In 2003, David Miller left his job, family, and friends to fulfill a dream and hike the Appalachian Trail. AWOL on the Appalachian Trail is Miller’s account of this thru-hike along the entire 2,172 miles from Georgia to Maine. On page after page, readers are treated to rich descriptions of the valleys and mountains, the isolation and reverie, the inspiration that fueled his quest, and the life-changing moments that can only be experienced when dreams are pursued. While this book abounds with introspection and perseverance, it also provides useful passages about safety and proper gear, showing a professional hiker’s preparations and tenacity. This is not merely a travel guide, but a beautifully written and highly personal view into one man’s adventure and what it means to make a lifelong vision come true.

Every time Bill Bryson walks out the door, memorable travel literature threatens to break out. His previous excursion along the Appalachian Trail resulted in the sublime national bestseller A Walk in the Woods. In A Sunburned Country is his report on what he found in an entirely different place: Australia, the country that doubles as a continent, and a place with the friendliest inhabitants, the hottest, driest weather, and the most peculiar and lethal wildlife to be found on the planet. The result is a deliciously funny, fact-filled, and adventurous performance by a writer who combines humor, wonder, and unflagging curiousity.Despite the fact that Australia harbors more things that can kill you in extremely nasty ways than anywhere else, including sharks, crocodiles, snakes, even riptides and deserts, Bill Bryson adores the place, and he takes his readers on a rollicking ride far beyond that beaten tourist path. Wherever he goes he finds Australians who are cheerful, extroverted, and unfailingly obliging, and these beaming products of land with clean, safe cities, cold beer, and constant sunshine fill the pages of this wonderful book. Australia is an immense and fortunate land, and it has found in Bill Bryson its perfect guide.

The finest guidebook ever written for the Big Island and the only one written by writers who anonymously review the island. They visit every beach, restaurant, activity and trail on the island. The result is this comprehensive, humorous and easy-to-read full color guide that will lead you to more adventures than any other book. A must for travelers.

Packed with more color photographs (380) and detailed, color maps (80) than any other parks guidebook on the market, this handy, practical, guide, completely updated for the 2012 edition, offers comprehensive information on the crown jewels of the national park system--the 58 scenic national parks that conserve and protect the flora and fauna in some of our nation's last wilderness areas. This guide helps travelers design custom trips, depending on the time and interests they have.   The parks are grouped region by region so that vacationers can plan trips to one or more central location. Each chapter is introduced by a map and a geographical profile, followed by the parks in alphabetical order. Individual parks start with a portrait of the natural wonders available, their history, and the ecological setting and stresses they face. A practical "How to Get There" follows with suggestions on when best to visit and a "How to Visit" section with advice on which activities to engage in, how much time to provide for each, and how to savor the beauty of the place. After the descriptions, each park has an "Information&Activities" page with detailed visitor information, including the location of the visitor centers, the fees, pet guidance, special advisories, camping, and lodging details. Suggested brief, nearby excursions are provided to encourage the traveler to explore beyond the park boundaries.   This update includes the lastest information on the 2009 Tsunami which devistated America Samoa National Park, information on road changes that resulted from the recent flooding in Olympic National Park, and changes in Arches National Park, including the collapse of Wall Arch in late 2008. The new edition also has 200 new photos by noted nature photographer Phil Schermeister. These pictures, many of which have never been published before, reflect the beauty and grandeur of our national treasures, while the accompanying text, written by experienced National Geographic writers who have traveled the parks, is full of personal, useful, and practical information.

The MILEPOST® is the "quintessential" travel guide to Alaska and the highways and byways of the North. Since 1949, this "bible of North Country Travel" has offered details on road conditions, ferry travel, lodging, camping, fishing, sightseeing and services in Alaska, Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Alberta and Northwest Territories. Travelers will find trip planning help and answers to frequently asked questions on such topics as wildlife viewing, crossing the border and traveling with pets. Updated annually, The MILEPOST® gives readers nearly 800 pages of detailed information on everything from the famous Alaska Highway system to cruising Alaska's Inside Passage. 

