The Mystery of the Tuscan Hills is a personal travel account on how to find the ancient Etruscan civilization in contemporary Italy. The author is a practicing cardiologist who, at age 40, began working at classical dig sites around the Mediterranean Sea, toiling in the summer sun as a "grunt"-coupling that with study trips over the past 25 years. The sites discussed and visited include all phases of Etruscan history and culture, from the 9th Century BC until the 3rd Century BC, when Roman might destroyed and absorbed the society. However, enough remains to provide a lifetime of study and travel opportunities. This monograph encompasses a series of portraits, or snapshots, of the Etruscans-as the author perceives them. It is not an encyclopedia of Etruscan sites and cultural history, nor a detailed travel book of Tuscany. This book will be surrounded on a bookshelf filled with elaborate coffee-table tomes of the flowers, birds, villas and museums in Tuscany, and traditional travel guides-most repeating the same information. The Mystery of the Tuscan Hills reveals a Tuscany that most travelers drive through or around, and view from a distance, but rarely "see." Learning to understand the Etruscans will also allow the traveler to get his hands around this exquisite space-one of Earth's Edens. This book is an attempt to better understand the Etruscan mind. Just as a great painter exposes the inner-self of the subject on the canvas, the successful biographer must explore the psyche of his subject, and not simply present a dry, scientific history of dates, battles and plagues. This monograph, as it rambles through Etruria (Tuscany), will paint a portrait of the Etruscans as we understandthem in the 21st Century-not a simple task, since their written language has defied translation.

"We did not all come back." Thus begins the rare firsthand account of the extraordinary ordeal of the Karluk, the flagship of explorer Vilhjalmar Stefansson's Arctic expedition of 1913-1916. When ice trapped the Karluk, Stefansson abandoned Captain Robert A. Bartlett and the crew-eleven of whom perished-to their fate. When the ice crushed the Karluk and sank her, Bartlett led the shipwrecked survivors safely to Wrangell Island. From there, with one Inuit companion, he journeyed across 700 miles of frozen seas and Siberian wilderness to return with rescuers. It is a feat that rivals Shackleton's own celebrated efforts to seek for the crew of the Endurance.

Interpretation and Tour Leadership: Principles and Practices of Tour Guiding is a complete manual to tour guiding that is based on the author's first-hand experience of training more than 3000 tour guides. With a practical hands-on focus, it guides the reader through the key roles and responsibilities of a tour guide from interpretation techniques, leading visitors in difference scenarios, dealing tricky situations to setting up a tour guiding business. Packed with real life international case studies, each chapter follows a thorough pedagogic structure which includes features such as training objectives, key terms, theory highlights, assignments, further reading and links to videos.

Hidden in and around the Detroit and Ann Arbor area are some great roads, trails, and bike paths that are fun to explore. Best Bike Rides Detroit and Ann Arbor describes 40 great recreational rides in the metro areas. With most rides between 5 and 35 miles-including road rides, rail trails, bike paths, and mountain bike rides-it's easy to find a ride that suits your tastes. Each route includes complete directions, a map, a text description of the area you'll be riding, the GPS coordinates of the start/finish point, and color photos of one the ride's features. Also included is information on local restaurants, lodging, maps, bicycle shops, other facilities for cyclists, and community resources. Look inside to find: * Detailed maps and directions * Rides that explore the urban areas as well as the surrounding country * A variety of rides, most between 5 and 35 miles in length * In-depth information about each ride, including length, terrain, traffic conditions, and road hazards * Interesting facts about each area * Options to create longer or shorter rides

Grounded in scholarly analysis and personal reflection, and drawing on a multi-sited and multi-method research design, Momentous Mobilities disentangles the meanings attached to temporary travels and stays abroad and offers empirical evidence as well as novel theoretical arguments to develop an anthropology of mobility. Both focusing specifically on how various societies and cultures imagine and value boundary-crossing mobilities "elsewhere" and drawing heavily on his own European lifeworld, the author examines momentous travels abroad in the context of education, work, and spiritual quests and the search for a better quality of life.

