Book Review - Texas Old-Time Restaurants and Cafes by Sheryl Smith-Rodgers

I picked up this book from the "Texas" section of my local library where they keep all the Texas-related guides.

I'm always searching for places to visit and try. And I really love supporting local businesses. Yes, I could easily do a search in Google or with AI. But I enjoy flipping through these types of guides and seeing pictures that catch my eye.

This book is broken out by area - "In the North", "Way Down South", "Over in the East", "Westward, ho", "In the Heart of Texas", and toward the end, "Somewhere in Texas, USA".

Each section is further divided into cities. Most have only one cafe but a few have multiple like Marble Falls, Texas.

Every restaurant featured has its date, information on getting there, their address and phone number and a "stop by and see" tip.

At the end of the book you can find some good highlights:

"Sheryl's Top 10 Favorite Old-Time Restaurants" lists out her favorites.

"Historical Markers" showcases 5 historical places with markers to check out. Most of the towns listed in this book have plenty of other Historical Markers for you to find too.

"National Register of Historic Places" lists 3 sites that are on the official list.

'Restaurant Cookbooks" section lists out any restaurant's cookbook that's been published.

"Sheryl's Hall of Fame" is really interesting because she's listed out the restaurants chronologically up to 1950. There's one from 1728!

What really makes this book good even if it's a bit outdated are the recipes included for many of the cafes. There's a Recipe Index that you can peruse by category (Appetizer, Breads, etc).

Overall, this is a nice book to read through. Try to find it at you local library either in the travel section or the Texas section. Since it was published in 2000, be sure to verify operations for any business you might want to visit.

Title: Texas Old-Time Restaurants and Cafes
Author: Sheryl Smith-Rodgers
ISBN: 978-1556227332
Pages: 270

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Book Review - National Geographic - 50 States 1000 Eats - Where to Go, When to Go, What to Eat, What to Drink by Joe Yogerst

Ever googled "what foods are popular in..." or "what restaurant is famous in..."? I certainly do every time I travel to a new state or country. This book takes all those individual searches and puts into one place to easily reference.

This book not only has all fifty states but also has all the provinces in Canada.

Author Joe Yogerst's introduction is a great food discussion.

Each state or province section contains "The Big Picture" of that location - Founded, Population (at the time of this publishing), Official State Dessert, Also Known As, Culinary Influences (cultures), Don't Miss (key cities), Claim to Fame (must-try foods/drinks).

Then there are Culinary Experiences, Restaurants to Die For, Bottoms Up (drinks), and many of them have little call-out boxes with some interesting tidbits or history.

Here are some samples from this book:

Alaska - Culinary Experiences - Nome Salmonberry Jam Folk Fest (July/August). Salmonberry sure sounds interesting.

Connecticut - Restaurants To Die For - Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana- open since 1925 in the Little Italy area known for White Clam Pizza.

Idaho - Bottoms Up! - Pioneer Saloon - full of western artifacts and Hermingway memorabilia located in Ketchum.

Kansas - There's a little call-out about Harvey House which were lunchrooms that grew across many states and even railroads.

Massachusetts - Boston Cream Pie (19th century invention) declared the official state dessert. The Boston Cream Doughnut is the official state donut. Sounds yummy.

Nebraska - Bottoms Up! - Toast Nebraska Wine Festival featuring wine makers and their wares.

Pennsylvania - There's a call out for Hershey's Chocolate (founder was Milton Hershey who started his business at 19 years old).

Overall, this is a keeper. Any time I plan to visit a new location I will reference this book on what I need to try. Sure beats running a bunch of google searches.

Title: 50 States, 1,000 Eats: Where to Go, When to Go, What to Eat, What to Drink
Author: Joe Yogerst
ISBN: 978-1426224225
Pages: 781

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Book Review - The New Tourist: Waking Up to the Power and Perils of Travel by Paige McClanahan

I picked up this book at my local library to read on a three hour flight. The first half of the book was really interesting as it discussed some origin stories of famous travel guides and some stories about famous places to visit. The second half was all over the place. There was discussion on the Red Light district in Netherlands and a environmental discourse on the reefs and icebergs of other famous places. The overarching theme of the book is the impact of "new tourists" on travel and in some places it has had a very negative impact (Hawaii, for example). It seems social media has made the impact even worse (there's one story about Justin Bieber in Iceland that was jarring). Even though we read about these effects and acknowledge them, we still desire to visit. There's no solutions presented to solve that issue or what we can do as tourists ourselves to diminish any impact.

Some highlights from the book:

Lonely Planet began in 1972 when a young couple, Tony and Maureen Wheeler, took an almost six month journey to exotic places including Asia and ended up in Australia. Their journey was rife with bad experiences (robbery, sickness, running out of gas or money). They were studious notetakers which would end up becoming a travel guide, "Across Asia on the Cheap" which they published themselves. Eventually, their books became so popular that business owners begged to be featured in their books (or in some cases, to not appear in their books due to overwhelm).

