Gifts for Travelers – Consider Books

Guest Author - Barb Conley

Travel and books just seem to go together. From guides, to how-tos, to stories and photographic essays, there’s a book for everyone. The only danger is, you might want to keep them for yourself. Here are a few ideas specific to West Coast Travel.

Travel Guides

Eyewitness Travel Guides by D.K. Publishing - These books are very visually pleasing, well-organized and include color pictures, maps, driving tips and more. Include history as well as travel information. Great for arm chair travel too. Version for the Pacific Northwest includes information about Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, with specifics for Seattle, Portland and Vancouver, B.C. The California version provides general information about the state, as well as specific information for Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, and Northern and Southern California. The San Francisco version is an area-by-area guide for the city plus travel information for Northern California.

Accessible Trails in Washington's Backcountry: A Guide to 85 Trails by the Washington Trails Association. Organized by Olympics, North Cascades, South Cascades and Eastern Washington. Trails are rated as easy, moderate and difficult and include information about grade, surface and distance. A plus: information about accessible parking and campgrounds.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Pacific Northwest – this easy to use guide helps you identify wildflowers, trees, mushrooms, mosses, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, butterflies and mammals of the region. Great for anyone living in the Pacific Northwest or planning a visit.

Hiking Death Valley: A Guide to Its Natural Wonders & Mining Past by Michel Diggonet

Gardenwalks in the Pacific Northwest: Beautiful Gardens along the Coast from Oregon to British Columbia (Gardenwalks Series) by Alice Joyce

Travel Stories

West Coast Journeys: 1865-1879 The Travelogue of a Remarkable Woman by Caroline C. Leighton. A young woman’s adventure from New England to San Francisco and up the Pacific Coast.

Pacific High: Adventures In The Coast Ranges From Baja To Alaska (A Shearwater Book) by Tim Palmer. An environ mentalist/conservationist tells the story of his nine month journey along the west coast mountain ranges by foot, bicycle, van, airplane and boat.

How Tos

Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler by Susan Foster

The Packing Book: Secrets of the Carry-on Traveler by Judith Gilford

Fitness for Travelers: The Ultimate Workout Guide for the Road by Suzanne Schlosberg

Travel Advisory! How to Avoid Thefts, Cons, and Street Scams While Traveling by Bambi Vincent and Bob Arno

For Kids

The Everything Kids’ Travel Activity Book: Games to Play, Songs to Sing, Fun Stuff to Do - Guaranteed to Keep You Busy the Whole Ride! by Erik A Hanson and Jeanne Hanson.

Kids Love Travel Memories: A Family's Keepsake Book for Scrapbooking All the Fun Places You'Ve Visited by George Zavatsky and Michele Zavatsky

Coffee Table Books: Views of our West Coast Neighbors

Alaska by Susan Nightingale and Fred Hirschmann. An up close and personal look at the grand state we call the Last Frontier by two who know her intimately.

Oasis of Stone by Bruce Berger and Miguel Angel de la Cueva. This is a labor of love – a gorgeously photographed and poetically written tour of Baja California Sur – the southern most state on the Mexican Baja Peninsula – by people who have traveled and loved her for a long time.

Happy Travels!


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