- Table View
- List View
Rick Steves Provence & the French Riviera (Rick Steves Travel Guide)
by Rick Steves Steve SmithNow more than ever, you can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling through Provence and the French Riviera. Stroll breathtaking coastlines, explore Roman ruins, and soak up some sun in the South of France! Inside Rick Steves Provence & the French Riviera you'll find:Fully updated, comprehensive coverage for spending a week or more exploring Provence and the Riviera Rick's strategic advice on how to get the most out of your time and money, with rankings of his must-see favorites Top sights and hidden gems, from the Pont du Gard aqueduct and Impressionist masterpieces to warm stone villages and cozy wineries How to connect with local culture: Relax at a waterfront café, dive into a bowl of bouillabaisse, and watch fishermen sail back to the harbor Beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist traps with Rick's candid, humorous insight The best places to eat, sleep, and relax over a glass of Provençal wine Self-guided walking tours of lively neighborhoods and incredible museums Detailed maps for exploring on the go Over 500 bible-thin pages include everything worth seeing without weighing you down Complete coverage of Arles, Avignon, the Côtes du Rhône, the Luberon, Marseille, Nice, Monaco, Antibes, the Inland Riviera, and more Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Provence & the French Riviera. Exploring more? Try Rick Steves France for comprehensive coverage, detailed itineraries, and essential information for planning a countrywide trip.
The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia (Penguin Modern Classics Ser.)
by Paul TherouxThe acclaimed author recounts his epic journey across Europe and Asia in this international bestselling classic of travel literature: &“Compulsive reading&” (Graham Greene). In 1973, Paul Theroux embarked on a four-month journey by train from the United Kingdom through Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. In The Great Railway Bazaar, he records in vivid detail and penetrating insight the many fascinating incidents, adventures, and encounters of his grand, intercontinental tour. Asia's fabled trains—the Orient Express, the Khyber Pass Local, the Frontier Mail, the Golden Arrow to Kuala Lumpur, the Mandalay Express, the Trans-Siberian Express—are the stars of a journey that takes Theroux on a loop eastbound from London's Victoria Station to Tokyo Central, then back from Japan on the Trans-Siberian. Brimming with Theroux's signature humor and wry observations, this engrossing chronicle is essential reading for both the ardent adventurer and the armchair traveler.
Steep Trails
by John MuirConsidered one of the patron saints of twentieth-century environmental activity, John Muir's appeal to modern readers is that he not only explored the American West but also fought for its preservation. Steep Trails collects together his essays and letters written as he traveled through the West, capturing the personal, heartfelt connection he had with the lands he roamed. His work takes the reader through the mountains and valleys of California, over the Cascades and the Wasatch Ranges, through Puget Sound and the forests of Washington and Oregon, and to the breathtaking Grand Canyon of Arizona. Muir’s writing intimately connects the reader to the heart of nature; as the world increasingly tries to reconnect with the earth, Steep Trails offers the funny, charming, educational, and exalted wanderings of John Muir over nearly three decades of his life.
Who Goes There: Travels Through Strangest Britain In Search Of The Doctor
by Nick GriffithsThe author of Dalek I Loved You charts his travels through England and Wales tracking down locations used in Doctor Who, both classic and new. Being an odd kind of show, Doctor Who&’s locations too are odd. This is no glamorous trip. Dungeness Nuclear Power Station, anyone? A flooded china clay pit in Cornwall? As he travels, so Nick Griffiths discovers another side to his well-trodden country, which is no less evocative. Then he goes to the pub. As in his previous memoir Dalek I Loved You, the travel writing is backed up by Nick&’s childhood reminiscences and contemporary musings. A companion website offers photographs from the trip, a Google map of the locations, and details of the nearest pub. In this innovative way, readers are invited to follow in his footsteps. Who Goes There isn&’t just for Who fans, it&’s a very funny book for anyone who fancies a trip off the beaten path. Praise for Dalek I Loved You &“A very funny book for anyone who grew up wearing Tom Baker underpants. I know I did.&”—David Tennant &“An unadulterated nostalgia-fest written with fun, wit and love.&”—Doctor Who Magazine &“He conjures up just how mind-blowing it was for an ordinary suburban kid to be transported to a realm of danger and rampant sci-fi imaginings.&”—Financial Times &“If I am getting carried away, it is the fault of Griffiths&’s awfully charming memoir of boyhood and Doctor Who, with its deft evocations of eight-year-old invincibility and embarrassing school discos as well as arguments about Cybermen vs Autons or Jon Pertwee vs Tom Baker. Griffiths&’s chatty, self-deprecating style is disarming.&”—The Guardian
