Dear Bob and Sue, I hope you don't mind that Karen and I have taken the emails we wrote to you while visiting the all of the national parks and published them as a book. We had a difficult time deciding on a title. One morning over coffee Karen asked, "What's the title going to be?" "I was thinking about calling it just Bob and Sue." I replied. "Just Bob and Sue, that's an odd title." "Not Just Bob and Sue. The title will be just -- Bob and Sue." "The book isn't even about them, it's about us. We should call it Just Matt and Karen." "We're not calling it Just anything." "Good, because Just Anything is a stupid title. Who would read a book about just anything? It's got to be about something." "Now that you mention it, the book isn't about anything in particular. It's really just - sorry, let me rephrase that, it's merely rambling observations about our experiences in the parks and the silly things that happen to us." "Then we shouldn't call it Just Anything." "We were never going to call it that " "Good." After a long silence Karen looked up and asked, "What's the title going to be?" "How about Bob and Sue?" I quickly replied. "They don't care what we call the book. How about Dear Bob and Sue?" "Sold " So, there you have it, Dear Bob and Sue is now finished. If you get a million of your friends to each buy a copy, I'll quit my job again and we'll go back to all of the parks. Next time we'll take you with us as our guests. Your friend, Matt

Seeing a grizzly bear at close range is an adrenalin rush. Getting the chance to white-water raft on a wild and scenic river is something that should never be passed up. Capturing a moose or a herd of elk on film from close range allows you to share that experience with friends who have never or will never get the opportunity to see either one or the other, or both. How about the chance to hike to a high alpine lake in Glacier National Park where as late as August you'll discover that the last mile of that hike is through snow, and upon reaching the lake you'll see icebergs floating? Many people would be happy to have any of those experiences even once. For author Joe Novak, now a full-time resident of the North Fork Valley, across the river from Glacier National Park, those and many more experiences like them have become the norm in his life. This is his story of deciding to buy upon first sight a piece of property far removed from the comforts of civilization. He immediately fell in love when visiting ten acres that were for sale in 1995. It wasn't the ten acres that left him speechless, but the surrounding area. To the east he looked into Glacier National Park. To the west were the peaks of the Whitefish Mountain Range. Seven miles to the north was the Canadian border. Those ten acres were surrounded by literally millions of acres of National Park Service and national forest lands. This is the story of his journey, and the experiences, challenges, and difficulties of living on that land, eventually year-round. He has survived a forest fire and a near drowning to chronicle the people he has come to know, the seasons, the views, and the wildlife. It is ultimately a love story-his love of what is commonly known as the North Fork.

Arizona State Parks have a lot to offer. They are the most scenic places in the state; they include canyons, deserts, lakes, mountains, ancient ruins, rock formations, cactus forests and scenic drives. Many people think that Arizona as nothing more than a giant hole in the ground and surrounded by sand dunes. Many think there's only one season, and that it never snows. Of course, if these individuals would ever visit Arizona, they'd see that Arizona is the most beautiful place in the world, and when it comes to snow, we certainly can hold our own. It's no wonder why so many Americans flock to Arizona, to witness the rich beauty it has. In this guide, you will find information about Arizona's many state parks.

MY MiniCamper CONVERSION

For those who love the great outdoors, there is no greater joy than having a versatile vehicle capable of transporting bikes, boats and camping gear to where the action is.

If the same vehicle can be used for picnics, tailgate parties, music festivals and replace a second car while seating 5 comfortably, you have a real winner.

The minivan conversion described in this book can do just that. It exploits the room and versatility of the minivan which, quoting Consumers Guide provides Easily the smartest use of space and cargo .

The four parts of the book provide an overview of the project, a guide to selecting an appropriate vehicle and two sets of plans to implement the conversion of several different minivans. It also includes the construction of a folding picnic table. The entire conversion job can easily be completed in one weekend.

When a Toyota Sienna is used for the conversion, full scale templates are provided for the plywood base and the cover over the storage area. This installation option requires no modification of any kind to the van.

Bills of material are provided to acquire the supplies quickly and efficiently.

