Customer Reviews

Compass American Guides: Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, 1st Edition (Full-color Travel Guide)

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Highly Recommended:
This classy Fodor's travel guide covers the core aspects of Yellowstone you would expect, but goes above and beyond with stunning photography. ** Really the photo's are spectacular on high quality glossy paper which is a bit unusual for a book in this price range. **

I have long taken yearly holidays in the Jackson Hole area in the summer and this always involves one of more days around Yellowstone or the Grand Tetons. There is always so much to see on every visit. Our National Parks are truly one of the greatest gifts Americans have to enjoy.

For visitors to the park, one of my favorite highlights is to dine in the historic Old Faithful Inn which had surprisingly good food, affordable prices, friendly service (mostly from visiting international students spending the summer in the park) and an unbeatable atmosphere.

Pluses:
- Best of Guide is spot on
- Illustrations on geysers are very welcome and useful
- Sidebar maps (on the same page of the text) are a useful design element
- A great keepsake after the trip is over
- Small and light enough to take with you on the trip

Minuses:
- No sample itineraries or prioritized highlights lists
- Wildlife section could have been a bit more comprehensive
- Little dining advice

I really enjoyed reading through this guide to Yellowstone. I haven't been there in years but it's definitely given me the urge to get back there soon.

It has everything I'd want both in terms of practical information and advice for planning a trip, as well as being a delightful armchair tourist book with many beautiful images of the park, and the production qualities of the book are on the high side with nicely high-resolution, edge-to-edge printing.

If you're thinking of visiting, or just want an introduction to the incredible Yellowstone and Grand Teton areas, I think you'll be completely satisfied.

It's well written (by a local) and gives you the feeling that the author really knows the area. There's plenty of history as well as useful asides into the inner workings of geysers, etc., sections on the local flora and fauna of course, and the panoramic overview map in the front gives a unique perspective on the area.

IT TOOK MORE THAN A FEW DAYS TO FINISH DEVOURING THIS HUGE AND BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO THE VAST WILDERNESS OF YELLOWSTONE, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT.
The authors' knowledge of the areas and the ability to write a most welcoming challange to come and visit were inspirational.
We are planning a spring trip to the park for a fine art painting trip and wanted something to help make sense of the overwhelming choices and trails to follow. This guide helped bridge the gap between what friends who have gone told us and the numerous TV specials shot in this area. Of course there are also the numerous guides provided by the Parks Department/Department of the Interior, but this is a great summary of all that information in a large but still convenient form.
The guide touches on everything from trails to follow, to restaurants and one has the feeling while reading this "insiders" writings' that there is still much left to discover on one's own.
In short this book is beautiful, informative and will be making the trip with us in the spring.

This is a beautiful book! Small and compact (thought, a bit heavy for backpacking) FULL of stunning photography, maps with useful information (such as where campsites are, and day use picnic areas.)

I particularly like this book because it covers lots of info, which is good Pre-trip for planning, but also has many small tidbits and factoids that you can just peruse during the trip, you know...those lazy nights before you shut the ligths off, or before you go off to have dinner or something. The photography alone is worth the price of the book--just lovely!

A mini-coffee table book, almost :)

The pictures in this book will knock your socks off! Whether it's a shot of a buffalo in winter with icicles on his furry visage, cascading waterfalls, dazzling sunsets, rock formations or geysers caught at the moment they spray in the air, almost every photograph in this book is memorable.

As for the written section: the book gives full-fledged coverage of both parks and seems to include every inch of geography. And of course there is a scientific explanation of the thermal layers and geysers, along with lots of Native American lore and history of the pioneers and mountain men who first discovered these unique formations. You'll also find sidebars on individual National Park rangers.

Since this is not only a splurge of National Geographic-style photography but also a Fodor's guidebook there is also plenty of information about lodging, especially those places that are inside the national parks. A full description of what you get in the way of comfort in the hotels, inns, cabins and lodges and a $$$ icon for price. (They all seem to be a bit pricey, but there are always campground options.) The coverage of campgrounds is done spreadsheet style. There is also a description of all the eating places in the parks and some outside. A chapter is devoted to the gateway towns that cater to tourists who visit either place.

Of course it's surprising what you can do in and around these parks. You can take a sleigh ride out to see the elk at a special elk reservation in Grand Teton NP. You can ride horses or a stagecoach, watch wolves, and of course, visit the geysers in Yellowstone. Snowmobiling may be controversial but it is a popular sport out in the vast snowy areas of the West. There is also a list of the best of: backpacking, day hikes, lodging, waterfall and so forth. It seems no guidebook nowadays can resist doing a Top Ten of anything.

My only quarrel with the book is all those sidebars done in tan ink on yellow. Or yellow ink on tan. Will somebody please hit the book designers at Fodor's over the head for me? There's a very important list of campgrounds in Yellowstone on pages 286 and 287. The list includes the number of sites, the campground fee, whether or not they take reservations, the phone number for the reservations, whether they have flush toilets or pit toilets and where they are located. When somebody takes the trouble to collect all this information and place it carefully on a spreadsheet, why doesn't the art department have the courtesy to use dark ink so that readers can see the material at a glance? Yes, I know it's about Yellowstone and the yellow ink fits the theme, and my eyes are not the best, but just because some travel guidebooks are going heavy on orange and yellow type doesn't mean you have to overdo it. Okay, that's my lecture for today!

Because the photography is so beautiful, I'm giving this book five stars, despite the book designer's penchant for light-colored inks. With PBS starting its series on National Parks in the autumn of 2009, there will be many readers anxious for this type of book. The absolute grandeur of these places will astound you.

Absolutely fantastic!! I love this book. It has to be the most comprehensive guide for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks ever published. I read every word, and it was all fascinating. Should be required reading for anyone going to these two parks. It's much more than a simple guidebook, and it is full of great photos, recommendations for basically everything from food & lodging to preferred photo hot spots. And it has great detailed maps. I love it!

A beautiful book clearly written, illustrated and presented by locals who love the park year round. The author provides a very much needed modern view on the park's lodging and facilities not covered in other guide books. For example, which lodges have better or non-existent cellular coverage and the availability of Wifi/Internet access. Readers of this beautifully presented guide book should not expect a geyser by geyser review nor a coffee table book of photos. The book however covers all the general information you would need to help determine when to go, what to do and where to stay. It is an excellent starter book and each reader can use it as a launching point to find other more specialized books and resources if so desired. Links and other helpful resources are listed at the back of the guide.

This guide is heavily illustrated with gorgeous photos (although not a real photo archive) of the many natural wonders of the Yellowstone & Grand Teton Park system and serves to inspire the reader to view the Park as a year round destination. Not included in this book, are listings of RV parks, chain motels in the surrounding towns and other mundane odds and ends commonly found online or in travel magazines.