rent, Maintain , and Advertise your vacation rental investment. If you think you would enjoy being a landlord or manager of rentals, this is the place to research and to learn all the ins and outs of purchasing and renting special and unique properties in almost any location you can think of. Excellent compendium and easy to read and find what you are looking for. Click Here To Order

Explore Costa Rica by Harry S. Pariser is another excellent new guide of this Central American Country which is becoming so very popular for tourists. Pariser gives the history, geography, and maps and all the necessary information of a typical tour guide, but this extremely comprehensive book of over 600 pages goes further to detail many out of the way places that are not on the typical tours. He emphasizes the naturalist and outdoor adventures in which Costa Rica takes great pride as being the foremost country in ecology in the world. Pariser includes many illustrations and some excellent full color photographs which will really make you want to go see this country for yourself. Be sure to read this guide before you plan your trip. You'll be very glad you did! Click Here To Order

Fifty Best Girl-Friends Getaways in North America by Marybeth Bond is a new travel book from National Geographic Press by one of America's top travel writers. Geared to the exploding new sector of travelers, Bond has advice and tips for women who want to travel together, in groups large or small, young or old. She had selected fifty locals to describe and tell from her personal experience what to see and do and what to avoid, how to make it easy and fun. She gives several suggestions of places to stay, things to do, and where to find good food. Her getaways are divided into six thematic categories: Big City Getaways, Spirit Boosters, Birthday blowouts, Female Family Bonding, Adventure Escapes, Friends Reunions, Best Places to Heal When You've Been Dumped, Golf Getaways, Pampering retreats, and Retail Therapy in Small Artsy Towns. This book is a must for any woman planning a girl holiday. Click Here To Order

ADVENTURES IN FORMOSA BY ANTONIO GRACEFFO details the author's adventurs in Formosa (Taiwan) where he left his life as a New York stock broker to live a very different life in Asia, where he enjoys kick boxing and spiritual practices. He is an excellent and fascinating writer. Order from Amazon.com

ADVENTURE GUIDE TO NAPLES, SORRENTO, AMALFI COAST BY MARINA CARTER is another of Hunter Publishing Company's excellent travel guides. This one has a fascinating introduction which gives not only the history, but also breaks down and explains the art and architecture into specific periods of history, which gives you a thorough appreciation for what you will see and experience on your trip. There is a section of where to go, what to see, places to eat and shop, and sporting activities and entertainment in each area, including phone numbers and websites to contact for each. The book explores Naples with its history and art, then the 60 mile Sorrento Peninsula as a base for exploring other areas and famous for luring sirens to the treacherous rocks, and finally the less accessible Amalfi Coast with its gorgeous scenery one of the most beautiful in all of Europe. Reading this guide will tempt travelers to Italy to venture South of Rome. Click Here To Order

An Adventure Guide to The Canadian Rockies by Brenda Koller from Hunter Travel Guide: Having been to the Canadian Rockies numerous times and thinking we had seen all the wonderful places before we discovered this book, we now must plan many more trips there to explore all the other incredible places described in detail in this Guide. With numerous beautiful color photographs, most of which are by the author, this guide is a treasure because the scenery of the Canadian Rockies is some of the most spectacular in the world. A unique feature of this guide book is that it includes hiking details for each of the areas described. Since we have hiked many of these areas, we know this is a necessary and vaulable tool for planning hikes. With each section Koller has Hikes, Drives, Sights, and Activities, so for non-hikers it is just as valuable, also giving information for booking guided tours. The Canadian Rockies have so many wonderful places to discover and some are quite hidden unless you know where to look, as you will with this guide. Everything from camping to exclusive hotels and restaurants are catalogued also. Click Here To Order

Pocket Adventures' Costa RIca by Bruce and June Conord

Pocket Adventures' Costa Rica from Hunter Travel Guides by Bruce and June Conord: Having gone to Costa Rica before having this book, we wished we had used this guide before we went the first time, and it makes us want to return soon! Even though we had aleady experienced some of the places and activities we found described in this book, it gave us greater insights that we had missed in the visit. This enriched the trip we had already taken, which is most unusual for a travel guide. The books outlines the twenty top spots in Costa RIca and has divisions by areas of the country. The first half of the book tells about the eating and culture of what to see in the capital city San Jose, and the second half gives specifics about the other sections of the country, telling what to see and do and where to stay and eat. Whatever your specific interests and focus for your trip, you'll find where you need to make your reservations. There are even discussions of cosmetic surgery and legal prostitution. So whether you have already been to Costa RIca or plan to go or just want to learn about the Costa Rica, this book is a wonderful guide and worth buying. Click Here To Order

