A fantastic guidebook describing some of the off beat places in Alaska. If you want the true Alaskan experience, get this book. It contains over 200 restaurant and lodging reviews and stories of the 'best' places in Alaska. One of the three must travel books (Milepost, Discovering Denali, and Best Places Alaska) if you are going to the Last Frontier.

We used this book every day - and usually more than once. It is filled with great suggestions and recommendations. We found a few entries "outdated," but that can be expected. The suggestions for which shops to visit in small and large cities I found to be particularly helpful. Best book I have ever bought for travel.

Best Places Alaska is an outstanding travel guide that features only the 'best' restaurants, lodgings, and destinations in Alaska, including guides and outfitters in its lists of recommendations for particular Alaskan regions. An excellent, involving survey of Alaska's best places, Best Places Alaska is a recommended take-along tote.

Lewis and Clark's descriptions of their epic overland journey is a deserved American classic. So many students must memorize the Gettysburg Address or the Preamble of the Constitution, but too few are ever introduced to this magnificent trilogy, told in Lewis and Clark's own words. They were the first white men to lay eyes on the interior sections of the Unites States, when the land was unspoiled, unpolluted and obviously quite spectacular. In great detail, they relate their indescribable amazement to see giant Sequoia trees, grizzly bears and endless miles of barren desert.

Lewis and Clark's experiences are the stuff of legend, but the question that begs to be answered is: could they write? The answer is a resounding yes! The narrative flows smoothly, the descriptions of the animals and landscape come alive with their vivid use of language and metaphor. Perhaps the most vivid sections of the book revolve around their numerous encounters with Native Americans. This book should be required reading for anyone with an history in the history and exploration of the United States.

Before breaking camp in Fort Clatsop, the expedition had hoped to encounter British traders who ply the coasts, in order to buy provisions and ammunition with "their ample letters of credit." These were drawn on the Executive office of the United States, in other words Jefferson, who after getting $2,500 from Congress to finance, he seemed prepared to bring them back to Washington at any costs, including circumnavigating taxi if need be (this is no joke).

However, the waiting for the traders delays them from their start, and their hopes of returning to St Louis during the season are as warm and finally decisive as their previous push to the West. They break camp, return up the Columbia River, and with Sacajawea's vital help, find their way over the mountains where the snows are so thick that trails are impossible to discover. Thankfully the expedition resumes the Missouri, and after averaging 20 miles a day on the ascent (using oar and sail), they frequently make 80 miles a day on the descent.

After such a long and harrowing journey, full of hardships and decorated with delights, the men are anxious to press for home, sometimes not landing for rest or game during their earnest advance.

This trio of books is among the best reads I've ever had of men journeying into the unknown, discovering the best in themselves, and holding to the notion that perseverance will ultimately endure.

I loved the book, a satisfying completion to a wonderful tale.

The narrative picks up in June 1805, after a night of rain "but it cleared off and became a fine day." By the end of that year when the expedition next wintered near modern day Astoria, OR, the expedition would face rains almost constantly, having a dozen or so dry days all winter, and of those only half provided sunshine.

This year is the most difficult of the expedition (or rather the period covered by this volume). The team meets its greatest hardships, not least of which is choosing the best overland route when the Missouri is no longer navigable. The correct choice (and the correct choice was made) is vital to preserving the goodwill of the men and the success of the expedition. Grizzly bears continue to harass the men (many hunters are treed), the mosquitoes become horribly bothersome, and when game becomes scarce, they trade for horses, sometimes killing the colts for food; elsewhere they trade to feed upon dogs, at first a meat loathsome to the men, but after adaptation and long usage, it becomes a favorite food, as the expedition trades for that article particularly. Many times plant roots and dried fish served as the only food for days on end, which made the men sick, who were so drenched with rain (they built their winter cabins in the rain), that many were too sick to participate in the necessary subsistence.

Here Sacajawea and her husband are saved from drowning by the vigilance of Captain Clark.

This volume provides many instances of bighorn and behavior, pronghorn antelope and behavior, and of course grizzly bears. This wonderful volume of harrowing escapes, exciting scenes of the endurance of man, and the wonderful rewards from severe hardships ends in March 1806, just before the expedition evacuates Fort Clatsop on the Pacific Coast.

A wonderful read for early American exploration, and an excellent resource for the American wilderness at the beginning of the 19th century.