Exploring a pitching career that began with a complete-game victory over Hall of Famer Don Drysdale in 1964 and ended when he could no longer control his pitches, this book details the life of Pittsburgh Pirates great, Steve Blass. This insider's view of the humorous and bizarre journey of a World Series champion pitcher turned color commentator will delight Pirates and baseball fans alike. Recounting his first years in the Major Leagues and his battle with the baffling condition that would ultimately bear his own name, Steve Blass tells the story of his life on and off the field with a poignant, dazzling wit and shares the life of a baseball player who had the prime of his career cut short.

In September 1960, John Steinbeck and his poodle, Charley, embarked on a journey across America. A picaresque tale, this chronicle of their trip meanders through scenic backroads and speeds along anonymous superhighways, moving from small towns to growing cities to glorious wilderness oases. Travels with Charley in Search of America is animated by Steinbeck’s attention to the specific details of the natural world and his sense of how the lives of people are intimately connected to the rhythms of nature—to weather, geography, the cycle of the seasons. His keen ear for the transactions among people is evident, too, as he records the interests and obsessions that preoccupy the Americans he encounters along the way. Travels with Charley in Search of America, originally published in 1962, provides an intimate and personal look at one of America’s most beloved writers in the later years of his life—a self-portrait of a man who never wrote an explicit autobiography. It was written during a time of upheaval and racial tension in the South—which Steinbeck witnessed firsthand—and is a stunning evocation of America on the eve of a tumultuous decade.

Your Best Vacation EverEven the most hardcore power mom will like this best-selling travel guide. It's written by a former Walt Disney World concierge supervisor who's also the mom of a teenage girl. Packed with candid reviews and thorough descriptions of every ride, show, restaurant and resort, The Complete Walt Disney World 2012 features the most in-depth information ever published about the world's No. 1 vacation destination. Paging through the book is just plain fun, as 535 color photos reveal details you just can't find anywhere else. More frank than Disney's own guides but less snarky than other independent books, the guide is loaded with straightforward insight and helpful information. Though Disney itself has honored the book (naming it an Outstanding Family Product in its iParenting Awards), the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the guide is 'refreshing in its honest opinions.'Walt Disney World Your WayCreate Park Days Your Family Will Treasure.Comprehensive attraction pages make deciding what to do at Disney easier than ever. Going beyond mere ranks and ratings, reviews also give you insight into a ride or show's appeal, such as its architecture, history, music, storytelling or attention to detail. Helpful specs include hourly wait times, fear factors and weather issues. Once you're at an attraction, useful tips and lists of 'secret' Fun Finds help your family enjoy the experience to the fullest.Plan Meals With Confidence. Thoughtful restaurant reviews cover everything from burger joints to gourmet bistros to unique character meals. Quick-read summaries let you scan restaurants by rating, cuisine, price or hours of operation. A Policies section uncovers hard-to-find facts on children's meals, special diets and Disney's new rules about canceling reservations.Helpful Tips Make You a Disney Expert. Spread through the book, hundreds of specific tips reveal such things as how to save time with Disney's Fastpass system, how to save money with the Disney Dining Plan, even the best spots to watch parades, shows and fireworks.Detailed Hotel Reviews Save You Time. Seriously thorough hotel descriptions let you compare every aspect of every major place to stay, including swimming pool features and other family-focused amenities. Reviews cover each property's Highs and Lows, room decor and both rack and discount rates. Forget the hassle of researching hotels online; everything you need is right at your fingertips.Cheer For Your Child. Is your boy or girl playing at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex? Learn how to view coverage of their events and get the scoop on spectator seating, dining and other amenities.Disney News You Can Use. Only The Complete Walt Disney World includes all 662 Disney changes for 2012 every new attraction, activity, hotel, restaurant, shop and price increase. (Turkey legs are now more than $9. Ouch!) Readers get insider advice on new rides starring The Little Mermaid and Snow White's Seven Dwarfs, as well as revamped attractions based on Dumbo, Goofy and the Star Wars universe.Photos Take You There. Over 500 colorful images give you a clear sense of every ride, show and parade and exhibit, and reveal the quality of hotel grounds, lobbies, rooms and swimming pools. Parents will enjoy looking at The Complete Walt Disney World 2012 with their children, as the abundance of photos makes it easy for little ones to decide 'Let's do that!'Instantly Find What You Need. Color-coded chapters and a 1,000-item index let you find any topic quickly. A Walt Disney World A-Z chapter offers a wealth of data on airports, rental cars, park tickets and the like. An appendix holds a Character Guide, a new What Things Cost section that makes it easy to plan expenses, and telephone and Internet directories.

Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World, the most respected and well-known name in travel guides, takes readers to the world’s most popular tourist attraction. Since ours is the only guidebook that’s official, this book includes the most accurate information on prices, changes, and new attractions for 2012. Highlights include complete coverage of Walt Disney World's newest resort-in-the-making: The Art of Animation; expanded information about the ever-popular Disney Vacation Club, including details on Aulani, a deluxe Disney resort and spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii; and an insider look at Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, the Disney Fantasy—a luxury ocean liner based out of Barcelona, Spain. Fans of Fantasyland will be thrilled to hear that is it now the center of the greatest growth-spurt in Magic Kingdom history! We'll deliver all the info on this happy expansion—including a description of new attraction featuring The Little Mermaid. Also, come here for the scoop on Star Tours II--an immersive 3-D journey into the beloved Star Wars realm.As always, Birnbaum will provide strategic sample itineraries; an insider's look at the newest attractions, stage shows, and restaurants; and tips for travelers of every age! And with more money-saving coupons than ever before, this guide is a must-have for every Disney World guest!

Streetwise Manhattan Map - Laminated City Street Map of Manhattan, New York - Folding pocket size NYC travel map with integrated subway lines&stations - bus mapThis map covers the following areas:Main Manhattan Map 1:27,000Manhattan Bus MapSome people think Manhattan and New York City are synonymous, but technically they are not. Manhattan is one of the five boroughs that make up New York City. The others are Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. It’s a persnickety detail, but detail is what STREETWISE® is about. For example, the architectural details drawn on the Manhattan New York map are in outline form. A solid drawing would obscure the streets surrounding the location, and therefore hamper the usability of the map. Only in unobstructed locations will you find a solid drawing.You may not notice this or any of the many other details that combine to make a NY city map that has been called the best selling map on earth*. The STREETWISE® Manhattan Map is detailed from lower tip to upper tip. It is layered with information about sites and mass transit routes. The New York City Subway system is one of the most important and vital rail networks in the world. It is also the fastest and cheapest way to travel north-south in New York. Our Manhattan street map has the best designed diagram of the Subway system ever produced on a street map. An inset of Manhattan bus routes complements the Subway system. You are now prepared to travel the length and breadth of Manhattan. From shopping in SOHO, dining in the Village, working in Midtown, visiting the Met on the Upper East Side or strolling thru Central Park, you’re covered with the STREETWISE® Manhattan Map of NYC. From the Staten Island Ferry up to the rediscovered realm of Harlem, you can navigate like a native New Yorker with this pocket size Manhattan Map.Good city maps, like the STREETWISE® map of Manhattan, will guide you in the right direction and directly impact your experience of New York. A good Manhattan map will also keep you grounded, relaxed and confident in your decisions about where to go and how to get there. Whether by car, train, bus or on foot you are confident because you carry the most knowledgeable travel companion when you carry our NYC street map, the best laminated Manhattan Map on the market.Our pocket size map of Manhattan is laminated for durability and accordion folding for effortless use. The STREETWISE® Manhattan map is one of many detailed and easy-to-read city street maps designed and published by STREETWISE®. Buy your STREETWISE® Manhattan map today and you too can navigate Manhattan, New York like a native. For a larger selection of our detailed travel maps simply type STREETWISE MAPS into the Amazon search bar.* Publishers Weekly January 2004