Thomas Cook has always been drawn to dark places, for the powerful emotions they evoke and for what we can learn from them. These lessons are often unexpected and sometimes profoundly intimate, but they are never straightforward. With his wife and daughter, Cook travels across the globe in search of darkness-from Lourdes to Ghana, from San Francisco to Verdun, from the monumental, mechanized horror of Auschwitz to the intimate personal grief of a shrine to dead infants in Kamukura, Japan. Along the way he reflects on what these sites may teach us, not only about human history, but about our own personal histories. During the course of a lifetime of traveling to some of earth's most tragic locals, from the leper colony on Molokai to ground zero at Hiroshima, he finds not only darkness, but a light that can illuminate the darkness within each of us. Written in vivid prose, this is at once a personal memoir of exploration (both external and internal) and a strangely heartening look at the radiance and optimism that may be found at the very heart of darkness.

Dena was a busy midwife trapped on the hamster wheel of working motherhood. Adam was an eccentric Buddhist yogi passing as a hard-working dad. Bella was fourteen and wanted to be normal. Sophia was up for anything that involved skipping school. Together, they shouldered backpacks, walked away from their California life of all-night births, carpool schedules, and Cal Skate, and criss-crossed India and Nepal for eight months-a journey that led them to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the tree where the Buddha sat, and the arms of Amma the Divine Mother. From the banks of the Ganges to the Himalayan roof of the world, this enthralling memoir is an unforgettable odyssey, a moving meditation on modern family life, and a spiritual quest, written with humor and honesty-and filled with love and awe.

Tracey Carisch thought she had it all. As a wife, mother, and successful executive, she seemed to be living the modern American dream. But one night, a panic attack sent her tumbling into an existential crisis and questioning everything about her life. That's when she and her husband made a decision that shocked their family and friends: they sold everything they owned, pulled their three young daughters out of school, and became a family of wandering globetrotters. Loaded with hilarious mishaps as well as deeply meaningful revelations, Excess Baggage chronicles the Carisch family's extraordinary, eighteen-month adventure across six continents. As they navigate the trials and tribulations of international travel, the family encounters unique people and bizarre situations that teach them about the world-and themselves. Carisch's candid and insightful account of her family's journey will have you laughing out loud, shedding a few tears, and bringing the lessons of family travel into your own life . . . without ever having to leave home.

Add fun, history, and jaw-dropping natural wonders to your southwestern road trip with RoadTrip America's Arizona and New Mexico: 25 Scenic Side Trips, each one beginning and ending at an Interstate highway and drivable within a day. Full-color maps and photographs illustrate easy-to-follow scenic routes through breathtaking landscapes and iconic towns in Arizona and New Mexico. Discover the surreal beauty of White Sands, watch the sun set over Monument Valley, or explore the subterranean marvels of Carlsbad Caverns. Find out why Jerome was "the Wickedest Town in the West" or walk in the footsteps of Wyatt Earp in Tombstone. Pamper yourself at a spa in Taos or soak up the vibes at an "energy vortex" in the red rocks of Sedona. With this brand-new, up-to-date guide as your companion, all this and much, much more will be yours to discover and enjoy-one extra day at a time! Stunning color imagery and photography throughout Easy-to read, full-color route maps with points of interest, mileage, and more Color-coded pages for easy identification of routes by geographic region Up-to-date insider tips for getting the most out of each route and staying safe Phone numbers, websites and visitor info for parks, attractions, and out-of-the-ordinary lodging & dining Researched and written by native Arizonan and adventure traveler Rick Quinn, whose road trips have taken him from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska and San Francisco to Washington D.C. Photographer, travel writer, and anthropologist, Quinn is an expert on the topography, history, and culture of the American southwest and how best to enjoy its wonders by automobile.

My son Alexander was born in New York City, a town millions of children call home. These kids love to share their backyard (Central Park), their playgrounds, their restaurants, their favorite museums and their passion for New York. They make sure the Big Apple doesn't lose its youthful charm, despite being the most sophisticated and cosmopolitan of cities. Even the brattiest of New Yorkers stroll wide-and-starry-eyed at the city's wonders. And every morning brings the promise of a new discovery, a new treat for the senses, a gift. The City's spirit is as contagious as a deep belly laugh-you'll catch it and pass it along. Promise. Yes, you'll find some crab apples and worms in the Big Apple. But, when you pack up to return home, you'll agree that New York is one amazing town. This snappy 2012 travel guide will show you where to eat, play and stay, as well as give you budget tips and places outside of the City worth your while.

