Wonderful Weekends from New York City...and They Were!! L-n-M W/O
Written: Dec 10 '04 (Updated Dec 30 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Colourful descriptions.
Cons: Many are popular places.
The Bottom Line: This is a good book that should give you enough information about some truly wonderful places to visit. Some just an hour from NYC and others up to six hours.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Frommer's Wonderful Weekends from New York City Bo... |
This book includes specific destinations within 200 miles of NYC in nine states.
My Challenge To a Travel Book
Having been to a number of places previous to purchasing this book I was able to compare my experience at particular destinations against what the author Marilyn Wood details.
I liked the book because I was on the same wave length with the author. Places like Montauk, The Hamptons, Bucks County, and Newport are places I know very well having been to them often. She described them as I would.
No Pictures, Just Picturesque words
Except for black and white maps, you won't find pictures or drawings. Even so, the text is rather descriptive. The following is part of the description the author gives of an Inn.
The Boulders Inn, rte 45, New Preston CT 06777 (tel 860/868-7918), is smaller and seems quieter than the Inn at Lakewood Waramaug, but it offers a private beach for swimming, canoes, Sunfish, bicycles, a tennis court, and hiking trails up Pinnacle Mountain. As the name suggests, the main 1895 building is of fieldstone, with shingles, and it contains six individually decorated rooms (all with bath). Several have sunny windowseats overlooking the lake and all are furnished with antiques-sleighbeds, candle-stand side tables, blanket chests, and the like. The comfortable living room furnished with sofas, wing chairs, and well stocked bookcases gives great lake views...
After reading this description of the Inn we decided to try it and the author was perfect in everything she detailed. We also dined at this Inn and the overall information she gave was again, perfectly described. It was good to have faith in what she said.
What's Included and For Who?
Though there are places in here that could be considered family oriented, like Mystic and Hershey, most of the places chosen seem more suited to couples. Many are quiet out of the way places that don't offer entertainment for children.
I found that the overall picture of the cities was lacking. There's just too much information to catalog in a book including so large a geographical area. I feel they shouldn't have even been included.
Cape May as an Example
All suggested areas in the book open with the distance from New York, estimated driving time and directions by car, bus and train. Some very brief general information is given along with Chamber of Commerce and Tourism numbers and addresses.
After this half-page of information the author starts describing the destination in easy to read and understand flow. The Cape May section continues with "getting around". The author describes trolleys, bicycles, walking tours and more.
We're then informed of Cape May attractions starting with the visitors center, its beaches, historic buildings and fine descriptions of what is considered the best seaside town with Victorian homes anywhere.
The next section deals with Cape May Lodging. It's here where the author excels. I really enjoy her details and also in restaurants detailing menus, atmosphere and history if applicable.
At the end of this and all chapters additional information is given in bullet style. The list, depending on the destination, includes information about, boating, Camping, Fishing, Fruit picking, Horseback Riding, Skiing, State Parks and more.
A look at Destinations
This is just a taste. Connecticut, Litchfield Hills and Mystic Seaport. Massachusetts, The Bershires. New Jersey, Cape May. New York, Hudson River Valley, Long Island. Pennsylvania and Delaware, Bucks County, Brandywine Valley. Rhode Island, Block Island and Newport. Vermont and New Hampshire's southern destinations.
We used this book for a trip to the Berkshires among other destinations. It was loaded with places to visit like the Norman Rockwell Museum, Bash Bish Falls, and historic mansions. We stayed at a wonderful recommended B&B and ate well at described restaurants.
I like the book because it recommends very romantic areas and has detail I trust.
This has been brought to you by Sleeper54's Lean-n-Mean W/O
A few other travel books reviewed by pops
1,000 Places To See Before You Die
National Geographic, National Parks Guide
National Parks For Dummies
How To Beat Jet Lag
Las Vegas Frommer's
An Off Beat and Informative Look At Australia
Recommended:
Yes
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