Watersports Books

"Comprehensive promises everything but boredom." San Antonio Express"

A great new resource. -- Travel + Leisure

The perfect companion for planning. -- Rutgers Magazine

These useful travel guides are highly recommended -- Library Journal

Directs you into the great outdoors; the information on trekking, canoeing, wildlife refuges, golf courses is well researched. -- The Sunday Telegraph

Here is the most detailed and informative guide to this fascinating region, from the Côte d’Azur and its seaside towns of St. Tropez, Cannes, Nice and Antibes, to the mountainous regions of Vaucluse, the Lubéron and Mont Ventoux. See the papal palaces and cathedrals massed inside Avignon’s intact 14th-century walls. Or visit Nîmes, with its Amphitheater, built by the Romans, still the venue for festivals and spectacles. Experience the Camargue, paradise for birdwatchers – the only place outside of Africa where pink flamingos nest by the tens of thousands. The wild Camargue horses here are legendary. A few of the many attractions this guide explores: The places to stay and eat, including centuries-old castles, plush resorts, apartments and cottages to rent. The best shopping – from truffle and flower markets to antique fairs, food markets, clothing stores and chocolate shops. The celebrations – the Gypsy Pilgrimage at Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, countless festivals of wine, dance, theater, opera, even kite-flying. The grotto and ancient forest at Ste Baume, said to have sheltered Mary Magdalen in the last years of her life – after she escaped from the Holy Land in 40 AD. Arles, where Van Gogh lived and worked. The author shows you how to hike hidden trails where only locals walk, following in Van Gogh’s footsteps.

A guide to discovering and enjoying the islands of St Martin and St Barts. Half-French, half-Dutch, St Martin offers Orient Bay, the St. Tropez of the Caribbean; duty-free shopping in Philipsburg; Marigot, with chic French boutiques and superb food; and Restaurant Row in Grand Case, with great eateries in charming Creole houses. St Barts has few buildings higher than one story, no large hotels, memorable food and 22 beautiful beaches along turquoise seas. The series of "Adventure Guides" are about living more intensely, waking up to your surroundings and truly experiencing all that you encounter. Each book offers a mix of practical travel information along with activities designed for everyone, no matter what their age or ability. Comprehensive background information - history, culture, geography and climate - presents a knowledge of each destination and its people. Regional chapters take you on an introductory tour, with stops at museums, historic sites and local attractions. The volumes also cover: places to stay and eat; transportation to, from and around your destination; practical concerns; useful websites; e-mail addresses; and tourism contacts. Detailed regional and town maps feature walking and driving tours.

This easy-to-use book is packed with practical information and enticing facts that make it fun to read: "Sarasota owes its development and artistic reputation to, ironically, the circus, which wintered there beginning in the late 1800s. In contrast to circus raucousness, however, John Ringling was a man swayed by esthetics. The art he loved had a bit of three-ring showiness to it, nonetheless, as shown by the baroque Italianate palace he built himself in Sarasota." A clean, attractive layout makes it easy to find what you're looking for within each of the book's six sections, whether it be suggestions for finding the best food, lodging, kayaking, fishing, or shopping; even driving directions are included. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

As portable as they are helpful, and heavily illustrated in color as well, the volumes in this series remain very reliable in making certain that adventure is a major component of your trip. --Booklist

To the outsider, the Cayman Islands - Cayman Brac, Grand Cayman and Little Cayman - are almost always equated with watersports and glorious beaches, plus offshore banking opportunities. This is hardly surprising, since the Cayman Islands do offer world-class scuba diving in crystal-clear waters, as well as a tax-free haven. But these three islands have so much more to offer the traveler who's willing to wander off the traditional tourist paths, walk away from the beachside resorts and explore by themselves. Diverse woodlands and pristine wetlands occupy much of the islands interiors, rugged hiking trails meander across the peaks and valleys, and mangrove swamps cushion the shoreline, offering a unique breeding ground for many birds and fish. These protected wilderness areas are often left unexplored by lay-in-the-sun-all-day tourists, who miss some of the biggest attractions the islands offer. Join our Caribbean expert team of authors in their quest to discover "the other Caymans," the islands' little-visited spots away from the crowds where you can trek for miles without seeing another soul, strip down and sun yourself on a secluded beach, or join a group and sail offshore as the sun sets. As with all Adventure Guides, this book introduces you to the history, geography and people of the region first, so you have a good background knowledge of the island chain. The authors then take you touring, visiting all the popular tourist sites and towns, and offering valuable tips on shopping, transportation, restaurants and accommodations. Then, it's on with the adventures: on foot, on and below the water, on wheels, in the air and on horseback. Among the many fun activities included are paragliding, sailing, catamaran cruises, soaring, scuba diving, trekking, hiking, waterskiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, driving trips and horseback riding. For all of these, the authors give a list of local operators who can set you up with equipment, ferry you around from site to site or actually guide you on walks or riding trips. Detailed town and regional maps.