Riding the Rails with Paul Theroux: The Great Railway Bazaar, The Old Patagonian Express, and Ghost Train to the Eastern Star
by Paul TherouxThe international bestselling author records his many insights and adventures traversing the world by train in these 3 classic travel memoirs. The Great Railway Bazaar In 1973, Paul Theroux embarked on his now-legendary journey from the United Kingdom through Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Asia's fabled trains—the Orient Express, the Khyber Pass Local, the Frontier Mail, the Golden Arrow to Kuala Lumpur, the Mandalay Express, the Trans-Siberian Express—are the stars of a journey that takes Theroux on a loop eastbound from London's Victoria Station to Tokyo Central, then back from Japan on the Trans-Siberian. The Old Patagonia Express Starting with a rush-hour subway ride to South Station in Boston to catch the Lake Shore Limited to Chicago, Paul Theroux takes a grand railway adventure first across the United States and then south through Mexico, Central America, and across the Andes until he winds up on the meandering Old Patagonian Express steam engine. Ghost Train to the Eastern Star Thirty years after the epic journey chronicled in The Great Railway Bazaar, Paul Theroux retraces his 25,000-mile journey to witness and experience a landscape drastically transformed by the intervening decades. The Soviet Union has collapsed and China has risen; India booms while Burma smothers under dictatorship; Vietnam flourishes in the aftermath of the havoc America was unleashing on it the last time Theroux passed through.
Eerie Florida: Chilling Tales from the Panhandle to the Keys (American Legends)
by Mark Muncy Kari SchultzThe author of Freaky Florida shares a unique guide to the state&’s strangest attractions—from Florida Bigfoot to lost cemeteries, UFO sightings and more. Most people know Florida as the land of endless sunny beaches, Disney World, and NASA shuttle launches. But the state is also home to many hidden mysteries, eerie legends, and tales of bizarre creatures. In Eerie Florida, author Mark Muncy and photographer Kari Schultz provide a unique guide to these truly unique sites across the Sunshine State. The Everglades is home to the elusive Skunk Ape—also known as Florida Bigfoot—a strange bipedal creature recognized by its odor. An uncanny doll reputed to have a life of its own greets visitors in a Florida Keys museum. An ancient monster is reported to roam the rivers in the northeast corners of the state, and in South Florida, a man built Coral Castle—also known as America's Stonehenge—via mysterious means. Join Mark Muncy and Kari Schultz as they uncover the history behind the state's creepiest stories and unusual locations.
Haunted Hills: Ghosts and Legends of Highlands and Cashiers, North Carolina (Haunted America)
by Stephanie Burt WilliamsThe author of Wicked Charlotte roots out the spirited secrets of two small towns deep in the Appalachian Mountains. When the sun slips behind the trees and shadows lengthen near dusk, the mountains and valleys of Highlands and Cashiers whisper their tales of lost loves, deals gone bad, and ghosts who walk the night. This tourist destination is rich in folklore and legend—from rumors of a magical mountain volcano to the ghost of a white owl. Learn the stories and firsthand accounts of hauntings and the hard to explain. Listen to the voices winding through the hemlocks, or is it just the wind? Includes photos!
A History Lover's Guide to Dallas (History And Guide Ser.)
by Georgette DriscollFrom the 19th century to today, a guide through the historic Dallas, Texas, and its culture, parks, and sports. Don't let the drawl fool you—Dallas boasts a dynamic history full of explosive growth. The cityscape itself seems eager to measure up to the outsized personalities that forged the town's identity. A sixty-seven-and-a-half-foot-tall giraffe statue greets visitors to the Dallas Zoo, while guests exiting the Joule Hotel encounter the gaze of a thirty-foot eyeball. A colossal Pegasus glows above it all from its perch on top of the Magnolia Petroleum building. Subtler storylines also thread their way through the forest of glass and steel, from the jazz of Deep Ellum alleyways to the peaceful paths of the Katy Trail. Author Georgette Driscoll looks beyond the inscriptions for the events that shaped Dallas into the city it is today.
Haunted Hotels of the California Gold Country (Haunted America)
by Nancy K WilliamsIn this historic region of northern California, there are hotels where some guests never checked out—even after death . . . Step across the threshold of a haunted hotel in California&’s renowned Gold Country and encounter phantom figures of yesteryear. Wispy apparitions of gentleman guests in Victorian coats and ladies in fashionable flapper gowns glide through the walls, while unexplained sobs and choking gasps disturb the night. There&’s Stan, the Cary House&’s eternal desk clerk, and bachelor ghost Lyle, who tidies the Groveland Hotel. Flo tosses pots and pans in the National&’s kitchen, while the once-scorned spirit of Isabella ties the Sierra Nevada House&’s curtains in knots. From suicidal gamblers to murdered miners, the Mother Lode&’s one-time boomtowns are crowded with characters of centuries past. Book your stay with author Nancy Williams as she explores the history and haunts of the Gold Country&’s iconic hotels. Includes photos!
