The Golden Shore: California's Love Affair with the Sea

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"In this ambitious work, journalist and conservationist Helvarg (Saved by the Sea) successfully relates the myriad ways in which Californians engage with their beloved Pacific. This reader-friendly sampling of people, places, and their interactions combines biographical sketches of leading figures and civilians with rapturous paeans to beautiful locales and historical snippets. Unsurprisingly, Helvarg starts with surfing, specifically the Mavericks big-wave contest at Half Moon Bay. He covers California's Native population from the earliest arrivals to a recent victory requiring the removal of dams on the Klamath River to return it and its fishing to a more natural state. Environmental issues appear throughout, though Helvarg also devotes entire chapters to shipping, including the port complex of Long Beach and Los Angeles, the fifth largest in the world, as well as the Navy's history with, and presence, in California. In two late chapters Helvarg describes a coastal drive from Mexico to Oregon, and then concludes with thoughts on how Californians will face ongoing environmental trials, such as a projected sea level rise of three feet or more. Californians and readers interested in the intersection of nature, commerce, recreation, and science will appreciate this title."  (Publishers Weekly)

Fodor's in Focus Cayman Islands

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"One of the most popular destinations for Americans in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands lie between the sun-kissed beaches of Cancun and the western tip of Jamaica. Famous for their ravishing coral reefs, safety, and hospitality, the Cayman Islands are a favorite destination for families, couples, and scuba divers. "InFocus Cayman Islands" has detailed coverage of Grand Cayman but also in-depth information on the sister islands, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, two Caribbean islands that remain relatively undiscovered, yet are famous for great diving and casual, comfortable resort accommodations."  (Publisher Description)

The New York Times: 36 Hours USA & Canada, Southeast

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""The New York Times" has been offering up dream weekends with practical itineraries in its popular weekly "36 Hours" column since 2002. The many expert contributors have brought careful research, insider's knowledge, and a sense of fun to hundreds of cities and destinations, always with an eye to getting the most out of a short trip. Based on the best-selling book "36 Hours: 150 Weekends in the USA & Canada, " the" Times" and TASCHEN now bring together the best of the Southeast. From the great urban centers on everyone's travel list to surprising locales with undiscovered character and charm, the paths lead from lunching with politicos in Washington D.C. and club-hopping in New Orleans to spotting alligators in Florida's Everglades.
Featured destinations:
Annapolis, Maryland - Asheville, North Carolina - Atlanta, Georgia - Baltimore, Maryland - Birmingham, Alabama - Cape Canaveral, Florida - Charleston, South Carolina - Charlottesville, Virginia - Clarksdale, Mississippi - The Everglades, Florida - Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Gatlinburg, Tennessee - Key West, Florida - Knoxville, Kentucky - Lexington, Kentucky - Louisville, Kentucky - Memphis, Tenn. - Miami, Florida - Montgomery, Alabama - Naples, Florida - Nashville, Tenn. - New Orleans, Louisiana - Orlando, Florida - Oxford, Miss. - Palm Beach, Florida - Raleigh- Durham, N. Carolina - Richmond, Virginia - Savannah, Georgia - St. Simons Island, Georgia - Virginia Beach, Virginia - Washington, D.C. - Williamsburg, Virginia."  (Publisher Description)

Pacific Northwest's Best Trips ( Lonely Planet Trips: Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, #2 )

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" Because almost every drive in the Pacific Northwest is a scenic one, there's no better way to see it than by road trip. Lonely Planet put together 33 of the very best routes and listed all the great stops along the way, from historical sites to natural wonders to roadside attractions.:
Crater Lake: Drive this unique volcanic route with stunning views
Humbug Mountain: Explore Oregon s wild coast and hike to this beautiful summit
Vancouver Island: Delve into its creative side and enjoy fresh seafood
"33 amazing road trips inside "
Inspirational Trip Ideas. 2-day escapes to week-long adventures
See it Like a Local. Packed with regional trips and exciting detours
Road Trips Made Easy. Maps, detailed directions and expert advice"  (Publsher Description)

