15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
a visually stunning and useful guide, August 26, 2009
This review is from: Compass American Guides: Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, 1st Edition (Full-color Travel Guide) (Paperback)
This is a useful guide for first time visitors to the greater Yellowstone area. The text is well-researched; but what sets this guide apart from other recent works is the stunning photography and the very useful diagrams and maps. This guide is a highlight of the two national parks and the supporting areas, and is not comprehensive. The creators of this book know the region well, and write with a great deal of confidence about some of better ways to experience the parks. Having made a trip to both parks the summer of 2009, I can attest to the accuracy of much of the information, and the visual quality of the landscape.
Written and photographed by two long time residents of the greater Yellowstone area, this Compass American Guide aims to present these national parks in the best light possible. The book is roughly divided into thirds: upper Yellowstone, lower Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons National Park, with supporting chapters on lodging and the surrounding towns and wildlife. Most of all, they really give the reader a real sense of just how unique and fantastic this land, which is about the size of three New England states, is.
Because this is a book of highlights of the region, and not a comprehensive guide, this book is ideal for the first time guest of the parks, who will not have time for extensive trekking into the backcountry of the region, or time to really explore all the restaurants or compare every lodging opportunity. There are other books, like the Moon guide, which are more comprehensive regarding the greater Yellowstone region.
What the reader will draw from this book is a real sense of the grandeur of the parks, and why people are drawn to them by the millions every year. The writer has created tight text, and the photography is appropriately captioned and nearly seamlessly placed. There are also helpful diagrams about the geothermal features of Yellowstone and general road maps of the area.
A general reader and first time visitor of these parks should gladly appreciate this book for the attractive way that it is presented, not least of which is the images that at least get the spirit of the visual wonder of these parks. The photography alone is highly unusual for a guide book such as this, and is to be commended.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
No guidebook to Yellowstone can be all things to all people, but this quite good in some ways, but not even adequate in others, October 12, 2009
This review is from: Compass American Guides: Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, 1st Edition (Full-color Travel Guide) (Paperback)
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Brian Kevin has done his homework on the tourist-accommodation related aspects of Yellowstone and Teton National Parks. There is helpful information throughout this guide book, and Jeff Vanuga's photography is top-notch. You will find info about lodging, food, top-priority things to see, and where to go in the park to see or access them. There are also useful tips for people going into the park for the first time (that info is in the back of the book - don't miss it, especially guidelines about interacting with animals in the park).
The book includes the author's list of "bests" - that is, the best places to see and things to do in the parks. Of course these are his personal favorites, though they are generally good recommendations. There is also a section near the front of the book that describes some history of the region and of events leading to the establishment of Yellowstone as one of the first national parks in the world.
Other sections of the book focus on different regions within the park, including narrative descriptions of what you are likely to find in each area, supported by more photos. Each section has a map, but, alas, none of the maps in the book have distances marked between junctions, etc. (though a map legend is provided, but is tough to use because the roads in the park wind around so much). The maps do, however, show all picnic areas, camp sites, and other stops of interest. That's nice.
Supporting information about restaurants and hotels tend to focus on facilities within the park itself and on pricier accommodations outside of the park, but only in places like West Yellowstone, MT, or Jackson, WY. I was surprised that there was no mention of places a bit farther outside of the park like Island Park, St. Anthony, Ashton, or even Rexburg, Idaho, all of which are within easy driving distance of the park, though Cody, WY, gets a nod from the author.
There are areas in which this guidebook is sadly lacking...barely adequate...not even that! I was quite surprised that the section devoted to geology is only three pages long...scant info for one of the most geologically interesting places in all of North America! There are only six pages devoted to flora of the park, and those pages address only a total of six different kinds of plants (with another four that show up a few pages later), and the section on fauna provides info on only 13 species of animals. As I mentioned, no guidebook can be all things to all people, but please!!! only 10 kinds of plants and 13 animals!? Forgive me, but as a biologist I find this extremely lightweight treatment of the flora and fauna to be nearly criminal...not to mention the lack of info on geology. Ouch!
If you are interesting in learning more about the flora and fauna and geology of the parks you must pick up another book or two on the flora, fauna, and natural history of the region.
The photographs are top-notch, but I almost wish there were fewer of them so the book could include more useful information. When you start flipping through the book you can get caught up in the photos so much that you might start to think that this is a small format coffee table book rather than a guidebook to the region. Don't get me wrong, the photos are great!
There are very strong points and very weak points in this guidebook. That's why my review gives it only 3 stars.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful pics and great tips, September 28, 2009
This review is from: Compass American Guides: Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, 1st Edition (Full-color Travel Guide) (Paperback)
I flipped through many guides at the book store before checking online and getting this one. The pictures included in this guide are full color and amazing! The pictures alone might make this book worth the buy, even if you aren't planning a trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons. We were, in fact, planning a trip to both parks though and found the information very useful. We especially liked the best experiences section. Unless you are planning to spend a month or more on your vacation, you will not be able to see or visit all the attractions at these National Parks. The best experiences section allowed us to hit all the highlights on our week long vacation and not feel like we missed any of the big stuff. Campers and hotel stayers alike will find the guide useful as both are listed and rated.
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