One for the Road: Gutsy Mamas

by Kelly Amabile on

Our next pick for a travel book that celebrates motherhood is Travelers Tales inspiring Gutsy Mamas: Travel Tips and Wisdom for Mothers on the Road. Although published ten years ago, I’m sure the advice offered up by author Marybeth Bond (the official Gutsy Traveler) is a collection of timeless tips, many of which must still hold true today. This pocket guide for roaming mothers (and grandmothers) serves as a useful tool to anyone traveling with toddlers or teens in tow.

Know an expat mom raising a family overseas? Or maybe a girlfriend who’s in the midst of making multiple trips abroad to finalize an adoption? Bond dispenses invaluable tips for moms of all kinds, with suggestions on how to stay healthy and what works best for keeping kids entertained while en route. The book is also peppered with personal anecdotes from traveling mothers around the world. So whether your a great-grandmother or an expectant mom (or dad!) this book should provide some trusted travel strategies and even a touching story or two as well.

As a follow up to her first gutsy guide, Marybeth released Gutsy Women: More Travel Tips and Wisdom from the Road. She has written a wide variety of travel books for females…and we may even mention another one before this mother-loving week is through.

One for the Road: Making Connections – Mother Daughter Travel Adventures

by Kelly Amabile on

Today we kick off our next One for the Road weekly theme: a celebration of moms on the move! All our recommendations for the coming week will be books that explore ways in which motherhood and travel intersect. Maybe you’ll even discover a gift idea for your own mom. You’ve got plenty of time — Mother’s Day is still a full week away!

Our first suggestion is an award-winning anthology edited by Wendy Knight. Making Connections: Mother Daughter Travel Adventures is a collection of essays that looks at the mother-daughter relationship through the lens of travel and outdoor adventures. The book is more than just a bunch of stories about mother-daughter trips. Essays written by authors such as Marry Morris, Susan Spano and Ariel Gore explore the complex issues that make up mother-daughter dynamics, creatively weaving tough topics with touching travel tales. The book was awarded a 2003 Lowell Thomas Award for Best Travel Book by the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation.

We’re still finalizing this week’s mom-inspired travel book suggestions, so if you have a title recommendation related to this theme please leave a comment below and let us know. Thanks!

One for the Road: Take a Hike New York City

by Kelly Amabile on

Of all the books I’ve mentioned during this week’s I Love New York series, this is the one I’ve enjoyed using the most, but not nearly as much as I’d like to. There’s really no good excuse, but I’ll blame it on winter weather.

All the suggested hikes featured in Moon’s Take a Hike New York City are located within two hours of Manhattan by bus, train or car. Skip Card has gathered a great selection of hiking options that stretch out in all directions: Fire Island’s Otis Pike Wilderness, the Staten Island Blue Trail, the Shawangunks in Ulster County, and thirteen sections of the New York Appalachian Trail. There are also 15 New Jersey hikes and suggested walks in Central Park, the Botanical Garden’s Native Forest and Jamaica Bay’s Wildlife Refuge.

The handy cross-reference section highlights the best hikes for kids and those with interests like bird-watching, geology and history. I used this book to navigate four hikes last fall — two near Ringwood in western New Jersey, and two in the western Hudson region. I agree with Card’s pick of the Norvin Green Crest Loop as one of the best for variety and high peaks. His description of the Ringwood Manor Loop provides a nice overview of the estate’s history. And all the other entries offer more of the same, including clear directions for finding trail heads and those all-important hints for picking the best lunchtime pit-stops.

One for the Road: Dorothy Parker’s New York

by Kelly Amabile on

The ArtPlace Series from Roaring Forties Press is one of my all-time favorites. The concept is fantastic — each book describes the life of an artist (or group of artists) as it relates to the city that he/she/they lived in. The possibilities are endless, and in New York alone I’m sure a whole sub-series of titles could be created.

The one they have published for NYC is a real winner: A Journey into Dorothy Parker’s New York is a unique guide that explores over 100 locations associated with the famous poet, drama critic and political activist. Written by Kevin C. Fitzpatrick, founder of the Dorothy Parker Society, the book takes travelers on a thorough and well-documented tour of the places where she lived and worked. Readers can use the five maps and 150 illustrations to trace the footsteps of this celebrated writer and founding member of the Algonquin Round Table.

Fitzpatrick conducts occasional literary walking tours in NYC that explore the haunts and homes of Parker and other members of the Algonquin Round Table. The next one is coming up on May 13. And this June marks the 40th anniversary of Parker’s death — a special celebration at the Algonquin Hotel is planned for August 22. Sign up for the Society’s newsletter to receive more info about that and other upcoming events.

One for the Road: Hidden New York

by Kelly Amabile on

Today’s New York book recommendation is for travelers in search of a more organic approach to exploring the city. This collection of 32 “Places That Matter” (and their offshoot “sister sights”) offers visitors a unique cultural perspective on the five boroughs. Hidden New York is the result of collaboration between folklorists and city historians, wishing to tell the story of NYC’s secret spots and distinctive communities.

Here’s an example of what sets this guide apart from the rest: While yesterday’s book suggestion offers travelers specifics on shops to visit in the Flower District, Hidden New York offers up a deeper look, including a 10-page history of the bustling W. 28th St. market and interviews with shop owners about the future of Manhattan’s wholesale flower business. They provide similar backstory for each of their 32 featured “destinations.”

The authors encourage visitors to explore the lore of subway art, wooden water towers and historic public spaces like Union Square and Grant’s Tomb. Unique communities where bird-watchers, fishing fans and chess aficionados can gather are also highlighted, underscoring the book’s theme of showcasing “where people and place intersect.”

This is a book that even locals will love and learn from — I can’t imagine that every New Yorker already knows about the Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken in Chinatown?! Hidden New York is a guide to be used again and again, by natives and those just passing through. The authors invite readers to visit and re-visit these landmarks, to engage with these sacred sights and gain insight on the importance of cultural conservation to ensure these traditions and spaces survive.