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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great for ideas but not for trip planning, May 21, 2009
This review is from: Lonely Planet The Carolinas Georgia & the South Trips (Regional Travel Guide) (Paperback)
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With 65 themed itineraries and 1192 places covered through the states of North & South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee this book would appear at first glance to be exactly what you were looking for when doing a trip through the Southeastern United States. Call me picky, but the problem I found was that after reviewing the various preplanned trips there isn't one I would be interested in following from beginning to end. Not one.
The problem is that the various trips are arranged in such a way that I believe the average traveler would quickly become disinterested. For instance, there are many trips involving themes such as "food and drink" that last for days. Take for instance a four day trip involving 21 different restaurants in Atlanta. The first question to ask is would you be able to eat at 21 restaurants in four days? The second is, if you were to visit Atlanta would you want to spend all your time doing nothing else except eating at restaurants? Others like the "outdoors" trip involve 19 different destinations encompassing 300 miles. I doubt it will be completed in the 2-3 days they say it can be done; unless you don't stop to see anything.
The other problem I had was they didn't spend much time selling the different destinations. One of the more interesting trips involves retracing the steps of Martin Luther King. While there are a number of interesting places to see in this 600 mile, 4-day trip, one of the destinations involves a visit to the National Voting Rights Museum. According to the book, their claim to fame is a cattle prod used by a racist sheriff on African-Americans. Sold yet?
So that's why I struggle to give this book even three stars. You'll likely not follow their pre-planned trip ideas and quite a few of the destinations have only a one or two sentence description. Enough to pique your interest but that's it. I think the best use of this book is to generate ideas but you'll still need to plan your trip yourself.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
There are better guidebooks, December 15, 2009
This review is from: Lonely Planet The Carolinas Georgia & the South Trips (Regional Travel Guide) (Paperback)
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I live in North Carolina, and was very excited about getting this guidebook on the region. However, it proved to be a big disappointment because it tries to cover too much territory. The guidebook really has no focus. Is it covering the Carolinas and Georgia, the Southeast or the entire South? Even though the title highlights the Carolinas and Georgia, it doesn't emphasize them as much as one would expect. What is Louisiana, Kentucky and Mississippi doing in this book? I found myself frustrated with the entire setup because there really doesn't seem to be one. I suppose the title should have simply been The South, but then it left out Arkansas, Virginia, and Florida. For my area (central NC--Raleigh/Durham) there were no great tips for the traveler that couldn't be found in a Triple A guidebook. Basically, it gives the most general of information. The writing was not really engaging, either. I do not recommend this guidebook for anyone interested in the Carolinas, which I know extremely well. I was trying to think for whom this guidebook was written, and I honestly cannot answer that.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cajun Country Roadtrip, May 17, 2009
This review is from: Lonely Planet The Carolinas Georgia & the South Trips (Regional Travel Guide) (Paperback)
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Cajun Country conjures up a scene of fun and real joy. This is the 3rd Lonely Planet Travel Book I have reviewed. I absolutely love them- they are full of brightly colored pictures, the most unusually named tours, the best experts and tips I have found.
The South in this travel book means both Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky. Not many travel books could cover this large an area with such a complete look. As you open this book, on the inside cover is a preface on how to use the book. All trips are themed using icons, and an explanation of each is shown. Best trips and Expert-Recommended trips are the ones to follow.
The south has always beckoned me, Let's start with North Carolina. There is a map, and the Outer Banks are specified and then on to 48 Hours in Asheville. The book talks about the highlights from tours to take, the Malaprop Book Store and Cafe most of us have heard about, and on to the Tupelo Honey Cafe that looks like one of the better restaurants. This is all before lunch. Then on to some parks and walks and arcades. The two days are filled with marvelous things to see and do including the Biltmore Estate. You learn how to get there, what to do, what to eat and drink and where to sleep. Then there are links to other parts of the state. Am Eclectic Americana in the Triangle-Raleigh- Durham and Chapel Hill, moves on to a University Tour of UNC, and then, from Dirty Dancing to Dawson's Creek. A number of wonderful places to go, see and do. There are maps, iconic places to see, the best in food, the most fun and a guide to the cities in-between.
The lonely planet, asks the local experts what they advise, their favorite places. The must-do trips for the iconic places. How to tune-in to the local music play lists. Family friendly and pet friendly places. And, best of all a Green index for the most environmentally friendly options.
Highly Recommended, prisrob 05-17-09
Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009 (General Reference)
The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World
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