March 2023 MBR The Travel Shelf

The Travel Shelf

National Park Maps: An Atlas of the U.S. National Parks
Michael Joseph Oswald
Stone Road Press
https://stoneroadpress.com
9781621280781, $20.00, PB, 192pp

https://www.amazon.com/National-Park-Maps-Atlas-Parks/dp/1621280780

Synopsis: Explorers and travelers have relied on maps since the creation of paper. National Parks are some of the most popular destinations for modern-day exploration. With the publication of "National Park Maps: An Atlas of the U.S. National Parks", Michael Joseph Oswald unites explorers with large, legible maps of their national parks before having the privilege to step foot in them.

"National Park Maps: An Atlas of the U.S. National Parks" provides: National Park Service maps for all 63 National Parks; Driving distances between popular sites (and parks); Reasons to visit each park; Favorite sites and hikes from the author; Basic "need to know" information; Activity suggestions for limited park time.

Critique: Exceptionally informative and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "National Park Maps: An Atlas of the U.S. National Parks" is a coffee-table style (10.75 x 0.38 x 13.5 inches, 1.6 pounds) paperback volume from Stone Road Press. Of special value to anyone with an interest in national parks and campgrounds, "National Park Maps: An Atlas of the U.S. National Parks" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library American Travel Guide & Map collections.

Editorial Note: Michael Joseph Oswald is an award-winning American travel writer who's spent more than a decade exploring America's most scenic treasures, its National Parks. He's learned much over the course of hundreds of trips and thousands of miles hiking, biking, and paddling across these one-of-a-kind wilderness areas. There's much to see and do in our parklands and his goal is to help readers make the most of their National Park adventures. His home base is in Wisconsin. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5828102.Michael_Joseph_Oswald)

Lonely Planet's Where to Go When, second edition
Editorial Staff
Lonely Planet Publications
www.lonelyplanet.com
9781838695040, $24.99, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Where-Go-When-Lonely-Planet/dp/1838695044

Synopsis: With the publication of this newly updated and expanded second edition of "Lonely Planet's Where to Go When" the aspiring world traveler can take advantage of decision-making flowcharts to inspire their next unforgettable city break, tropical beach vacation, wildlife encounter and more -- all organized by month with amazing weekend escapes, as well as one and two week experiences.

Sip lip-smacking beers and contemplate fine Flemish art in Bruges during February; enhance your wellbeing with a yoga retreat in Australia's Byron Bay throughout June; cycle the USA's Death Valley during the cooler month of November - and it will be revealed just why each destination is so wonderful to be in at that exact moment. With so many inspiring month-by-month holiday recommendations, the new edition of "Lonely Planet's Where to Go When" offers travelers a lifetime of offbeat adventures and well-known wonders to pursue.

This new edition of Lonely Planet's "Where to Go When" features: 25 destinations for each month of the year that cover every corner of the globe; Handy decision-making flowcharts to help you choose your next exciting getaway based on your travel passions and the activities that appeal to you the most; Special monthly events, festivals and celebrations calendar; Intuitive keys and colour coding that suggest ideal trip length: short break, one week, two weeks +; Amazing experiences for all interests: wildlife & nature, adventure, value, culture, journey, food & drink, personal growth, relaxation; Top budgeting tips in clear grids and diagrams so you can get the most out of your money; Super family friendly breaks and experiences plus suggestions on when to leave the kids at home.

Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated with full color photography, "Lonely Planet's Where to Go When: 2nd Edition" an armchair traveler's delight and a welcome itinerary planning resource for once-in-a-lifetime worldwide traveling -- and unreservedly recommended as an addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Travel Guide collections.

Editorial Note: With over 150 million guidebooks in print, Lonely Planet is a trusted source for any traveler. Since their inception in 1973, they have inspired generations of travelers to discover amazing places and enabled curious travelers to get off the beaten paths to appreciate different cultures and become agents of positive change.

100 Trails, 5,000 Ideas
Joe Yogerst
National Geographic Press
101 West 104th Street, Suite 8, New York, NY 10025
www.nationalgeographic.com
9781426222566, $29.99, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/100-Trails-000-Ideas-Where/dp/1426222564

Synopsis: Fully up to National Geographic standards, with the publication of "100 Trails, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do" Joe Yogerst takes you from the coast of Florida to the peaks of Wyoming on a series of epic hiking and walking adventures.

In these informative and beautifully illustrated pages, you will find National Geographic's recommendations for superlative hikes, as well as tips for wildlife spotting, scenic picnic locales, routes with a view, camp sites, and off-trail activities nearby. Plus, you will discover alternative routes to extend your trek or tackle shorter lengths of some of the country's most iconic journeys, like the Appalachian Trail. With each itinerary you will find practical planning advice for when to go and what to expect when you arrive.

Inspiring and comprehensive, "100 Trails, 5,000 Ideas" offers something for everyone, from beginners looking for an easy day-hike (the tow path along the C&O Canal in Maryland) to advanced trekkers seeking multi-week excursions (the famed multi-state Continental Divide Trail).

"100 Trails, 5,000 Ideas" is an ideal compendium of: Tips for exploring Washington's Elliott Bay Trail along the Seattle Waterfront; Routes for hiking the Grand Canyon, rim to rim, in Arizona; Advice for conquering Wisconsin's "Ice Age" Trail; The fascinating history behind Georgia's Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Trail; The best way to see the falls along New York's Niagara Falls Gorge Trails; How to trek the Plain of the Six Glaciers in Banff National Park -- and so much more!

Critique: Beautifully illustrated, exceptionally well organized, and thoroughou 'user friendly' in presentation, "100 Trails, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do" is unreservedly recommended as a core addition to personal, professional, community, and acdemic library North American Travel Guide, National Parks, Camping & Hikig collections. Whether an intrepid on-site hiker or an enthusiastic armchair traveler, "100 Trails, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do" it should be noted that "100 Trails, 5,000 Ideas" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99)..

Editorial Note: During three decades as an editor, writer, and photographer, Joe Yogerst (https://joeyogerst.com) has lived and worked in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. His writing has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, CNN Travel, Islands magazine, the International New York Times (Paris), Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and National Geographic Traveler. He has also written for 34 National Geographic books, including the best-selling 50 States, 5,000 Ideas. Yogerst is also the host of a National Geographic/Great Courses video series on America's State Parks.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review