The Potomac River: A History & Guide (History And Guide Ser.)
by Garrett PeckThe story of the Potomac is the story of America—take a historic hike with this fascinating guide. The great Potomac River begins in the Alleghenies and flows 383 miles through some of America's most historic lands before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay. The course of the river drove the development of the region and the path of a young republic. Maryland's first Catholic settlers came to its banks in 1634 and George Washington helped settle the new capital on its shores. During the Civil War the river divided North and South, and it witnessed John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry and the bloody Battle of Antietam. In this book, Garrett Peck leads readers on a journey down the Potomac, from its first fount at Fairfax Stone in West Virginia to its mouth at Point Lookout in Maryland. Combining history with recreation, Peck has written an indispensible guide to the nation's river.
The American Revolution on Long Island (Military)
by Dr. Joanne S GrassoA history of the Revolutionary War and British occupation in this part of New York, from the Culper spy ring to the prison ships where thousands died. The American Revolution sharply divided families and towns on New York&’s Long Island. Washington's defeat at the Battle of Long Island in August 1776 started seven years of British occupation—and Patriot sympathizers were subject to loyalty oaths, theft of property, and the quartering of soldiers in their homes. Those who crossed the British were jailed on prison ships in Wallabout Bay in Brooklyn, where an estimated eleven thousand people died of disease and starvation. Some fought back with acts of sabotage and espionage—and Washington&’s famed Culper spy ring in Oyster Bay, Setauket, and other areas successfully tracked British movements. In this book, historian Joanne S. Grasso explores the story of an island at war.
Haunted Lansing (Haunted America)
by Jenn CarpenterA tour guide for Demented Mitten Tours shares chilling supernatural tales from the history of Michigan&’s capital. Hastily dubbed the new capital in 1847, Lansing overcame derision and setbacks to become a booming metropolis. Yet its rich history hides chilling legends… Bertie Clippinger plays tricks on the unwary at the Capitol Building, where the teen accidentally fell to his death when a game went horribly wrong. One of Lansing's founding families keeps a spectral vigil over its homestead, the Turner Dodge House. Malevolent spirits stalk the derelict Michigan School for the Blind. A witch's vengeful curse follows those who trespass on Seven Gables Road, one of the state's most haunted stretches. Founder of Demented Mitten Tours and local author Jenn Carpenter leads readers to the dark side of the Capital City.
Milwaukee Ghosts and Legends (Haunted America)
by Anna LardinoisA tour guide and founder of Gothic Milwaukee shares the spine-tingling tales of the Beer City's famous, and not so famous, specters and legends. Beneath Milwaukee's calm façade, its ghastly past awaits. The overbearing spirit of Frederick Pabst keeps persistent watch over the mansion that shares his name. The remains of the Newhall House Fire, the city's deadliest disaster, may lie beneath a new building, but those who lost their lives that night refuse to rest in peace. Even the suburbs hold their share of ghoulish secrets, including the furtive dwarves of Haunchyville, the fabled Bray Road Beast and the stubborn spirits lurking in Deacon West's house. &“A breeze—a spine-tingling breeze—to read. It's extremely well crafted, organized into deliciously digestible segments and laden with descriptive yet straight-forward language. Lardinois stocks the stories with so many peculiar historical tidbits that the text is simultaneously scary, fascinating and educational. (Did you know the ashes of the founder of The Skylight Theater are still beneath the stage?)&” —OnMilwaukee.com
Hidden History of New Hampshire (Hidden History)
by D. Quincy WhitneyA collection of colorful stories about some of New Hampshire&’s most notable newsmakers and remarkable historic events. Includes photos. Hidden in the cracks and crevices of the Granite State are the stories of pioneers who pursued their passions, creating legacies along the way. Compiled by a Smithsonian researcher and former Boston Globe contributor, this treasury includes tales of: the mountain man who became an innkeeperthe &“Bird Man&” who took his passion to the White Housethe gentleman who ascended the highest peak in the Northeast in a steam-powered locomobilethe story of one skier&’s dramatic win at the 1939 &“American Inferno&” Mount Washington racethe Shaker Meetinghouse, built in just one day, in complete silencethe gallant efforts to save the Old Man of the Mountainand much more
Hidden History of Milwaukee (Hidden History)
by Robert TanziloJoin a local history expert for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Milwaukee&’s incredible past. Sail out to the Breakwater Lighthouse, scramble up the wings of the Milwaukee Art Museum, and dig up the city&’s roots on the corner of Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Seize the chance to do a little urban spelunking and explore basilicas, burial grounds, and breweries. Ring the bell in the city hall tower, and take a turn around the secret indoor track at a Montessori school. No space is off limits in these untold stories of the Cream City's most familiar places and celebrated landmarks, from Bobby Tanzilo of the popular OnMilwaukee website. Includes photos!
