Half the fun of an Elin Hilderbrand Nantucket novel is her attention to local detail: the beaches, restaurants, shops, and scenic destinations are as memorable as her plots and characters. For years Elin’s fans have made pilgrimages to the places they know from her books, and for years they’ve asked for a single guidebook to “Elin’s Nantucket.” The wait is over: in The Blue Book, the Queen of the Beach Read – and dare we say the Queen of Nantucket – offers readers practical, fun, insider tips: from drive-on beaches to late-night dance bars; from romantic getaways to family outings; from where to find the best oysters to where to buy the best beach towel. Interspersed with scenes from Elin’s novels set at the locations she recommends, with charming watercolor illustrations throughout, The Blue Book lets readers plan the perfect getaway – and live like the characters in an Elin Hilderbrand novel. Read more

A New York Times Bestseller * Winner of the 2024 National Outdoor Book Award in Outdoor Literature * Shortlisted for the 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction *Named a Best Book of the Year by the New York Times, Air Mail, Smithsonian Magazine, and Financial Times “A triumph. Fedarko doesn’t describe awe; he induces it.” —The New York Times Book Review * “Passionate…memorable…life-affirming.” —The Wall Street Journal From the author of the beloved bestseller The Emerald Mile, a rollicking and poignant account of an epic 750-mile odyssey, on foot, through the heart of America’s most magnificent national park and the grandest wilderness on earth.Two friends, zero preparation, one dream. A few years after quitting his job to follow an ill-advised dream of becoming a guide on the Colorado River, Kevin Fedarko was approached by his best friend, National Geographic photographer Pete McBride, with a vision as bold as it was harebrained. Together, they would embark on an end-to-end traverse of the Grand Canyon, a journey that, McBride promised, would be “a walk in the park.” Against his better judgment, Fedarko agreed, unaware that the small cluster of experts who had completed the crossing billed it as “the toughest hike in the world.” The ensuing ordeal, which lasted more than a year, revealed a place that was deeper, richer, and far more complex than anything the two men had imagined—and came within a hair’s breadth of killing them both. They struggled to make their way through a vertical labyrinth of thousand-foot cliffs and crumbling ledges where water is measured out by the teaspoon and every step is fraught with peril—and where, even today, there is still no trail along the length of the country’s best-known and most iconic park. Along the way, veteran long-distance hikers ushered them into secret pockets, invisible to the millions of tourists gathered on the rim, where only a handful of humans have ever laid eyes. Members of the canyon’s eleven Native American tribes brought them face-to-face with layers of history that forced them to reconsider myths at the center of our national parks—and exposed them to the threats of commercial tourism. Even Fedarko’s dying father, who had first pointed him toward the canyon more than forty years earlier but had never set foot there himself, opened him to a new way of seeing the landscape. And always, there was the great gorge itself: austere and unforgiving but suffused with magic, drenched in wonder, and redeemed by its own transcendent beauty. A singular portrait of a sublime place, A Walk in the Park is a deeply moving plea for the preservation of America’s greatest natural treasure. Read more

For everyone planning their next vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida—this is the only official Walt Disney World guidebook. This special Birnbaum guide offers honest advice and reviews from first-hand research and insider tips; coupons; sample budgets and schedules; and colorful photographs, illustrations, and maps.Prepare for your Walt Disney World vacation with the one and only official, up-to-the-minute insider's guide to America's most popular travel destination!Updated annually with expert advice and reviews, coupons, and more!Trust Birnbaum as your 2024–2025 guide for:insider tips for budgeting, scheduling, and navigating the theme parks and resortsmoney-saving strategies and more than $400 worth of couponsdetailed descriptions of all the attractions, resorts, and eateriescolorful maps, photos, Disney character illustrations, and morePlanning a trip to the Walt Disney World with your family?Be sure to also pick up Birnbaum's 2025 Walt Disney World for Kids: The Official Guide. Read more

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • #1 Indie Next Pick • Winner of the PEN New England Award “Enchanting…A book filled with so much love…Long before Oregon, Rinker Buck has convinced us that the best way to see America is from the seat of a covered wagon.” —The Wall Street Journal “Amazing…A real nonfiction thriller.” —Ian Frazier, The New York Review of Books “Absorbing…Winning…The many layers in The Oregon Trail are linked by Mr. Buck’s voice, which is alert and unpretentious in a manner that put me in mind of Bill Bryson’s comic tone in A Walk in the Woods.” —Dwight Garner, The New York TimesA major bestseller that has been hailed as a “quintessential American story” (Christian Science Monitor), Rinker Buck’s The Oregon Trail is an epic account of traveling the 2,000-mile length of the Oregon Trail the old-fashioned way—in a covered wagon with a team of mules—that has captivated readers, critics, and booksellers from coast to coast. Simultaneously a majestic journey across the West, a significant work of history, and a moving personal saga, Buck’s chronicle is a “laugh-out-loud masterpiece” (Willamette Week) that “so ensnares the emotions it becomes a tear-jerker at its close” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis) and “will leave you daydreaming and hungry to see this land” (The Boston Globe). Read more

