Moon Handbooks New York State

Moon Handbooks

by Christiane Bird

One of the oldest states in the Union, New York is a picture of contrasts, from the bustling metropolis of New York City to the quiet solitude of the Adirondacks. In Christiane Bird's updated and revised Moon Handbooks New York State, travelers are given everything they need to plan a trip through this diverse landscape. Included in the book are tips on going to New York City's jazz clubs, theatres, and festivals; visiting the Great River Estates of the Hudson Valley; touring the Finger Lake Wineries; and hiking and canoeing in the Adirondacks. Fun and off beat destinations include hunting for treasures in the Chelsea flea market or visiting Harriet Tubman's home in Auburn. Winner of the New York Public Library award for outstanding reference book, Moon Handbooks New York State is the most informative guide on touring the state.

Genres: Travel

800 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Christiane Bird has written about a wide variety of topics, ranging from the world of music to the Middle East. Her books have involved travels in place (to Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Oman, and Zanzibar) and travels in time (from New York City's prehistory through to its present days). She has worked on staff at the New York Daily News and published articles in many different publications, including the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times. She is also an avid reader of fiction and has published short stories in The Southern Review and Antaeus.

Reviews

[Muzzlehatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I generally really like the Moon handbooks, and this one is no exception. Lots of space devoted to the Big Apple, of course, but plenty of that is devoted to the byways and obscurities, and its nice to see just as much wordage devoted to neighborhood restaurants and taverns as to swank expensive downtown bistros -- which have a tendency not to last till the next edition, anyway. Bird's coverage of upstate varies -- I like the Finger Lakes/Rochester/Syracuse sections but I think her upper Hudson valley chapters are a little thin. As always, there aren't any pages wasted on pretty color pictures, and not a lot of maps, but there is plenty of history and attention paid to what makes NY state something different from other states. Which is, after all, the point of travelling -- the differences, the specialness. 2nd edition (2001) reviewed.

[David Corleto-Bales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding handbook that I've read cover to cover, from the North Country to Buffalo to the tip of Long Island.