Novel Destinations: Along the Inca Road

This journey along the ancient "Inca Road" follows the high-altitude spine of the Andes Mountains. It is a wonderful panorama of past and present, filled with adventure, and a sharply observed portrait of a unique part of the world and its colorful people.

Along the Inca Road: A Woman’s Journey into an Ancient Empire
by Karin Muller

Novel Destinations: Across the Top of the World

Across the Top of the World: to the North Pole by sled, balloon, airplane, and nuclear icebreaker
by David Fisher

This is a splendid book for the armchair traveler - eloquent, erudite, funny, informative and bringing to life the remarkable band of heroes, liars, visionaries, braggarts and fools who attempted to sail, sled or trek across the Pole - and often died trying.

Spring Escapes: Bucks County

Stroll the picturesque village of New Hope and browse the quaint shops filled with interesting wares, cross the bridge to Lambertville, NJ and enjoy its many antique shops, spend the night in one of Bucks County’s renowned vintage B & B’s, visit the James A. Michener Art Museum, Green Hills Farm, the Pearl S. Buck House, or the Mercer-Fonthill Castle Family Museums. Take a hot air balloon ride, shop at Peddler’s Village, tour the New Hope Winery, drive along the country roads and through the 12 covered bridges – there is so much to do in Bucks County!

Books & Travel Kits:

Bucks County: mini-booked-to-go
Philadelphia, Brandywine Valley & Bucks County: a complete guide
The Area Guide Book: the original & only guide to historic Bucks & Hunterdon counties

Websites:
VisitBucksCounty.com
New Hope Chamber of Commerce
Lambertville Chamber of Commerce
Bucks County Playhouse Conservancy
New Hope & Ivyland Railroad
Peddlers Village
Sesame Place

Spring Escapes: Hudson Valley Region

Take a leisurely drive north along Routes 9 or 9W. Visit the grand estates and historic homes along the river - Philipsburg Manor, Boscobel, Sunnyside, Kykuit, Cedar Grove or Olana, the homes of Thomas Cole & Frederick E. Church, painters of the Hudson River School. Stroll the outdoor sculpture park & museum at the Storm King Art Center, spend a day at Mohonk Mountain House, hike Kaaterskill Falls, picnic at Bear Mountain State Park, walk along historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz, browse the antique shops in Saugerties or the art galleries and craft centers throughout the region.

Books & Travel Kits:
Hudson River Valley: mini-booked-to-go
Moon handbooks: Hudson River Valley
Let's take the kids!: great places to go in New York's Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley & Catskill Mountains: includes Saratoga Springs & Albany
AMC's Best Day Hikes in the Catskills and Hudson Valley: four-season guide to 60 of the best trails

Websites:
Hudson Valley Tourism
Westchester County Tourism
Rockland County Tourism
Greene County Tourism
Mohonk Mountain House
Orange County Tourism
Visit Putnam County
Dutchess County Tourism
Columbia County Tourism
Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

Spring Escapes: Newport, Rhode Island

Cruise Narragansett Bay, bike the East Bay Bike Path, enjoy a spectacular stroll along the coastal Cliff Walk, visit the Green Animals Topiary Gardens, the Art Museum, or the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, experience glassblowing, and of course, you won’t want to miss a tour of the Breakers, the Elms, Rosecliff or other mansions of the Gilded Age.

Books & Travel Kits:
Newport: mini-booked-to-go
Rhode Island: an explorer’s guide
Moon Handbooks: Rhode Island

Websites:
Go Newport
Newport Mansions
Newport Best Read Guide

Spring Escapes: Pennsylvania Dutch Country

If you like handcrafts and bargains, you won’t want to miss the annual Amish Mud Sales – auction/sales held at local fire companies and named for the spring thaws. Learn about the Amish and Mennonite cultures, enjoy an Amish buggy ride, farmers’ market, quaint shops filled with handmade items including stunning quilts, and lavish farm-fresh Pennsylvania Dutch dining. Visit the 19th century Cornwall Iron Furnace, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the Intercourse Pretzel Factory, Ephrata Cloister, and the outlets in Reading. Pennsylvania Dutch Country is filled with activities for the entire family!

Books & Travel Kits:
Pennsylvania Dutch Country: mini-booked-to-go
Fodor’s Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Fun With the Family Pennsylvania
Eastern Pennsylvania: includes Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Amish Country & the Pocono Mountains
Frommer’s Philadelphia and the Amish Country
Amish Ways
Rumspringa: to be or not to be Amish
Quilter’s Guide to Amish Quilts
Mennonite Quilts and Pieces

Websites:
Pennsylvania Dutch Country in Lancaster County
Dutch Country Roads
Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area
Ephrata Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Reading Convention & Visitors Bureau
York County

Spring Escapes: Hershey, PA

Of course, there is the tour of Hershey’s Chocolate World. But there are many other attractions, too. These include Hershey Gardens, Hershey Theater, The Hershey Story (the Museum on Chocolate Avenue), the Spa at Hershey Hotel, Hershey Park, the Antique Auto Museum, and more. Nearby attractions include Land of Little Horses Farm Park, Sweet Valley Suris (an Alpaca Farm), Gettysburg, and the Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

Books & Travel Kits:
Hershey: mini-booked-to-go
Hershey Gardens: the cornfield that blossomed with roses
The Hershey, Pennsylvania Cookbook: fun treats and trivia from the chocolate capital of the world

Websites:
Hershey - The Sweetest Place on Earth
Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau
Harrisburg-Hershey-Central PA Welcome Center

Spring Escapes: Brandywine Valley

Among the places to explore in the Brandywine region are the mansions and gardens of the Du Pont family – Winterthur, Nemours, Longwood Gardens, and the Hagley Museum; the charming village of New Castle with its cobblestone streets and antique shops; and the Brandywine River Museum & Conservancy with its picturesque gardens and paintings by N.C., Andrew and Jamie Wyeth.

Books & Travel Kits:
Brandywine Valley: mini-booked-to-go
Philadelphia, Brandywine Valley & Bucks County: a complete guide

Websites:
Brandywine Country
Brandywinevalley.com
Hagley Museum and Library
Longwood Gardens
Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library
Visit Wilmington
Brandywine River Museum