If you are planning a trip to Germany, Austria, or Switzerland and are a fan of Rick Steves, you will certainly want to purchase his DVD called ‘Rick Steves Best of Travels in Europe.’

This DVD encompasses such cities as: Munich and Bavaria; Salzburg, Austria; Austrian Lakes District; Swiss Alps; and Western Switzerland to name a few. It also has highlights of Munich’s Oktoberfest and Rick’s Back Door Travel Tips.

Rick Steves personal guide is a great way to see this area of Europe. He does a great job in telling the watcher not only about places to see, but how to travel when you’re a guest in a foreign country; how to change money; how to find the off-the-beaten path places away from the tourist crowd; and features nice family type restaurants. He provides a perfect balance unlike other videos in this genre.

His personal touch is engaging and this travelogue is narrated from his perspective. On one DVD, he sits down and explains how he packs and shows what he puts in his money belt that he wears.

He does a lot of walking/hiking during his trips and explains about packing lightly and being able to carry everything in a backpack of sorts. He takes the time to explain things, offers a bit of history, talks to the locals, and is just a normal kind of guy.

The DVD is well done and you will want to watch it again and again just for fun. A trip anywhere should be intellectually stimulating and interesting as well as filled with beautiful people and sights–Rick Steve’s makes sure it is.

Again, this is another sensational Rick Steves combo, putting episodes about all the German-speaking countries into one package.

Whether you are planning a Sound of Music tour in Salzberg or a trip to Munich for Oktoberfest, this is one DVD that you will utilize over and over again as you plan your vacations to Europe.

Some of the material is dated of course, since we use the Euro now, but the sights and sites he covers are timeless.

Rick Steves Best of Travels in Europe – Germany, Austria & Switzerland

Among the best guides for travel is the Eyewitness Travel Guides. Munich & The Bavarian Alps guide is no exception. If you are planning a trip to Munich for Oktoberfest, this is one guide you should own.

Available at Amazon.com, this guidebook sells for $16.50.

Those who have purchased this book have nothing but praise as evidenced by their ratings and reviews.

The layout of the book is clear and logical which makes choosing destinations and getting there easy.

The maps in the book are all in full color, as always in this series, showing roads as well as public transport routes.

Countless illustrations enrich the reading and each is carefully drawn so as to save more than a thousand words found in other guides.

The choice of restaurants and hotels are all great picks.

If you’re planning on spending your vacation in Munich during Oktoberfest, then this compact little guide will be indispensable in locating the famous beer halls and tourist sights.

The maps are more than adequate and the walking descriptions to each locale are precise and accurate.

There is also corresponding material on how to use the U-Bahn in the city, and which station to take for each particular site.

There is a separate chapter on the beer halls of the city with a brief ranking system for the nosiest places, the friendliest, and the cheapest beer.

Intended for the casual tourist to the Alps also, there is comprehensive information on sites such as Berchtesgaden and Garmisch, which are excellent.

So this is a thrifty guide you can stick in your pocket and consult when you need to find a restaurant, beer haunt or hotel.

In short, if you’re a first time traveler to Munich, enjoy the greatest city in Europe and be sure to tuck away this guide.

For a diverse, wonderfully cosmopolitan city, this guide provides a marvelous introduction, and does an admirable job of hitting all the highlights.

Needless to say, touring Munich during Oktoberfest requires a comprehensive guide and the Munich & The Bavarian Alps Eyewitness Travel Guides is one of the best.

Eyewitness Travel Guide: Munich & The Bavarian Alps

There are many guidebooks available for your trip to Istanbul, but the one that stands out the most as evidenced by ratings and reviews is the Knopf Guide: Istanbul.

Each page is a rich palette of several illustrations, most colored, scattered throughout the text. There are sketch maps, portraits of famous people, cutaway views of buildings, street scenes, and works of art, plus depictions of the money used, buses, telephone booths, wildlife, and virtually everything else that can be explained visually.

The Istanbul volume, for example, has sketches displaying Turkish body language. The text is t intelligent and informative, with practical information put at the end.

The indexing is excellent, and the bibliographies are thoughtfully chosen. All this is packaged in flexible covers and in a convenient carrying size.

Comments ranging from awesome to the most useful guide ever written are just some of the reviews made by customers who purchased this book at Amazon.

Its small size and wonderful insight makes it a must-read. When you take this book with you to Istanbul, here are some recommendations on its use:

* Skim through it and look for points of interest as well as other locations near by. This is great to do the night before or the morning of your excursion, so that you can plan your day.

* Since the best way to travel in Istanbul is by public transportation, take every opportunity to look at the maps and trace your route while traveling to your locations.

* Explore the locations using the approach from the guide.

* Once you have finished your day, you will find that it is wonderful to re-read the guide find out more about the locations you visited.

* After reviewing where you had been, pick your next locations for the following day.

This guidebook to Istanbul is the most detailed and well-illustrated of all guidebooks found on this country.

Especially interesting is the historical information on the Ottoman Empire.

Having this guidebook along will enhance your travel experience to Istanbul, and it is certainly worth the price!

Knopf Guide: Istanbul

At Amazon, you can purchase this guide used from $2.35 and up.

If you are planning a trip to Panama City for the express purpose of viewing the Panama Canal, you will certainly want to pick up a copy of NOVA: A Man, a Plan, a Canal.

This DVD has been touted as the best of the NOVA series.

Not only is it an educational experience, but it offers a history of the building of the Panama Canal as well as rare footage and photographs and is narrated by the author, David McCullough.

This DVD will afford you the opportunity to get an unprecedented look at the Canal’s 30-year construction and wondrous present-day operation. Meet the persevering pioneers whose vision and determination overcame tremendous physical-and fiscal-obstacles.

