Book Review - Atlas Obscura Wild Life by Cara Giaimo and Joshua Foer

If you've read the other Atlas Obscura books (Atlas Obscura, Gastro Obscura, etc) you will enjoy this book as well. It is packed full of interesting animals, insects, flowers, trees and other natural features and organisms. The photographs throughout this book are amazing. You will also find tons of well-researched information, tidbits, history and more. Even for creatures I'd normally skip over (like snakes), I actually found the information presented really interesting.

The book is divided into environments - Forests and Rainforests, Grasslands and Tundras, Mountains, Deserts, Shallows and Deeps, Cities, and Islands.

Not only is each natural creature or feature revealed in depth but the book highlights people who work in those fields. For example, under the Snow Leopards in the Mountains chapter is the highlight of A Snow Leopard Conservationist.

As a traveler, I zoomed in on the useful "how to see..." section listed for each topic (almost hidden in the lengthy text but in bold font). Many of them we'd probably never get to see especially those in war-torn places or really remote sites. But it's still nice to have the info.

This is a massive book full of really interesting information. Definitely a keeper.

Title: Atlas Obscura: Wild Life: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Living Wonders
Author: Cara Giaimo and Joshua Foer
ISBN: 978-1523514410
Pages: 464

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Book Review - You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes by Chris Hadfield

If you are a fan of satellite what-is-this type photographs, you will love this book. Astronaut Chris Hadfield put together this book based on photographs he had taken from space. Chris has a good sense of humor and the book is well written. I really enjoyed the introduction he wrote.

The book is divided out by location - Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America, and South America. The end of the book has a handy photo location map.

Many of the photos are thought-provoking such as the border between Mexico and the US or different times of day in Manhattan (9:23am vs 3:45am). Some photos feature interesting landscapes or natural damage (such as the San Andres Fault). You will see punctuation marks. Photos that look like constellations in the sky. Different views of ice or snow in cold climates.

Overall this is a great book to leave on the coffee table for all to enjoy.

Title: You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes: Photographs from the International Space Station
Author: Chris Hadfield
ISBN: 978-0316379649
Pages: 208

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Book Review - DK Eyewitness - Nashville Like a Local

I enjoy getting tips from locals on where to go, what to eat, and what to avoid. This book provides that but, let's be honest, I could have gotten the same information from a quick search on the internet. What makes this book valuable are the wonderfully illustrated maps. Of course, if you're handy with Google Maps you could easily drop pins on places you want to try. If you like paper maps, you could easily print Google Map views off with a little bit of work. Otherwise, I enjoyed the authors' sense of humor throughout and learning about some new spots to try.

The book is divided into the following chapters - Eat, Drink, Shop, Arts and Culture, Nightlife, and Outdoors. There is a handy directory at the end.

Try to find this book in your local library and make a list of places you want to try to visit in Nashville.

Title: Nashville Like a Local (Local Travel Guide)
Author: DK Eyewitness authors including locals Bailey Freeman and Kristen Shoates
ISBN: 978-0241686829
Pages: 192

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Book Review - Atlas of Adventures - by Rachel Williams

I found this colorful, interesting book while wandering the Junior Non-Fiction section of my local library. There are full-color maps for every continent including Antarctica. Each one is full of adventures and animals which are then followed by deep dives into a selected few experiences (with nice zoom-maps in the corner). Plus you can read lots of interesting trivia tidbits. There's even a few look-and-find game you can try at the end.

The first section focuses on Europe. Learn about the Northern Lights in Findland, the London Eye, Scotland's Highland Games, Paris' The Louvre, Spain's Feria Del Caballo (Horse Parade), the gondolas in Venice, Skiing in the Bavarian Alps, and Moscow's Metro.

North America's section highlights the wonderful wilfdlife of Alaska, hot air ballooning in Canada, New York's famous Central Park, Arizona's Grand Canyon, riding a Steamboat on the Mississippi River, and following the migration of the Monarch Butterflies.

Central and South America features the fun Rio Carnival in Brazil, exploring the Amazon Rain Forest, or the cowboy culture of Argentina's Northern Patagonia.

Asia and the Middle East section includes the fun little Macaques monkey of Japan, Hong Kong's lantern festival, Thailand's Chiang Mai elephants, India's Holi Festival, Korea's Cherry Blossom festival (which I was surpised to learn about since we always just assumed Japan was the only one), and Israel's Dead Sea.

Africa features Egypt's Pyramids of Giza, joining a camel caravan across the Sahara Desert, playing soccer in Senegal, or taking a canoe safari down the Zambezi River.

The Australia and Oceania section leads to snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, learning about the Waitangi in New Zealand, or surfing in Hawaii.

And finally some interesting things about penguins in Antarctica .

Overall this is a fun little book to read some neat tidbits on different animals and cultures. Look for it at your local library (even through the digital books or through inter-library loans).