Enjoy the outdoor fun with a great Minicamper

More at: www.myminicamper.com

Since the early sixties, there have been various individuals that traveled extensively in VW busses, also known as Transporters or Kombi. The Kombi are world travelers and have been manufactured in many plants around the world. Many of the camp followers of Rock and Roll bands traveled in various models of Kombi. There have been a few special conversions to the basic VW busses that have made them into little mobile homes on wheels. The authentic Volkswagen version was called a Westfalia after the town the van was modified. Gadget Guy goes Mobile is a tongue in cheek fantasy about a newly retired corporate executive that had a heart for adventure and being a single guy has the time and money to exercise his dreams of travel throughout North America and Mexico. His adventures include selecting and outfitting the travel vehicle of his choice, a 1990 VW Westfalia Syncro. The story presented here is pure fiction written as entertainment for my fellow VW friends on various VW, Type I, Type II, Vanagon and Syncro web page bulletin boards and blogs. The hero of our adventure is a fictional person, and everything here is just fantasy for the purpose of lighthearted entertainment. True-life adventures of many Syncro Westy and VW Vanagons, Busses travels can be traced through several Volkswagen related websites specific to Vanagons, Syncro and Type II Busses.

Join Messy Marcus as he explores some of the most interesting places in the world. In Denali Bus Animal Adventure, Marcus's day begins with nothing to do. Instead of becoming bored, however, Marcus goes to his computer and his imagination for entertainment. He quickly checks the Internet and is off on an exciting adventure at Denali National Park and Preserve. In his adventures, Marcus usually gets into some kind of mess and is questioned by his parents about it. Through his explanation, readers learn about the exciting places in the world he has explored. This all comes from his vivid imagination and his creative use of home, yard, and neighborhood.

Why would a middle-aged businessman, who had never even spent a single night outdoors, attempt to hike the entire 2,180 mile Appalachian Trail? Bill Walker, a former commodities trader in Chicago and London, and an avid 'streetwalker', had developed a virtual obsession to thru-hike the AT, which runs for fourteen states from Georgia to Maine. In the early spring of 2005 he set off, determined to hike this Georgia-to-northern Maine wilderness trail before the arrival of winter. Immediately, he realized he had plunged into a whole new world. The AT has some ferociously difficult terrain, winding through dramatically diverse geography, and covers the very highest peaks in the East. Walker's near 7-foot height earned him the trail name, Skywalker, and drew raves from fellow hikers. But that same height made him more vulnerable to weight loss, cold weather, and crushing fatigue. An elemental fear of bears, snakes, and getting lost also loomed large. The journey often seemed like a see-saw battle between his determination vs. his blunders. No other country has a footpath even remotely as popular as the Appalachian Trail. Up to 4,000,000 people hike on the AT during any given year. Mortals are compelled--or perhaps cursed--to relive their lifetime adventure. This is Bill Walker's (Skywalker's) unforgettable version, leavened with ruthlessly self-deprecating humor. His fondest hope is to inspire other rookies and novices, to give the Appalachian Trail a try as well.

This book is about RV camping in the public campgrounds spread across the U.S. These campgrounds are managed by and located on state, city, county or federal agency park lands. Being in a public park environment, campground sites tend to be among woods, spread out, and non-commercial. Because local, state or federal tax funds provide partial support for the parks, you will find that camping fees are often less than $19 a night. In addition, agencies will frequently give discounts (some up to 50%) to campers who are disabled, military, or seniors. The individual campgrounds selected for this book will accommodate most RVs of all classes and sizes. They are reasonably convenient to an Interstate road. You will also find a list of specific campground features, phone numbers, websites and GPS coordinates. Detailed, turn-by-turn directions from the Interstate, are also included. Granted, not all camps are full service or full hook-up, but the mix of amenities, modest fees, and beautiful location make for a wonderful RVing experience. All the campgrounds have a source of potable water and restrooms. Most have showers and dump stations or sewers. Many have electricity. With very few exceptions, all are pet friendly. A novel feature of the book is the inclusion of local 'Points of Interest.' If you're traveling in an area of the country new to you, a few suggestions of things to do or see, once your rig is setup, seemed like a good idea and will definitely add to your camping enjoyment.

Discover the Mojave National Preserve's natural wonders--the Mojave River, Kelso Dunes and Mitchell Caverns. Detailed descriptions of Mojave's attractions, habitats and routes with photos and history information

One day, a shepherd, while watching the sheep, saw a bush on fire. To his surprise, the bush didn't burn up. Curious, he drew closer, and there Moses heard the voice of God. He was on holy ground. One week, a father, mother, three children and a nephew went to Disney World, though they saw no bushes ablaze, wonders, lessons, and holy grounds were as abundant as the Florida sun. Read about Moses' call to Egypt alongside a family's vacation to Disney World and learn how to see holy ground all around you, anytime, everywhere, in the promised land, or the family van.