Eugene Fodor published his first guidebook in 1936 about Europe. Fodor encouraged readers to meet locals and get to know the local culture.

Frommer published "Europe on $5 a Day" in the 1950s.

Mark Ellingham created the Rough Guides because the guides at the time were too formal and restrictive. His Rough Guides would visit places less traveled with a younger slant.

Oliver Koppell wrote about how to travel cheaply around Europe which became the "Let's Go" guides.

Rick Steves wrote his "Europe Through the Back Door" guide in the late 1970s. His focus was getting off the beaten track and for those who could travel with only a backpack.

In 1996, Travelocity was created and within the first three months had over 1.2 million views.

Microsoft launched Expedia a few months later.

In the Netherlands, Geert-Jan Bruinsma founded Bookings.nl which allowed people to book hotel rooms online. In 2005, he sold the company for $133 million and it became Booking.com.

Priceline launched in April of 1998 which offered bidding of last minute seats or rooms. When the company went public a year later, founder Jay Walker became a billionaire!

Airbed and Breakfast became Airbnb in 2009.

2011, Google launched Google Flights. In 2017, Google's travel businesses were worth over $100 billion!

There's an interesting story about how the country of Iceland used social media and an online article by its First Lady to generate interest in tourism.

Overall, there are some interesting stories in this book and if you have a long journey or commute, might be worth reading through. Warning - there are some f-bombs thrown around in the text and some adult content if you're sensitive to that. Try to borrow this book from the local library.

Title: The New Tourist: Waking Up to the Power and Perils of Travel
Author: Paige McClanahan
ISBN: 978-1668011799
Pages: 287

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Book Review - Lonely Planet - Best Road Trips Route 66 - Escapes on the Open Road

This year (2026) marks the 100th anniversary of the legendary Route 66. In 1926, the "Mother Road" was built from Chicago to Los Angeles winding its way through America. Along the way there were hotels, cafes, kitschy statues and art works, gas stations, and more.

Then in 1956, President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act which began the construction of an official interstate. If you've ever watched Disney's Cars movie you will know that the interstate bypassed the old road and many of the towns and businesses dependent on Route 66. The last section to be bypassed was Williams, Arizona ("The Gateway to the Grand Canyon").

Even sadder, Route 66 was officially removed from the U.S.Highway system in 1985. Today you can drive along portions of the route and stop by some of the still-standing businesses and art.

This small book divides the route into 3 main sections - Western, Central, and Eastern. Amazingly, each section takes almost a week to complete if you plan to stop and look around at the towns. Page 6 has a really great colorful map showing the three paths.

Flip to page 8 for some Route 66 Highlights including a few neon signs.

There are two pages dedicated to Chicago and Los Angeles complete with "Getting Around", "Parking" (very limited in these densely urban locations), "Where to Eat", "Where to Stay", "Useful Websites" and more.

Page 12 gives a broad overview of traveling in the U.S. - seasons, rental cars, eating, sleeping, money, general operating hours, and more.

The rest of the book is divided into two main sections. The first section covers the three main travel routes - Eastern, Central and Western. The second section deep dives into the cities along the way with suggestions on what to see, where to stay, what to eat, etc. The suggestions are not necessarily part of the Route 66 history. At the end of the book is a Driving in the US guide and a pull-out colorful map.

The Eastern Route 66 tour is 1050 miles long and takes up to 7 days and encompasses Chicago to Oklahoma. The major stops include Springfield, St Louis, Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Look for the detour box for the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and the Top Tip box. Be sure to get a photo of the route's beginning sign in Chicago.

The Central Route 66 tour is 900 miles long and takes up to 7 days and encompasses Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. This stretch is probably the hardest because you will need to drive through desert-like conditions with few gas stations between stops. Always fill up when you can and bring snacks along. There's a little call out for a Santa Fe detour. Interestingly, Santa Fe was a major spot on Route 66 until the route was changed in 1937 to shorten the length in New Mexico. Page 33 has a little "History of the Mother Road" call out.

The Western Route 66 tour is 350 miles and takes up to 4 days and encompasses California. Be sure to take a picture at the end of the road sign in Santa Monica.

The rest of the book is dedicated to "Destinations" or all the cities along the routes. They have simple, colorful maps for the major stops. Most of the stops have suggestions for where to stay, what to do, where to eat, shopping, and where to get more information. The bigger cities, like St Louis and Las Angeles, have nifty foods-to-try call out boxes.

Overall, a great compact book if you plan to stop at any location along Route 66. Try to find it at your local library.