Sound interesting? Listen to De Smet's Letters and Sketches, 1841-1842 and learn about the Catholic priest and missionary. Read more

Two friends, zero preparation, one dream. From the author of the beloved bestseller The Emerald Mile, a rollicking and poignant account of an epic 750-mile odyssey, on foot, through the heart of America’s most magnificent national park and the grandest wilderness on earth. A few years after quitting his job to follow an ill-advised dream of becoming a guide on the Colorado River, Kevin Fedarko was approached by his best friend, the National Geographic photographer Pete McBride, with a vision as bold as it was harebrained. Together, they would embark on an end-to-end traverse of the Grand Canyon, a journey that, McBride promised, would be “a walk in the park.” Against his better judgment, Fedarko agreed to the scheme, unaware that the small cluster of experts who had completed the crossing billed it as “the toughest hike in the world.” The ensuing ordeal, which lasted more than a year, revealed a place that was deeper, richer, and far more complex than anything the two men had imagined—and came within a hair’s breadth of killing them both. They struggled to make their way through the all but impenetrable reaches of its truest wilderness, a vertical labyrinth of thousand-foot cliffs and crumbling ledges where water is measured out by the teaspoon and every step is fraught with peril—and where, even today, there is still no trail along the length of the country’s best-known and most iconic park. Along the way, veteran long-distance hikers ushered them into secret pockets, invisible to the millions of tourists gathered on the rim, where only a handful of humans have ever laid eyes. Members of the canyon’s eleven Native American tribes brought them face-to-face with layers of history that forced them to reconsider myths at the center of our national parks—and exposed them to the impinging threats of commercial tourism. Even Fedarko’s dying father, who had first pointed him toward the canyon more than forty years earlier but had never set foot there himself, opened him to a new way of seeing the landscape. And always, there was the great gorge itself: austere and unforgiving but suffused with magic, drenched in wonder, and redeemed by its own transcendent beauty. A Walk in the Park is a singular portrait of a sublime place, and a deeply moving plea for the preservation of America’s greatest natural treasure. Read more

The Milepost is the best-selling travel guide to Alaska and a "quintessential reference" for northern travelers. The Milepost includes mile-by-mile descriptions of more than 15,000 miles of road in Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia and Alberta. Its 700-plus pages detail accommodations, camping, fishing, gas stops, restaurants, attractions and services found along the highways and byways of Alaska and western Canada. The guide's Travel Planning section answers frequently-asked questions about travel in the North, including what you need to know about crossing the international border, traveling with pets, the Alaska ferry system, driving conditions, railroads, tours and wildlife. Suggested itineraries are mapped out to help travelers plan their trips. The 2025 edition of The Milepost® is the 77th edition of this classic annual travel guide, which was first published in 1949 as a 72-page guide to the recently opened Alaska ("Alcan") Highway. While the log of the Alaska Highway is still the foundation of this guide, it has been joined by dozens of connecting routes as well as newer roads, such as the Dempster Highway. All highway logs, which are updated every year by field editors, include a look at the history of the route and often the natural history of the region. The Alaska Highway section includes a brief history of the Alaska Highway that is a poignant reminder of the scale of this project. The Alaska Highway was named an International Historical Engineering landmark in 1996. The Milepost® has more than 100 city and highway maps; the wildly popular Plan-A-Trip Map; more than 500 photos; and numerous sidebar features of special interest. Print book buyers have free access to a digital edition. Read more

From Vanity Fair and The New York Times contributor comes a beautifully written, deeply felt memoir recounting the solo cross-country journey she made along the Ten across the American southwest: a mission to uncover both what harrowing violence may or may not have happened to her late mother, but also, to look within and discover who she herself is—where her mother ends and she begins. In her trusted loaded-up minivan “Minnie,” E.A. Hanks follows the same route as a long-ago road trip with her mother in an attempt to better understand the complicated woman who gave her life. Along the way, as she follows her mother’s diaries and her own recollections of the route, she begins to uncover secrets—some unexpectedly wonderful, and others darker and more violent than she ever imagined—that bring more questions than answers. From the quiet expanses of White Sands National Park to the bustling streets of New Orleans, and the Texas-Mexico border to the swamps of the Florida panhandle, she interacts with the amazing breadth and diversity of the people that call these places home. Reckoning with the past, the present, her memories, and herself, Hanks brings us along a beautiful voyage towards understanding how the stories we tell about the places we’re from ultimately become the stories we tell about the people we are. Read more