Title: Atlas of Adventures: Travel Edition: A collection of NATURAL WONDERS, EXCITING EXPERIENCES and FUN FESTIVITIES from the four corners of the globe
Author: Rachel Williams
Illustrator: Lucy Letherland
ISBN: 978-0711255708
Pages: 96

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Book Review - Lonely Planet - The Big Trip

When I first found this book I was just looking for some overseas tips like obtaining visas, exchanging currencies, transportation, etc. Even though the subtitle suggestions gap years and long term travel plans, this book is so packed full of tips and ideas that anyone who travels will find it useful.

Pages 8-17 feature full-color photographs of some exciting and bucket-list experiences.

Part One focuses on "Travel Smarts" such as the things I was originally looking for - passports, visas, money and costs, health and safety, packing, getting to these destinations, getting around, and what to do when you return home.

Part Two offers interesting ideas on travelling solo, with partners or family, with kids, etc. And then transportation tips and accommodation tips. Then, if you do plan to stay in a location for more than a brief vacation, finding jobs or ways of making money. Or, more unconventionally, finding volunteer work to learn more about the culture and people of the places you are visiting. Followed by some educational opportunities.

Part Three is the fun part - where to go? Get suggestions for a whole round-the-world adventure or focus on one of the continents. Or, even if you don't plan to leave your location, find new things to explore in your home country. Each location section consists of getting there and around, points of interest, festivals, health and safety, websites and books for research, prices, itinerary maps, and so much more.

Part Four at the end of the book has directory listings of websites that were mentioned throughout the book in a convenient pull-out section.

This book was published in 2019 so be sure to verify information before setting out. But, overall, definitely a keeper guide to add to the collection.

Title: The Big Trip (Lonely Planet)
Author: Lonley Planet Authors
ISBN: 978-1788681292
Pages: 352

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Book Review - Moon - Dominican Republic by Lebawit Lily Girma

The Dominican Republic is on my travel bucket list for (hopefully) next year so I ordered this book to start planning. What I love most about this book is how authentic the author's experiences come through for each of the areas she has visited. We can get a good understanding of the foods, hotels, travels and experiences for each place. Lots of first-hand advice and descriptions. Also, advice for women travelling alone.

The book is divided out by areas starting with the capital: Santa Domingo, Punta Cana and the Southeast Coast, The Samana Peninsula, Puerto Plata and the North Coast, Santiago and the Cibao Valley, and Barahona and the Southwest. Each of those region chapters is further broken down by city and then sights, foods, accommodations, transportations, and more. Then there's a chapter dedicated to the country's tumultous but fascinating background. A chapter for Travel Essentials (Transportation, Money, Tips, Food, Hotels, Health and Safety, Services, etc). Then a nice Spanish phrasebook that you can rip out and take with you.

Top 10 Experiences introduction is followed by a useful "Planning Your Trip" section with information on passports, transportation, etc. Followed by suggested itineraries in "The Best of the Dominican Republic". Most of us are looking for the "Best Beaches" page listed by area. "Romancing the DR" will interest couples or honeymooners. There's a page listing out top Diving and Snorkeling spots. The culture in Dominican Republic places a lot of emphasis on music and you'll find a call-out section dedicated to enjoying that as well as sprinkled throughout the book. For those so inclined, there's a page about Social Impact Tourism.

Lots of good info and full-color maps. Definitely a keeper guide to add to the collection.

Title: Moon Dominican Republic (Travel Guide)
Author: Lebawit Lily Girma
ISBN: 978-1640490468
Pages: 400

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Book Review - Fodor's Travel - Cancun and the Riviera Maya

I'm hoping to take a cruise next year that will head down to the Mexican coast stopping in Cancun, so I picked up this guide to get some suggestions on what we can see or do. Most cruises out of the United States stop in Cozumel or Cancun. I've stopped in Cozumel several times and would prefer exploring beyond the small offerings from the cruise line.

Beyond that, this is a great guide if you plan to fly into one of these major cities and stay a few days.

The first chapter is dedicated to a lot of great "Best Of" lists - Best Beaches in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, Best Snorkeling and Diving, Top Maya Ruins, Most Romantic Experiences, What to Eat and Drink, What to Buy, etc. And some tidbits like "Weddings and Honeymoons" or "Kids and Families".

There's an excellent chapter titled "Travel Smart" with a Know Before You Go intro, Getting Here and Getting Around, advice on rental cars (it's more complicated than a normal rental - and if you plan to go to ruins or areas away from the main tourist zones you will want a All-wheel Drive (AWD) type vehicle that can handle dirt roads). There's also a helpful Spanish phrase section that you can pull out and take with you.

The area is divided out into separate chapters - Cancun, Isla Mujeres, The Riviera Maya, Cozumel, and the Yucatan and Campeche States. Each chapter is further broken down into useful sections such as regional foods, hotels or resorts, getting there and getting around, etc. Each section also has full-color, easy-to-use maps. There's a listing of all the maps in the Table of Contents in case you want to view a specific one.

I like that you can find suggestions on shopping, beaches, historical sites as well as useful tips. Really a great guide.

Title: Fodor's Cancun and the Riviera Maya: With Tulum, Cozumel, and the Best of the Yucatán
Author: Fodor's Travel Guides
ISBN: 978-1640976825
Pages: 352

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