Book Review - The World's Best National Parks in 500 Walks by Mary Caperton Morton

This is a massive book broken out by Continent (North America, South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Asia, and Australasia).

The author breaks out each section by trails. Each trail is listed with its corresponding National Park, location, and a description. Many of the trails also contain distance, start, difficulty, and seasonal information. A few include a map.

Some of the parks contain more than one hiking trail such as Denali National Park and Preserve. The author highlights several hiking trails - "Savage Alpine Trail" (which is a moderately difficult one), "Horseshoe Lake Trail" (easy), "Mount Healy Overlook Trail".

The photographs in this book are gorgeous. I enjoyed flipping through and bookmarking ones that sounded manageable enough for my family. But, I just used this book as a starting point. Then I went to the National Park's website and got all the information I needed from there.

It would have been nice if this author had a directory for trails by difficulty. That would help someone quickly narrow down which trails they should focus on, such as my family needing easy trails.

Overall, it's a nice book to view inspirational photographs and add to your planning board. If you enjoy hikes, you can find similar inspirational books about hiking trails published by Thunder Bay Press.

Title: The World's Best National Parks in 500 Walks
Author: Mary Caperton Morton
ISBN: 978-1645176282
Pages: 400

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Event - #Travel #Texas - #Jacksonville - Tomato Fest - June 13, 2026

Jacksonville, Texas - Tomato Fest
June 13, 2026
Downtown
Lots of fun tomato-themed activities including a Tomato Eating Contest, a Kid Zone, food/drink vendors, markets, talent contests and a car show.
If you stay until 7pm, there is a street party with dancing, music, food/drink vendors, and more. Bring your lawn chair or blanket.
There are other events happening from June 6th through June 14th. Check their site for details.

Address: Commerce Street
Hours: 8am - 11pm CST
Fees: Free with various costs for activities

For more information, click here: https://www.jacksonvilletexas.com/tomato-fest/

Event - #Travel #Texas - #Amarillo - Texas Route 66 Festival - June 4-13, 2026

Amarillo, Texas - Texas Route 66 Festival
June 4-13, 2026
Amarillo Route 66 Historic District
This year is the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and all along the route cities are hosting different festivals and events.
Amarillo was a big stop along the Texas' portion of that route and they are hosting 10 days of fun events starting June 4th.
June 4th is the kickoff to the festivities with several activities during the day and the big Coors Ranch Rodeo from 7-10pm (purchase tickets via website).
June 5th through 7th features the Route 66 Grand Prix in nearby Panhandle, Texas (purchase tickets via website).
June 5th at 7pm you can enjoy fireworks at Hodgetown (715 S. Buchanan)
June 6ht enjoy a Cattle Drive and Parade starting at 10am at the Tri-State Fairgrounds (1000 S. Polk St.).
Be sure to come for the Festival Finale on June 13th throughout the historic district. There will be free shuttles going around if you need them. Check the website for all the events and times.

Address: Southwest Sixth Avenue and Route 66 (Historic District)
Hours: Varies
Fees: Varies

For more information, click here: https://texasroute66festival.com/

Event - #Travel #Texas - #Houston - Juneteenth Houston - June 1-20, 2026

Houston, Texas - Juneteeth Houston
June 1-20, 2026
Emancipation Park
Juneteenth events will take place over 19 days starting with the season opener on June 1st at Mo Brunch + Brews (1201 Southmore) from 6pm-7pm. Events are open to anyone.

The big event is the Annual Celebrate Freedom Festival on June 6th from 1pm-7pm at the Emancipation Park.

Also on June 6th are the Historic House Tours and enjoying Tea Cakes at The Heritage Society (1100 Bagby St.). Verify times on their website. The tour will include three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory for their “Routes of Enslaved Peoples’ Project” - 1847 Kellum-Noble House; 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage; and 1870 Yates House.

Enjoy some music on June 12th at 415 Gray with the "Sounds of Midtown: Roots to Rhythm" from 5pm-10pm.

The next day features Acres Home Juneteenth Parade. It starts at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center (6719 W Montgomery Rd) at 10am.
Check the website below for the many, many other events available.

