A Walk in the Woods


Book Description

God only knows what possessed Bill Bryson, a reluctant adventurer if ever there was one, to undertake a gruelling hike along the world's longest continuous footpath—The Appalachian Trail. The 2,000-plus-mile trail winds through 14 states, stretching along the east coast of the United States, from Georgia to Maine. It snakes through some of the wildest and most spectacular landscapes in North America, as well as through some of its most poverty-stricken and primitive backwoods areas. With his offbeat sensibility, his eye for the absurd, and his laugh-out-loud sense of humour, Bryson recounts his confrontations with nature at its most uncompromising over his five-month journey. An instant classic, riotously funny, A Walk in the Woods will add a whole new audience to the legions of Bill Bryson fans.




Walking Brooklyn


Book Description

Adrienne Onofri has created an exceptional guide to and through Brooklyn’s most interesting and notable neighborhoods, providing a mix of information about culture, history, architecture, places to eat, venues to visit, and more. From a walk through the Russian-influenced Brighton Beach, to the expansive Prospect Park, and out to Red Hook, Walking Brooklyn reveals the many layers and sites of Manhattan’s lesser-known neighbor. This two-color book features 30 routes, a clear neighborhood map for each walk, black-and-white photographs, and critical public transportation information for every trip. Route summaries make each walk easy to follow, and a “Points of Interest” section outlines each walk’s highlights.




The Trees of San Francisco


Book Description

Mike Sullivan loves his adopted city of San Francisco, and he loves trees. In The Trees of San Francisco he has combined his passions, offering a striking and handy compendium of botanical information, historical tidbits, cultivation hints, and more. Sullivan's introduction details the history of trees in the city, a fairly recent phenomenon. The text then piques the reader's interest with discussions of 71 city trees. Each tree is illustrated with a photograph--with its common and scientific names prominently displayed--and its specific location within San Francisco, along with other sites; frequently a close-up shot of the tree is included. Sprinkled throughout are 13 sidelights relating to trees; among the topics are the city's wild parrots and the trees they love; an overview of the objectives of the Friends of the Urban Forest; and discussions about the link between Australia's trees and those in the city, such as the eucalyptus. The second part of the book gets the reader up and about, walking the city to see its trees. Full-page color maps accompany the seven detailed tours, outlining the routes; interesting factoids are interspersed throughout the directions. A two-page color map of San Francisco then highlights 25 selected neighborhoods ideal for viewing trees, leading into a checklist of the neighborhoods and their trees.




Todi Walking Tours


Book Description

This book is a walking-tour guide for English-speaking visitors, through an ancient hill town in central Italy. Todi sits majestically above the Tiber River in the region of Umbria, very near the exact geographic center of Italy in Umbria. This region, known widely as "the green heart of Italy" for its lush fields and majestic hills, lies midway between Florence and Rome. Todi, a prototypical Italian hill town, was founded over 2,500 years ago and has retained its historic beauty by being surrounded by a set of walls that has prevented any new construction and experienced almost no demolition for over 500 years. The guide offers four walking tours that allow the visitor to appreciate historic sites from the Etruscan era, through the Roman centuries, and into the Renaissance. Each walk can be done in a leisurely fashion with almost no distraction from noise or car traffic.




Walking Cincinnati


Book Description

Walking Cincinnati by Danny Korman and Katie Meyer is the first book in decades for local history fanatics and adventurers wanting a more hands-on approach to Cincinnati history and culture. This guide literally walks readers through the city's renowned historical, architectural, and culinary sites. The unique character comes alive through Walking Cincinnati's focus on human-interest, and gives the readers surprise after surprise in its 32 walks. Never before has such an extensive book been written that highlights not only the architecture, art, and food, but also touches upon Greater Cincinnati’s darker side. Tales and locations of crimes, hauntings, illegal casinos, mob bosses, and brothels will astonish readers and unveil secrets of the city that have long been overlooked by traditional local history books.




Walking Portland


Book Description

Get to Know Portland’s Vibrant and Historic Neighborhoods Grab your walking shoes, and become an urban adventurer. Local author Becky Ohlsen guides you through 33 unique walking tours in the city that’s famous for its great beer and for serious dining on a reasonable budget. Portland is home to hidden gardens, historic landmarks, award-winning restaurants, old-school taverns, oddball shops, and edgy warehouse galleries. Each self-guided tour includes full-color photographs, a map, and need-to-know details like distance, difficulty, points of interest, and more. Stroll past organic coffee shops that line the streets at the foot of an extinct volcano. Swing through an independent bookstore nestled against flavorful food-cart pods. Cross bridges and graveyards. Wander a Smithsonian-honored boulevard. See experiments in urban renewal. You’ll soak up history, stories, and trivia on your way to the best parks, shops, restaurants, and nightlife in Oregon. So find a route that appeals to you, and walk Portland!




Walking Albuquerque


Book Description

Explore the most interesting, scenic, and historic places in Albuquerque, New Mexico, via 30 self-guided walking tours. Basking in an average of 310 days of sunshine per year, Albuquerque is a welcoming environment that offers walkable landscapes ranging from its wilderness edge to its industrial core. Yet, given Burque’s history and massive sprawl, navigating it on foot requires some guidance from an expert. That’s where Walking Albuquerque by local author and explorer Stephen Ausherman comes in handy. With 30 routes mapped out in the valley, the heights, and beyond, this first-of-its-kind comprehensive guidebook covers the entire city and surrounding areas. Whether strolling down neon-bedazzled avenues, promenading through Victorian neighborhoods, exploring volcanic vistas, or wandering the wooded banks of the Rio Grande, each trek is an enlightening excursion into Albuquerque’s deep history and richly diverse culture. You can experience the local art scene, indulge in exotic cuisine, visit sacred places, and enjoy more open space than any other city in America—nearly 3,000 square feet of parkland per person. Inside you’ll find: 30 self-guided walking tours of the city National landmarks and famous filming locations Hidden treasures that even locals don’t often know about Architecture, trivia, and more If you’re looking for a quick workout, a full day’s entertainment, or something in between, Walking Albuquerque will get you there. You’ll feel as if you’re being led by your closest friend. So find a route that appeals to you, and walk Albuquerque!




Berkeley Walks


Book Description

Berkeley Walks celebrates the things that make Berkeley such a wonderful walking city—diverse architecture, panoramic views, tree-lined neighborhoods, historic homes, unusual gardens, secret pathways, hidden parks, vibrant street life, trend-setting restaurants, and intriguing history. Fascinating and surprising sidelights include the apartment building from which Patty Hearst was kidnapped; Ted Kaczynski’s home before he became the Unabomber; and the residences of Nobel laureates and literary Berkeleyans such as Thornton Wilder, Ann Rice, and Philip K. Dick. Bob Johnson and Janet Byron—longtime city residents and tour guides—designed these 18 walks to showcase the many elements that make Berkeley’s neighborhoods, shopping districts, and academic areas such fun to explore. Visitors will discover a vibrant community beyond the University of California campus borders, while locals will be surprised and delighted by the treasures in their own backyards. Highlights of the book include a focus on architects Joseph Esherick, John Galen Howard, Bernard Maybeck, Julia Morgan, James Plachek, Walter Ratcliff, Jr., and John Hudson Thomas, 100 archival and original photos, and 20 maps, including a map of Berkeley bookstores.