National Geographic’s wide-ranging travel guide to recreation areas, trails, historic sites, nature hikes, seashores, camping, and campgrounds is geared to everyone who loves outdoor recreation. This 544-page reference is the ultimate travel planner for all things national parks, filled with full-color photos, detailed maps, historical background, and practical facts on the location of the park system properties, as well as the best times to visit and top-rated activities. Read more

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson selected his personal secretary, Captain Meriwether Lewis, to lead a voyage up the Missouri River, across the forbidding Rockies, and - by way of the Snake and Columbia rivers - down to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and his partner, Captain William Clark, endured incredible hardships and witnessed astounding sights. With great perseverance, they worked their way into an unexplored West. When they returned two years later, they had long since been given up for dead. Undaunted Courage is supported by a variety of colorful characters: Jefferson and his vision of the West; Clark, the artist and mapmaker; and Lewis, the enigma, who led brilliantly but considered the mission a failure. After suffering several periods of depression - and despite his status as national hero - Lewis died mysteriously, apparently by his own hand. Read more

The Appalachian Trail trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America - majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaing guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way - and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the great outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in). Read more

Wild is a powerful, blazingly honest memoir: the story of an 1100-mile solo hike that broke down a young woman reeling from catastrophe - and built her back up again. At 22, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother's death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life: to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State - and to do it alone. She had no experience as a long-distance hiker, and the trail was little more than “an idea, vague and outlandish and full of promise.” But it was a promise of piecing back together a life that had come undone. Strayed faced down rattlesnakes and black bears, intense heat and record snowfalls, and both the beauty and loneliness of the trail. Told with great suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild vividly captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her. Read more

The finest guidebook ever written for Kaua'i. Now you can plan your best vacation--ever. This all new 13th edition is a candid, humorous guide to everything there is to see and do on the island. Best-selling author and longtime Hawai'i resident Andrew Doughty unlocks the secrets of an island so lush and diverse that many visitors never realize all that it has to offer. Explore with him as he reveals breathtaking trails, secluded beaches, pristine reefs, delicious places to dine, relaxing resorts, exciting waterfalls, colorful canyons and so much more. Every restaurant, activity provider, business and resort is reviewed personally and anonymously. This book and a rental car are all you need to discover what makes Kaua'i so exciting.- The most accurate, up-to-date information available anyplace with up-to-the-minute changes posted to our website and smartphone app. The app is an optional separate purchase and includes features not possible in a book, but it provides free access to over 70 resort reviews with our detailed aerial photos--so you'll know if oceanfront really means oceanfront--and you can filter them fast for the features and amenities you're looking for. Resort reviews are also available for free on our website.- Frank, brutally honest reviews of restaurants, hotels and activities show you which companies really are the best...and which to avoid--no advertisements- Driving tours let you structure your trip your way, point out sights not to be missed along the way and are complemented by over 115 spectacular color photographs- 15 specially created maps in an easy-to-follow format with mile markers so you'll always know where you are on the island- Clear, concise directions to those hard-to-find places, such as deserted beaches, tropical jungles, hidden waterfalls, rugged scenic coastlines, water-filled lava pools and scores of other hidden gems listed nowhere else- Exclusive chapter on Kaua'i's beaches with detailed descriptions, including ocean safety- Unique Adventures chapter and over 70 pages of exciting activities from ATVs to ziplines- All new and expanded Island Dining chapter with over 160 places to eat- Fascinating sections on Hawaii's history, culture, language and legendsThe Ultimate Kauai Guidebook covers it all--from the mile-high summit of Mt. Wai'ale'ale, to the sparkling underwater reefs. This is the best investment you can make for your Kaua'i visit. Whether you are a first time visitor or a longtime kama'aina, you will find out more about Kaua'i from this book than from any other source. Discover the island of your dreams with The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook. Read more