Perfect for planning and enjoying a stress-free family holiday, this easy-to-use guide book is packed with insider tips and information on Rome's best family-friendly activities and attractions. Marvel at the stunning ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, admire the art treasures in the Vatican museums, make a wish and throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain or follow in the footsteps of the Romans at the Colosseum. From recommendations of child-friendly restaurants to suggestions for rainy-day activities, this guide book takes the work out of planning a family trip to Rome. Inside Family Guide Rome: - Each major listing includes details of the nearest places to grab a snack or meal, what do if it rains, the closest toilets, and where kids can play and let off steam - Contains cartoons, quizzes and games to keep young travellers happy all day long - Detailed coloured maps of all the major attractions and areas help you navigate with ease - Colour-coded area guides make it easy to find information - At-a-glance pages highlight all the best sights and activities in each area so you can plan your day quickly - Features expert suggestions for the best places for families to stay, eat and shop - Gives essential travel information, including transport, visa and health information - Covers Ancient Rome, Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori, Piazza di Spagna, Trevi Fountain, Villa Borghese, Northern Rome, Trastevere, Janiculum Hill, The Vatican and more Looking for a comprehensive guide to Rome? Try our DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Rome. About DK Eyewitness Travel: DK's Family Guides are designed to help families make the most of their holiday, with easy-to-read maps, tips, and information to enrich your journey. DK is the world's leading illustrated reference publisher, producing beautifully designed books for adults and children in over 120 countries.

Stuck indoors? This book is your saviour. Turn to a bumper 501 simple and accessible games and activities to keep your whole family amused for hours, if not days. Inside, in the garden, in the car, for all family sizes and ages - this book covers all the best classics you might have forgotten how to play, like stuck in the mud and the alphabet game, and introduces brand new games too. No fancy equipment needed, just easy to follow instructions. This book has everything you need to keep everyone happy.

A guide to taking 'one-on-one' trips with a child, where one adult and one child have a unique opportunity to bond while sharing a travel adventure. In addition to endorsing such an experience, the book gives all the practical travel information needed to accomplish such a trip.

Santa Fe offers plenty of fun for children. Although best known for its arts and culture, the city has museums, parks, hikes, special attractions and seasonal events sure to charm children of any age. This newly updated Sunstone Press classic presents an enticing menu of places to go, things to see and activities to entertain and amuse children visiting Santa Fe as well as those fortunate enough to live in the city, all in an easy-to-read format. Addresses, phone numbers and websites to make the information more accessible are also included. The guide opens with a child-friendly chapter on Santa Fe's history designed to help parents and children get the most out of their exploration of this unusual and fascinating place known for its three cultures. The book also offers a family-focused calendar of events designed to guide visitors and residents as they plan their time to enjoy the area's annual events that have special appeal to children. Also included is information about recommended day trips, as well as child-friendly places and events in nearby Albuquerque. Author Anne Hillerman grew up and raised her own children in Santa Fe. A professional journalist for more than 20 years, Anne is the author of other books including "The Insiders' Guide to Santa Fe (Globe Pequot)" and Sunstone Press's "Done in the Sun," a children's book of solar energy projects. She is the daughter of Southwest mystery writer Tony Hillerman and lives in Santa Fe with her photographer husband.

Imagine yourself in a schoolroom in one of the most remote regions of one of the most hard-to-reach countries on earth. Nepal. The Lower Mustang region to be exact. To reach it takes a 14-hour flight from New York to Doha, Qatar. Then four hours by air to Kathmandu. Transfer at one of the world's most dangerous airports to a 90-minute flight to Pokhara, followed by a jarring, eight-hour Jeep ride over a vertiginous dirt road - one side is a mountain wall, the other side a two-hundred foot cliff. Finally you arrive, but it's not just any schoolroom. It has been converted into an operating room so that doctors from New York Eye & Ear Infirmary can provide the gift of sight to 24 Nepalis who were blind due to advanced cataracts. Jeff Blumenfeld witnessed this first hand. He was there as a traveler, but also as a volunteer. A voluntourist. People often wonder how they can explore the world and help the less fortunate even if they don't possess specialized skills. These are people who make lousy vacationers. They're bored sitting on a beach or touring umpteen churches on a cruise ship excursion. They want a meaningful role when they travel. That's where voluntourism comes in - a mix of both travel and volunteering. Is it hard work building wells and schoolhouses or excavating dinosaur bones? Yes, it is. But voluntourism doesn't take a particular outdoor skill, just plenty of sweat and the desire to see the world and leave it a better place. Travel With Purpose deals not with celebrities, nor the rich and famous. Instead, it relays examples from Blumenfeld's travels and many others from Las Vegas to Nepal. From health care facilities to impoverished schools. These are stories of inspiration from everyday people, all of whom have definite opinions about the best way to approach that first volunteer vacation. You don't need to be wealthy to travel to foreign lands to volunteer; you may not even have to go to foreign lands, as opportunities may exist within your own state. Blumenfeld shows readers how to identify the right location and volunteer situation, how to go about planning trips and preparing for activities, how to reach out, how to help. Through vivid examples and first hand stories from both recipients of volunteer work and the volunteers themselves, Travel with Purpose may make you rethink your next vacation.