Here, There, Elsewhere: Stories from the Road

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"Acclaimed travel writer Least Heat-Moon (Blue Highways) wanders off in every direction in this scintillating collection of short writings. Culled from 30 years of magazine articles, these pieces roam across terrain both familiar and exotic. Many find magic in mundane patches of America, from improbably delicious fried-fish stands on Minnesota's Lake Superior shore to oddly idyllic Gulf Coast industrial canals and Seattle's rebel micro-breweries. Others survey stranger climes: tiny Japanese garden farms crowded with bawdy roadside gods; Mayan villages in the Yucatan, their ancient fertility dances and traditional sorcery barely varnished by Catholicism. Several take in Britain's crazy traffic, obnoxious ghosts, dotty antiquarians, and intimidating cuisine (a black pudding nearly does the author in). And some revisit scenes from Least Heat-Moon's disheveled Native American background, including a riotous Thanksgiving feud between a full(er)-blooded uncle and heathen-disdaining aunt. A master at conjuring place, Least Heat-Moon intertwines primeval geology with modern social mores, gorgeous scenery with tourist tackery, vast landscapes with intricate psychologies. (One piece follows a letter-bomber's demented quest to paint a colossal smiley-face of explosions across the Great Plains.) There is a dazzling variety of places, people and curiosities, linked by a highway of funny, perceptive, generous prose."  (Publishers Weekly)

Fodor's in Focus Cayman Islands

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"One of the most popular destinations for Americans in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands lie between the sun-kissed beaches of Cancun and the western tip of Jamaica. Famous for their ravishing coral reefs, safety, and hospitality, the Cayman Islands are a favorite destination for families, couples, and scuba divers. "InFocus Cayman Islands" has detailed coverage of Grand Cayman but also in-depth information on the sister islands, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, two Caribbean islands that remain relatively undiscovered, yet are famous for great diving and casual, comfortable resort accommodations.
Competitive Advantage: With comprehensive coverage and dozens of color photos, this guide is the best choice for travelers who want a comprehensive overview of what the Cayman Islands have to offer.
Compact Format: Fodor's InFocus Guides are packed with the same coverage of a full-size guidebook in a smaller, more convenient format that is easier to carry on a trip.
New Coverage: New Cayman Island restaurants, hotels, shops, nightlife options, and sports outfitters have been added throughout the guide.
Illustrated Features: The best each island has to offer is highlighted. Great Itineraries help travelers plan the perfect day or night. Vibrant color photos capture the beauty of all three Cayman islands."  (Publisher Marketing)

Eyewitness Back Roads Ireland [With Pull-Out Map] (Revised)

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""DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Back Roads Ireland" vacation driving tour guidebook reveals the secret gems and hidden delights that can only be discovered along the Emerald Isle's most scenic routes and back roads.
Twenty-five themed drives, each lasting one to five days, introduce travelers to the soul of Ireland -- from the golden beaches of Cork and the spectacular Sheep's Head peninsula to the bushy glens of classic Northern Ireland and spellbinding caverns of the lakelands. Along the way, these driving tours of Ireland highlight day trips and activities such as walks and hikes, bird-watching and beach strolls, islands and lighthouses, and children's attractions. Pass by ancient stone circles and megalithic tombs, Celtic crosses, medieval castles, and stately homes.
Practical information, such as road conditions, lengths of drives, and zip codes for GPS devices accompanies the complete itineraries and pull-out map, as do listings for the best-value hotels, intimate guesthouses, local produce friendly restaurants, and cozy pubs. "DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Back Roads Ireland" leads you to the most authentic and delightful experiences the country has to offer."   (Publisher Marketing)