Title: Lonely Planet Best Road Trips Route 66
Author: Lonely Planet Authors
ISBN: 978-1787016378
Pages: 128

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Book Review - Insight Guides to Cruising and Cruise Ships by Douglas Ward

Thinking about taking a cruise? Perhaps you're new to cruising? Or maybe just deciding on your next ship? This is an excellent guide for understanding cruising and getting high-level insights to all the cruise lines and the ships that are available in 2025 (when this book was published).

If you're new to cruising, start with the Introduction section which gives a nice overview of what cruising is and some good first cruise experiences. Plus some what to expect type things.

The "Cruising Uncovered" chapters has lot of great advice, tips and question-answer type nuggets. Considering using a travel agent? There's a nice list of 6 questions to ask a travel agent. Considering travel insurance, check out the "7 Tips to Get the Best Travel Insurance" side bar. Be sure to read the "5 Rip-Offs to Watch Out For" so you don't end up having a huge bill at the end of your vacation. "7 Money-Saving Tips" has some useful tips when booking. If you want to keep your trip under budget, check out "10 Things Not Included in 'All-Inclusive'" so you can avoid spending too much extra on these experiences or activities.

If you're a history buff, there's a chapter on "The Chronology of Cruising" which has a lot of interesting information.

The next section, "Choose The Right Cruise" offers suggestions based on destination and/or ships. Choose Your Ship discusses the different sizes and classes and advantages/disadvantages. I like the side-bar "10 Cabin Locations to Avoid". Sometimes, if you book too late, you really can't avoid these options.

"Types of Cruising" section has lots of good chapters - "Cruising for Families", "Cruising for Solo Travelers", "Cruising for Seniors", "Cruising to Suit Travelers with Additional Needs", "Expedition Cruising Uncovered", and more. Lots of good tips and information on all these different segments.

"The Cruise Experience" section talks about Life Aboard the cruise ship, Entertainment, Excursions, Casinos, Spas and Wellness, and more. A lot of ships charge extra for these experiences (see the "10 Things Not Included in All-Inclusive" mentioned earlier.

Now, "The Cruise Companies" talks about the Major and Smaller Cruise Lines in brief.

"Practical Information" is great. You can find the useful "What To Do If" chapter with question and answers that almost everyone will ask at some point. And a chapter on "Cruising and Safety" which I hope none of us will ever need.

"The Ships and Their Ratings" comes next. You can find almost every cruise line and a selection of their ships listed there with points on Ship, Accommodation, Food, Service, Entertainment, and Cruise Experience as well as information about the ships themselves.

Overall a great book to borrow from your local library to get an intro into cruising and to narrow down some possible trips/ships to take.

Title: Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships 2025: Cruise Guide eBook
Author: Douglas Ward
ISBN: 978-1839054259
Pages: 408

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Book Review - 50 Best Adventures on Earth by Richard Bangs

Richard Bangs has a lot of amazing credits to his name - he co-founded Sobek Expeditions in 1969, one of the original travel-adventure companies (it's now called MT Sobek). This award-winning company arranged small groups of adventurers into all sorts of experiences all over the world. If you browse the website (https://www.mtsobek.com/) you can find all sorts of options from luxury to roughing-it type trips.

The introduction lists out the activity levels (1 being the easiest up to 5 being strenuous) so you can decide where on the scale to focus on or to eliminate. Of course, most of the moderate trips can be customized to be harder or easier.

The book is then divided into locations starting with Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America, and the Polar Regions.

Each suggested trip includes information on "Best Times" to go, "Activity Level", "Accommodations" (suggestions), "Features", and "GPD Coordinates". Then the trip is broken out into day-by-day itineraries which can be customized as well depending on how long you plan to visit.

Some level 1 activities include Botswana Flying Safari. Accommodations are "high-end eco-lodges" and you will definitely be paying the price for these luxuries. This is a 9 day itinerary but could easily be shortened.

Level 2 which is a little more strenuous than level 1 but is still good for all ages. Cruising the Galapagos falls into Level 2 with a lot of traveling from Quito to Galapagos and other nearby islands. Great for nature lovers.

Easter Island is another Level 2 activity. The five day itinerary consists of just exploring the island and some local's unique culture.

Cuba is listed as a Level 2 activity, but getting to Cuba is challenging. Keep this in your back pocket until they lift the restrictions to visit as a tourist.

Rafting Guatemala is a Level 4 and the accommodations lists Tents and Eco-Lodges. It's 10 days of what I'd call "roughing-it".

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a Level 5. Ironically, the accommodations sound better than Guatemala - "comfortable camping" and "comfortable hotels". This one is also 10 days.

Hiking Wild Scotland is a Level 3. The best times to attempt it is May through September before the weather turns sour. Hiking Ireland North to South is also Level 3 and runs along the same months. This one is a bit longer at 12 days.

Another Level 3 in America is Rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Despite the summer months, May through September, I've heard the water is ice cold. So arrive prepared. This itinerary is a long one at 14 days.

