Frommers Exploring America by RV, 1st Edition [Paperback]

Shirley Slater (Author), Harry Basch (Author)

Book Description

Series: Exploring America By Rv, 1st ed | Publication Date: May 1, 2000

Just you, the open road, and Frommer's. Freedom, independence, discovery, self-reliance—there's something quintessentially American about hitting the road in an RV. In this guide, renowned husband-and-wife travel writing team Shirley Slater and Harry Basch offer up their favorite trips around the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, taking you off the beaten path to discover the real life lurking around the bend. You'll find:

• Great itineraries, from the legendary Alaska Highway and the challenging run down the Baja Peninsula to scenic routes along Virginia's Skyline Drive and the New England Coast
• Campgrounds along each route, from luxurious private RV parks with heated swimming pools and golf courses to quiet, forested campgrounds in state and national parks
• Wildlife watching, the best parks and beaches, and more
• Tips for making life on the road more comfortable, with easy recipes, packing suggestions, and info on road etiquette and safety
• A complete guide to buying or renting an RV, with tips on how to decide which type is right for you

Frommer's. The Name You Can Trust. Find us online at www.frommers.com

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Award-winning travel writers Shirley Slater and Harry Basch had tried just about every mode of transportation known to humans in their travels through 186 countries, but it wasn't until they drove an RV in 1991 that they found their passion. In the decade that followed they racked up 120,000 miles, avoided freeways whenever possible, and focused on discovering the offbeat and the best of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. While Exploring America by RV is aimed particularly at novices--with detailed advice on buying and renting RVs as well as RV'ing tips and hints on such things as what to look for in campsites, the miracle of bubble wrap, and "how to give backing-up directions without destroying your marriage"--it also outlines 10 excursions through the U.S., Canada, and Baja with enough unusual stops along the way that the book is a veritable gold mine. To get an idea of the sort of travel Slater and Basch prefer, here are some of the highlights of the California Desert & Las Vegas excursion: the Hullabaloo World Tobacco Spitting Championships, endangered desert pupfishes in Anza-Borrego State Park, and sand sailing in a dry lake at 70 mph with no brakes. Off-the-wall attractions in Alaska include the world's largest chopstick manufacturing plant, a collection of 3,600 billed caps, and the town of North Pole (where Santa gets his mail). Slater and Basch are fond of lists with names like: Ten Terrific Spots Where History Comes Alive (in the Blue Ridge Mountains); Ten Terribly Texas Things To Do; and Seven Swell Side Roads to Explore (in Baja). For each trip you'll find tips for keeping costs down, as well as suggestions for splurging (say, a helicopter ride around Mt. Rushmore or a stay on little Palm Island), a list of campground oases, and where to find some incredible-sounding treats (like bumbleberry pie at Zion National Park and the best lobster in Maine). Slater and Basch have had a good time demolishing the myth of RV'ers as national park lemmings who never leave their rigs: these guys know where the fun is. --Lesley Reed

About the Author

Harry Basch and Shirley Slater are a renowned husband-and-wife team whose books, photos and articles have been published internationally over the past 20 years. Their syndicated column, Cruise Views, has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and other papers for more than a decade. They are only the third writers ever to receive the prestigious Melva C. Pederson Award from the American Society of Travel Agents for extraordinary journalistic achievement in the world of travel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Frommers; 1 edition (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028636961
• ISBN-13: 978-0028636962
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,361,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One happy dad!, June 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Frommers Exploring America by RV, 1st Edition (Paperback)

My father has read this book from cover-to-cover numerous times. He has also passed it around to his friends and fellow co-workers. They find the information to be very current, the writers knowledgeable, and the book easy to read.

It covers many aspects of the RV lifestyle. The book gives tips on everything, from suggested itineraries to meals (even recipes!). (I would elaborate more if I could only pry this book from my father's hands!)

This book was ordered sight unseen but, as always, Mr. Frommer delivered. As a Flight Attendant, he is the only travel guide I follow!

Special thanks to him and the authors for compiling all the information that went into this book.

Happy Trails!

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Frommers Exploring America by RV, July 4, 2001

By 

P. Lassak "Sheltie mom" (Sequim, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frommers Exploring America by RV, 1st Edition (Paperback)

I found this book to be trite and very limited in scope. Perhaps someone who has never gone rving before might enjoy it. Some of the mishaps of the authors were almost impossible to believe considering they are both educated people. Very disappointing.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars If you want detailed trips in the U.S., this is a good book., November 22, 2001

By 

Cynthia Carroll (Basking Ridge, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frommers Exploring America by RV, 1st Edition (Paperback)

The book opens with a couple of good chapters on the basics of RB'ing and gives an excellent diary of their first trip which made me feel better. However, chapters 4 through 13 are detailed examples of trips in the U.S. which i will not be takin any time soon. Chp 14-16 review RV types and manufacturers.