Showing titles in North America

In 2003, software engineer David Miller left his job, family, and friends to hike 2,172 miles of the Appalachian Trail. AWOL on the Appalachian Trail is Miller’s account of this thru-hike from Georgia to Maine. Listeners are treated to rich descriptions of the Appalachian Mountains, the isolation and reverie, the inspiration that fueled his quest, and the rewards of taking a less conventional path through life. While this book abounds with introspection and perseverance, it also provides useful passages about hiking gear and planning.

Emma Gatewood told her family she was going on a walk and left her small Ohio hometown with a change of clothes and less than $200. The next anybody heard from her, this genteel, farm-reared, 67-year-old great-grandmother had walked 800 miles along the 2,050-mile Appalachian Trail. And in September 1955, atop Maine's Mount Katahdin, she sang the first verse of "America, the Beautiful" and proclaimed, "I said I'll do it, and I've done it."

A few years after quitting his job to follow an ill-advised dream of becoming a guide on the Colorado River, Kevin Fedarko was approached by his friend, the National Geographic photographer Pete McBride, with a vision as bold as it was harebrained. Together, they would embark on an end-to-end traverse of the Grand Canyon, a journey that, McBride promised, would be “a walk in the park.” Against his better judgment, Fedarko agreed to the scheme. The ensuing ordeal, which lasted more than a year, revealed a place that was richer, and far more complex, than anything the two men had imagined.

In the span of one unforgettable year, Coyne crisscrosses the country in search of its greatest golf experience, playing every course to ever host a US Open, along with more than two hundred hidden gems and heavyweights, visiting all fifty states to find a better understanding of his home country and countrymen. Coyne’s journey begins where the US Open and US Amateur got their start, historic Newport Country Club in Rhode Island.

To live in a pristine land unchanged by man... to roam a wilderness through which few other humans have passed... to choose an idyllic site, cut trees and build a log cabin... to be a self-sufficient craftsman, making what is needed from materials available... to be not at odds with the world but content with one's own thoughts and company. Thousands have had such dreams, but Richard Proenneke lived them.

Burnt out after running his own business, James Anthony arrives in the pastel skies of Florida's Key West to start a journey of catharsis. His destination? Deadhorse, Alaska, on the edge of the Arctic Ocean, via the backroads of the continent. Dodging burly wildlife keen to take a bite out of him, Anthony meets the quirky, good-hearted folk of North America’s backwaters, learning how Britain influenced the continent’s history, much of it painfully unsavoury.

There is a fine line between optimism and stupidity. Sometimes I wonder whether I cross that line too often. But what is life without a little risk? It's too easy to sit back and avoid all jeopardy and discomfort, and I suppose that's all right as long as you're comfortable with a life without spice. Life is short enough without wasting it away on the couch.

Simon McCartney was a young British alpinist climbing many of the hardest routes in the Alps during the late seventies, but it was a chance meeting in Chamonix in 1977 with Californian "Stonemaster" Jack Roberts that would dramatically change both their lives - and almost end Simon’s...The Bond is Simon McCartney’s story of these legendary climbs.

The Amish, one of America's most intriguingly private, unique, and often misunderstood religious communities, have survived for 300 years! How has that happened? While much has been written on the Amish, little has been revealed about their history. This book brings together in one volume a thorough history of the Amish people. From their beginnings in Europe through their settlement in North America, the Amish have struggled to maintain their beliefs and traditions in often hostile settings.

From pristine, colorful beaches and dramatic landscapes to endless outdoor thrills and rich cultural heritage, Hawaii's Big Island offers an unparalleled adventure for every type of traveler.

Unveil the beauty and charm of San Diego County with this comprehensive guidebook, perfect for travelers seeking to explore one of America’s most diverse and vibrant regions. From its stunning coastline and picturesque parks to its rich cultural heritage and family-friendly attractions, this book covers everything you need to plan the perfect trip.

"We do not take a trip; a trip takes us," John Steinbeck noted in his 1962 classic, Travels with Charley. In the summer of 2008, Bill Barich stumbled upon a used copy of Travels in Ireland, where he has lived for the past eight years, and it inspired him to explore the mood of the United States as Steinbeck had done almost a half century before. With a hotly contested election looming, and in the shadow of an economic meltdown, Barich set off on a 5,943-mile cross-country drive from New York to his old hometown in San Francisco via Route 50....

Discover the unparalleled beauty and adventure of two of Hawaii's most iconic islands – Maui and Kauai. Whether you're seeking thrilling outdoor activities, stunning landscapes, or a taste of authentic Hawaiian culture, this guide is your gateway to unforgettable experiences.

Find out what it's really like to cross 1,400 miles of the Alaskan Highway and travel some of the loneliest and most spectacular parts of America and Canada, all without leaving the comfort of your easy chair. Join author Shawn Inmon and his 20-year-old Subaru Outback on his epic solo road trip through British Columbia, Yukon, and Alaska. Part personal odyssey, part travel memoir, take an expedition into one of North America’s last remaining wildernesses.

Great businesses don't always have great starts. In the summer of 2010, Green Beret Jason McCarthy was going through a divorce, separating from the military, and struggling with money issues. He used his new company, GORUCK, as an excuse to drive to all lower 48 states with his dog, Java, to meet people and get into adventures, while searching for how to rebuild in America.

Many Americans remember a family road trip to visit one of our 63 national parks. Why did Americans start preserving these sites of natural and historic interest? How were these parks selected, and what steps did conservationists, activists, philanthropists, politicians, and others take to protect millions of acres against the booming developments of an expanding nation? An award-winning writer, researcher, and American Studies scholar, Dr. Megan Kate Nelson tackles these questions as she takes you on a marvelous journey through some of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Delve into the heart of Central California's hidden gem with "Central California Wine Country: A Comprehensive Travel Guide – San Luis Obispo County Edition." This meticulously curated guidebook is your passport to the diverse and enchanting wine regions of San Luis Obispo County, from the renowned Paso Robles appellation to the cool, fog-kissed vineyards of the Edna Valley.

From the first call to a Portland detective about a missing woman to the police’s growing certainty that she had been murdered, from the heroic efforts to locate the body to the flight from Maine of their chief suspect, and from the painstaking work of collecting evidence and building a case to the struggles over jurisdictional questions to the twists and turns of the eventual trial, Finding Amy is a dramatic story of brutal murder and exemplary police work with the human beings and emotion behind the shield.

In 2012, Derrick Rose was on top of the world. After growing up in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, Rose achieved an improbable childhood dream: being selected first overall in the NBA draft by his hometown Chicago Bulls. The point guard was a phenom, winning the Rookie of the Year award and electrifying fans around the world. In 2011, he became the youngest MVP in league history. Rarely had a bond between a player and fans been so strong, as the city wrapped its arms around the homegrown hero.

Have you ever wanted to quit your job, jump in the car with the person you love the most, and see what's around the next bend in the road? I did just that. My wife and I were crazy enough to quit good jobs, pack our suitcases, and head for the open road. We took two months and drove through 30 states, visited more than a dozen national parks, and put 13,000 miles of twisting country roads under our wheels. We found once again that the journey is greater than the destination. There's room in the backseat. We'd love for you to come along with us on our lap around America.