Hidden History of Memphis (Hidden History)
by G. Wayne DowdyA tour of the Tennessee city filled with famous faces, fascinating trivia, and forgotten lore—plus a former mayor&’s previously unpublished private papers. Step inside the fascinating annals of the Bluff City's history and discover the Memphis that only few know. G. Wayne Dowdy, longtime archivist for the Memphis Public Library, examines the history and culture of the Mid-South during its most important decades. Well-known faces like Clarence Saunders, Elvis Presley, and W.C. Handy are joined by some of the more obscure characters from the past, like the Memphis gangster who inspired one of William Faulkner's most famous novels; the local Boy Scout who captured German spies during World War I; the Memphis radio station that pioneered wireless broadcasting; and so many more. Also included are the previously unpublished private papers and correspondence of former mayor E.H. Crump, giving us new insight and a front-row seat to the machine that shaped Tennessee politics in the twentieth century. Includes photos
A History Lover's Guide to Albuquerque
by Roger M. ZimmermanA landmark-by-landmark tour of New Mexico&’s largest city, with photos and facts on its fascinating past. This tour of Albuquerque, New Mexico, goes beyond the traditional guidebook to offer a historical journal detailing an area rich with diverse cultures and dramatic events. The journey through time starts with the settlement of Native Americans in pueblos along the Rio Grande and then initiatives by Spain to settle and convert the region. Visit Old Town Plaza, where trade from the El Camino Real and Santa Fe Trails flourished. Look around lesser-known sites, including railroad depot facilities, major military landmarks and nostalgic Route 66. Join local history expert Roger Zimmerman as he carefully curates an expedition through each era of Albuquerque&’s history and its most beloved sites
Haunted Plano, Texas (Haunted America)
by Mary JacobsFrom goat men to witch ladies and spooky little girls, dive into the haunted history of Plano, Texas. Plano's old homes and businesses are rife with haunted history. Explore eerie urban legends like the Goat Man, the Clown Threat, and Ranch 111, where devil worshipers performed their rituals. The Evaporating Apparition spooked the staff at the Art Centre Theatre, while the grumpy spirit of an old rancher stalks the Masonic Lodge. Some specters are harmless, such as the Giggling Ghost, a little girl in the Cox Building with a penchant for peanut butter and pranks. Other figures own a more sinister reputation. The Witch Lady of Plano was feared by city youth and monitored by the FBI. Mary Jacobs examines the ghostly fallout of Plano's darkest moments, from the smallpox epidemic to the gruesome Muncey family murders.
Connecticut Ghost Stories and Legends (Haunted America)
by Thomas D'Agostino Arlene NicholsonThe collaborators of A Guide to Haunted New England track the spirits of the &“Constitution State&” through its storied history. The emerald sheen illuminating the Sabbatarian burying ground, 8 Mile River&’s misty figures which emerge at the Devil&’s Hopyard, and flying demon skeletons on Charles Island—these bizarre haunts are uniquely Connecticut. In the ghostly lore of the state, the ambient ramblings of the Leatherman still ring out in the caves of Harwinton&’s forests and the former residents of the Hale Homestead continue to roam the attic at night. Join authors and Paranormal United Research Founders, Thomas D&’Agostino and his wife Arlene Nicholson, as they recount bone chilling mysteries from Putnam, Canton, New London and many more shadowy corners of the Nutmeg state. Includes photos! Praise for A Guide to Haunted New England &“Fun, charming . . . includes not only locales with reported ghosts, but also sites with macabre (though not haunted) histories.&”—True Crime Librarian &“Anyone interested in exploring the haunted, macabre and abandoned throughout New England knows they can count on D&’Agostino to find out more about the site&’s history, past sightings and how to find them.&”—Mobile RVing
Ghosts and Legends of Alcatraz (Haunted America)
by Bob Davis Brian CluneA pair of paranormal investigators share the supernatural stories surrounding the legendary California island prison. Alcatraz is one of the most infamous prisons in the world. Evil spirits, unknown beasts, vicious murderers and an untold number of ghosts all are said to reside on this tiny island in San Francisco Bay. Rufus McCain, who died a brutal death at the hands of a fellow inmate, is said to roam the grounds, and the basement cells used for solitary confinement were rumored to be so frightening that inmates who endured one stint never wanted to go back. Multiple escape attempts were thwarted, including two attempts by Sam Shockley, who was later executed with fellow inmate Miran Thompson. Join Bob Davis and Brian Clune as they explore chilling tales of death, murder and savagery from America's Devil's Island.
