Journeys of a Lifetime:... || by water, road, rail, foot, even by armchair...
by - Written: Aug 27 '08 (Updated Aug 27 '08)
Product Rating:
Pros: It is a National Geographic book; stunning photos, great text; wanderlust is your friend.
Cons: Get the free shipping..?? Or your kid to carry it home from the bookstore..??
The Bottom Line: The National Geographic Society has always produced high quality media products. This giant travel 'candy bar' will be a real treat for you over weeks, months, years to come.
sleeper54's Full Review: National Geographic Society (U.S.) - Journeys of a...
... When you choose a magazine or book or video emblazoned with the familiar standing yellow rectangle of National Geographic you know you are going to get excellent photography, literate text and captioning, and a great overall package. At least that always has been my experience.
Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips definitely meets my expectations.
We all have our idea of a 'dream vacation'. For one it might be a ride on the Orient Express; for another a leisurely island-hopping Caribbean cruise. Or perhaps retracing the steps of Lewis and Clark satisfies your 'history and travel' bug. Others might find trekking along the Great Wall of China to be the journey of a lifetime.
Presented in a large 9" by 12" format, on slick paper suitable for the pictures we expect, Journeys of a Lifetime could be used as a 'wish list' for planning how to spend that lottery jackpot. Or it could be used as a simple introduction to the wide variety of travel possible in areas around the globe; areas rich in life, color, diversity, animals, people, history, and much more. From driving Iceland's Ring Road to cruising the waters of Antarctica; from walking the streets of Colonial Virginia to exploring the ancient streets of Kyoto, Japan; the variety is endless and enticing.
The book is divided into nine major sections and an Index, with many individual trips briefly outlined under each:
– Across Water: 34 trips, three 'Top Ten' lists – By Road: 32 trips, two 'Top Ten' lists – By Rail: 26 trips: two 'Top Ten' lists – On Foot: 39 trips: five 'Top Ten' lists – In Search of Culture: 29 trips; two 'Top Ten' lists – In Gourmet Heaven: 33 trips; two 'Top Ten' lists – Into the Action: 38 trips; two 'Top Ten' lists – Up and Away: 19 trips; two 'Top Ten' lists – In Their Footsteps: 30 trips; two 'Top Ten' lists – Index; five full pages
A quick count will show the '500 journeys' of the title include the much shorter 'Top Ten' lists counts also. Believe me, it will still take you weeks to 'travel' through this one.
Each of the 280 'trips' is featured on one or two pages. The country of the journey and a 'headline summary' leads each section:
Argentina Tango in Buenos Aires: It's more than just a dance ... the tango, born in the poor neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, is the very soul of Argentina.
A map indicating where in the world the reader is as well as a colored pinpoint or route to be followed is shown. Highlights for the journey follow. An example:
Take a break from dance halls among jacaranda and other blooms. The Palermo quarter offers restorative walks in the Botanical gardens, a rose garden, a lake with beautifully landscaped promenades, and Palermo Woods. Helpful info sections are found at each 'trip' entry:
– When to Go – How Long – Planning – Inside Information – Websites
In just a few words each of these topics share short 'most helpful' tips for a real-world traveler or the armchair dreamer.
The Top Ten Lists are shorter bites spread over just two pages, with just a brief paragraph and short Planning pointer about each. Some examples of these include:
– Top 10 Steam Train Trips – Top 10 Sailing Cruises – Top 10 Long-distance Trails – Top 10 Historic Walks – Top 10 Italian Wine Routes
While not as comprehensive as the 'trips' entry, they will still get your wanderlust primed and your feet itching to hit the road.
The Bottom Line The minimum a 'travel tease' book like this should do is get the reader to think about destinations and types of trips they may not have thought about before reading.
Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips hits the bullseye of that target.
Romantic trips, family trips, high adventure trips, nature trips, historical trips, food and wine trips, culture trips . . .they are all spotlighted, explained in detail, beautifully illustrated with photographs only National Geographic can produce, and elegantly presented for your pondering of your future travel plans. Even if those plans keep you close to your easy chair, you will still feel that you have found a wide world of adventure and beauty beyond your everyday world. Bon voyage.
No one knows the world like National Geographic and in this lavish volume, we reveal our picks for the world's most fabulous journeys, along with help...More at Barnes & Noble.com
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