"This is not the republic of my imagination," Charles Dickens noted ruefully of his 1842 visit to the United States. His American Notes forms a stinging reproof of the country's embrace of slavery, its corrupt press and woeful sanitary conditions, and its citizens' offensive manners. Written with the author's customary observational powers and incisive wit, this volume offers a fascinating glimpse of 19th-century America. Dickens was not entirely...

An intimate journey across and in search of America, as told by one of its most beloved writers, in a deluxe centennial edition
In September 1960, John Steinbeck embarked on a journey across America. He felt that he might have lost touch with the country, with its speech, the smell of its grass and trees, its color and quality of light, the pulse of its people. To reassure himself, he set out on a voyage of rediscovery of the American identity,...

"Discover Mother Nature's best-kept secret hikes. Nothing against the Bright Angel Trail, the Narrows, the Presidential Traverse, or Half Dome, which are all certainly worthy of their popularity, but hikers don't need another resource pointing them toward those conga lines. It's time we rewrite the backpacker's life list. Enter Backpacker Hidden Gems. For the first time ever, here is a collection of Mother Nature's best-kept secret hikes, chock full...

Provides practical advice for RV travel in the United States, including detailed maps and information on trip-planning, itineraries, and attractions and campgrounds.

Charles Kuralt's classic bestseller is now on audio! On The Road With Charles Kuralt Featuring Charles Kuralt with an introduction by Wallace Kuralt "To read the front pages, you might conclude that Americans are mostly out for themselves...but you can't travel the back roads very long without discovering a multitude of gentle people doing good for others with no expectation of gain or recognition." In this collection of short audio essays, Charles...

Offers descriptions, road maps, itineraries, travel tips, costs, and contact information for national parks ranging from Virginia's Shenandoah to Alaska's Glacier Bay.

Over the years, the softly lit wood-paneled interiors, starched tablecloths, curved booths, tuxedoed captains, and tableside service that once defined classic continentalstyle fine dining have gradually disappeared. Equally, the number of historic restaurants filled with character and old-school ambiance dwindle with each passing year. Yet, vestiges cling to life in cities large and small. Through vivid new color photography and vintage material,...