Hidden History of Cleveland (Hidden History)
by Christopher Busta-PeckDiscover the rich past and local landmarks of this uniquely American city—includes numerous photos. Too often, we think of history as something that happens elsewhere. In reality, it surrounds us—in our hometowns and everywhere we travel. In this book, local history preservationist Christopher Busta-Peck unearths fascinating and forgotten aspects of Cleveland, Ohio&’s past. Take a trip down East 100th Street to the home where Jesse Owens lived when he shocked the world at the 1936 Olympics. Ascend the stairs to Langston Hughes&’s attic apartment on East 86th, where the influential writer lived alone during his formative sophomore and junior years of high school. From the massive Brown Hoist Building and the Hulett ore unloaders to some of the oldest surviving structures in Cleveland, Busta-Peck, of the wildly popular Cleveland Area History blog, has Clevelanders and visitors rediscovering the city&’s compelling past.
Hidden History of Staten Island (Hidden History)
by Maureen Seaberg Theresa AnarumoTake the ferry to this New York City borough and discover its colorful secrets, in a quirky history packed with facts and photos. Staten Island has a rich and fascinating cultural legacy that few people outside New York City's greenest borough know about. Chewing gum was invented on the island with the help of Mexican general Antonio López de Santa Anna. Country music legend Roy Clark got his start as a virtuoso guitar player on the Staten Island Ferry. Anna Leonowens, who worked with the king's children in the Court of Siam and was the basis for The King and I, came back to Staten Island to write about her experiences and run a school for children. Join native Staten Islanders Theresa Anarumo and Maureen Seaberg as they document the hidden history of the borough with these stories, and many more
Hidden History of the Florida Keys (Hidden History)
by Jerry Wilkinson Laura Albritton&“Seldom-told tales of the &‘lively and unusual cast of historic figures&’ who helped shape the Florida Keys from the 1820s through the 1960s.&”—Keys News The Florida Keys have witnessed all kinds of historical events, from the dramatic and the outrageous to the tragic and the comic. In the nineteenth century, uncompromising individuals fought duels and plotted political upsets. During the Civil War, a company of &“Key West Avengers&” escaped their Union-occupied city to join the Confederacy by sailing through the Bahamas. In the early twentieth century, black Bahamians founded a town of their own, while railway engineers went up against the U.S. Navy in a bid to complete the Overseas Railroad. When Prohibition came to the Keys, one defiant woman established a rum-running empire that dominated South Florida. Join Laura Albritton and Jerry Wilkinson as they delve into tales of treasure hunters, developers, exotic dancers, determined preservationists and more, from the colorful history of these islands.Includes photos
Palm Springs Paradise: Vintage Photographs from America's Desert Playground
by Peter MoruzziThis book collects more than two hundred fascinating and rarely seen historical photographs of Palm Springs, newly digitized from the Palm Springs Historical Society's expansive archive. Featured are many Hollywood celebrities, including Sinatra and the Rat Pack, who vacationed there, the early days of the desert paradise, various architectural masterworks, such as the fabulous El Mirador Hotel and the extraordinary, outrageous, and irreverent people of Palm Springs.
Havana Before Castro: When Cuba Was a Tropical Playground
by Peter MoruzziTake a trip to the golden age of Havana in this gorgeously illustrated volume of vintage photographs, postcards, brochures, and other ephemera. Featuring hundreds of historic images and cultural artifacts, Havana Before Castro documents how the Cuban capital evolved from a Prohibition Era getaway destination to a heady blend of glittering nightclubs, outrageous cabarets, all-night bars, and backstreet brothels. Here, captured in one amazing book, is the drama, passion, intrigue, and opulence of a legendary city during its heyday—before the Castro regime took over and Americans were banned from travel to this tropical paradise. In chapters covering such topics as Cuban rum and cigars, the world-famous Tropicana Club, and Havana&’s association with the mob, author Peter Moruzzi provides essential historical context for the many fascinating and evocative images.