Overall, this is an interesting book to get some inspiration and trip ideas. You could easily customize the suggested itineraries to your own needs. I'd definitely look for it in your local library or share through inter-library loans.

Title: 50 Best Adventures on Earth
Author: Richard Bangs
ISBN: 978-1493085453
Pages: 272

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Book Review - Accidentally Wes Anderson by Wally Koval

If you don't know, Wes Anderson is a filmmaker with a distinctive style and eye for places. The author, Wally Koval, mentions in his introduction that this book started as a bucket list of places that Wes Anderson has featured or has been shown through photographs in the similar style. But it expanded as other adventurers suggested places from all over the world.

As you flip through this huge book, you will start seeing similar pastel colors and imagery and you will feel inspired as well. Next time you pass a baby blue building or a pastel pink tower, you may add it to this list.

The chapters are divided by location - United States and Canada, Latin America, Central and Western Europe, United Kingdom and Northern Europe, Southern and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, South, Central and Eastern Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica.

There are several lighthouses and towers featured in this book - Old Barney on Long Beach Island in New Jersey; Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse in Ushuaia in Argentina; Lighthouse in Klein Curacao in Curacao; Pierhead Light in Milwaukee; The Island Lighthouse on Fire Island in New York, and more.

A few everyday items in odd places made the book - A bright yellow telephone in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Gustavaus, Alaska; a Viewfinder at Newport Beach in California; a Subway Pay Phone (against a bright red wall) in Toronto, Ontario; a Viewfinder on Reykjavik in Iceland.

Flip through the book and you will see lots of colorful, ornate buildings such as Yenidze in Dresden, Germany; New Palace in Potedam also in Germany; Hotel Moskva in Belgrde, Serbia, and more.

Overall, a fun book full of interesting photographs. This book was published in October 2020 so be sure to check ahead before deciding to visit any of the locations mentioned in the book. Also, try to find this book at your local library.

Title: Accidentally Wes Anderson
Author: Wally Koval
ISBN: 978-0316492737
Pages: 368

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Book Review - DK Eyewitness Travel - Off The Tourist Trail

This massive (and heavy) book is absolutely loaded with suggested places to visit that rival famous and very touristy locations and even popular festivals. Full-color photos will inspire you. Most of the suggestions come with Practical Information boxes with "Getting There and Around", "When to Go", and a useful website for more information. I like the This vs That format of each location and even offers a little side bar about why you should skip the more famous site.

My favorite part of the book are the chapters titled "Less-Explored" such as "Less-Explored New York" and "Less-Explored San Francisco" located toward the end. They offer unique and interesting experiences without dealing with the long lines or high prices. "Less-Explored New York", for example, has suggestions for Off-Broadway Theater and Performances, international foods to try, Hidden Parks, Music Venues, and suggestions on where to stay and where to eat.

Also at the end of every section are these great "44 More" sights to explore with pages full of great suggestions.

The section "Ancient and Historical Sights" highlights plenty of interesting alternatives such as Pyramids of Meroe in Sudan versus the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt followed by 4 more pyramids to check out. Avebury versus Stonehenge followed by 6 more prehistoric sites. Pula Arena in Croatia versus Rome's Colosseum. This is followed by 6 more amphitheaters to visit.

The "Festivals and Parties" section has suggestions all over the world including Salvador Carinval versus Rio Carnival. Both are in Brazil but the Salvador version offers more participation and is actually the biggest street party in the world. This is followed by 4 more Carnival parties to attend. If you enjoy music, check out the Montreal Jazz Festival versus the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland - it's much closer and much more manageable.

"Great Journeys" section includes chapters "Less-Travelled China" and "Less-Travelled India" in addition to famous treks such as Coastal Route 15 in Mexico versus Route 66 in USA or a Pilgrimage to Rome vs Camino de Santiago in Spain.

"Architectural Marvels" section includes lots of famous structures including Haghia Sophia in Istanbul versus Basilica San Marco in Venice. Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles versus Sydney Opera House in Australia (and it's much closer for us). Notre-Dame d'Amiens in France versus Notre-Dame de Paris.

The next section, "Natural Wonders" has several good American options - Devil's Tower in Wyoming and Bryce Canyon in Utah, but then the authors choose Iceland over Yellowstone.

The "Beaches" section has some gorgeous pictures. Turtle Bay in Watamu, Kenya, Sabratha in Libya, Manzanillo Beach in Costa Rica, and more.

"Sports and Activities" section has some adventurous options. Skiing in Kicking Horse versus Whistler in Canada. Hiking Mount Stanley in Uganda versus Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Diving in Australia's Christmas Island versus The Great Barrier Reef.

