Kirjahaku

For whatever reason, man has always been drawn to the sea. It invigorates us, inspires our creativity and spirituality, and awakens our senses of wonder, curiosity, and exploration. People have long walked the shore in search of treasures washed up from far away. Now, visitors and residents of New England and northeast have this source to get them to them to the beach and tell them what they can expect to find. Covering the coast from Maryland up to the Canadian border, The Beachcomber's Guide to the Northeast describes every prominent beach, their makeup (whether sand or rocky,) and includes directions and pertinent facts about available amenities. The text also includes descriptions and photos of flora and fauna that might be seen, such as crabs, shells, birds, insects, even fish and whales. And of course there are the flotsam and jetsam that can be found, from driftwood to sea glass to beach stones and even shipwrecks. It's all covered here. There's even a section on pirates and pirate treasure. This is the book to bring the next time you head to the beach.

Stretching from end to end of the thirteen original colonies, from Fort Kent, Maine, to Key West, Florida, the connecting sections of the Atlantic Coast Highway, known as United States Route No. 1, have formed a highway of history for three hundred years. Washington traveled it repeatedly in peace and war. Now the 94-mile section between New York and Philadelphia carries a heavier average traffic than any other road of equal length in the world. Route 1 connects New York, Princeton and Philadelphia, the three cities at which the capital was established in the early years of the Republic, with Washington, the final choice; and it passes near or through nearly all of the Revolutionary battlefields and many of those of the Civil War. It grew from blazed footpaths of the settlement era to its present condition, which the Bureau of Public Roads of the United States Department of Agriculture reports as surfaced for 84 percent of the distance, graded but unsurfaced for 15 percent, and unimproved for less than 1 percent. Work is proceeding on the less improved sections. The motorist traveling the road today is reminded frequently of the life and customs of the early days by the old towns and villages through which Route 1 passes; but they also cannot miss the unique places of interest—coffee shops, gift shops, restaurants, stores, museums, parks, and scenic turnouts—to be found along its whole length. A tour down Route 1 is a trip of history and nostalgia, as well as a slice across American culture, with all its quirks and eccentricities in full bloom.

The 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail is the largest inland water trail in the United States. The trail follows the traditional travel routes of Native Americans, including the Wabanaki and Iroquois, as well as their Paleo-Indian ancestors. Beginning in Old Forge, New York, and ending in Fort Kent, Maine, the NFCT encompasses 58 lakes and ponds, 22 rivers and streams, 62 portages totaling more than 55-miles. With just over 347 miles, Maine is home to more of the trail than any other state and it is the wildest, least populated section. The Canoe Trail in Maine includes Umbagog, Moosehead, Rangeley, Flagstaff, Chesuncook, and Chamberlain Lakes, as well as the entire 92-mile Allagash Wilderness Waterway. This is a guide for doers, as well as dreamers. Practical information on paddling, gear, safety, plus maps will help you get started; and the beautiful photography will inspire you to prepare and help you stay motivated until it’s time to head out. A paddle on the Canoe Trail is a trip through time as canoeists and kayakers discover the rich Native American and forestry history of the region, pockets of pristine wilderness, and an abundance of wildlife, including moose, bear, deer, beaver, bald eagles, and loons. It’s the backwoods paddling experience of a lifetime.

Beginning in 1849, Henry David Thoreau made four walking tours of Cape Cod. Along the way he recorded his observations on the natural world as well as on the nature of the people he met. His resulting book has generally been considered his sunniest and lightest, filled with jokes, puns, and tall tales. Now photographer Dan Tobyne captures the essence of the Cape Cod Thoreau discovered. The combination of short excerpts and stunning imagery carries Thoreau’s work to a new level, presenting it in both glowing words and pictures.

Cities are constantly changing, constantly under construction, constantly moving forward. But if you know how and where to look, and if you look carefully, much of the past is waiting to be rediscovered beneath the façade of progress. Dan Tobyne leads readers on a contemporary archaeological tour of Boston, revealing fascinating aspects of the city’s history through what remains of old buildings, structures, streets, and even such mundane objects as manhole covers, callboxes, and trash cans.