Select Registry, Distinguished Inns of North America is the travelers' selective perfect guide to plan a luxurious holiday at the most special places inns, hotels, and resorts. Divided into sections by U.S.A. state and Canadian province, with a good map each, the book has beautiful photographs and descriptions of each of the properties. All the contact information and prices and amenities are clearly listed in a quick reference sidebar for each page. You can trust that your peaceful vacation will be all you expect and more because each of these carefully selected places have been chosen as the best of the best, based on hospitality, comfort, authenticity, and uniqueness, distinguished because they are not part of the cluttererd and impersonal chains that have become all too prevalent. A good guide to have at the fingertips for the discerning traveler.

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US VIRGIN ISLANDS ALIVE! by Harriet & Douglas Greenberg is the Second Edition and also an excellent Hunter Guide Book. After an introduction which includes such things as history, climate, food, and various ways to travel to the Virgin Islands, the book gives great detail about three specific Islands: St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. With numerous color photographs of lovely scenic spots on each of these islands, the book serves as a wonderful memoir of your trip. You'll also find information about the best beaches, sight seeing, and shopping in addition to the various places to stay and eat. There is a variety of contact information including phone numbers and website addresses for booking your trip. Click Here To Order

Speak French: The Fastest Way to Learn a Language With Michel Thomas is a EXCELLENT way to learn a language. I have tried several different courses to learn French, but this one had me speaking hundreds of phrases and knowing a huge vocabulary within the first ten hours of listening...and without memorizing or books or writing or drills! I am sold on this series as the best that exists to date. Michel teaches from the perception that we who speak English already know a lot of French words that we don't know we know...only the pronunciation is different. Once you grasp the pronunciations tricks and the endings to apply to identify verbs, nouns and adjectives, you discover French is easy! Great for car travel...turn your driver's seat into your classroom! Many other languages are available by the same methods (McGraw Hill) Click Here To Order

YAK BUTTER BLUES BY BRANDON WILSON is the amazing account of the trek along the Pilgrim's Route from Lhasa to Kathmandu. The author and his wife were the first Westerners to ever make this trip on foot, and their story of faith, frustration, fatigue, and near starvation is amazing. Wilson's descriptions are vivid, and his style of writing is charmingly full of unusual similes and whimsical insights that make the book a true adventure for the reader also. I suffered with him and his wife Cheryl as they trudged their appointed miles each day, resorting to only a liter of water between them each day and only an evening meal. They were dripping with sweat at times and suffering frostbite at other times, sleeping in their little tent in below freezing weather with gale force winds, or on the dirt and straw floor of villagers' barns at other times. With limited knowledge of the Tibetan and Nepalese languages and Chinese communists strictly in charge and trying to stamp out the Buddhist beliefs and centers of culture, the Wilsons were keenly aware of the pricarious and often dangerous position they were in politically as well as physically. They could have been arrested or sent back at any checkpoint, or even killed. With their Tibetan horse carrying their few possessions and keeping them company, they made the trip successfully but without baths for forty days, during which they lost nearly more than that number of pounds. The story is compelling and fascinating reading...and a trip none of the readers will ever want to make! A terrific travel adventure book!, Click here to order www.PilgrimsTales.com.

CONSUMMATE CONNECTICUT: DAY TRIPS WITH PANACHE BY STACY LYTWYN MAXWELL Even reading this delightful book from far away (Texas ) made me want to pick up the phone and make reservations for a trip to Connecticut now! Stacy has a fresh personable way with words and entices you not only with beautiful descriptions of the sights, but also with t he aromas and the feel of the places she describes. Her extensive research into history and customs, festivals, and fun is a wealth of information, and her recommendaitons can be trusted because she has not received payment from any of t he businesses mentioned. For any resident of Connecticut, this book should always be in your car! For any visitor to the area, day trips or longer stays, the book should be your first consultant in planning your trip. Click here to order from Amazon.com

DEAD MEN DON'T LEAVE TIPS BY BRANDON WILSON is one of the most engaging travel books we have read. The author and his partner set out to live their dream of crossing Africa from top to tip, not as tourists but as travelers. The difference is that travelers experience the country almost as if they were natives living there, not in full service hotels and fancy restaurants. The author's adventure turned sour in many difficult ways because of the ineptness of the guides they had selected and the group with which they were placed to travel. The couple's seven month honeymoon dream odyssey - 10,000 miles across Africa from top-to-tip. After their "ship of fools" safari turns into a nightmare, they set off across Africa alone. However, being adventurers and seasoned travelers, they perservered through dust, mud, starvation, fever, sickness, being stranded in the desert, and many other situations that are horribly fascinating. We shuddered as they overcame each diffuculty. The trip took over seven months, and they came through it unbelievably in tact to tell their fascinating tales. A must read! Click here to order from Amazon.com or here from the publisher www.PilgrimsTales.com.