This book was wonderfully well-written and I am not just saying that because one of the authors, Jeff M. Elliot, is my Pol. Sci. professors!! In, response to the last review by "A Reader" - You need to get over yourself!! The use of "Persident" and "Republic" is NOT being used subversively - GET A LIFE!!! It was a wonderful look at Castro's Presidency!!!

I would like to inform the writers of this book that a "republic" according to the dictionary is a country where the "president" has been elected by voters, by the people, that is. There has not been a public vote in Cuba for 38 years. The people have not elected Fidel Castro as their president. He elected himself so I strongly suggest that you change the title of the book. You are maliciously and with felonious intent subverting the meaning of "republic" and "president" and I do resent calling Fidel what he is not.

This is the third Van Wormer book I read. Unfortunately, I'm reading the books in reverse order but in the process I can appreciate how Van Wormer's style has matured. In her later books, I'm pleased to see that she's gotten over her distracting use of "and so" (ie, "This happened, and so that happened."). The story is interesting, though. It starts with the shooting of anchorwoman Alexandra Waring and her recovery and exodus to the upstart network, DBS. We're also indroduced to Jessica Wright, and see her through her alcohol problems and subsequent recovery. The likely romance between Cassy and Jackson begins, and by the end of the book DBS is solidly established. It's a good story that held my interest, but so much of it was extraneous to the plot and cumbersome with detail. I did some skimming through certain parts, like the blow-by-blow account of Alexandra getting dressed to go out jogging. However, you'll definitely need to read this one to enjoy Talk, Expose, and The Last Lover to their fullest. All three are excellent and got me hooked on Van Wormer's work.

I don't know how I started reading these books, but they are so much fun. I'm absolutely addicted to Laura van Wormer's stuff, and it's all because of Riverside Drive. The characters are fun and engrossing, and I appreciate the way the author continues to use the same protagonists to keep the reader addicted. West End was not as good as Riverside Drive, but still worth the effort.

One of my favorite things about Laura Van Wormer's books is that if you find a character you enjoy, you're likely to find this character in other books of hers as well.

That gives the reader a real sense that the world that Laura Van Wormer has created for her characters is real. And it's true, she's created a very believable, multi-layered universe to place all her characters in. Across all her books, the characters share friendships and events, casual and otherwise.

One of my favorites of all the Van Wormer books is "West End".

"West End" is an excellent story, centered mainly on the interesting world of network news; told very much from the inside prospective of a core group of characters.

We are presented with newscaster Alexandra Waring, talk show host Jessica Wright and Executive Producer Cassy Cochran.

As with most of the Van Wormer books, the storylines are almost always female character driven, and "West End" is no different.

On a bright note - this is a good thing, as Van Wormer seems gifted with the ability to give three strong female characters very distinct, yet different, voices.

"West End" is a favorite of mine solely for the fact that it features the wonderfully enigmatic newswoman Alexandra Waring. Alexandra is the most complex character that Van Wormer has created, in my humble opinion. Alexandra is a wonderful amalgam of professional perfection and personal turmoil. She's got a history and it's not one she's often comfortable with.

Alexandra is a complex character and Van Wormer has captured her energy, pain and emotional life perfectly. She is a flawed heroine which, as it does here, means a more interesting character to read about.

The most compelling reason to buy any book is it's entertainment value and this book delivers. The story is complex, the characters fun and interesting to get to know.

I don't want to give away any of the plot twists or turns but suffice to say that I recommend this book.

Be warned though, once you get a glimpse into the world of Alexandra and her friends, you'll want to know them better, and follow their lives. Thankfully, Laura Van Wormer has written the follow-up books that allow you to do so.

Note, however, that all the books Laura Van Wormer has written are not identical. Not in the least. Some are simply great stories, and more recently, she's brought her world of characters into the realm of sophisticated mysteries.

I'd suggest starting with the first published Van Wormer book, which I believe is "Riverside Drive" (several characters that appear in "West End" are first mentioned in "Riverside Drive" ) and just settling in.

She's written 10 books as of November 2001, so you do have some catching up to do.

However, if you become enamoured with Alexandra Waring, you'll want to start with "West End" and be properly introduced to this wonderfully complex character.

I will be adding reviews of the other Van Wormer books in the future, speaking specifically to Alexandra's appearance in them. Should you find Alexandra and Jessica so very engaging ( as I do ), your next purchase after "West End" should be "Talk".

To the Alexandra specific fan - A major event in Alexandra's life is dealt with beautifully in "Any Given Moment".

Best Regards,
turtlex

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