Food Journeys Of A Lifetime: 500 Extraordinary Places to Eat Around the Globe by National Geographic Society

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Few experiences are as satisfying as a chance to explore the world through food. Compiled from the expert travel writers at National Geographic, Food Journeys of a Lifetime scours the globe for the world’s best dishes, markets, and restaurants that are worth traveling far and wide to savor.
In this fully revised and updated edition, find the best of the best, including:

Tokyo’s famed fish market and its 226 Michelin-starred restaurants--the most of any city in the world
The ultimate Philly cheesesteak from the city of brotherly love
The perfect cup of tea in China
The spice markets of Marrakech
The juiciest cuts of beef in Argentina
The freshest pasta in Italy
And the ultimate Swiss wine route
Featuring more than 60 new bites and destinations, this book is the key to building a foodie traveler’s ultimate bucket list. Within the flavors and tastes of every cuisine, you’ll find unique stories about the places, cultures, climates, and chefs that produce these extraordinary dishes. A wide selection of recipes invite you to try new cooking techniques and obtain flavors from abroad at home; top 10 lists offer side trips from chocolate factories to champagne bars.

Filled with a dazzling array of diverse recommendations, each page of this inspiring book will make your mouth water--and spur your next gourmet vacation.

my thoughts:

National Geographic does food - how could I not read this one, right? I'm serious. Yummy, delicious food from all over the world - my mouth waters just thinking about it. And luckily, National Geographic always delivers the BEST photographs, so I know I'm going to be looking at vibrant and vivid images of glorious food. So, yeah, the title of this book, Food Journeys Of A Lifetime: 500 Extraordinary Places to Eat Around the Globe,  already makes me love it. Of course, once I open it up and start flipping pages and reading the different sections about coffee, restaurants, spices, and street foods, well, I am in LOVE. 

The photographs are awesome - they make you want to jump on a plane and fly everywhere to try all the foods. YUM! And the top ten lists were so much fun to read through. I loved reading about the best maple syrup, the best beer, and which food festivals should be added to your bucket list. Plus, I loved that we get to read about food from all over the world, including our beautifully diverse country. What a delectable treat this book was to peruse through. I had such a blast making my own list of places to visit and foods to try. Talk about foodie paradise!

Food Journeys Of A Lifetime makes for a terrific holiday gift - who doesn't love a beautiful coffee table book, right? And, who doesn't enjoy armchair traveling now and then? Plus, you can use this book to help you plan out your next vacation or three and check out all of the extraordinary places there are to eat in this wonderful world. All I know is that this book is a must-read. Make sure to check it out ASAP - you are going to eat it up!

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Drives Of A Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Road Trips Second Edition by National Geographic

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

This lavishly illustrated travel planner features 500 of the world’s most memorable driving experiences, from legendary Highway 1 in California to Japan’s famous Irohazaka Winding Road.

Compiled from the favorite trips of National Geographic’s legendary travel writers, Drives of a Lifetime spans the globe to reveal the best celebrated and lesser-known road trips on the planet. Inside this fully updated and revised edition–featuring more than 20 new drives–you’ll find routes through spectacular landscapes, ideas for quick getaways, leisurely journeys of discovery, and revelations of secret worlds beyond Google Maps. Some are legendary long-distance odysseys; others are easy day trips close to home, taking you down charming local byways. All will inspire you to pack up the car and hit the road. The possibilities are endless: Take Colorado’s San Juan Skyway for a 10,000-foot climb over towering mountain passes. Or travel the ancient Silk Road on an expedition across Central Asia and through time. Or why not drive the perimeter of Puerto Rico, a tropical paradise with many beaches along the way? Whatever your taste and budget, you’ll find plenty of routes tailored to your interests. Alongside detailed descriptions, full-color maps guide the way and planning tips help you make the most of your journey; top 10 lists offer quick, easy side trip ideas. Beautiful, informative, and inspiring, this luxurious volume is a lifelong resource that readers will treasure.

my thoughts:

National Geographic has done it again. They have created another MUST-HAVE book. This time round they are all about road tripping. Yep, Drives Of A Lifetime is THE book to grab if you want to map out trips by car that will take you cross country or traveling the roads in Central Asia. This book has it all. You can flip through sections devoted to ocean views, hills galore, and historical hot spots. There are gorgeous photographs to get lost in, plenty of tips, maps, and basic information to help you figure out when to go and where to go. Talk about the BEST travel book ever!

