A Hand Picked Selection of Travel Books, Maps and Travel Gear
I spent my first 12 years in the travel business running a travel specialty store. That may make me a bit biased, but I believe that nothing contributes more to an enjoyable, memorable trip than being well-prepared. To help make your trip go smoothly, I've put together a collection of my favorite books, maps and travel gear. Everything on here has been road tested.
Travel Gear
Having the right gear is number one in planning any trip. You don't want to be weighed down with a lot of fluff stuff that looks good on the shelf, but is utterly useless on the road.
Pre-Trip Reads
You don't need to take a college course in Western Civilization, but knowing something about the history and culture of a place before your visit helps you absorb and understand what you see when you get there. Here you'll find my recommendations for the best books — fiction and non-fiction — that give a sense of history and spirit of place. A lot of these are just plain good reads, even if you're not headed to Europe.
Guides & Maps
Despite the internet, Google maps, and handheld GPS units, I still find that a good guide book and a folding map are essential. I especially like the laminated maps available for many of the larger cities. Planning ahead ahead, far from tying you down, actually frees you to be more spontaneous. If you know your options, you're free to change at any time.
Movies to Watch
So maybe nothing in the Pre-trip Reads section grabs your interest, or you just don't have time to read more than a book or two before your trip. Set aside a weekend, make bowl of popcorn, sit back and immerse yourself in these movies.
Good gear and good Information, plus patience and an open mind will equal a happy trip. I can't help you with the patience and open mind, but our on-line store has everything else.
If you have a favorite book, movie or travel gadget that you'd like to add to the list, let me know about it.
I spent my first 12 years in the travel business running a travel specialty store. That may make me a bit biased, but I believe that nothing contributes more to an enjoyable, memorable trip than being well-prepared. To help make your trip go smoothly, I've put together a collection of my favorite books, maps and travel gear. Everything on here has been road tested.
Travel Gear
Having the right gear is number one in planning any trip. You don't want to be weighed down with a lot of fluff stuff that looks good on the shelf, but is utterly useless on the road.
Pre-Trip Reads
You don't need to take a college course in Western Civilization, but knowing something about the history and culture of a place before your visit helps you absorb and understand what you see when you get there. Here you'll find my recommendations for the best books — fiction and non-fiction — that give a sense of history and spirit of place. A lot of these are just plain good reads, even if you're not headed to Europe.
Guides & Maps
Despite the internet, Google maps, and handheld GPS units, I still find that a good guide book and a folding map are essential. I especially like the laminated maps available for many of the larger cities. Planning ahead ahead, far from tying you down, actually frees you to be more spontaneous. If you know your options, you're free to change at any time.
Movies to Watch
So maybe nothing in the Pre-trip Reads section grabs your interest, or you just don't have time to read more than a book or two before your trip. Set aside a weekend, make bowl of popcorn, sit back and immerse yourself in these movies.
Good gear and good Information, plus patience and an open mind will equal a happy trip. I can't help you with the patience and open mind, but our on-line store has everything else.
If you have a favorite book, movie or travel gadget that you'd like to add to the list, let me know about it.
