Thank you - this will be a great resource for us all once completed!

Teri

A very interesting and entertaining approach to information on National Parks.....

Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges Into NATIONAL PARKS

Includes stories that you wouldn't read about other books   ie:   Bear Buffets in
Yellowstone....where bleachers were set up for tourists to enjoy watching the bears
attach the dumpsters....no longer done of course.   Also various legends of the
region that makes great commentary.

Karen Sanner

Gents - I'm a "Lonely Planet" guy all the way.they give you all the bad
points and hassles as well as the good stuff.  They make some errors, but
they're right 90-95%, and I like their honesty.

I'll also use "Eyewitness" guides for the pictures, mostly - because I'm a
photographer, and I like their "eye" on this.

Lee

The best National Park traveling book series is the Roadside Geology series.  I
found Roadside Geology of Utah first and then AZ, etc.  

The series also includes all western states and many eastern and Midwestern states.
Be a local geological expert as the book takes you down the specific highways you
travel and explains the geology mile by mile, and it gives you photographs to boot.
This is a great series.  Check them out.

Phil P.

Hi Ted & Randy,

I would love to share the Western National Parks.
However, I am thick in the midst of the Winter Olympics and will not be able
to do much after late night or early mornings.

Will send something after the Olympics.

Thanks for helping us to improve our guiding skills.
Diana Lee
BC, Canada

#2
I also use "THE  CALIFORNIA GOLD COUNTRY or HIGHWAY 49 REVISITED  by:
Elliot H. Koepel
This book is great for the ride into Yosemite.  Gives you great info on the
People and the Mining Camps
At the beginning of the book there are some great quotes like " MINE: A hole
in the ground owned by a lier."  Mark Twain and Shakespeare once said "GOLD
IS POISON TO MEN's  SOULS"  There is something on EVERY TOWN on Hiway 49 it
is good filler information for the area.

Hope these help someone else as much as they have helped me over the years
Sandy White-Swift

I personally use this book each and every time I must go to a National Park.
The information is top notch.  It is "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC GUIDE TO THE
NATIONAL PARKS OF THE UNITED STATES"  I got mine at AAA Automobile Club it
has 57 Scenic Parks with Sight by sight tours and over 80 maps that I find
very helpful.  I do not do the National Parks as much as I used to and this
helps refresh my memory and it has some great photos also.  It give you the
little bit extra like there is a 15-20 min video at the visitors center.
Where Restrooms are gift shops RV/Bus Parking those kind of things can
really make you sound like you have been to the location even for a first
timer.

For the Grand Canyon I use "MARY COLTER Builder upon the red earth.  By:
Virginia L. Grattan.  This gives a great insight to many of the building of
the area.

El Tovar at the Grand Canyon by Christine Barnes  This small but might book
gives you a true look at the hotel.  It is a very easy quick read and you
should beable to walk through the hotel and able to answer many of the
common question about construction and the why's of how it was put in that
location to some of the history and types of wood used.  Pictures are all in
color so it is a nice book to pass around the bus also.

The NAVAJO by Geraldine Woods from the Watts Library is more of a children's
type of book in that the type is large and pictures are bigger most are in
color.  This tell you in short stories about the Ancient Land and People,
Traditions, the Navajo way.  The timeline at the end is very helpful.  I use
this book on many tours as a reference for the Grand Canyon, Route 66 and
Arizona in General.

Sandy

I will look at some other books I use.  One comes to mind on my
Yellowstone/Teton Tour.  Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose - the story  of
Meriwether Lewis.  Great biography, etc.

Mike

Dear Ted  and Randy, Re. question off the week. I find AAA Booklets useful and handy
and a quick ref.........................John Simas TM

I subscribe to a number of magazines of all nature because there are some
great ideas found in
many obscure articles.  Also, I listen to people who travel a'lot for ideas
especially when sitting around a medical office or ask questions with
medical people who see the world differently.  Keep your eyes and ears open.
xoxo Carlitos Ramon.