StreetSmart NYC Map Midtown Edition maps all top attractions including museums, major architecture, hotels, theaters, shopping destinations, Broadway theaters and the subway system for all of Manhattan at an immensely legible scale of 1:32,000, complete with 3-D building illustrations. Clear information design allows users to read the map from three feet away and has earned VanDam maps a place in the MoMA Collection. The map is laminated, pocket size and easily fits into your pocket or purse. Dimensions: 4” x 9” closed, 9” x 24” open.Contents: Manhattan Street map scale 1:32,000 Midtown Manhattan map Detail scale 1:17,000 Manhattan Subway MapStreetSmart NYC Map Midtown Edition is so clear and easy to understand you can navigate the city with ease.For instance: You are looking to get from your Tribeca hotel to the High Line to meet friends at the Spanish Mercado in Hudson Yards, looking for the fastest subway connection from the Lower East Side to the Hudson Theater in Midtown, negotiating the shifting grids of the West Village, looking for the right uptown exit on the FDR Drive, making sense of the Dutch Colonial Grid Downtown to find the 9/11 National Memorial before dusk for that perfect shot, or hiking from the Met through Central Park to head to the Apollo Theater Harlem for a show. The map shows you the shortest route as well as the closest bathrooms.Locals call Manhattan “the City” and refer to the boroughs of Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens and Staten Island collectively referred to as the City of New York.StreetSmart NYC Map Midtown Edition includes a stunning dimensional detail of Midtown Manhattan with Times Square at 1:17,000 scale at its center to make you feel you are there. Also includes transit information and an address finder covering all of New York City. In fact all subway stops are shown by their respective line in context right on the street map in detail as well as on an overview map so you understand the system.Stephan Van Dam, the map designer has lived in Manhattan for over 40 years and knows the city inside out. The map is updated four times a year and the most current map available. So get StreetSmart NYC Map Midtown Edition and become an instant New Yorker. Read more

The USA’s National Parks truly are places of wonder: staggering landscapes of jaw-dropping dimensions and incredible diversity where you can stand on the very edge of civilization.They are the earth’s breathing spaces, precious places to conserve nature and wildlife for future generations. Explore countless places to hike, camp, climb, swim, and paddle, where you and your family can create lifelong memories of freedom and wide-open spaces.The book contains inspiring narratives reflecting the rich diversity and natural importance of the parks, including their role in conserving wildlife, their intricate ecosystems, and their importance as untamed yet accessible spaces where people love to escape and unwind. In this book, you’ll discover: -Beautiful photography and inspiring ideas – perfect for planning your next adventure -63 national parks in order of designation, showcasing what makes each one special-Maps, facts and figures, things to do, and when and where to experience it at its bestThe book considers the history of the national parks – the ideas behind their establishment, why they hold a special place in American culture, and why they’re more relevant than ever today. Celebrate the beauty, history, and cultural importance of America’s 63 national parks in this revised and updated edition, which features the newest national park, New River Gorge. Read more

• Waterproof • Tear-Resistant • Topographic MapsYellowstone National Park was the world's first national park and covers 3,500 square miles. Just to the south of Yellowstone, are the jagged peaks of Grand Teton National Park. The Map Pack Bundle includes maps of both of these iconic parks. Each park has its own character with Yellowstone's mighty falls, massive lake and dramatic geisers. Not to be overlooked, the Teton Range of Grand Teton National Park juts almost vertically from Jackson Lake. The two maps in the Map Pack cover the many thousands of square miles and show popular tourist destinations as well as the deep backcountry where only the hardcore backpacker will be seen. The maps include detailed trail networks with points of interest such as campgrounds, boat ramps, ski areas, and many more.The Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks Map Pack includes:Map 201 :: Yellowstone National ParkMap 202 :: Grand Teton National ParkEvery Trails Illustrated map is printed on "Backcountry Tough" waterproof, tear-resistant paper. A full UTM grid is printed on the map to aid with GPS navigation.Map Scale = 1:126,720 & 1:80,000Sheet Size = 37.75" x 25"Folded Size = 4.25" x 9.25" Read more

Get the New Edition of Florida’s Best-Selling Bird GuideLearn to identify birds in Florida, and make bird-watching even more enjoyable. With Stan Tekiela’s famous field guide, bird identification is simple and informative. There’s no need to look through dozens of photos of birds that don’t live in your area. This book features 146 species of Florida birds organized by color for ease of use. Do you see a yellow bird and don’t know what it is? Go to the yellow section to find out. Book Features: 146 species: Only Florida birdsSimple color guide: See a yellow bird? Go to the yellow sectionCompare feature: Decide between look-alikesStan’s Notes: Naturalist tidbits and factsProfessional photos: Crisp, stunning full-page imagesThis new edition includes more species, updated photographs and range maps, revised information, and even more of Stan’s expert insights. So grab Birds of Florida Field Guide for your next birding adventure—to help ensure that you positively identify the birds that you see. Read more

