Go-to books to help you plan great getaways
Published 1:27 pm Friday, July 12, 2013
Sure, there are apps, websites and Facebook posts from all your friends to help you decide where to go and what to do on your next trip.
But there’s still a place in travel for the old-fashioned book, from lavishly illustrated hardcovers to information-packed guides.
Here are a few to inspire you and practical advice to help you plan.
Lonely Planet’s “Best Trips” series, which includes first-ever editions for Italy, Ireland and France ($25 each), along with fully updated second editions for California, New England and the Pacific Northwest ($23 each).
Each book includes about three dozen itineraries for road trips, maps and detailed directions, classic trips with well-known destinations and ideas for detours to local spots.
Travel + Leisure’s “100 Greatest Trips” ($35). This collection of stories from the magazine and its international editions features memorable destinations from exotic locales like Zanzibar to driving itineraries in Florida and Texas.
Other stories include shopping in Brooklyn, N.Y., a beach escape in Mozambique, arts and culture in Milan, outdoor adventures in Costa Rica, and culinary tours of Hawaii, Paris, Singapore and Tasmania.
“500+ All-American Family Adventures” by Debbie K. Hardin ($25). The book is designed to help families plan vacations and day trips that are both educational and entertaining, all centered around the American experience.
The book has a chapter on every state plus Washington D.C., with listings that range from natural parks like Zion in Utah or Denali in Alaska, to fun activities like surfing in Hawaii or visiting Coney Island in New York.
Also featured are numerous historic sites and museums, from Lincoln’s birthplace in Hodgenville, Ky., to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Okla.
“The Yellow Book: CDC Health Information for International Travel, 2014” ($47.50). For travelers and others in need authoritative information on staying healthy around the world, with up-to-date advice and recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
The book lists vaccines recommended by country, along with diseas prevention strategies, where to find health care abroad, and coping with common problems like diarrhea, jet lag, insect bites, sunburn and altitude sickness.