Antarctica: An Intimate Portrait of a Mysterious Continent

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"Scientist Walker (An Ocean of Air: Why the Wind Blows and Other Mysteries of the Atmosphere, 2007, etc.) pens a riveting "natural history of the only continent on Earth that has virtually no human history." The author's fascination with Antarctica began more than two decades ago, and it has inspired five visits. Larger than the continental United States, yet home to only 49 temporary bases, the continent is composed of two giant ice sheets. During the summer, 3,000 scientists conduct experiments, and 30,000 tourists drop in for short visits. Only 1,000 intrepid souls spend the winter on the continent. Due to an international treaty, the entire continent is dedicated to "peace and science," and officially, the land "belongs to nobody." Walker divides the narrative into three sections, delving into the historical and scientific sagas of the different areas of the continent. She begins with the coastal stations on the East Antarctic ice sheet, an area containing a zone so like outer space, it sports the nickname "Mars on Earth." Walker then chronicles her journey to the interior of the continent, visiting astronomers deciphering data gathered from giant high-altitude telescopes. The author also helped scientists wrestling with the mystery of ice cores and what they can tell us about our ancient climate. In "the most conventionally beautiful place in Antarctica," the far West, Walker chronicles the effects of contemporary and historical human activity on this strange and wonderful environment. The author adeptly clarifies the technical aspects of the science, decodes the intimate stories of reticent interviewees and weaves in the astounding and heartbreaking stories of the great explorers Amundsen, Scott and Shackleton. A rollicking good read for science buffs, armchair adventurers and readers curious about the natural world at its most extreme."  (Kirkus Reviews)

On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks

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"In On the Map, which tells the history of cartography from the Great Library at Alexandria to Google Earth, Simon Garfield once again takes a subject that seems the province of a small group of enthusiasts and opens it for a larger audience. Along the way, he links the development of maps to the larger history of human progress--from the theory that the first maps, drawn in the dust of Africa's Rift Valley, may have encouraged the development of the human brain to modern efforts to map the brain itself.
Written in the breezy style of Garfield's bestselling Just My Type, On the Map is structured as a series of engaging stories told in more or less chronological order. Each chapter uses a specific map, person or idea to explore a bigger issue. Interspersed with the main chapters are smaller, more eccentric stories Garfield calls Pocket Maps: detours that shed light on the origins of "here be dragons," the different ways man and women read maps or the difficulties of refolding a paper map. Whether dealing with familiar topics, such as the Lewis and Clark expedition, or introducing the reader to lesser-known subjects like the legendary (and imaginary) Mountains of Kong, Garfield consistently delivers "aha!" moments.
On the Map will appeal to mapheads, history buffs, the terminally curious and anyone who enjoys a well-told story." (Shelf Awareness)

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: New Orleans

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"The DK Eyewitness New Orleans Travel Guide" will lead you straight to the best attractions New Orleans has to offer. The guide includes unique cutaways, floor plans and reconstructions of the city's stunning architecture, plus 3D aerial views of the key districts to explore on foot. You'll find detailed listings of the best hotels, restaurants, bars and shops for all budgets in this fully updated and expanded guide, plus insider tips on everything from where to find the best markets and nightspots to great attractions for children. The uniquely visual "DK Eyewitness Travel Guide" also includes in-depth coverage of all the unforgettable sights and comes complete with a free pull-out city map, clearly marked with sights from the guidebook and an easy-to-use street index. The map has detailed street views of all the key areas, plus there are transport maps and information on how to get around the city, and there's even a chart showing the distances between major sights for walkers. "The DK Eyewitness New Orleans Travel Guide" shows you what others only tell you."   (Publisher Description)

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel: The Best Trends, Destinations, Journeys & Experiences for the Upcoming Year (2013)

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"The best places to go and things to do all around the world right now! Drawing on the knowledge, passion and miles travelled by Lonely Planet s staff, authors and online community, we present a year s worth of travel inspiration to take you out of the ordinary and into some unforgettable experiences.
Highlights: Lonely Planet ranks the top 10 countries, regions and cities to visit in 2013.The best travel experiences for the year ahead, from enjoying Europe s latest City of Culture in Slovakia to touring Addis Ababa, Africa s rising star.Over 35 events mapped out month by month in the 2013 travel planner."   (Publisher Description)