Lonely Planet USA [Paperback]

Jeff Campbell (Author), Loretta Chilcoat (Author), Susan Derby (Author), Beth Greenfield (Author), Carolyn B. Heller (Author), Sam Martin (Author), Debra Miller (Author), Bob Morris (Author), Becky Ohlsen (Author), Andrea Schulte-Peevers (Author), Kurt Wolff (Author), Karla Zimmerman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lonely Planet USA | Publication Date: March 2004

This Lonely Planet guide covers all 50 U.S. states. It is packed with pre-trip planning advice, itinerary suggestions, distance charts and tips on the most interesting way of getting from A to B.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Destination: USA

Families land-cruising in ponderous Winnebagos, college students lead-footing it to spring break beaches, Jack Kerouac hitchhiking west on the back of a flatbed truck, Mark Twain seeking his fortune in the gold rush, Lewis and Clark traversing the wilderness and claiming it for a new republic: whatever the reason, in every age since its founding, the United States isn't a place that you come to and stand still.

America has always called out for exploration and discovery. And whether the goal has been to take the measure of an unmapped and unruly nation or simply to kick back along endless ribbons of highway, any trip invariably entails taking stock of oneself. In ways large and small, America is and has always been about the journey. It is a gloriously defiant work in progress.

Today, some come to revel in America's kitsch and omnipresent pop culture - in the fast-food hamburgers, reality TV, comic book heroes and small-town Americana. Some head for the cities to experience first-hand the grand canyons of Manhattan, Chicago's blues joints and Los Angeles' sun-drenched boulevards. Still others don't stop until the highways and trails peter out, leaving them in solitary contemplation of the continent's awesome natural beauty and vast wilderness.

But if the well-trodden journey across America never fails to be rewarding, it's because of her people, whose energy and restless reinvention never cease, and who keep moving in the dogged belief that they will eventually reach the place where the country makes good on its promise of prosperity, freedom, equality, justic and even happiness for all.

In America, the road always beckons.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1120 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 3rd edition (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1741041929
• ISBN-13: 978-1741041927
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,588 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Travel > North America

More About the Author

Karla Zimmerman writes travel stories for newspapers, books, magazines and web sites. She has contributed to 20-plus guidebooks and travel anthologies, covering destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and the Caribbean - all of which are a long way from the early days, when she wrote about gravel for a construction magazine and got to trek to places like Fredonia, Kansas. Karla is based in Chicago.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Handy Road Trip Guide, August 22, 2005

By 

Mrs Conroy (Surrey, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet USA (Paperback)

Whilst I didn't enjoy this guide as much as some of the other Lonely Planet books I have previously used, this was nonetheless a handy addition to a trip of nearly 3 months covering 9 States.

Whilst I wouldn't recommend it for short trips or 1 state visits for longer trips then I think it is worth the money - even if you just need tips and advice on budget accommodation, motels and restaurants.

Let's face it, trying to cram 50 States worth of information into one publication is not an easy task but in my opinion I feel that this book along with the rest of the Lonely Planet series continue to be the easiest to use and best guide books available.

If you are planning on only visiting a few States or visiting for a short break then my advice would be to either buy an indiviudal guide for the relevant State/City, check the internet for useful information or ask someone else who has been before.

For those of us who cannot lug or afford up to 50 separate books or are on a budget trip of some sort would find this guide useful if not at least for the information regarding local culture and customs.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enough for my 7-state road trip, January 6, 2006

By 

beginner traveller (Denver) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet USA (Paperback)

The book definitely proved useful in my first experience with LP guides: if it didn't already have the information, it would at least point you in the right direction as to where to get it. Though the information for big cities like NY, San Fran and Chicago are limited, it's extremely easy to pick up free guides in those cities anyways, so it doesn't matter too much.

The recommendations for food were about 2/3 accurate in my opinion, regarding price, value and quality. It's great how downtown maps are included, and more comprehensive for the bigger cities. Contrary the opinion of another reviewer, I was grateful for the inclusion of suggested lodging- for all the times we didn't follow our itinerary and needed to check for vacancies whilst still driving. Because all the lodging suggestions are non-chains, I also stayed at one place the guidebook recommended that turned out to be excellent and because it was privately owned, I would have never found it otherwise. It was very homely and good value.

Though I wouldn't carry the book around while actually wandering around the city (too heavy and thick), it was good for leaving in the hotel and planning the next day's activities. On the whole, the concisely outlines what is worth seeing in each state, but expects you to actively seek out more information for details: don't expect that you can rely solely on this guide, especially not if you're into seeing some non-touristy sites.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best suggestions for the best prices, February 24, 2006

By 

Silvio Anaz (São Paulo, SP, Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lonely Planet USA (Paperback)

If you are going to travel to/across USA Lonely Planet USA is a suitable and practical guide, in spite of its size. The suggestions about hotels, restaurants, sightseeing, sports and routes include both traditional touristic places and alternatives points too. The "author's choices" are great and help you a lot to choose the best options for small budgets. It works as a trustful friend telling you about the best things to do in your next travel. More maps showing cities and roads would be very useful in the next editions.