"Art and Culture" section includes some interesting options such as Wine-Tasting in Mendoza in Argentina versus Napa Valley. Rock Art of Drakensburg in South Africa versus The Cave Paintings of Lascaux in France. Lyonnaise Cuisine versus Parisian Cuisine. New York's Independent Galleries versus MoMa also in New York.

And finally, "Cities" section featues a lot of "Less-Explored" chapters in addition to a nifty Geographical Index.

Overall, this is a great book to get inspired for some new places to visit and new experiences to try. The price of the book is pretty reasonable. I leave my copy on the coffee table so guests can also feel inspired by the beautiful full color photographs.

Title: Off the Tourist Trail: 1,000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives
Author: DK Publishing
ISBN: 978-0756653996
Pages: 336

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Book Review - Lonely Planet: Sustainable Escapes

This book starts with a well-written introduction to sustainable travel which is summarized as "tourism that delivers meaningful guest experiences and benefits locals without negatively influencing communities and the environment." As a traveler, it often means choosing a vendor that utilizes local resources or invests in their local community in a positive way. I was also surprised that many of the places highlighted in this were actually reasonably priced.

Right after the intro is a nice highlight of "Innovative Sustainable Tourism Attractions Around the World" which features 12 sites that were cutting edge in 2020 when this edition of the book was published.

The next chapter focuses on "Nature" with color-coded dots to showcase Wildlife Watching, Outdoor Adventure, and/or Conservation. Each listing includes bullet highlights of the location and a side bar which includes cost (when available), typical food offered, location and website. The chapter contains a guide on "7 Tips for Responsible Wildlife Interactions" which is a bit eye-opening.

"Relaxation" is the next chapter with color-coded dots for Eco-Luxury, Sustainable Dining, and Wellness. This chapter contains a note on "7 Ways to Reduce Waste on Your Travels" with simple tips anyone can try to incorporate.

Next is the chapter on "Culture" with color-coded dots for Community Interaction, Arts and Traditions, and Homestays. Within this chapter is a useful guide on "How to Choose a Responsible Tour Operator". The colored sidebar offers great suggestions on a responsible tour.

The next chapter is titled "Urban" for locations in cities and the color-coded dots include Eco-Luxury, Sustainable Dining, and Community Interaction. Many of the places in major cities are actually reasonably priced. The guide "Identifying a Sustainable Sleep" has some tips on picking a good place to spend the night (not necessarily a resort or hotel).

Next is a chapter on "Learning" where you can combine your travel with education but some of these tours might be a bit of a monetary stretch such as the Antarctica Scientific Expedition Cruise running over USD$14,000. But that is offset by the absolutely free Australia Beach Clean Up 10 day Expeditions. This chapter also contains the guide "How to Choose a Sustainable Volunteering Project"

Since this book was published back in 2020, you will want to verify all the information before making reservations or heading out.

Overall, this was a great book to find locations to stay at or visit that will minimize your impact on the planet and, for many locations, without spending gobs of money. Try to find this book at your local library or through inter-library loan programs.

Title: Lonely Planet Sustainable Escapes
Author: Lonely Planet Authors
ISBN: 978-1838690373
Pages: 256

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Book Review - Subpar Planet by Amber Share

This is a fun, entertaining book that features some of the most famous landmarks and tourist destinations around the world and what a one-star reviewer said about them.

The author describes each location in great detail with some insight, oftentimes questioning what the reviewer might have experienced. One example: Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada which someone said was "Not Really the Best Place". Amber then discusses the appeal of the park and what a typical tourist might actually experience such as the blue and green lakes filled by glaciel melt, wildflowers in the Sunshine Meadows, and more. Another example: Taj Mahal in Agra, India. The reviewer said "Not as Spectacular as I Had Thought". Ouch. Amber gives the background of this masterpiece with the Emperor Shah Jahan who commissioned it in the 17th century for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal who died after having 14 children.

The chapters are broken out by continent or region - Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Each chapter has a colorful map of locations.

On pages 40 and 41 are a great "Which Waterfall is 'Best'" discussion comparing some of the most famous waterfalls in the world.

Pages 114 and 115 illustrate "The Big Five", the animals most people want to see when they head to Africa for a safari.

There's a funny chapter called "How to Have an Absolutely Terrible Time Traveling" at the end. This chapter offers some useful advice on not overloading your trip or your expectations.

This is not an actual travel guide but reading through the author's descriptive research, it's hard not to add many of these sites to your bucket list of places to visit. Definitely look for it in your local library for a quick, easy read.

Title: Subpar Planet: The World's Most Celebrated Landmarks and Their Most Disappointed Visitors
Author: Amber Share
ISBN: 978-0593473177
Pages: 254

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Book Review - Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Adventures from the World's Leading Travel Authority

When planning a vacation, if you lean towards activities that are more physical or challenging such as running marathons or rock climbing in the desert, this is the book for you.