Key To Rome by Frederick and Vanessa Vreeland is one of the most beautiful travel books we have seen. It is a complete guide to this Eternal City written by residents of 25 years.... the Vreelands, one an American and one a British citizen, have been in the positions in Rome as Counselor at the U.S. Embassy, Director General of Aspen Institute Italy, and VP of John Cabot University in Rome. Italy and decided to stay. They loved Rome and decided to stay. They have divided the book into sections by historic periods: Ancient Rome, Christian Rome, Renaissance & Baroque Era, and Grand Tour & Shopping, telling their favorite places for each period and also describing many more. The book contains maps, fees & times of opening for all the points of interest, history, and much more than just listing restaurants, hotels, transportation and points of interest, all of which they describe well. The only problem with it is that some travelers tear pages out of their travel guide to take in their purse on various days to mark the route of each daily venture, and you will not want to do that with this one. The book is far more than just a travel guide: it is also your Rome souvenir because the photographs and drawings in it make it a wonderful book to keep and display as a coffee table book so you can really share your trip with your friends after returning. Click here to order from Amazon.com

THE MILEPOST 2006, 58th Editon If you are planning a trip to the North Country: Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, you simply cannot go without this amazing guide. It lists the food, gas, lodging, camping, fishing, road conditions, bridges, and ferries... all the way from major access routes in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. In the remote, sparsely populated Northwest, Milepost is famous as the quintessential guide, the Bible of how to get there and how to handle any problems along the way. Experienced travelers since 1949 have known You gotta have this one! It is as valuable as the early settler's compass! Click here to order from Amazon.com

Everything You Need to Know About RV Travel to Canada By Peggi and John McDonald is on the 'Net someplace, but it takes me a month to pull it all together. And as a Canadian with 21 years of Fulltime RV travel experience, I know what I am looking for. Now is time to let your fingers do the planning for your next trip north of the USA Border. The mega number of websites, phone numbers plus extensive general information in RV Travel to Canada simplifies your planning and adds piece of mind to an RV Adventure in the friendly country to the north . All this for only $12.95. Instant Download PDF file.. This E-Book answers all these questions plus soooo many more.

Order here: http://1.rvliving.pay.clickbank.net

Here is a sample of all you can find in this E-book :

The Diverse Country to the North – Canada is in reality a world of Nations. A visit is like taking a worldwide tour. Festivals and celebrations from a bevy of nationalities add to the wonder of this expansive hospitable country. This E-Book highlights the majesty of CANADA as well as attractions in each PROVINCE and TERRITORY from east to west to north – ‘Sea to Sea to Sea’.

–"General Information – What to expect when I arrive at the border? What food can I have on board? Do I need a passport? NEW technology that affects border crossings is also addressed along with much more.

More Tidbits of Info – All about money – How to convert US$ to Cdn$, Banking access, Credit and Debit card use. Understanding metric, gas/fuel pricing and where to find propane are also covered. What about Day-to-Day costs? Do I have to pay Federal tax?

What Can I Bring With Me?– If this is my home, can I transport homemade wine? How much alcohol, tobacco, gifts etc. can I have on board? What is the ruling on taking my beautiful plants across the border? Do I need a passport or a visas or an identity card? If I have kids and grandkids with me what paperwork do I need? Do you have a criminal record such as DWI (DUI)? Is my driver’s licence and insurance acceptable to drive in Canada? What about leaving cars and boats in Canada? Can I receive a refund for Federal or Provincial tax I paid?

Gun Control – I want to bring my hunting rifle with me, is this possible? I understand I can’t transport my on-board handgun; can I leave it at the border? What is the scoop on a gun licence?

Pet Travel - We travel with four-legged kids, what papers do they need? What shots should they have? Is their rabies shot good for one or three years? Do they have to spend time in quarantine? Can I take my pet bird or other exotic pets with me?

