Cultured Travel Guide Books - Frommer's National Parks of the American West (Park Guides) |
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List Price: $21.99
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 917
EAN: 9780470185643
ISBN: 0470185643
Label: Frommer's
Manufacturer: Frommer's
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 510
Publication Date: 2008-05-05
Publisher: Frommer's
Studio: Frommer's |
| Spotlight Customer Reviews: |
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Always A Good Bet
Comment: Frommer's is synonymous with good guide books for whereever you want to travel, and if you are looking for a good book about the parks this is worth picking up. Replete with directions and suggestions of where to go, what to see and how to plan what you would like to see based on the length of your visit, it is pretty well covered. Some things change, particularly prices and some places mentioned, so if you have a chance to make a couple of calls ahead of time it is a good idea to double check these things and hours of operation, but still an impressive overall book.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Comprehensive, a little dull
Comment: This guide gives comprehensive information and covers all National Parks in the Western United States. Details are given on possible routes, campground locations and even their facilities. However, information is given in a rather boring way, and people searching for nice pictures should definitely look for another title. The photos on front and back cover are the only pictures found in this guide.
The parks are listed alphabetically, which helps finding your information fast.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Great Choice!
Comment: This is a pretty hefty book! And it's a great thing to have. I've utilized the book in planning and visiting 15+ parks/sites and don't have any huge complaints about it.
The only things I can think of is that the maps are no different - except smaller and less convenient to use - than the ones they give you when you enter the parks. Maps of the surrounding areas would have been more helpful. I also find I use a lot of post-its and folding down of pages to figure out where I am in the book as it's a pretty bare-bones newsprint-type kind of a guide . There are also no pictures, but that's OK with me - not for some maybe, but like I said, it's kind of no-frills design-wise. My biggest problem is that it is not a comprehensive guide to all of the US parks . . . I'm not sure how many parks are not considered "of the West," but I don't think it's that many. Since I haven't been able to find this same guide/Frommer's for those parks considered "of the East." Also, even though the guide is about the US, a small section about traveling to Banff/Jasper in Alberta would have been appreciated as it is convenient to visit when seeing US sights like Glacier, Yellowstone, etc since it's kind of on the same route.
I like that they're pretty straight forward about what to do and how to do it if you have limited time and list the types of accommodations in the parks. Additionally, I appreciate being able to read about the history of the parks and sites. I'd say, along with a National Parks Pass ($80 from www.nps.gov), this book is the 2nd best thing to take with you on your next trip!
Customer Rating:
Summary: A good road trip guide.
Comment: I bought this book in order to have an informational book about all the National Parks along my road trip from Seattle to San Diego. I have used several guide books and mostly purchase hiking, camping, climbing and fishing books. This was a guide book like those I purchase for international travel and I felt that it served it's purpose well. It gave me the basic rundown on each park, the highlights and where all the important sights were, which is perfect for roadside National Park visiting. It includes maps (although not detailed if you want to do more extensive hiking), lists of campgrounds, some highlight hikes and locations, places to stay and some extra stuff around the park (i.e. towns, eating, hotels).
It seemed to be just enough to get us by and the only time I wished there was more was when I wanted to do backcountry hiking/camping but that isn't something you get in an all around National Park book unless you want it to to be 1,000 pages long with topo maps to boot! I suggest going to the Visitor Centers for more indepth information, park maps and hiking information. The centers are always great resources, along with the roadside and trailside signs, you just have to take the time to read when you are interested.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Perfect for a roadtrip
Comment: I bought this along with some other park books for a 2 week roadtrip I recently took. It was by far the most useful of the guidebooks I bought. If you are going to one specific park buy books specific to it, but if you are roadtripping and plan on visiting a few, it is far easier to get this book and not have to hassle with a car full of books. Frommer's guidebooks are by no means the best guides every written, but they are quite adequate. The information was pertinent and useful. 3.5 stars for the quality of the content (uninspired but useful), 5 stars for convenience. 4.25 stars overall.
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| Editorial Reviews: |
| More than 65 million people visit the national parks annually-and overcrowding has become a serious problem. So we sent our authors out to hit the trails and campsites to figure out how to beat the crowds and enjoy an unspoiled experience of nature. Our authors take you to the most spectacular landscapes in the western U.S. and provide advice for every kind of park visitor, from the day-tripper who wants to see the highlights quickly to the back-country camper to the families traveling with kids. This incredibly detailed, complete guide covers every kind of activity available in each park, from hiking to bird watching, with a range of sports for visitors of all ages and skill levels. Completely updated, this new edition of Frommer's National Parks of the American West also includes reviews of park lodges, camping, and nearby accommodations to help you plan all aspects of your trip. Exact prices are listed for every establishment and activity. No other guide offers such detailed, candid reviews...or such honest advice. Complete with maps of every park, including detailed maps of hiking trails in the major parks.
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