popsrocks's Full Review: Patricia Schultz - 1,000 Places to See Before You ...
I have been able to do some traveling in my life. I've done more than some and not nearly as much as others.
I have, however, been fortunate to see some places that I feel everyone should get to see at least once in their lifetime.
Recently I was given a book that covers both the major destinations of the world and also those small, out of the way places, that everybody should take the time to visit.
As of this time I an an advisor in Travel and Restaurants and a Top Reviewer in Travel. This book happens to be the perfect gift for me.
Update April 2007
There is now a TV show with this title 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and shows incredibly beautiful places mentioned in the book but not pictured. Good Stuff!
The complete title on the front of the book is On and Off the Beaten Track, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. I do make a note of places I would like to see while still hanging around this planet Earth. I liked the idea of the title in that I too have said to people, "You must go here or there in this lifetime."
MY TRUST IN THIS BOOK
One of the ways I know I can trust a travel book is to read about places I've already been and compare the authors description versus my experiences of the same destination.
If we view the places in much the same way, then I know I can trust the writer to inform me of new places with the same interest and feelings of which I can relate.
Once I opened the book I looked up a few places that are on my all time list. National Parks are among the noted. I read the authors opinions and details of three of the many National Parks that I have visited, Acadia, Mesa Verde, and Crater Lake National Parks. I have visited Acadia National Park at least 16-18 times. The descriptions were perfect. The author gave a bit of history of the area, some geographic details, unique places to see, and an overall feel of the place. The author described it as I know it.
A few others places came to mind with which to compare. I've been to Disney World a number of times and it was noted as one of the 1,0000 places to visit, as were lesser known areas like the Hudson Valley and Hamptons of Long Island that I live fairly close to. I also read the author's paragraphs dedicated to the Cotswolds of England and the Tuscan Hills of Italy and many islands of the Caribbean of which I am familiar.
The author time and again described the places as I know and experienced them.
This in turn helps me to trust the visions she gives of the more than 800 places listed in the book that I have yet to visit.
It sure would be nice to see them all before I die!
The AUTHOR
This 2003, copywrited paperback book of 974 pages, with black and white photos dispersed within, was penned by a former writer for Frommer's, Berlitz, and Access Travel guides. She also does articles for major travel magazines like Departures, Conde'Nast Traveler, and Harper's Bazaar. Her name is Patricia Schultz.
By way of her experience in travel, printed publications of world destinations, and professional relationship with publisher Peter Workman of Workman Publishing, 708 Broadway, NY, NY, she was given the challenge of building this book through personal experience and research.
CONTENTS
Before getting to particular countries and destinations within, Patricia first had to decide what merited mention in this book of Earth's top 1,000.
Here are a few of her words from her introduction.
"....came time to choose...from a nearly bottomless grab bag of possibilities, both legendary and unsung - I realized....I had to ... battle with philosophy and methodology.....and questions anyone who flips through these pages may ask....such as, How did I arrive at these particular destinations and events? What were my criteria? How do I explain the wide range, from undeniable glorious far-flung mysteries to apparent mundane backyard beauties"
Patricia Schultz wondered how she " could justify a B&B on a Tuscan wine producing estate to Bangkok's Oriental Hotel. How about the Taj Mahal and Sistine Chapel as compared to The Pork Pit in Montego Bay. She thinks, How does the weirdness of Roswell hold up against the magic of Tikal?"
In the end Patricia came down to a common denominator. ....that each place impress upon the visitor - and I hope to the reader- some sense of the earth's magic, integrity, wonder and legacy.
I felt her brief descriptions of places did just that.
The books 1,000 places to visit is Patricia's short list of dream trips.
As you may now be able to tell, this book has all kinds of major destinations and small side street places to visit that she feels should become one of your lifetime experiences.
I have found that, in traveling my wife, we see the awe in places of grandeur and the special detail of what makes small out of the way places special.
These are experiences that, big or small, hold the same place in my memories.