Address: 3018 Emancipation Ave, Houston, Texas
Hours: Varies by event
Fees: Varies by event

For more information, click here: https://texaspinball.com/

Book Review - Lonely Planet - The Best Place To Be Today by Sarah Baxter

If you are looking for inspiration for your travel plans - I highly recommend this book. You will find an event or location to visit on each day of the year for a total of 365 suggestions.

Some of the activities highlighted for a specific date actually take place over a range of dates, such as "Admire red-crowned cranes" in Hokkaido, Japan for January 20th can be enjoyed from January through February.

Or an event might take place over a weekend such as January 29th's "Hay Festival" in Colombia which starts the last weekend of January. In 2026 it fell on January 29th. Next year it will take place January 28th.

Events that must be celebrated on a single day include St. Valentine, Italy's "Valentine's Day" on Feburary 14th of every year. It's actually a celebration of Saint Valentine who is enshrined in the Basilica di San Valentino.

There are a few activities which I would lean toward "unrealistic" such as June 2nd's "Climb the 100 Mountains" in Japan unless you are really enjoy scaling mountains. The 100 refer to the 100 Famous mountain peaks in the country including Mt. Fuji.

Another less likely activity includes July 6th's "Swim the English Channel" ranging from June through September. Not only do they challenge you to swim the English Channel but without a wetsuit (the water is about 59 degrees Fahrenheit).

This book is a keeper and makes a great conversational piece on any coffee table.

Title: The Best Place to be Today: 365 Things to do and the Perfect Day to do Them
Author: Sarah Baxter
ISBN: 978-1743601655
Pages: 272

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Book Review - Go Lightly : How To Travel Without Hurting The Planet by Nina Karnikowski

When I first ordered this book, I thought it was about packing light. Well, there was a chapter called "Pack Lightly" which was useful.

This book is about traveling while minimizing your impact on the planet. Even if you don't strictly follow sustainable travel practices, this book points out some really easy things we can all do without any big effort or cost.

What I really liked about this book were the "Conscious Travel Hero" interviews with experts. Many of them offer tips on lightly travelling and their favorite locations. Reading from actual people is enjoyable.

We all know that flying is toxic for the environment, but check the "Fly smarter" section of the "Move Lightly" chapter which offers a few practical tips. Have time to explore or are going to train-friendly countries, travel via a train and live the Swedish concept of "train bragging" or "tagskryt". Further in the chapter are useful tips on travelling by train including staying safe.

Some other chapters include "Eat Lightly", "Stay Lightly", and "Wild Lightly" (about wildlife).

I liked the "Shop Carefully" page because I also like to search out actual local crafts (and not items just purchased online from China).

The very end of the book features a nice Packing List with things we don't normally consider but should.

Overall, it's a good read. Try to find it at your local library or through inter-library loan.

Title: Go Lightly: How To Travel Without Hurting The Planet
Author: Nina Karnikowski
ISBN: 978-1399613569
Pages: 139

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Book Review - Disney World at 50: The Stories of How Walt's Kingdom Became Magic in Orlando by Orlando Sentinel

If you're a Disney fan, you definitely will want to get this book. It details the history of how Disney World in Florida came to being with historical photographs as told from the perspective of the Orlando Sentinel news outlet.

Chapter names include "The Big Mystery in Florida" (or the worst-kept secret in entertainment history), "Building the Magic Kingdom", "Meet the People of the Theme Park", "Disney World: Today and Tomorrow".

The photographs throughout this book will feel really nostalgic. Grand Prix Raceway? Submarine Voyage? Polynesian Luau?

For me, as a Disney fan, I really enjoyed reading through this book. It will have a permanent place on my coffee table for guests right next to my Figment popcorn bucket and my Orange Bird sipper cup.

If you're not a collector, try to find a copy in your local library or through inter-loan from your library.

Title: Disney World at 50: The Stories of How Walt's Kingdom Became Magic in Orlando
Author: Orlando Sentinel
ISBN: 978-1629379821
Pages: 176

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