One for the Road: Moon Spain Handbook

by Kelly Amabile on

One flip through the first few pages of the Moon Spain Handbook and I’m itching to get back there. The intro to this new book begins with a colorful overview of a country bursting with life — the Plaza Mayor, Costa Brava, La Rioja, Galicia. A smart color-coded map marks Spain’s regions in a rainbow, an appropriate way to introduce the diversity that exists throughout this Iberian gem.

The guide starts with a short summary of each region, followed by a few suggested itineraries. It then gets meaty, beginning with the very heart of Spain. After dissecting nightlife, shopping, accommodations, sports, cultural offerings and food (of course!) for Madrid, the guide moves on to do the same for Castilla-La Mancha, Cataluna (including an expanded chapter on Barcelona), Aragon, Valencia, Andalucia, the Islas Baleares and other regions. The 900-page handbook wraps up with a section of county background information – logistics, cultural tidbits, history and popular festivals. It’s comprehensive, but still lightweight enough to accompany you on a visit to any or all of these areas.

Moon’s Spain handbook is one of three European guides that were released recently — a first for the popular guidebook series. Ireland and London were also published this spring.

One for the Road: Hoshino’s Alaska

by Kelly Amabile on

Neil shared an awesome Alaskan journey with us this month, and a good friend of mine also just returned from a visit to the northern-most state. So with Alaska on the brain today, I bring you Hoshino’s Alaska, a collection of 150 photos that celebrate the life and work of wilderness photographer Michio Hoshino.

Japanese-born Hoshino traveled to Alaska in 1972 for what was to be only a two-week trip. He remained for three months, then returned to live there in 1978, where he lived as a naturalist and photographer driven by a deep commitment to and curiosity about the region. Killed by a bear while traveling in Russia in 1996, he is still widely regarded as the preeminent photographer of the Alaskan wilderness for his breathtakingly beautiful photographs. This recently published book serves as a fitting tribute to his legacy.

One for the Road: Dr. BBQ’s Big Time Barbecue Road Trip

by Kelly Amabile on

Need some help planning your big July 4th barbecue? Never fear — Dr. BBQ is here! Ray Lampe’s latest book serves up a selection of regional specialties from around the USA: Dr. BBQ’s Big-Time Barbecue Road Trip is a collection of mouth-watering recipes gathered from his travels around the country. The grilling guru offers up the usual cooking tips and tricks, along with featured recipes like Kentucky Barbecued Mutton and Kansas City Style Brisket.

Dr. BBQ gives hungry readers the real deal on where to find barbecue to meet every craving. (We know you’re just dying to try those Smoked Cornish Hens!) See how easy it is? Hit the road with the Doc’s new book and get grilling. If you want to see the grill master live in action, you’ll have to wait till after the 4th though — he’ll be doing cooking demos in California, Illinois and Tennessee later this summer.

Lonely Planet’s Fast Talk Audio Books

by Erik Olsen on

When you arrive in a country where they don’t speak English and you haven’t yet picked up a word of the local tongue, it can be awfully hard to get by. Ordering food, finding a place to crash, picking up women, well all of these things can become painful tasks if you don’t know at least a few helpful phrases.

Of course, lots of guidebooks have handy guides in the back that give you some things to say, but only (as far as I know) the new Lonely Planet Fast Talk Audio series offers both a compact, put-in-your-back-pocket phrasebook AND a nifty little CD inside to hear the phrase you’re trying to speak ($6.99 on Amazon). I got my hands on a couple of these new edition phrase books and I highly recommend you check them out.

As I say, one of the best things about them is how small they are, no bigger than a deck of cards, in fact quite a bit thinner than that.They provide phrases for sightseeing, business, shopping eating, sleeping (how do you say “zzzzzzzzz” in French?) and getting around. There is also a wonderful new “Small Talk” Western Europe guide that has handy phrases in ten languages from Danish to Dutch to Turkish, so as you make your way across the continent, you only have to carry around one book. And again, a wee little book at that.

One for the Road: ‘Three-Martini Family Vacation’

by Kelly Amabile on

Here’s a smarmy tongue-in-cheek guide for parents that should offer up plenty of laughs, as well as some smart travel advice. The Three-Martini Family Vacation is a collection of wickedly funny essays that will serve as a reminder to parents that family vacations can truly be fun — regardless of how much gets shaken or stirred along the way!

Christine Mellor’s latest ‘Field Guide to Intrepid Parenting’ offers helpful advice on harnessing the energy of toddlers-gone-wild on vacation, out to dinner or even just when grandmother stops by for a visit. Parents will relearn the art of traveling and how it can be done (sometimes) with well-behaved children in tow. This is my favorite bit of practical advice: Get those kids reading books as soon as possible — it’ll pay dividends in countless waiting rooms, cars and airports. Nothing funny about that one, but it sure is true!

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