Discover the incredible highlights, history, geology & nature of Yosemite National Park with this entertaining, educational, point-by-point Waypoint Tour complete with travel expert stories, breathtaking photography & detailed tour maps. Your personal tour guide for Yosemite travel adventure www.waypointtours.com Waypoints Include: 1) Yosemite 2) Bridalveil Fall W1 3) El Capitan & Bridalveil View V14 4) Sentinel Rock & Four-Mile Trail V18 5) Sentinel Bridge & Cooks Meadow 6) Curry Village V22 7) Happy Isles & Waterfalls V24 8) Stoneman Meadow & Royal Arches V23 9) Yosemite Village V1 10) Ahwahnee Lodge 11) Yosemite Falls V3 12) Tunnel View W2 13) Chinquapin W5 14) Glacier Point & Half Dome G11 15) Wawona W10 16) Mariposa Grove S1 17) Tuolumne Grove O1 18) Olmsted Point & Tenaya Lake T24 19) Tuolumne Meadows T29 20) Tioga Pass & Lakes T39 21) Mirror Lake V26 22) Hetch Hetchy Reservoir H4 23) San Francisco 24) San Francisco Wharf & Maritime Park

Walt Disney World is the number one family vacation destination in the world. Crowds flock to sunny Florida to soak up the rays and, with luck, a bit of pixie dust. Along with countless others, my family journeyed to this magical world with visions of Mickey and Minnie, a castle with real princesses, and rides that went beyond our imaginations. We waited excitedly for the big day when we would pass through the lands that promised us fantasy, the future, and adventure around every turn. What we found, however, was more of a world the Disney villains might have Imagineered. We encountered tremendous crowds, cranky parents, whining kids, enormous groups of teenagers, and more terrors than any tower could have caused. What we found were.the Peak Seasons. "Walt Disney World Peak Seasons: Maximizing your Disney Vacation" will help you to truly understand that although the parks may be at capacity, there is a way to maximize your vacation with little to no stress.

Discover the incredible highlights, history, geology & nature of Yellowstone National Park with this entertaining, educational, point-by-point Waypoint Tour complete with park insider stories, breathtaking photography & detailed tour maps. Your personal tour guide for Yellowstone travel adventure Waypoints Include: 1) Yellowstone 2) Madison & Firehole Canyon 3) Fountain Paint Pots 4) Firehole Lake Drive 5) Midway Geyser Basin 6) Biscuit & Black Sand Basins 7) Old Faithful Inn & Lodge 8) Old Faithful Geyser 9) Upper Geyser Basin 10) West Thumb Geyser Basin 11) Lake Hotel & Lodge 12) Fishing Bridge 13) Yellowstone Lake 14) Mud Volcano 15) Hayden Valley Wildlife 16) Upper Falls 17) Lower Falls 18) Mount Washburn & Fires 19) Tower Fall Area 20) Lamar Valley & Wolves 21) Roosevelt Lodge Area 22) Historic Fort Yellowstone 23) Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel 24) Mammoth Hot Springs 25) Sheepeater Cliff 26) Norris Geyser Basin 27) Park Ranger Museum 28) Chief Joseph

Harriman State Park and its smaller companion, Bear Mountain State Park, comprise New York State's second largest preserve, a wilderness as beautiful as any forest in Vermont or Maine and only 45 minutes by car from Manhattan. Think of a hiking trip to Harriman Park as a short vacation with these key attributes: scenic beauty, exercise, great food, and minimal driving time. This book profiles 10 mostly moderate loop hikes that pass the Park's most interesting or scenic highlights. The Sky Hike, for instance, offers three wonderful views of mountain lakes, a unique formation called "Ship Rock," glacially polished rock, and mysterious flooded in iron mines. The Doctors and Lawyers trek includes a cave where a bandit hid out in the late 1700s and the remains of an herb doctor's house. The Tourist Hike takes you to a waterfall, a beaver dam, caves where Native American artifacts were discovered, and an old cemetery plot on the edge of Pine Meadow lake. Unlike other outdoor books, this manuscript breaks down each hike into three to six short intervals or segments (e.g. point A to point B), promoting safety, a sense of mastery, and greater appreciation for nature's beauty. Three illustrated maps are provided for visual enjoyment and overall route planning.