Perfect for planning and enjoying a stress-free family holiday, this easy-to-use guide book is packed with insider tips and information on the best family-friendly activities and attractions. Admire the views from the Eiffel Tower, build sandcastles on the beaches of the French Riviera or marvel at the majesty of Versailles. From recommendations of child-friendly restaurants to suggestions for rainy-day activities, this guide book takes the work out of planning a family trip to France. Inside Family Guide France: - Each major listing includes details of the closest toilets, the nearest places to grab a snack or meal, what do if it rains, and where kids can play and let off steam - Contains cartoons, quizzes and games to keep young travellers happy all day long - Detailed coloured maps of all the major attractions and areas help you navigate with ease - Colour-coded area guides make it easy to find information - At-a-glance pages highlight all the best sights and activities in each area so you can plan your day quickly - Features expert suggestions for the best places for families to stay, eat and shop - Gives essential travel information, including transport, visa and health information - Covers Alsace, Lorraine, the Champagne region, Le Nord, Picardy, Paris, Normandy, Brittany, the Loire Valley, Burgundy, the Franche-Comte, the Rhone Valley, the French Alps, the Massif Central, Perigord, Quercy, Gascony, Poitou, Aquitaine, the Pyrenees, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence, the Cote d'Azur, Corsica and more Looking for a comprehensive guide to France? Try our DK Eyewitness Travel Guide France. Only going to Paris? Try Family Guide Paris.

The Bumper Book of Would You Rather?: Heroes and Villains Edition and The Bumper Book of Would You Rather?: Princes and Princesses Edition are out now! Stuck at home on a rainy day or heading off on a long journey? Need something fun and engaging to occupy you, your kids or your whole family? Then get stuck into these 350 ridiculous, mind-boggling and hilarious hypothetical questions! Would you rather always have wet hair or always have wet feet? Would you rather live in a lighthouse on an island or a treehouse in a rainforest? Would you rather give the stranger on the bus next to you GBP1 million or receive GBP50,000 yourself? And would you rather chew someone else's chewing gum . . . or drink someone else's backwash??? The perfect brain-stretcher for anyone aged 6 to 106, The Bumper Book of Would You Rather? is guaranteed to provide you with HOURS of entertainment. Don't miss these other great titles from Sphere Books: ** Distract Yourself: 101 Positive Things to Do and Learn Whilst You Stay Home ** ** Home Sweet Home: The Little Book of Natural Cleaning ** ** Shelf Respect: A Book Lovers' Guide to Curating Book Shelves at Home **

A week on a beach, a day at a spa, a hike in the hills -- tourism is taken for granted today, but over the past 500 years, it has played a significant role in the shaping of modern Britain. Holidays were once effectively limited to a handful of wealthy people, but by the 20th century a day at the seaside had become almost universal. In the process quiet villages have becoming busy spa towns, new resorts have been created around Britain's coast and largely unspoilt areas of the countryside have had to cope with the increased mobility of the population. Some places have become wholly reliant on tourism as their primary industry, and with changes in popular tastes in recent years this has created problems for some communities. Tourism and the Changing Face of Britain traces the story of tourism in Britain from the Middle Ages to the present day. It stretches from a time when travel was by horse or coach to the modern era where cheap air travel can take holidaymakers anywhere, including far from Britain's shores. The book shows how holidays, and the pursuit of leisure, have created destinations, sometimes whole towns and even had an impact on the countryside. This wide ranging study examines topics such as pilgrimages, spas, seaside holidays and the discovery of Britain's past, present and future.