'Atlas of Improbable Places has that rare, through-the-wardrobe quality. It is a delightful compendium of the strangest places on the planet.’ DAILY TELEGRAPH 2020 WINNER OF THE EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR Atlas of Vanishing Places. In Atlas of Improbable Places, Travis Elborough goes in search of the obscure and bizarre, the beautiful and arcane. His unique atlas shows you the modern world from surprising new vantage points. Discover the secret Soviet city of Zheleznogorsk and the church tower of San Juan Parangaricutiro, miraculously still standing as the sole survivor of a town sunk by lava. Explore the underground realms of Beijing and Berlin, dug for refuge and espionage, and the floating worlds of remote Palmerston and the macabre Island of Dolls.   The truths and myths behind these hidden lairs, forgotten cities and improbable wonders are as varied as the destinations themselves. These curious places are not just extraordinary sights but reflections on our relationship with the world around us. Acclaimed author and social commentator, Travis Elborough, is a marvellous travel guide to the world's most unusual corners.    ‘This engrossing book traverses the heights and depths, the beauty and terror, of our world.’ THE OBSERVER   ‘Understatedly expressive.’ NEW YORK TIMES   ‘Deeply researched – and really worth your time.’ GQ

"A cornucopia of our weirdest and most wonderful archaeological sites and artefacts. They make you feel proud to be a citizen of these gloriously intriguing isles." Sir Tony Robinson An Ice Age cannibal’s skull cup, a hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold, a seventeenth century witch bottle… anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota unearths more than 70 of Britain's most intriguing ancient places and artefacts and explores the mysteries behind them. Britain is full of ancient wonders: not grand like the Egyptian pyramids, but small, strange places and objects that hint at a deep and enduring relationship with the mystic. Secret Britain offers an expertly guided tour of Britain’s most fascinating mysteries: archaeological sites and artefacts that take us deep into the lives of the many different peoples who have inhabited the island over the millennia. Illustrated with beautiful photographs, the wonders include buried treasure, stone circles and geoglyphs, outdoor places of worship, caves filled with medieval carvings, and enigmatic tools to divine the future. Explore famous sites such as Stonehenge and Glastonbury, but also discover: The Lindow Man bog body, showing neatly trimmed hair and manicured fingernails despite having been killed 2,000 years ago The Uffington White Horse, a horse-shaped geoglyph maintained by an unbroken chain of people for 3,000 years A roman baby’s bronze cockerel, an underworld companion for a two-year-old who died sometime between AD 100–200 St Leonard’s Ossuary, home to 1,200 skulls and a vast stack of human bones made up of around 2,000 people who died from the 1200s to the 1500s The Wenhaston Doom painting, an extraordinary medieval depiction of the Last Judgement painted on a chancel arch Explore Britain’s secret history and discover why these places still resonate today.

The fascinating story of the Irish in Boston unfolds in this engagingly written history. Full of heroism and romance, politics and brawls, it tells the stories behind the well-known history and vividly portrays what life was like for the Harrigans, Gallaghers, Kelleys, Finnegans, and others who made their home in Boston over the past three centuries. From the days of "No Irish Need Apply" in the 1850s to the inauguration in 1960 of the first Irish Catholic president, the Boston Irish have molded the history of the city -- and the nation -- in all areas of culture and society, and their spirited tale is told in these pages, completely updated with new information on Ted Kennedy's death, closing the Camelot Era for the Kennedy Family; the recent Hollywood focus on Irish history and South Boston; and the demise of Ireland's Celtic Tiger, changing the way Irish Americans think about Ireland

The landscapes and vegetation, the antelope, the hyaenas, cats and other carnivores, the birds and the smaller creatures … all are included in this comprehensive guide.

Plus: Tips and advice for getting the most out of your visit to the arid Kalahari

Rediscover the simple pleasures of a day trip with Day Trips from Dallas & Fort Worth. This guide is packed with hundreds of exciting things for locals and vacationers to do, see, and discover within a two-hour drive of the Dallas metro area. With full trip-planning information, Day Trips from Dallas & Fort Worth helps makes the most of a brief getaway.

Food Lovers' Guides Indispensable handbooks to local gastronomic delights The ultimate guides to the food scene in their respective states or regions, these books provide the inside scoop on the best places to find, enjoy, and celebrate local culinary offerings. Engagingly written by local authorities, they are a one-stop for residents and visitors alike to find producers and purveyors of tasty local specialties, as well as a rich array of other, indispensable food-related information including: • Food festivals and culinary events• Farmers markets and farm stands• Specialty food shops• Places to pick your own produce• One-of-a-kind restaurants and landmark eateries• Recipes using local ingredients and traditions• The best wineries and brewpubs

Best Easy Day Hikes Baltimore includes concise descriptions of the best short hikes in the area, with detailed maps of the routes. The 20 hikes in this guide are generally short, easy to follow, and guaranteed to please.

This definitive collection of the Bluegrass State's odd, wacky, and most offbeat people, places, and things is filled with quirky photographs throughout and maps for each region. Kentucky Curiosities includes humorous state facts and amusing stories and serves as a combination almanac, off-the-wall travel guide, and wacky news gazette.