An example of finding out of the way places, is our getting lost in a city like Venice and finding little back alleys that were as much a fine experience as visiting A Doge's Palace or a Gondola ride on the Grand Canal.
This book takes you to well known as well as hidden wonders of this world.
HOW THE BOOK IS ORGANIZED
The book is set up into eight regions that, in turn, are further subdivided.
Europe: Great Britain and Ireland, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia
Africa: Northern Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa
The Middle East: Asia: East Asia, South and Central Asia and Southeast Asia.
Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands The United States of America and Canada: Subdivided by state or province.
Latin America: Mexico, Central America, South America, Antarctica
The Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda
There is further subdivision within some countries. Some cities are mentioned as one destination, however, places to visit within the particular city are also detailed.
More information is given at the end of each entry that may help in trip planning. She also notes that places and destinations change and to always phone, email, or fax before making final decisions.
To further enhance her destination experiences Patricia notes towns, hotels, restaurants, sites, and experiences, like skiing, golf, climbing, walks, and other activities that may be special to a destination. She also notes special events like Mardi Gras, tournaments, New Years celebrations, theatre festivals, and such.
The author has more information too. She addresses questions like where destinations are, how to get information like recommending outfitters, tours, safaris and the like.
She does give listings of places to stay that may be near a destination discussed. Generally they are just a place to stay. In a few cases they may be a destination unto itself.
To further enhance information and make travel that much easier the author also discusses costs, times to travel, safety tips, and needs for travel documents.
THE SPECIAL INDEX
She has a General index that is in alphabetical order in the back of the book. It is easy to read and follow.
What the author has done is set up another index which I find extremely helpful. This index breaks destinations down into sub categories, places of interest that may be to your particular liking.
This list may further explain to you some of her choices within this book. It is broken down like this;
Active Travel and Adventure Ancient Worlds: Pyramids, Ruins, and Lost Cities
Culinary Experiences Festivals and Special Events Glories of Nature, Gardens, Parks, Wilderness Preserves, and Natural Wonders
Gorgeous Beaches and Gateway Islands
Great Hotels and Resorts
Living History: Castles and Palaces, Historical Sites
Unrivaled Museums
Roads, Routs, and Byways
Sacred Places
Tracking down specific types of destinations is made easy.
PARTICULAR PLACES
I know I mentioned some destinations that I compared my experience with as a sort of barometer as to how the author and I comparitively see and experience places.
I thought I would mention some other places she has on her short list that I still dream of doing. Some are very doable and others may not be of this lifetime.
I shall just flip the pages through and note some places she recommends.
International Destinations
Tea at the Ritz in London
A Trip on the QE2 or QM2
Do Snowdonia National Park in Wales
Do Ireland's pubs and join the St Patrick's festival
Go to Ashford Castle
Spend time in Viena, specific sites are recommended
See La Grand Place in Belgium
Spend time at France's Normady D-Day Beaches
Go on a pilgrimage to Lourdes
Win at the Grand Casino in Monaco
Visit Germany's Christkindlmarkt in late November/December
Listen to the Berlin Philharmonic
Experience the Rhine Valley
See the Acropolis in Greece
See the ancient ruins in Pompeii
Listen to opera at La Scala Opera House (Teatro Alla Scalla)
See Florence and all its glory
Visit the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam
Check out the Red-Light District
Experience the North Sea Jazz Festival
See Madeira in Portugal
Visit the Museu Picasso
Note what to see in Madrid
Spend time in a Swiss Country Hideaway like Schlosshotel Chaste
Be part of the Winter Alpine Balloon Festival.
Find inspiration and "take the waters" in the Carlsbad springs of Czech Republic
See Chopin's Birthplace in Poland and the Painted Monasteries of Moldavia
Share some time in Count Dracula's Castle in Romania
Take a ride on Russia's Trans-Siberian Express and also visit the Moscow Underground
Spend time at the Hermitage; a lot of time!