Toll Roads and Ferry Information – Does Canada have many toll roads? What are their costs and where are they located? What about ferries - how do I find prices and sailing times/dates? This section includes in-depth contact info plus websites and phone numbers.

Trivia and Planning Tips – What happens if I get sick or need medical attention? Do I need supplementary medical coverage? Does Canada have different traffic rules than the USA – especially for RV travel such as towing? Do I need a separate driver’s licence/insurance? How do I get mail? Can I use CB/cell phones in Canada? What is the cost and availability of pay phones?

General Recap of Travel to Canada –What’s NEW at the border? Are the roads single or multi lanes, paved or? What is the posted speed? Can I navigate large cities in my RV?

Everything you need to know about campgrounds – type, location, open times, amenities, hook-ups, reservations and much more. Are there ‘Free’ or ‘No-cost’ places to camp? What about public dump stations? What is the best time to visit? What type of climate can we expect?

Since Canada is a Mosaic of Nations what language is spoken? Is Canada a safe place to travel? Can I depend on WiFi connections? Are there any problems with phone and email services/contact? Can I connect to campground modems? I need a ZIP code to set up my satellite TV, how can I do that in Canada?

RV Regulations Several links for the provinces and territories

Valuable Websites - Cross Border Information - and Phone numbers

Provincial Websites and Phone Numbers

National Parks – Canada and USA

US Tourism Websites and Phone Numbers

Mileage Pro, Guide to Frequent Flyer Programs By Randy Petersen and Tim Winship could have been named the Bible of Frequent Flyer Programs. It tells you everything you could ever need to know about the ins and outs of getting the most from these programs. All the instructions are informative and easy to apply. You could save a lot by reading this book thoroughly and following the sound advice therein. Click here to order from Amazon.com

AMORES by Emanuel Dimas de Melo Pimento and Antonio Cerveira Pinto is a beautiful book of poetry, art, virtual architecture, and prose. It describes the enormously ambitious project which is beginning in Lisbon, Portugal Images are by virtual architect, urbanplanner, composer & photographer Emanuel Dimas de Melo Pimento, a Portuguese artist living in Switzerland. He has been selected to create a floating island city of the future in the Tagus River near Lisbon and extending to the Atlantic Ocean to be a petroleum free model for future cities. In Amores people, animals, and plants will flourish in an environment which can change forms like an amoeba as conditions require, and the floating city will use all the natural resources of water, wind, and sunlight. This project, which works closely with the Great Estuary, a work already underway by the architect Carlos SantAna, addresses in concrete and virtual ways how to make a sustainable future for our world and projects this creation, the brainchild of Antonio Cerveira Pinto, to show the world at the 2020 Olympic Games in Lisbon. The book gives hope to the future of our earth and world communities living in peace. An inspiring read and fantastic project! Click here to order.

Secrets of the SIlk Road by Larry Anderson

Secrets of the SIlk Road by Larry Andrews is a fascinating book which details the travels of the author, an engineer invited to China to facilitate and guide the building of a water system. En route he spends time wandering in the Gobi Desert with teachers of ancient Wisdom, as predicted by his own godmother in his youth. He becomes the carrier of some of these secret and sacred teachings to instruct and inspire the West at a time when hope is most needed. The book makes you want to undertake a journey to this most remote and unmodernized part of the world. His "chance" meetings make you wonder if coincidences are really never coincidental. The secret wisdom becomes a living entity as he gets to know the ancient teachers who are desert wanderers. The book is very enticing, well written, an intriguing and beguiling travel book, as well as enlightening. Highly recommended! I could hardly put it down! Click here to order.

LIVE YOUR ROAD TRIP DREAM BY PHIL AND CAROL WHITE is the encyclopedia of planning an extended road trip, whether in the United States or other countries. The authors, who had long dreamed of getting away from it all and exploring the US, made their dream happen after retirement in their mid-fifties. In this well-written book they document their trip, partially as a travel log, but more helpfully, as a record of their extensive planning, budgeting, leaving home and relatives, purchases for the travels, itinerary planning and flexibility, and handling bot foreseen and unforseen events for a year on the road. They give charts showing their planned and actual expenditures and suggestions for making a tighter budget work. They tell problems and solutions for leaving aging parents, young grandchildren, and grown children for this extended period. They have several suggestions for modes of travel and the pros and cons of each. They opted for an over-sized van outfitted as a very small RV for camping about four nights a week and choosing budget motels for the other nights. They have suggestions for time and energy management while on the extended vacation, with the reality that the body cannot take constant over-stimulation, no matter how much fun it is. Having experienced many of the joys and problems the authors share in this book because of our extensive RV travels, we highly recommend this book for anyone planning a long trip of several months or more. The authors have made the informative chapters applicable to any type of long and adventurous trip which takes people away from home for several months or more. Their tips will save you many dollars and many tears of frustration along the way. A terrific investment in your vacation! Click here to order.