Your round-trip ticket to the wildest, wackiest, most outrageous people, places, and things the Old Dominion has to offer! Whether you're a born-and-raised Virginian, a recent transplant, or just passing through, Virginia Curiosities will have you laughing out loud as Sharon Cavileer takes you on a rollicking tour of the strangest sides of the Old Dominion State. Meet Gary Stiteler, owner of Glen's Fair Price Store-a curiosity shop that has been open since 1941. Ask him how to get a Confederate uniform or a replica of the famous ball gown worn in Gone with the Wind. Visit the First Peanut Museum in the U.S.A. and learn about the history of the peanut, from antique planters and cultivators to peanut scoopers, all thanks to the Waverly Women's Club.Relive the glory of the old south at Berry Hill: Wander around the stately white home, now a resort, and view the free-standing mahogany horseshoe staircase acclaimed as one of the finest stairs in the country.

This definitive collection of the North Star State's odd, wacky, and most offbeat people, places, and things is filled with quirky photographs throughout and maps for each region. Minnesota Curiosities includes humorous state facts and amusing stories and serves as a combination almanac, off-the-wall travel guide, and wacky news gazette.

Written for cyclists of all stripes, Best Bike Rides books offer a diverse array of scenic tours in and around some of America's largest urban destinations. Road rides, rail trails, bike paths, and single-track mountain bike rides all get included. Most rides are in the 5 to 30 mile range, allowing for great afternoon outings and family adventures. Each book features 35-40 rides with color photos, maps, and point-by-point miles and directions.

This definitive collection of the Great Lakes State's odd, wacky, and most offbeat people, places, and things is filled with quirky photographs throughout and maps for each region. Michigan Curiosities includes humorous state facts and amusing stories and serves as a combination almanac, off-the-wall travel guide, and wacky news gazette.

Bring the calm of a day at the beach to your desktop anytime of year with Zen Garden Beach Day. A welcome respite from the demands of everyday life, it's the perfect meditative desk accessory for fun and effective stress relief. Includes everything you need to assemble your own Beach Zen Garden: 3 x 3-inch mini zen gardening tray, bag of sand, wooden rake, and miniature accessories (umbrella, starfish, towel, flip flops, tropical beverage) Illustrated mini book: Includes a 32-page mini book on the benefits of mediation Great Gift: A fun, stress-relieving desktop accessory for home or the office

With 57 miles of well-tended carriage paths-skirting some of the most beautiful sights on Mount Desert Island and free of automobile traffic-Acadia National park is a very popular destination among bicyclists. Audrey Minutolo-Le provides cyclists with an in-depth look at 18 of the island's finest loop routes, both on and off-road, and gives valuable tips on the prime times to cycle busy sections of Acadia. She also includes many great rides outside the park that are often overlooked. Each route is broken down by mileage, categorized by degree of difficulty, and described in detail with maps to help riders pick routes most comfortable for their skill level. Includes a new introduction and updated information on trails and routes.

Alaska Curiosities is a good-naturedly humorous compendium of the state's quirks and characters, with wholesome Americana content that will appeal to the whole family. A fun and accessible combination of almanac, off-the-wall travel guide, and wacky news gazette, Alaska Curiosities is great for travelers and non travelers alike.

From romance and robberies to cowboys and Indians, the Old West is filled with phenomenal happenings, mysteries, and ghosts that are sire to send a chill down any spine. Haunted Old West is the perfect collection for any campfire gathering.

Descriptions and maps to all the major climbing areas in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Two hundred new routes and two new climbing areas have been added for a total of nearly 1,000 routes at 13 areas.

Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler Rediscover the simple pleasures of a day trip with this fun and friendly guide. For local travelers seeking new adventures in their own backyards as well as for vacationers looking to experience all the excitement the area has to offer, each Day Trips (R) guide offers hundreds of activities to do, sights to see, and secrets to discover within a two- to three-hour drive and a route map for each itinerary. Complete with full trip-planning information including where to go, what to see, where to eat, where to shop as well as where to stay options for those who want to extend their Day Trip into a weekend. In Spring 2012 we are proud to be publishing six all new guides-The Carolinas, New Jersey, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Tampa and St. Petersburg, and the Twin Cities-as well as an updated edition of Day Trips from Kansas City.

For more than a decade, Best Easy Day Hikes has been one of FalconGuides' most popular series. Small enough to fit in a back pocket, each guide describes approximately 20 to 30 easy-to-follow scenic trails in and around national parks, cities and urban areas, and popular outdoor destinations across America. From Anchorage to Atlanta, the North Cascades to Northeast New Jersey, these guides take hikers and nature lovers to the best - and easiest - trails, whether in their own backyards or in and around their favorite vacation destinations. Happy Trails! Each guide features:Concise descriptions of the area's best hikes20 to 30 hikes - from half-hour strolls to full-day adventuresHikes for everyone, including families with young childrenGPS compatible trail maps and easy-to-follow directionsGPS coordinates to each trailhead