Maine: An Explorer's Guide, Thirteenth Edition (Explorer's Guide Maine) [Deluxe Edition] [Paperback]

Christina Tree (Author), Nancy English (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2006 | Series: Explorer's Guide Maine

This fully-updated special edition of the original "Maine Bible" highlights the book's twenty-five years as the best-selling, most in-depth, up-to-date, and savvy guide to the state.

The release of a new guidebook is rarely a cause for celebration. But every once in a great while even a simple travel book earns a place of special recognition. More than twenty-five years ago, Christina Tree set off in her car with her young sons to explore the entire state of Maine, researching and visiting rental cottages, ice cream stands, beaches, and more. The result was Maine: An Explorer's Guide—the first-ever complete travel guide to Vacationland. Published in 1981, this first edition of what would become known as "the Maine Bible" was a mere 185 pages.

Much has changed in twenty-five years. Now with more than 1,000 restaurant, B&B, and shopping recommendations, Maine: An Explorer's Guide has sold more than 200,000 copies, and has given birth to a critically-admired and expanding travel series that covers destinations throughout the U.S.

But much has also stayed the same. Along with Nancy English, Christina Tree continues to hit the road every two years for months at a time to make sure that all the information in Maine: An Explorer's Guide is the most honest, up-to-date, and comprehensive info available.

As most modern guides seem to be losing their authoritative voice (and risk losing the role of the guide in guidebook), Maine: An Explorer's Guide gives travelers the tools and knowledge they need to discover every corner of the state, including a friendly, reliable voice that brings the book's guidance and insights to life. Whether a traveler is looking for that perfect traditional Maine sporting camp, an outfitter to guide a rafting trip, trailheads, artists' colonies, historic homes, or museums, this most comprehensive guide to the state continues to have the answers.

Now with hundreds of Web site listings, this special edition includes opinionated accommodations listings, from inns and B&Bs to vacation cottages and campgrounds. And just as it was 25 years ago, no payment is accepted for book listings.

This guide also includes:
• Hundreds of dining recommendations, from lobster pounds to four-star restaurants
• 34 up-to-date regional and downtown maps
• An Alphabetical "What's Where" subject guide to aid in trip planning
• Handy icons that point out places of extra value, family- and pet-friendly establishments, wheelchair access, and popular wedding venues
• 100 black & white photographs, 34 maps, index.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Originally published in 1982 and now in its ninth edition, this work by Tree (coauthor of three other Explorer's Guides) and Roundy (a Maine native and a writer for the Maine Office of Tourism) has been expanded and updated to reflect Maine's broader entry into the tourism industry. Logically and geographically organized into seven regional sections, each with clear maps, the book richly lists what to see and do; where to shop, eat, and stay; and annual special events. Phone numbers, readily identifiable addresses, hours of operation, approximate costs, and marvelously detailed explanations of selected facilities are included. The writing is accessible, and the information appears to be correct, current, and unbiased. Empty-nesters and active senior citizens in particular will find this book a boon for information on leisurely getaways and explorations. Some knowledge of Maine's geography would be helpful in deciding where, when, and what to see and do. Overall, this is a good buy for public libraries with patron interest in this topic. (Photos and many maps not seen.)AScott R. Johnson, Whittemore Park Middle Sch., Conway, SC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

No wonder they call this the 'original Maine bible.' -- Chicago Tribune

The most encyclopedic and useful guide to the state. -- Travel + Leisure

The most helpful and well-researched. -- Condé Nast Traveler

Thoughtfully organized, easy to use, sparing with soaring description and wonderfully profligate with minor details. -- The New York Times, Wayne Curtis

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Countryman; 13 edition (May 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881507180
• ISBN-13: 978-0881507188
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,841,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed..., July 20, 2001

By 

Jenny (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Maine: An Explorer's Guide, Tenth Edition (Explorer's Guides) (Paperback)

I travel a lot -- both nationally and internationally and I use travel books often. I took my first trip to Maine this summer and was excited to see that a book so highly rated was coming out with a new edition shortly before my trip. Unfortunately I found this book disappointing time and time again. If you like the way that Lonely Planet presents information (town maps, opinionated recommendations, and historical information) then stay away from this guide book. It offers very few of any of those things. It is more of a guide to available restaurants and lodgings with little or no real concrete information or opinions about those places.

For example, we traveled to Campobello and needed to stop for dinner. One of the restaurants they listed was "known for its fish and chips". Such a description doesn't reveal whether their fish and chips are actually worth the stop. We did stop and found the fish and chips to be VERY average and the microwaved fish chowder to be very bland. A B&B we stayed at was described as having "furnishings reminiscent of a simpler time". What does that mean? We found out but that description told us very little. The vague descriptions were frustrating when we were calling from one area of Maine to make reservations in another. We weren't sure what we were going to find. One more example: We were in Acadia driving the park loop and I reached for the book in hopes that it would give a brief description of the different sites on the tour. There was a sign for Bubble Rock and I wanted to know what that was in reference to. The book was of no help.

The book is also awkward to use. The key to their symbols are buried in the book. Their reference section is also awkward and lacks a "when to go" section among other useful information. Considering the fact that much of Maine consists of small towns whose streets are too small to show up on maps of Maine, it would have been such a help to have had small town maps in the book. I think there were a couple but nothing near what there should have been. This may be the best that is out there but if that is the case, then there is room for some one else to write a much more comprehensive and useful guide to Maine.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maine: An Explorer's Guide, June 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Maine: An Explorer's Guide (Paperback)

When we travel, we usually get several guide books for the area we are going to, and then hit the road. We used this book more than any other and found that we consistently agreed with the authors reviews . We had a terrific time exploring the area and became very confident that what we read in this book would actually be the way it was described.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars For the tourist office version of Maine this is your book., April 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Maine - An Explorer's Guide: An Explorer's Guide (8th ed) (Paperback)

The book offers a fairly comprehensive collection of lodging, activities and places to eat in Maine. The prices quoted are in the ball park but I found them to be somewhat low. The weakness of the book is that it lacks strong and clear opinions about what place is worth visiting and what places I should avoid. There is little in the book that is critical. As a result, it reads too much like an official brochure from Maine's tourist office. This is fine and helpful. But for the price, I was hoping for a few more useful and honest opinions from writers who are supposedly experts on the area.