RV PACKING TIPS by Peggi and John McDonald

RV LIVING IN THE 21ST CENTURY by Peggi and John McDonald is an excellent publication and a MUST for ALL RVers - from those new to the RV lifestyle to seasoned RVers. The book is organized by chapters which guide you through buying an RV or camper to where to stay, how to pack, what to purchase for multiple uses, how to add storage and organize, and many many more tips. The authors are well qualified for writing this and their other books listed below. They have spent years living in their RV six months in Canada and six months in the United States each year. You can order the print version or download the Ebook at www.rvliving.net o Order at 1-888-280-7715. They are also authors of 'SPIRIT OF THE OPEN ROAD and RV PACKING TIPS and RV LIFE LESSONS and EASY LIVING HINGS and RV TRAVEL TO CANADA E-BOOK.

Although we have been RV-ers for 30 years, we learned a lot from these EXCELLENT books. A very good investment for life on the road...whether for short or long stints. Highly recommended!

STENCIL GRAFFITI CAPITAL: MELBOURNE by Jake Smallman and Carl Nyman is a fascinating look at the street artists in this vast city which have been decorating abandoned and empty spaces with stenciled art for years. Often arrested, these determined artists returned to decorating the abandoned buildings with their art again and again; sometimes with angry statements, sometimes with simple beauty, always with a thought provoking message through stenciled art. However, after years of this abusive treatment the artists were persistent enough to get the city's attention. Now this year marked the second annual festival of Stencilled Street Art in Melbourne, with artists coming from all over the world to participate in decorating the city. The Stencil Graffitti in this book will be of interest especially to artists. A strangely fascinating book. Click here to order.

THE POWDER ROAD By Honora Burnett is from Stellar Transmedia and is Reviewed by Taylor Mills With the flush of guidebooks, resort guides and instructional books on the market, it is hard to find one encapsulating the raw spirit of the skiing – until the arrival of The Powder Road. The premise of The Powder Road is four friends, two trucks and 10,000 miles. What it accomplishes is far more than a chronicle of a ski-style road trip but rather a documentation of the true dream of ski travel. Between these two covers, readers will find a story of a solid core of friends interacting with characters from Aspen to Anchorage, skiing unparallel terrain and overcoming seemingly insurmountable setbacks, in a tale that will leave no adventure traveler wanting.

With rumors of a big winter in Alaska, four friends from Oregon, Sweden, California and Colorado converged in Boulder in the winter of 2003 to begin an epic cross-country adventure. The caravan moved northward from Colorado, stopped in classic ski towns of Aspen and Jackson Hole before crossing the American/Canadian border and into the ranges of British Columbia, the Yukon and Alaska.

The Powder Road project is a breath of fresh air for the oft-stale ski lit of today. It breaks new ground by marrying the physical book with an episodic website or "webumentary.” The website consists of interactive maps, photo galleries, trip member profiles and video episodes. Each week, through November 22nd, a new video segment is released online that chronicles the trip and complements the book’s narrative.

For all those skiers disheartened with watered-down instructional books, take heart. The Powder Road’s descriptive text and sharp photos capture sking’s most core elements; it is a project about skiing, but also travel on the open road. The journey and lifestyle captured in the book and website are set to the theme of a passionate search for the best skiing on earth. This search is something that every skier can relate to, and the passion for finding that untouched expanse is something every adventurer can connect with.

Plan Your Walt Disney World Vacation In No Time by Doug Ingersoll is a book I wish we had had before we spent a week at Disney World and came away wishing we had done this or skipped that to make the most of our wonderful vacation. This book is well laid-out to walk you through three stages: Part 1 gives advice on how to plan getting there and where to stay. Giving basic vacation planning strategies such as how to budget realistically, where to search on the Internet, which exits to take from highways, how to rent a car, etc., this is NOT an advertisement for specific properties or businesses but names each with the price range and outlines amenities, transportation, etc. The same is listed for restaurants in the area. This section alone will save you lots of money and exhaustion and frustration once you arrive at your dream destination. In the second section you will find each area of Disny World mapped,and a basic description of each ride or performance. There are some MUST SEE notes and for each place there is a rating of 1 - 5 for each age group from pre-schoolers to seniors. At the back of the book are trip cards so you can make notes of which attractions to do and which to skip, placing these cards in your wallet for on-site use. There is a section to help you plan what to do after dark and the final section is devoted to other attractions in the area outside Disney World. Using this book before you go will assure you make the very most of your money, time, and energy on this trip of a family dream. Click here to order