“There is no city like New York and no better tour guide to it than Keith Taillon! I’m a lifelong New Yorker but he has taught me things about each neighborhood and every block I never knew before. Keith brings the ‘city that never sleeps’ alive in a way no one else can.” – Anderson Cooper In Walking New York, Harlem local Keith Taillon invites you to join him on 12 of his most popular walking tour routes, examining in depth the various neighborhoods of Manhattan, their history, and the intricacies of their formation. He traces the evolution of the Big Apple back to some of its early seeds, focusing on the 19th and 20th centuries—a window in which New York City transformed from a small provincial port town into a global metropolis. Keith covers everything from the completion of the Erie Canal and Croton Aqueduct to some of the notorious characters behind the city’s Gilded Age. Each chapter features a suggested walking route, with a detailed map and notes on the route’s length and time. Throughout each walk, readers are encouraged to pause and absorb the streetscape. Filled with interesting facts and timelines, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of why the city looks and feels the way it does. Perfect for tourists, locals and armchair travelers alike, you will see New York in a new way, learning to look up, look around, and appreciate this truly special place anew. Read more

Most travel titles are put together in a few weeks by visiting travel writers. Wizard guidebooks take over a year to compile and the writers are residents who personally and anonymously review every facet of the island. Their maps are the best you'll find. From restaurants to helicopter companies to scuba to beaches to trails. They see it all and show you the best the island has to offer. They also reveal who's the worst and who to stay away from. All told in a frank, humorous way that keeps the reading fun. Read more

VanDam's 2024 MallSmart® WASHINGTON DC­ Edition maps all top attractions including museums, memorials, monuments, major architecture, hotels, the Smithsonian, government and association buildings, the National Mall and the Metro system for all of Washington DC at an immensely legible super-scale of 1:9,500 complete with 3-D building illustrations. Clear information design allows you to read the map from three feet away and has earned VanDam maps a place in the MoMA Collection. The map is film-laminated, accordion folded and pocket size. 
 Coverage: Mall Map: 1:9,500 Washington DC Street Map 1:16,000 Beltway Map: 1:238,000 Alexandria Map Detail: 1:16,000 Adams Morgan Map Detail:1:16,000 Howard University Map Detail: 1:16,000 Capital Metro Transit Map. Dimensions: 4 x 9 folded, 9 x 24 unfolded, fits into shirt pocket or purse. 2024 MallSmart® WASHINGTON DC­ is so legible you will instantly understand the National Mall and how it connects to other parts of the District and Old Town Alexandria. You get God's perspective on Monument City as well as the minute details. This 18th Century city grid with grand diagonal avenues designed by Pierre L’Enfant is a metaphor for the division of power in the Republic. A right triangle with Pennsylvania Avenue as hypotenuse and grand connector between the Executive (White House) and the Legislature (Congress) with the Judiciary (Supreme Court) backing up to Congress on Capitol Hill. The Washington Monument describes the triangle's Western point and serves as your compass needle to navigate the Capital. 2024 MallSmart® WASHINGTON DC­ includes a stunning dimensional Mall detail of the central city from Arlington National Cemetery through Foggy Bottom, Federal Triangle, Judiciary Square, Penn Quarter, Chinatown, Downtown, the East End and Capitol Hill. Restrooms and concessions are clearly marked. Separate Beltway and Metro DC maps insure you have everything you need for a successful trip. While politics in the Capital may be petty and divisive, the riches of art, science and culture offered in its museums almost all of them free are generous, conciliatory and unequaled anywhere else. The hot ticket in town is the new African American Museum of History and Culture. Its bronze colored corona architecture boldly breaks the mold of the mostly white neo-classicist structures on the Mall and offers an intriguing perspective on American history. On the West Mall history is made manifest in the placement of the MLK Memorial where Dr. King stares down Jefferson with Lincoln's backing. 2024 MallSmart® WASHINGTON DC­ map scale of 1:9,500 makes you feel you are there with 3D buildings illustrations as your compass. All Metro stops are marked by their respective line in context right on the main map and on a separate subway overview so you know both the local details and understand the larger system. Stephan Van Dam, the map designer and publisher has mapped the Capital for the Smithsonian, The National Gallery and the National Park Service. We also publish a series of Presidential History Maps Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington as well as WDC Pop up Map. 2024 MallSmart® WASHINGTON DC­ maps are updated at least twice a year and are more current than any other map available. So get MallSmart and become an instant Washingtonian. Read more