For me and my family, I focused on activities that young children could enjoy which wasn't many. Here are the chapters that could fall into the family-friendly category or could be re-worked a bit to become family-friendly: Going to Extremes (a few choices such as the Dead Sea, Greenland, Vatican City), Best Four-Legged Adventures (Reindeer Sledding, Dog Mushing (check on age range requirements), Wagon Train Adventure), Boy's (and Girl's) Own Adventures, Get Your Thrills Indoors (Chakazoolu Indoor Theme Park or Indoor Skiing and Snowboarding), Intrepid Treasure-Hunting Trips (Gold Panning in British Columbia, Canada), Best Undiscovered US Parks, and a chapter dedicated to Family-Friendly Adventures (options like beaches in Bali, Indonesia or Ranching in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Are you a strong swimmer and enjoy water activities, check out these chapters: Best Spots to Catch a Big Wave, Wildest Swims in the World, Epic Sea-Kayak Paddles, Sail or Bust, Get on Board, Truly Wild Waterways, Best Rafting Rivers, Sweetest Snorkel Spots, and more.

Enjoy rock climbing, these might appearl to you: Mountain Quests, Most Spectacular Rock Climbs, Rock Stars: World's Best Bouldering, Best Beginners' Climbs, and more.

Prefer running or extreme hiking? How about Gotta Be In It to Win It: Best Races, Downhill Dashes, Mind-Blowing Marathons, Best Treks with Killer Views, Best ultra Runs, World's Highest Treks, Longest Treks, and more.

Like animals plus adventure (no petting zoos in here), try these: Scariest Animal Encounters, Most Excellent Equine Escapades, Best Birding in Highlands and Islands, Essential African Adventures, and more.

This book was published in 2013 so double-check all the locations to be sure they are still open to tourists and the information is correct.

For a family of young children or for really lazy people who prefer relaxing, this wasn't a very useful guide but there were a few suggestions. If you enjoy daring activities, you'll get plenty of inspiration.

Title: Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Adventures from the World's Leading Travel Authority
Author: Lonely Planet Authors
ISBN: 978-1743217191
Pages: 352

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Book Review - The Geek Atlas: 128 Places Where Science and Technology Come Alive by John Graham-Cumming

For those who are curious about inventions or gaining a better understanding on scientific concepts, you will enjoy the suggested locations in this hefty book.

The book is divided out into countries in alphabetical order. Under the United States, the chapter is further divided out into states. The last chapter, "Miscellaneous" has two discussion items of interest - Magicicada Brood X (a cicada bug periodically emerging along the Eastern United States coast) and the Magnetic North Pole.

Some highlights: Parkes Radio Telescope in Parkes, Australia.

Mendel Museum of Genetics in Brno, Czech Republic

Institut Pasteur in Paris, France

The Escher Museum in The Hague, Netherlands

Greenwich in London, England

Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine

Titan Missile Museum in Sahuarita, Arizona, US

National Cryptologic Museum in Fort Meade, Maryland, US

Keep in mind that this book was published in 2009, so double-check operating hours and fees before heading out.

Overall, this is good book to add must-see locations to your itinerary or to get an overall lesson on scientific notions. Try to find it at your local library.

Title: The Geek Atlas: 128 Places Where Science and Technology Come Alive
Author: John Graham-Cumming
ISBN: 978-0596523206
Pages: 542

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Book Review - Moon Paris Walks: See the City Like a Local

If you're planning a trip to Paris, France, this is a really useful book to take with you. It's small enough to fit into your backpack or sling bag (or you can rip out the pages you need and take them with you).

The book contains 6 suggested walking itineraries. Each itinerary comes with an introduction to the walk, an overview of the neighborhoods, a "short on time" section that emphasizes the main sights to see, a full-color map with points of interest labeled (which are also color-coded), and the walk description (with the labels included). Followed by more details sections for "sights and attractions", "food and drink", "shopping" and "more to explore" which also correspond to the color-coded labels.

The introduction of the book includes lots of useful information - good to know practical info, museums, French food culture, useful shopping tips, public holidays, transportation and biking, Top 10 sights and museums, Top 10 restaurants, Top 10 On Sundays, and Top 10 Nightlife.

Walk 1 = Batignolles and Montmartre

Walk 2 = Quartier des Martyrs, Grands Boulevards, Louvre, and Madeleine

Walk 3 = Les Halles and Le Marais

Walk 4 = Les Iles, Latin Quarter, and Saint-Germain-des-Pres

Walk 5 = Eiffel Tower, Invalides and Champs-Elysees

Walk 6 = Belleville, Canal Saint-Martin and Menilmontant

The very last chapter offers more things to do "With More Time".

In summary, this is a keeper to take with you on your French trip.

