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Frommer's National Parks of the American West (Frommer's National Parks of the American West, 2nd ed) | 
 enlarge | Authors: Don Laine, Arthur Frommer, Barbara Laine, Geoffrey O'gara
Publisher: MacMillan Publishing Company.
Category: Book
List Price: $19.99
Buy Used: $0.97
You Save: $19.02 (95%)
New (2) Used (15) from $0.97
Avg. Customer Rating:  13 reviews
Sales Rank: 875747
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2nd
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 676
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.2
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.6
ISBN: 0028636201
Dewey Decimal Number: 917.80434
UPC: 021898636201
EAN: 9780028636207
ASIN: 0028636201
Publication Date: May 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
A park lover's must-have, the information provided in this behemoth of a book is almost as impressive as the redwoods that grace its cover. With a focus on helping visitors avoid the crowds, National Parks of the American West provides painstakingly researched details on more than 40 national parks, monuments, seashores, and preserves. Frommer's explains their intent in the introduction: "Our authors have talked to the rangers, hiked the trails, and taken the tours, all the while asking, 'How can our readers avoid the crowds?' In each of following chapters you'll find a section giving you straightforward, practical advice on just how to do this.... We've searched for secluded trails that can be hiked by the average person, scenic drives where you won't get caught in bumper-to-bumper traffic, and points where, with only a minimum of effort, you'll be afforded spectacular views without feeling as if you're packed into Times Square on New Year's Eve." There is probably not a question you have that this book doesn't answer: each park listing includes tips from park rangers, ideas especially for kids, excellent maps, entrance fee information, the best driving and walking tours, campground overviews, food and other lodging, contacts for activities and recreation, and interesting sidebars. --Kathryn True
Product Description
All the Details on 49 National Parks, Monuments, Preserves, and Seashores- The best strategies for seeing the parks—so you can make the most of your time and avoid the crowds
- Complete campground guides, from car-accessible campsites to backcountry spots—plus park lodges, gateway motels, and nearby B&Bs and inns
- Adventures for everyone: easy day hikes, backpacking trips, wildlife watching, guided mule and horseback rides, rafting trips, sea kayaking, and biking
- Where to eat and stock up on supplies, both in the parks and in gateway towns
- Everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip—plus detailed maps, advice for families traveling with kids, and more
Coverage of each and every park reviewed for accuracy by local National Park Service personnel. Frommer's. The Name You Can Trust.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 8 more reviews...
 Always A Good Bet September 24, 2008
Frommer's is synonymous with good guide books for whereever you want to travel, and if you are looking for a good book about the parks this is worth picking up. Replete with directions and suggestions of where to go, what to see and how to plan what you would like to see based on the length of your visit, it is pretty well covered. Some things change, particularly prices and some places mentioned, so if you have a chance to make a couple of calls ahead of time it is a good idea to double check these things and hours of operation, but still an impressive overall book.
 Comprehensive, a little dull February 29, 2008
This guide gives comprehensive information and covers all National Parks in the Western United States. Details are given on possible routes, campground locations and even their facilities. However, information is given in a rather boring way, and people searching for nice pictures should definitely look for another title. The photos on front and back cover are the only pictures found in this guide.
The parks are listed alphabetically, which helps finding your information fast.
A Great Choice! August 3, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a pretty hefty book! And it's a great thing to have. I've utilized the book in planning and visiting 15+ parks/sites and don't have any huge complaints about it.
The only things I can think of is that the maps are no different - except smaller and less convenient to use - than the ones they give you when you enter the parks. Maps of the surrounding areas would have been more helpful. I also find I use a lot of post-its and folding down of pages to figure out where I am in the book as it's a pretty bare-bones newsprint-type kind of a guide . There are also no pictures, but that's OK with me - not for some maybe, but like I said, it's kind of no-frills design-wise. My biggest problem is that it is not a comprehensive guide to all of the US parks . . . I'm not sure how many parks are not considered "of the West," but I don't think it's that many. Since I haven't been able to find this same guide/Frommer's for those parks considered "of the East." Also, even though the guide is about the US, a small section about traveling to Banff/Jasper in Alberta would have been appreciated as it is convenient to visit when seeing US sights like Glacier, Yellowstone, etc since it's kind of on the same route.
I like that they're pretty straight forward about what to do and how to do it if you have limited time and list the types of accommodations in the parks. Additionally, I appreciate being able to read about the history of the parks and sites. I'd say, along with a National Parks Pass ($80 from www.nps.gov), this book is the 2nd best thing to take with you on your next trip!
 A good road trip guide. January 5, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this book in order to have an informational book about all the National Parks along my road trip from Seattle to San Diego. I have used several guide books and mostly purchase hiking, camping, climbing and fishing books. This was a guide book like those I purchase for international travel and I felt that it served it's purpose well. It gave me the basic rundown on each park, the highlights and where all the important sights were, which is perfect for roadside National Park visiting. It includes maps (although not detailed if you want to do more extensive hiking), lists of campgrounds, some highlight hikes and locations, places to stay and some extra stuff around the park (i.e. towns, eating, hotels).
It seemed to be just enough to get us by and the only time I wished there was more was when I wanted to do backcountry hiking/camping but that isn't something you get in an all around National Park book unless you want it to to be 1,000 pages long with topo maps to boot! I suggest going to the Visitor Centers for more indepth information, park maps and hiking information. The centers are always great resources, along with the roadside and trailside signs, you just have to take the time to read when you are interested.
Perfect for a roadtrip June 29, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I bought this along with some other park books for a 2 week roadtrip I recently took. It was by far the most useful of the guidebooks I bought. If you are going to one specific park buy books specific to it, but if you are roadtripping and plan on visiting a few, it is far easier to get this book and not have to hassle with a car full of books. Frommer's guidebooks are by no means the best guides every written, but they are quite adequate. The information was pertinent and useful. 3.5 stars for the quality of the content (uninspired but useful), 5 stars for convenience. 4.25 stars overall.
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