It also reveals why France abandoned the project after ten years and 20,000 deaths.

Work alongside the builders who turned a fantastic dream into a fascinating reality. See immense steam shovels carve the earth. View the amazing “water elevators” that lift huge vessels 85 feet. Watch high-speed photography capture a lock passage.

Those who have purchased this DVD have touted its magnificent detail. Not only does it explain the engineering aspects, but it tells the story of the people who made this happen through endurance and great hardship.

A teacher commented that he used this film for many years in his history classes. It is based on the book by David McCullough titled, “The Path Between the Seas.”

It is narrated by the author and has footage of the actual building of the canal. The companion book is also very useful. It has many photographs and shows the entire construction effort.

After viewing this DVD, your family will become more excited about planning your trip to Panama City. This is an educational experience for your children, and one they will remember for a lifetime.

And you are a fan of NOVA on PBS, you will certainly want to have this DVD as part of your collection.

NOVA: A Man, a Plan, a Canal – Panama

Planning a vacation entails a great deal of research. While you may not have time to read books, you can purchase DVDs on the destination of choice.

Timeless: A National Parks Odyssey is a perfect example of how you can prepare the family for an adventure of a lifetime.

With photography by David Fortney and music by Patrick O’Hearn, countless individuals who have purchased this DVD have raved about the fact that it not only captures the essence of our National parks, but offers soothing and peaceful images as well.

The landscapes are outstanding, and the time-lapse photography is moving and incredibly beautiful. This, combined with the music, makes this DVD a must have for anyone planning to travel to the National Parks.

Those who have purchased this item have all commented that the presentation is timeless, and it transports the viewer into another dimension with a mesmerizing effect. It covers most of the major National Parks within the United States & Canada.

Using amazing camera techniques, Fortney is able to create images never seen before. Patrick O’Hearn’s music has enhanced the beauty and magnificence of these parks.

The scenes from many of the National Parks are impeccable. The time lapse and slow motion photography is artistically moving. Seeing all the aspects of nature and its changes is very powerful.

Since there is no narrative, the music that accompanies the footage is of the highest quality. Not only does this offer information on the parks, but it is a great DVD for relaxation as well.

This is one of the best DVDs of its genre. Individuals viewing this DVD are amazed by its quality and the overall experience it offers. The rave reviews continue!

If you are looking for an inspiring and breathtaking look into America’s National Parks that your entire family will enjoy, and one that also provides a backdrop of soothing music that radiates an inner peace, pick up a copy of this DVD.

Timeless: A National Parks Odyssey

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Saturday

Rise and shine early as you have a lot to see and do today. 

After breakfast, you will proceed to the Independence Visitor Center where you can receive free tickets for the tour of Independence Hall.

Afterward, you can see the famous freedom ringer while walking past the glass-walled Liberty Bell Center. 

Step inside to explore interactive exhibits and films, and even get an x-ray view of the Bell’s inter-workings. 

Your kids will marvel at the size of the Bell, not to mention the clumsiness of the people who dropped it, thereby causing the famous crack.

Independence Hall is just across the street.  Here, you’ll stand in the actual room where George Washington, John Adams and Philadelphia’s own Benjamin Franklin debated ideas and helped build a nation. 

Have lunch at the new Independence Al Fresco at Independence Visitor Center.  Savor Philadelphia cheesecake for dessert.

Your next stop is the Betsy Ross House, where the most famous seamstress applied her needle and thread to the first American flag. 

They also have a fun gift shop where you can buy tri-corner hats so your kids can continue the colonial fun when you get home.†

Don’t miss a stop at the Franklin Fountain, where you and your kids can enjoy this old-fashioned ice-cream parlor and order ice cream, sodas, sundaes, and other treats available. 

Likewise, dinner at Jones’ is on the menu for a great family experience.

After dinner, you may wish to attend the Lights of Liberty Show, which is a must-see for the kids! 

Sunday

Today you can spend the day visiting Historic Philadelphia.  Take a horse-drawn carriage on 5th Street, and relax as the drivers take you past attractions and homes from the 18th century. 

Afterward, head on over to the National Constitution Center, which is an interactive museum devoted to the four-page document, the Constitution.

Then, sadly, it’s time to head home! 

As you drive home, your family can reminisce about all the wonderful sights, sounds, and tastes experienced in this wonderful historic yet modern city.

Philly is easily accessible from most cities in the northeast and mid-eastern seaboard, so if you fancy a weekend getaway, head for Philadelphia.

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With the summer over and the kids back to school, you may have an opportunity to plan a family weekend visit to historic Philadelphia.

Here is a typical tour designed with kids in mind.

Friday Evening

The Philly Overnight Hotel Package gives you two nights’ accommodations with free parking.  This package includes:

* 2 nights’ accommodations

* Free Parking for both nights (upwards of a $75 value at most Center City hotels)

* A Free gift upon check-in:  an adorable Philly’s More Fun Teddy Bear

* Macy’s Savings Pass featuring an 11% discount

Upon arrival in Philadelphia, it is recommended that you dine at Pizzicato, a kid-friendly restaurant serving delicious pizza.  Located at the corner of 3rd and Market Streets, it is in the Old City of Philly and is considered a Friday night hot spot.

Your family will enjoy the next item on the itinerary:  the Ghost Tour of Philadelphia.  You will be met by a guide who will take you for a 90-minute walk around the Old City as he or she tells imparts a spooky story.  You will also be given lanterns to light the way.  Bring a stroller for the younger children, if applicable.

The next stop this evening is an optional free concert at Penn’s Landing, which overlooks the Delaware River. You will definitely enjoy the river in the City of Brotherly Love. Then it’s time to head back to your hotel.

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