Title: Moon Paris Walks: See the City Like a Local
Author: Moon Travel Guides
ISBN: 979-8886470222
Pages: 152

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Book Review - Road Trip Survival Guide by Samantha Brown

If you're planning any type of road trip, you'll want to read through this book. Even if you're not going on a road trip, there is plenty of information and inspiration to get out of this book.

The first chapter focuses on planning your trip - researching your destination, making your trip more green (environmentally friendly), and some inspirational trips.

Chapter two has lots of good advice for packing and vehicle organizing plus packing lists.

The next chapter offers suggestions on snacks to make and bring with you (and thereby saving money and time).

I found the "Safety" chapter useful for any trip with tips on vehicle safety and road conditions, night driving, and other safety resources.

Chapter five has some great itinerary suggestions for road trips in the United States as well as Canada and Mexico.

Overall, this is a great book. Try to find it in your local library.

Title: The Road Trip Survival Guide: Tips and Tricks for Planning Routes, Packing Up, and Preparing for Any Unexpected Encounter Along the Way
Author: Samantha Brown
ISBN: 978-1982177072
Pages: 204

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Book Review - Fodor's Travel - Mexico City

If you're planning a trip to Mexico City or even a stopover, get this guide. It is full of useful information and full-color maps.

Chapter One highlights Mexico City starting with "20 Ultimate Experiences" with colorful photographs. I like the "What to Eat and Drink in Mexico City" guide (especially for someone from Texas who is used to Tex-Mex) and the "What to Buy in Mexico City" guide. There's "Best Museums" and "Under the Radar" guides as well. And for history buffs, there's "A Brief History of Mexico City".

Chapter Two contains the vital information - "Know Before You Go", "Getting Here and Around", "Essentials" and even a pullout "Helpful Phrases in Spanish" guide.

The next eleven chapters are the various neighborhoods (barios) such as Alameda Central, Benito Juarez, Roma, Condesa, Coyoacan, Sn Angel, and more. Each chapter has a snapshot guide and a full-color map with highlighted bullets along with sights, restaurants, and hotels with ratings and detailed information.

"Side Trips from Mexico City" is a great chapter with suggestions on quick trips to places with ruins or beaches. There's a useful planning section.

The last sections include Maps and Indexes. The very last page includes a handy Metro map.

Overall, a great guide to Mexico City. This book was published in 2024 but still verify all the information before travelling.

Title: Fodor's Mexico City
Author: Fodor's Travel Author
ISBN: 978-1640976993
Pages: 368

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Book Review - Modern Rockhounding and Prospecting by Garret Romaine

My family and I have visited many amusement parks and historical sites. At a large majority of them, there is usually a gemstone mining area or trough. You pay for a bag of dirt mixed with precious stones and then you wash the dirt in the water trough. It's a rather messy process so if you have younger children be sure to bring change of clothes.

We've done these many times over the years and you always get a nice pile of rocks to take home. Here's one of the better bags that we purchased which clearly listed what had been contained inside it.

Digging for special rocks and fossils is really fun for adults and children and always feels rewarding when you find something unique. That led me to pick up this book and it's a real keeper. The author, Garret Romaine, has extensive experience and expertise on this topic.

So what is rockhounding? It's the activity of searching for rocks (or gems or fossils) to collect. Almost everyone has probably seen a cool-looking rock in the dirt or in a stream and picked it up to examine it. That is rockhounding. Now, prospecting, takes it a step further and searches for treasures that can be valuable or profitable. The book's introduction lists the different types of rock hunters.

The book starts with a basic guide to geology and different types of rocks, gems and fossils. The listing of rock types is valuable as the author includes the best locations to find the specific rock type. For example, halite stones (common rock salt) can be found in Utah's Great Salt Lake area.

Look for the section titled "Gator Girl's Best Advise Ever" in Chapter One which gives suggestions on how to get started, finding support or like-minded people to help you, where to go, and some really sound advice on protective gear.

Chapter Two discusses "Where to Find It" with lots of resources, websites, applications, maps, and more. This book was published in 2024 so most of the information is still relevant but always double-check before heading out.

Chapter Three highlights preparations and tools for venturing out including vehicle prep and maintenance, emergency gear, and setting expectations.

The next chapter goes deeper into the actual physical labor of hunting in different environments - beaches, creeks, deserts, and more. I really appreciated the warnings about trying to search around old mines. The chapter ends with some really interesting meteorite hunting which I hadn't considered before but now I'm adding it to my list.

Chapter Five has suggestions on what to do with the treasures you have found like tumbling (remember those old-fashioned tumble machines we all wanted as kids?) and preservation techniques.

Overall, this is a great resource especially if you are a beginner and need some basic information to get started.

Title: Modern Rockhounding and Prospecting Handbook
Author: Garret Romaine
ISBN: 978-1493078493
Pages: 264

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Book Review - Muleshoe and More: The Remarkable Stories Behind the Naming of Texas Towns by Bill Bradfield and Clare Bradfield

If you've ever driven through Texas, you no doubt passed through towns with the most unusual names. That must have inspired this guide which details the naming of Texas towns.

