Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
No one knows the world like National Geographic—and in this lavish volume, we reveal our picks for the world's most fabulous journeys, along with helpful information for readers who want to try them out.

Compiled from the favorite trips of National Geographic's travel writers, Journeys of a Lifetime spans the globe to highlight the best of the world's most famous and lesser known sojourns. It presents an incredible diversity of possibilities, from ocean cruises around Antarctica to horse treks in the Andes. Every continent and every possible form of transport is covered.

A timely resource for the burgeoning ranks of active travelers who crave adventurous and far-flung trips, Journeys of a Lifetime provides scores of creative ideas: trekking the heights of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania... mountain biking in Transylvania... driving through the scenic highlands of Scotland... or rolling through the outback on Australia's famous Ghan train... and dozens of other intriguing options all over the world.

Journeys of a Lifetime also features 22 fun Top 10 lists in all sorts of categories. What are the world's top 10 elevator rides, bridges to walk across, trolley rides, ancient highways, or underground walking adventures? Readers will love evaluating and debating the selections.

Each chapter showcases stunning photography, full-color maps, evocative text, and expert advice—including how to get there, when to visit, and how to make the most of the journey—all packaged in a luxurious oversize volume to treasure for years to come.

Customer Reviews: Read 21 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

A Good Starting Point for Adding to Your Trip Choices January 30, 2008
39 out of 39 found this review helpful

If you take one trip a year and never go to the same place twice, even the most fortunate person will probably visit no more than 50 different places in a lifetime. What a great idea it is to be more aware of what your choices are before taking one of those 50 trips.

The book is organized around nine themes as described thusly on the contents page:

1. Across Water (Unforgettable voyages, from luxury cruises to dugout canoes)

2. By Road (Chasing the horizon: legendary drives and secret detours)

3. By Rail (Watching the world pass by your window)

4. On Foot (The pleasures of the oldest and greenest mode of travel)

5. In Search of Culture (Life-enhancing odysseys for lovers of all the arts)

6. In Gourmet Heaven (Seeking out the world of flavors)

7. Into the Action (Hands-on adventures for those who'd rather do it for themselves)

8. Up and Away (Flights, skyways, and bird's-eye views)

9. In Their Footsteps (Pilgrimages for readers, dreamers, and history fans)

Typical trip choices are usually described in one or two pages with color photographs and maps taking up at least half of the space. An entry contains brief advice on when to go, how long the trips last, how far ahead to plan, special packing advice, and Web sites for more information. Highlights of such a trip are also briefly described so you can get a sense of what you'll see and do. Some trips are, however, listed in as little as a paragraph.

Naturally, you have to judge a book like this very carefully. By definition, you haven't taken most of the trips!

I looked at trips I've taken that were terrific and noticed some weaknesses in the advice. Here are a few examples:

1. Each entry is treated as though there's nothing else nearby that might be of interest. As a result, you need to check the geographies to see how you might combine several trips listed in the book into one. For example, many of the New England trips are located not too far from one another and you should consider doing more than one on a visit.

2. The timing of how to enjoy other events isn't always considered in enough detail. For instance, Boston's Freedom Trail is listed in the book. But you aren't told that if you come around Patriot's Day (a Monday in April) you can also see re-enactments of the battles of Lexington and Concord and the running of the Boston Marathon on the same trip.

3. Some of the advice seemed just plain wrong from my point of view. When I went to the Galapagos, I was there for 10 days in the dry season and 4 days in the wet season. The wet season was awful! People there said to be sure to always come in the dry season (which ends around the beginning of winter in North America). The book made no mention of this issue in discussing when to go. Also, many of the most interesting things to do in the Galapagos aren't mentioned.

As a result, use this book to start dreaming a little about what you might go see. I was fascinated by some of the choices for Australia and New Zealand that I had never heard of but which looked very beautiful. But do plenty of homework beyond the book to find out what you really need to know before choosing and organizing a trip.

Bon voyage!

5 out of 5 stars

A "Must-Have" for those who love to travel! January 12, 2008
38 out of 38 found this review helpful

I love to travel and I think this book is fantastic! Browsing through this beautiful book, I had to add several travel destinations to my list of places I someday want to visit. If you want some great vacation ideas, from US to exotic oversees destinations, this book will provide many. Paging through the book is also an educational opportunity to discover a bit more about places around the world.

The book is not organized by location (although there is an index for finding specific destinations), but rather the itineraries are listed under the following categories:

Across Water
By Road
By Rail
On Foot
In Search Of Culture
In Gourmet Heaven
Into the Action
Up and Away
In Their Footsteps

Each destination or journey entry includes a page of photos and information. A small map showing the location and route (if applicable) is included as well as a list of highlights. There is also a paragraph or two about the trip and each destination includes sections labeled: When to Go, How Long, Planning, Insider Information, and Websites. These provide some good information and tips for travelers and the website listings give the readers a way to find more details if they want to plan a trip.

The book contains a wealth of ideas and there is certainly something for everyone. Just a sampling of the trips in the book:

Sampling Food along the Mediterranean
Following Che's trip in Argentina (as depicted in the movie "The Motorcycle Diaries")
Cycling Across Transylvania
Riding the Moroccan Camel Train
Driving from Utah's Bryce Canyon to Capital Reef
India's Golden Triangle (Dehli, Jaipur, Agra)

This is a beautiful book that is very well done. National Geographic does not disappoint here!

4 out of 5 stars

Amazing value December 27, 2007
35 out of 36 found this review helpful

This is a great "coffee table" style book, filled with interesting information and the sort of excellent photography one would expect from National Geographic. What's most remarkable, however, is simply the price. This is a big, heavy, tome of a book--hardcover--and I would have expected it to easily cost twice what it does. It's a real pleasure to browse through, and I learned of quite a few places I had not heard of or would not have thought about as options for travel destinations. It is not a resource per se. Think of it as a collection, a wide array, of mini-travelogues with good photography (even if on a fairly matte paper stock), and given the large size of the book, this allows for fairly large-format images. A good value.

5 out of 5 stars

"The PERFECT Stocking Stuffer" November 9, 2007
19 out of 81 found this review helpful

Was just thinking what a PERFECT stocking stuffer this book would make. Especially for those with the travel bug. Books have always been my favorite stocking stuffer. Much better than the mindless toys and trinkets most people give.

Searched Amazon.com's bestsellers for each category and here are some stocking stuffer suggestions...

For Baby Boomers: "You: Staying Young: The Owner's Manual for Extending Your Warranty (You)"

For College Students: "How To Ace Your Way Through College and Still Have a Life"

For Young Girls: "The Daring Book for Girls"

For Young Boys: "Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy"

For Moms with Small Children: "Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food"

For Working Women: "Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny"

For Men: "Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, & Priorities of a Winning Life"

For Entrepreneurs: "The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich"

4 out of 5 stars

Great Gift November 17, 2007
15 out of 51 found this review helpful

This book makes an excellent gift for anyone who likes to tavel. The pictures of course are just beatiful.

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