Take a cruise on the Waterways of the Czars
See the fabled Tivoli Gardens in Denmark
Dine at the Savoy in Finland and then go and take an ice breaker cruise
Iceland has its famed Ring Road of ice and fire, see it
In Norway be sure to visit Vikingskiphuset and Geirangerfjord and witness the Northern Lights
Sweden has The Ice Hotel, known as the "coolest place to stay in the world"
Be sure to island hop the Stockholm Archipelago
Going south to Africa start with the Great Pyramids of Gaza
then visit the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities
Diving in the Red Sea is rivaled only by the Great Barrier Reef
Take a cruise on the Nile
Trek the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco
Experience the Great Sahara
Go to Chobe National Park in Botswana
and Kenya's Masai Mara
South Africa boasts the Palace of the Lost City
See whales in Hermanus
See Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and stay at the nearby Victoria Hotel and Livingston Island
In Israel spend Christmas in Bethlehem
Bath in the Dead Sea
Take the old Forts Route in Oman
Buy gold in Dubai's Gold Souk
Sea the Great Wall of China
Visit the Forbidden City, Beijing
Take Tea at the Peninsula in Hong Kong
Visit the Shanghai Museum
See the Three Gorges
Chill out at the Sapporo Snow Festival
Climb Mount Fuji
Go to the fish market of Tokyo
Horseback in Mongolia
See the Taj Mahal
See Bali and its beaches
Dive the Great Barrier Reef
Stay at the Hotel Bora Bora
US and Canada
Many national parks are listed in the US and Canada as places to see. Other destinations listed are San Fransisco's Cable cars, Florida's Kennedy Space Center, Connecticut's, Mystic Seaport, and Fly Fishing in Montana.
A walk through the Natchez Trail in Mississippi is a stop as is spending some time on America's Route 66. Another place that the author says you must see is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland.
Pennsylvania offers contrasts of Gettysburg National Military Park and the Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
I have yet to visit Elvis's Graceland, the river walk of San Antonio, White water rafting in West Virgina, Iowa's State Fair, or Maui's Beaches. I have done the listed Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, Boston's Freedom Trail, Preservation Hall in New Orleans, Key West Florida and the Vegas Strip.
In Canada I look forward to seeing the authors destinations like Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks, as I do seeing the Canadian Rocky Mountains by Railroad, or going on a Polar Bear Safari in Manitoba. I have done some of Canada's Eastern destinations that are listed in the book like Niagara Falls, and the Bay of Fundy.
A couple of Mexico destinations suggested to see or do before you die are the Monarch Butterfly Migration, Oaxaca's Saturday Market and Camino Real, Cable Car over Zacatecas, or visit Chichen Itza.
South America offers dozens of destinations as do the Caribbean Islands.
I have listed barely 100 destinations the author suggests. There are over 900 others to read about and you have yet to study the detail of those I have mentioned.
IN CLOSING
Going through this book chapter by chapter is enlightening and very specific in suggestions. It is like a good destination magazine in its particular recommendations. It is an easy book to pick up at any time and just dream of visiting a far off destination.
At the same time I find this as a terrific reference book. The way the book is organized and its special index makes this easy to use.
I have to say that the book is heavy in US destinations as compared to the rest of the world. I actually found this helpful.
The fact of the matter is that, though I do want to sail the islands of the South Pacific, trek Sherpa villages on the way to a climb of Mount Everest, and visit some ancient cities of the Orient, I will probably still do most of my traveling in relatively nearby places. The US would hold many of those destinations.
I like this book. The author explains exactly why certain places are on her short list and then she gives the facts you need for travel there.
The author also notes that it really was difficult preparing a top 1,000 from all the possible destinations of the world. Some were a given, others much more difficult to decide upon.
I found that her choices, though basic as some are, and some maybe even questionable, really do bring you to destinations and experiences that are special and well worth seeing in this life time.
The book opens with England's Windsor Castle on the first page. The last page pictures Megan's Bay Beach in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. I have been to both these places. There are so many destinations listed in between those two places that I do hope to see before I die.
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