Frommer's Costa Rica Day by Day features regional and city itineraries that will help you maximize your time while touring the country's top sights. Tour the fabulous scenery of the Nicoya Peninsula, lose yourself amid the cloud forests of Monteverde, surf your way down the Pacific Coast, or witness the awesome splendor of the Arenal Volcano erupting at night. Personally researched by a longtime resident, Frommer's Costa Rica Day by Day provides in-depth coverage of this fast-changing country, with recommended accommodations in every price category. You'll visit rugged wilderness preserves and sleepy beach towns, spectacular orchid gardens and mineral hot springs at the foot of a steaming volcano. There are adventures here to suit all ages and abilities: swooping from treetop platform to treetop platform on a canopy tour, taking a dip in a jungle swimming hole, spotting playful spider monkeys as you hike through lush foliage, or watching endangered sea turtles nest on the beach. You'll also get coverage of shopping and nightlife in the San Jose; detailed full-color maps; 500 full-color photos, a full chapter on Costa Rica's intriguing history and culture, information on special-interest tours, and advice on planning a successful Costa Rica vacation. Frommer's Costa Rica Day by Day also includes a color fold-out map, and a full-color wilderness guide.

Unspoiled beaches, tropical jungles, volcanic mountains, exotic wildlife-Costa Rica's natural areas and preserves offer remarkable geographical and biological diversity for adventure-loving travelers. With complete profiles of forty accessible parks and preserves, including five newly protected areas, this book guides visitors through the unique terrain, and discusses each area's climate, flora, and fauna. Whether you are a hiker seeking a panoramic view from a volcanic summit, a kayaker longing to glide downriver under a jungle canopy, or a naturalist eager to observe an incredible array of exotic wildlife, this guide is the key to exploring Costa Rica's best natural areas with an emphasis on environmental awareness. Explorers will find descriptions of hikes, nature walks, and water trails, plus information on each park's facilities, attractions, and history. Hikes range from short walks to extended backpacking trips, and a complete planning section details when to go, what to expect, what to bring, and health precautions.

San Diego is a touristic magnet, attracting an estimated 40 million tourists a year. That's not surprising: the city boasts some of the most fascinating museum and historic sights in the nation, plus a vibrant nightlife scene (including cutting-edge restaurants), eye-candy nature sights and postcard-perfect beaches. Frommer's San Diego day by day advises the reader how to see the best of everything--in the smartest, most time-efficient way. The book contains: - The best of San Diego in one, two or three days, plus thematic tours for every interest, schedule or taste. - Walking tours of the city's best-loved neighborhoods, from the Gaslamp Quarter to La Jolla and Coronado. - Scores of evocative color photographs. - Bulleted maps that show the reader how to get from place to place, plus a tear-resistant foldout map in a handy, reclosable plastic wallet. - Highly opinionated appraisals of hotels, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife for all budgets from luxury to backpacker. - Exact pricing so there's never any guessing. - Detailed information on the best outdoor adventures, beaches and day trip.

Inspired by the eye-opening events of 9/11, the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, more and more people are waking up to the value of service – and realizing that their vacation may be the best place to incorporate it into their hectic lives. Even more profoundly, many travelers are deciding that the best way to recharge may not be lying on a beach, but stepping outside of their normal routine to make a difference in the lives of others. The result is an experience that allows travelers to explore a culture in great depth, make new friends, and come home feeling that they have learned and benefited even more than those they have helped. The book will provide a diverse range of volunteer vacations, with most trips easily accomplished within a one or two-week vacation. Following the highly successful format of Frommer’s 500 Places To Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up, chapters will be organized by subject, providing dozens of unique vacation ideas for any traveler: Introduction: How you know if a volunteer vacation is right for you, and what to ask Sharing your knowledge: teaching vacations Animal welfare: surveying wildlife, animal rescue Working with children: orphanages, at-risk youth, street kids Scientific research: archaeology, marine life Healing the environment: conservation work, trail building, tree planting Building better communities: construction projects and manual labor Share the health: AIDS education, working with the disabled, feeding the hungry Teaching through sport: coaching and training Bridging cultures: working with indigenous peoples, historical preservation, music Special events: becoming a festival volunteer Crossing generations: helping seniors Getting political: elections, human rights, refugee relief, community organizing Peace-building: conflict resolution and security Religious service: retreats and faith-based assistance Bringing expertise: opportunities for those with specialized skills Serving your kids: children-friendly trips that will open their eyes to the world

Frommer's EasyGuides contain punchy, concise prose by our expert local journalists, which gives readers all they need to know to plan the perfect vacation. This includes reviews for travel venues in all price ranges, as well as information on culture and history that will enhance any trip.

Frommer's South America is the premier guide to the continent, with complete coverage of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. You'll get details on Carnaval, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Galápagos, the hang gliding in Rio, the ice cream in Mérida, and much more. Whether you're an archaeology buff, an outdoor adventurer, or a partier in search of a good time, South America presents so many diverse travel options that it'll make your head spin. Frommer's South America will help you plan a memorable trip, starting with our highly opinionated lists of the best experiences the continent has to offer. Now with more maps and expanded Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay coverage.

Here Lies America is a fast-paced, hilarious travel narrative in which Jason Cochran visits the major American tourism attractions that exist because something really horrible happened there. He romps through disaster zones, battlefields, terrorist attack sites--as long as it has a parking lot and a gift shop, he put it on the itinerary, no gravestone unturned. Along the way, he takes a look at the motivations of the people who installed the monuments, and when he pauses to seek the meaning behind the early demise of one of his own ancestors, he uncovers a tragic race-based murder plot that had been buried for a century. This is an American journey that could only be undertaken in our turbulent times, celebrating the absurd while surveying the country's teetering patriotic mythology from a healthy position on the margins. Jason chases newspaper clippings in dusty archives to inscriptions on rusty plaques to get to the truth, and in doing so, creates a moving miniature portrait of what it really means to be an American: what's "fact," what's "history," and what really matters.

Spend less, see more. This is the philosophy behind Pauline Frommer’s guides. Written by travel expert Pauline Frommer (who is also the daughter of Arthur Frommer), and her team of hand-picked writers, these guides show how to truly experience a culture, meet locals, and save money along the way. With Pauline Frommer's Ireland you'll: Tap into a wealth of affordable accommodations, from coastal cottages with breathtakng sea views, to central city apartments close to all the action in Dublin. Make Ireland's stunning scenery your backdrop for inexpensive golf, horseback riding, sailing, fishing, cycling, and hiking. Learn the art of comic improvisation in Cork City, or the volcanic, organic detailing of raku ceramics in West Cork Discover Belfast and Northern Ireland, where former prisoners are now tour guides and troubled spots are must-see neighborhoods. Get inside the "other" Ireland and meet locals at art classes, attend backroom folk music jams at the neighborhood pub, visit local markets, and more.

At last, a guide to all of Europe--from budget to deluxe--complete with Frommer's trademark style, accuracy, and easy-to-use format. It includes a wide array of options, from grand hotels to charming and affordable guesthouses, from five-star dining rooms to simple cafes. Maps.