Consummate Connecticut: Day Trips with Panache

by Stacy Lytwyn Maxwell features 350 pages of the most up-to-date information on popular as well as out-of-the-way and surprising attractions and adventure that 48 Connecticut cities, towns & villages provide for the traveler, whether lifelong resident, newcomer, armchair spectator or tourist seeking a custom-designed, mini-vacation; as well as teacher in need of a field trip. The book's enthusiasm for the places visited is indicated in its chapter names. For instance, “Slice-of-Peach Pie: Brooklyn”; “Rising Starfish of the Seas: New London”; “What-ta-Wonderful: Waterbury.” Like no other guidebook, the text is packed with local color; treasured regional quirks and customs. Describing Washington, CT alone: On an occasional summer evening, Bryan Memorial Town Hall, mid-way between Washington and Washington Depot, hosts free concerts on the lawn where local celebrity, Papa Joe sells his famous hot dogs off his cart. Click here to order

Pursuing A Dream " A Wandering Executive's Journeys Into Indonesia" By James R. Nelon: For the curious armchair traveler who likes to encounter strange cultures that are far removed from the norm of our standard Western Culture, James R. Nelon's "Pursuing A Dream" is a good read. Nelon, who took off a year from the corporate rat race of the business and computer world, gives us a book of detailed descriptions and intimate photography of village life in remote areas of Indonesia. Nelon does a wonderful job of letting the reader see through his descriptions and photos just how different life can be on this planet. From his presence at a festival and burial ceremony in the village of Rantepao, Tana Toraja, to observing the life around Lake Tempe in Sulawesi, to a trip to the mystic Seram Island, to life in a longhouse in West Kalimantan, Nelon emerses the reader in the lives of Indonesians that are far removed from the lifestyles of today's tourists. His photos of the people are particularly striking and give a face to the culture being described. As a reader, I found myself wishing each picture had been placed in the book beside the descriptive paragraphs; however, today's publishing costs may have forced the photos to their placement in two groups of numbered pictures. Nelon's description is excellent but the reader will find some lack of transition between events or places, as the book is more journalizing than well connected narration. Readers will also want a map of Indonesia and Asia while reading if they are not familiar with that part of the world. Also, I was confused by the insertion of the narrations of the death of his dog Barclay, his approach and relationship to his religious background, and his grandmother. All of these were well written pieces but I couldn't follow their connection to the Indonesian experience. But all in all the book is a valuable look into a faraway culture that seems not of our times. Click here to purchase

Paris Underground By Caroline Archer with photos by Alexandre Parre is a book I wish had been published before my most recent trip to Paris, France. Little known to the average citizen of or visitor to Paris, the city was built over the quarries from which stone for the buildings was cut. As the city grew, so did the caverns beneath it until on one fateful day during the reign of King Louis XVI on Dec. 17, 1774, an entire street (near today's Place Denfert-Rochereau )collapsed into the abyss. The King's council to investigate was formed and the finding were so alarming that within three years architects and inspectors set about building reinforcements in the form of inspection galleries, which ultimately (by the mid 1930's) resulted in 177 miles of underground tunnels within these quarries to make the city safe. Although entering these underground passages is forbidden except with express permission, for three centuries artists, musicians, writers, performers, and curious, daring cataphyles have found the lure into the depths irresistable and have made their way through clandestined passages. Through the centuries, because everyone needed to mark his or her way in order not to be lost, and because the bare walls beckoned to be decorated, the passages and quarries became an underground, daring art gallery. This book incorporates a remarkable attempt to catalogue the surreptitious art found beneath one of Europe's most thriving cities of the arts. The historic events, since the earliest graffiti in 1671, have been charted or commemorated, pictured, or commented upon, with drawings, writings, paintings, sculpture, and music created within the labyrinth. While most is primitive art "just for the fun of it," some is quite skilled and reveals great talent. For three centuries the underground has been the location for secret love affairs, hiding criminals, storing beer and champagne, and many other illegal activities, while also providing the stone canvas and dark inspiration for hundreds of artists and performers of all kinds. You'll want to read and study the photographs in this fascinating book. Click here to purchase