Interestingly, the study of place names is called toponymy. And the person who studies them is called a toponymic expert.

This directory is listed out alphabetically, A through Z, followed by two indexes - one of counties and one of names.

Place names came from all sorts of origins - religion (like the Bible), mythology, foreign languages, family names, geography, botany, names of places in foreign locations, and more.

Each place listed also contains general location, county, population (at the time of this publishing, 1999) and for many, a pronunciation key.

This is a fun read. Try to find it at your local library or used bookstore. Since it was published so long ago, some of the information might be outdated or incorrect now.

Title: Muleshoe and More: The Remarkable Stories Behind the Naming of Texas Towns
Author: Bill Bradfield and Clare Bradfield
ISBN: 978-0884158653
Pages: 218

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Book Review - Black Hills Family Fun Guide by Kindra Gordon

If you're planning a family trip to South Dakota's Black Hills area, you should get a hold of this book and look through all the great suggestions.

The book is divided by chapters focused on activities: "Famous Faces to Visit", "Buffalo, Bears and Reptiles", "Dinosaurs Galore", "See It Made - Or Mined", "Meaningful Museums", "Outdoors to Explore", "Water Parks, Go-Carts and Other Good Times", "Histories and Oddities", and "Puttin' on a Show".

At the end of the book is an Index by City if you're trying to plot out a road trip and have specific cities in mind along the way. The author has included the city's website so you can do a further search on what to do or eat in town.

I like that each chapter has a map with very simple marks for points of interest. If you're tech-savvy, you could add the points to your own Google Map or other virtual map.

Each location mentioned also includes operating dates, admission, parking fees, address, phone number and website.

Some businesses have a nice little "Neat to Know" callout, such as the National Presidential Wax Museum in Keystone, South Dakota - the "Neat to Know" mentions President Calvin Coolidge's visit at Custer Park's State Game Lodge and Resort in 1927.

At the end of the chapters, there is a "For More" section which will direct you to similar experiences in other chapters.

Since this 2nd edition was published in 2017, be sure to confirm operating hours and fees before you visit.

Overall, this is a nice guide. I found lots of interesting places to visit on my next trip. Try to find this book at your local library or through interloan services.

Title: Black Hills Family Fun Guide: Explore South Dakota's Badlands, Devils Tower and Black Hills
Author: Kindra Gordon
ISBN: 978-1591937357
Pages: 136

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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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Book Review - The Essential Guide to Driving in Europe by Julian Parish

If you have any plans to ever drive in Europe, I highly recommend reading this book. It's a small guide - easy to tuck into your backpack or purse.

The book starts with a "The first time" chapter for those who have never driven in a foreign country. Page 11 contains a really nifty checklist of what to bring with you (such as an evidence of driving record).

Skip over to page 14 or the "What to Take" chapter which contains more useful information on what you need to legally drive in Europe. Some of them should be provided by the car owner or the rental company but make sure you know how to obtain it in an emergency or police situation.

Be sure to read through the "Insurance and Breakdown Cover" chapter to understand the basic coverages and whether you might want to get extra coverage.

"Crossing the Chanel" chapter, a really short chapter, provides a useful overview for those who need to utilize crossings (such as the Western Channel between France and Spain or the Channel between France and the UK.

The next chapter explains the process of fueling your vehicle (if it requires petrol or diesel). There are QR codes which take you to websites that explain in more detail the different types of energy.

"The other side of the road" is a good explanation of driving on the left side of the road (like in the UK and Ireland).

The tiny chapter "Traffice offences in Europe" gives a quick "beward" type message on being aware of avoiding traffic tickets.

This is followed by three very short chapters - "Disabled travellers", "Travelling with children" and "Travelling with pets"

A more useful chapter is "Driving in cities". There are some good tips here. For better planning, I'd do a quick search in youtube or the web for specific cities you plan to visit to see any gotchas or must-knows.

There is a nice section on winter driving. Earlier in the book there was a brief mention on weather and road conditions.

If anything, be sure to read the "What to do: accidents and car crime" so that you are prepared and ready in an emergency situation as well as the following chapter, "What to do: breakdowns". Being prepared is smart.

The rest of the book is divided into regions then further divided into specific countries. Look for the locations you plan to visit. Each location contains roads, rules, tolls, speed limits, and other useful information.

In summary, try to find this book in your local library to get a good overview on preparing for your trip. Keep in mind, even though this is labeled as a New Edition, it was published in 2016. So be sure to verify all the information ahead of your trip.

Title: The Essential Guide to Driving in Europe
Author: Julian Parish
ISBN: 978-1787113039
Pages: 144

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