The Bottom Line
Pros
- Strongly worded reviews of campgrounds and hiking trails help readers make informed decisions
- Detailed itinerary planning to conserve time during visits
- Excellent maps in each section
Cons
- If you're not hiking or camping, another guidebook might be better
- Font sizes are small and could make this book harder to read
Description
- Each book provides in-depth descriptions for at least 40 hikes
- A new "kids and pets" feature provides advice for families who are contemplating hikes or other outdoor activities
- Other activities reviewed include cycling trails, driving routes, climbing, swimming, rafting, skiing and even hang-gliding
- New reviews of accommodations, restaurants and sights in each park or in areas just beyond the park boundaries
- A history section provides context for what the visitor will see
- Health and safety advice, as well as tips for which articles of clothing and equipment to bring along
- Published by Lonely Planet Publications, 2008
Guide Review - Book Review: Lonely Planet's National Parks Series
Lonely Planet has always been an excellent publisher for budget travelers who want to get beyond the very basic attractions and explore a chosen destination in more detail.
Nowhere is such an approach more important than in national parks. These public treasures offer so much to see and do, but visitors often arrive with little or no idea of what logistical challenges await them.
For example, do you know the best strategies for hiking the Grand Canyon? Did you know that Yoho National Park, just west of the British Columbia-Alberta border, is an equally scenic but far less crowded alternative to Banff National Park?
Lonely Planet authors answer practical questions such as these in plan language.
These guidebooks are written for people who already love the outdoors. If you're looking for detailed advice on the best five-star hotels or trendy restaurants, don't buy a Lonely Planet guide.
Also be warned that the two guidebooks I reviewed (Banff, Jasper and Glacier and Grand Canyon) employ very small print. If you have trouble reading smaller print, this can be irritating.
But credit the publisher with trying to keep the page counts -- and perhaps the prices -- lower than what you find in many other guidebooks. The new volumes are available at about $20 USD.
They'll save you at least that much money in wasted time and gasoline, plus they'll provide an excellent starting point for your budget travel planning.