A YEAR OF SUNDAYS by Edward G. Webster is a must read for not only those who are planning to strike out on an extended stay in a foreign country but also for those who have imagined striking out on their own but never really thought it could be a possibility. Ed relates his year long journey through Europe with his wife Marguerite and cat Felicia from Paris to the Netherlands, Brittany, Austria, Italy, Greece, and Spain in a most informative and entertaining way. The reader quickly finds the Webster's adventure to have several uncommon aspects: traveling with a pet in Europe, staying within a budget of $100 per day on lodging, food and entertainment for the whole year abroad, and, most important, the fact that Marguerite is blind. Marguerite's blindness adds a dimension to the book that you will not find in any other book on travel. The interaction between Marguerite, Ed, and Felicia to communicate what they experience in each their own way makes the reader aware of new ways to grasp the essence of travel through senses and feelings not often used by the average traveler. This all seems to heighten and expand aspects of the places visited and create a new awareness of other ways to experience life in another country or culture. Just as Ed describes how he closes his eyes during a concert at Notre Dame Cathedral so that he does not just see and hear the concert in a beautiful cathedral but feels as Marguerite feels the sound fill the cathedral and echo off the stone pillars, bringing the building to life and filling the evening "with so much more than just sound." The senses of sound, smell, touch, taste become additives to the travel adventure, and the traveler who relies mainly on what they are seeing is more handicapped in grasping the essence of the place than Marguerite without her sight. The book also gives the reader descriptions of out of the way places that have unique character in their surroundings, food, and citizens. The reader can not help wanting to taste the delicious pannenkoekens (pancakes) of Holland after Ed's narration or walk along the cliffs of Brittany experiencing the smells and sounds of the ocean clashing with the land or taste the wine, bread, cheese, olives, and lasagna served up by the owner of a little grocery in Costafabbri, Italy. But the book also gives a realistic look at the downside of traveling for a long time on one's own in a foreign country. The book relates those periods where loneliness sets in because of not speaking the language and longing for contact with family and friends as well as not knowing what lies ahead when they move to another country. The reader can not help but realize the importance of having people and animals by your side that you love at times like this. I found I could not help but be pulled along vicariously with the Webster's year of Sundays throughout Europe. The couple's love for each other, Felicia their cat, world culture, and life comes through loud and clear. Though Ed is the writer, the essence of this book is enhanced by the Marguerite's insights and feelings. Telling themselves that they were right to seize the day and take off on the year long trip, Ed and Marguerite toast Ed's dad saying, "If he hadn't died young, I might not have been smart enough to take the year off in the first place", and then ending with "And to celebrating life!", which is what their book is all about. Click here to purchase

SOWERBY'S ROAD by Garry Sowerby. What a fun book about many fun and grueling road trips. Garry Sowerby is in the Guiness Book of World Records for the record time of driving around the world, and for his other amazing road trips. Since the 1970's he has been making these trips and this book chronicles many of his adventures, the people he meets, and the sometimes bizarre situations and places he gets himself into and out of! It's a fun read, especially if you like to spend time on the road, as we do. The book is not in day by day order, but is better and more interesting for skipping around through the decades and around the world as he remembers various adventures. You'll enjoy the book and only wish, as I did, that the photos were fewer of his vehicle and more of the sights. Really a fun read!

IMAGES OF AMERICA: BELTON, SC By Alison Ashley Darby is part of a fascinating series which documents the history of towns throughout the country. Belton, SC, is a small, rural town. This excellent visual history was collected and written by a local historian whose skills at unearthing interesting details make it a very enjoyable read , especially for local residents and visitors and even for those who have never heard of Belton! For today's readers it is difficult to imagine the influence of a train station on the development of a town. This book helps us appreciate how the rail had an enormous impact on the growth of towns in the last century. The book has hundreds of photos of "then and now," collected from citizens, town records and newspapers, and many sources the author discovered in her quest for this delightful little piece of Americana. A good read to learn about yesteryear in rural America. A perfect gift for any visitor or resident of the area. Click here to purchase

Volume I Wildly Austin: Austin's Landmark Art by Vikki Loving with photography by Gregg Cestaro is a delightful collection of photos and descriptions and some history behind the funky visual landmarks around the city which have been fondly observed through generations. Anyone with roots in the city or who attended University of Texas will want this delightful conversation piece/memorabelia book. It is the first of what promises to be a terrific series by Loving and Cestaro who lived in Austin but pursued careers in other places and then returned to re-look at the city they love with new awareness. You will too! Click here to order.

“Honey, Let's Get a Boat”

by Ron and Eva Stob

Here is a must read for not only boating enthusiasts but all those who ever imagined themselves pulling up stakes and setting out on a year or more adventure of travel. Ron and Eva Stob do a wonderful job of recounting their year-long journey on a forty-foot trawler, which began in Florida and circled up along the intercoastal waterway to New York and then up the Hudson River to Lakes George and Champlain to the Saint Lawrence River in Canada and on to the Great Lakes and Chicago and then down the river systems to the Gulf of Mexico and back to Florida. This route, known as “America's Great Loop,” took them through waterways, locks, scenery, history, and cultures as varied as one could find anywhere.

Even though the book is written in the first person by Ron as the narrator, I can assure you, on the basis of having had the good fortune of meeting this delightful couple, Eva had a big part in helping relate the experiences encountered throughout their year of traveling these waterways. The book is a great read from start to finish and includes an appendix, which is a guidebook to anyone contemplating a similar venture. From the interesting and humorous aspects of just how this couple took the leap of quitting their jobs and finding and purchasing the trawler to their final encounter with the tropical storm Gordon,( becoming Hurricane Gordon,) as they returned to Florida after their year of cruising, the reader will be fascinated by vivid descriptions of places and cultures, as well as the difficulties and near disasters. Ron's “tongue in cheek” satire and humor and his honest self-criticism enhance the imagery of the book and bring alive the characters and places.

The book relates as much about the history and culture of the places visited along the way as it does the process of navigating the waterways. Even though I had been to a number of places mentioned, I was not aware of all the history and cultural aspects the narrator reveals.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in travel, by whatever means, as it is just the thing for the intellectually curious.

This book is published by Raven Cove Publishing of Greenback, Tennessee, and can be ordered at Raven Cove Publishing; P.O. Box 168, Greenback, TN 37742-0168 or phone 865/856-7888. The book is also available through Amazon Books on the Internet. And the authors are available for speaking engagements.

Reviewed by: Bill Neely

Heart and Soul of the Train by Mauris Emeka is a delightful little book for train lovers. In it Mauris tells many tales of his adventures and his everyday experiences in his decades as a train attendant dealing with the public and loving his job. He describes many rides across the United States. He has authored another excellent book telling how almost anyone who can observe a careful diet can prevent or cure cancer. These cures have been know since the early 1900's but are not money-makers for the businesses who are supported by cancer. Everyone should read Fear Cancer No More. Order these two self-published books directly from the author by clicking here.

The Single Parent Travel Handbook by Brenda Elwell is the only book available on the subject. Ms. Elwell is the managing editor of the Single Parent Travel Network, a Website and Newsletter. She is a veteran of over thirty years in the travel industry, having traveled independently to more than sixty countries, half of them with her two kids in tow. She has the travel experience to write first-hand the advice and how-to all single parents need to compensate for the lack of consideration of the travel industry as a whole for the needs of single parents. Also an experienced writer who is witty and down-to-earth in her approach, the author brings all the best combination to this book. Parents Without Partners said it is "A 'must-read' for anyone who wants to make family memories to last a lifetime! Whether a single parent, 2-parent family, grandparent, family reunion trip, or a person traveling along, this book is a great research tool for the novice or experienced traveler, with practical tips that really work and suggestions that you know had to come from personal experience. The stories and articles range from entertaining to downright hilarious. Read this book even if you can't afford to travel-it makes you feel as if you are there!" You can find the book at Amazon by clicking on the icon above, or order the book directly from Brenda at a $5 discount (till Feb. 15) by clicking here.

The New Honeymoon Planner by Sharon Naylor is perhaps the most thorough and helpful general travel guidebooks I have ever discovered. It is perfect for the groom or couple planning a honeymoon, whether a luxury trip or on a tight budget. However, it is NOT just for honeymooners! It has excellent trip planning tips for EVERY kind of trip, and you will save many, many times over the price of the book ($16.95 US) in the first trip Sharon's tips help you plan. She has covered every kind of travel, both domestic and foreign and every kind of trip from luxury cruises to back-packing in the jungles. And she directs you to a wealth of internet sites that will answer any problem you could ever encounter on a trip or supply any need for the travels. THIS BOOK SHOULD BELONG TO EVERYONE WHO PLANS ANY KIND OF TRIP TO ANYWHERE! To order, click the Amazon link on this page.