I just loved flipping through Drives and immersing myself in all the photos and maps. I had so much fun planning out trips I can't wait to take in the coming years. There are so many beautiful places to visit in the world - you can't help but create a long list of all the places you want to see. I absolutely LOVED spending time with this book. I have it out on my coffee table as a reminder of what's to come for the new year. This is one book that I know I'll be going back to again and again. 

I definitely recommend Drives Of A Lifetime to fans of National Geographic and to anyone looking for their next travel read - you will LOVE this book to bits!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Drives Of A Lifetime 

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Backyard Guide To The Night Sky by National Geographic

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Explore the star-studded cosmos with this fully updated, user-friendly skywatcher’s guide, filled with charts, graphics, photographs, and expert tips for viewing — and understanding — the wonders of space.

Stargazing’s too much fun to leave to astronomers. In these inviting pages, “Night Sky Guy” Andrew Fazekas takes an expert but easygoing approach that will delight would-be astronomers of all levels. Essential information, organized logically, brings the solar system, stars, and planets to life in your own backyard. Start with the easiest constellations and then “star-hop” across the night sky to find others nearby. Learn about the dark side of the moon, how to pick Mars out of a planetary lineup, and which kinds of stars twinkle in your favorite constellations. Hands-on tips and techniques for observing with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope help make the most out of sightings and astronomical phenomena such as eclipses and meteor showers. Photographs and graphics present key facts in an easy-to-understand format, explaining heavenly phenomena such as black holes, solar flares, and supernovas. Revised to make skywatching even easier for the whole family, this indispensable guide shines light on the night sky–truly one of the greatest shows on Earth!

my thoughts:

Looking up at the stars and wondering about the cosmos - talk about a fascinating way to spend your night. I absolutely love the memories I have of looking up at the night sky and imagining what the stars looked like up close and the planets filled with the unknown. It was exciting, scary, and so much fun.  The vastness that is the sky mixed with the darkness that creates night - the planet rotating and moving at its own speed as we sleep and dream.  Talk about fascinating food for thought.  And so, when I was given the opportunity to read National Geographic's latest edition of Backyard Guide To The Night Sky, I immediately said "yes."   I was so excited when I got my copy and grabbed a cuppa so I could settle in and learn about the night sky that has kept my imagination running wild for years.

Chock full of photographs, graphics, tips, and information - this book is THE book to read if you want to learn about watching the night sky and what's in it. You can find out about what telescope to use and the various star patterns that make up the constellations. Its so interesting, you can't help but get lost in the pages of this book - learning so much about the beautiful night sky that mesmerizes us.  I found myself completely engaged in this book - it was so much fun to read. I loved it!

I would happily recommend Backyard Guide To The Night Sky to fans of National Geographic and to budding astronomers/fans of stargazing - you will LOVE this book to bits!!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Backyard Guide To The Night Sky

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Journeys of a Lifetime: Second Edition by National Geographic

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Featuring 120 new destinations, this best-selling inspirational travel guide reveals 500 celebrated and lesser-known destinations around the globe, from ocean cruises in Antarctica to horse treks in the Andes. Completely revised and updated for its 10th anniversary.

Compiled from the favorite trips of National Geographic’s legendary travel writers, this fully updated, 10th anniversary edition of Journeys of a Lifetime spans the globe to highlight the best of the world’s most celebrated and lesser-known sojourns. Offering a diverse array of possibilities, every continent and possible form of transport is covered, illustrated with glorious color photographs. With 16 new pages; new destinations like Cartegena, Colombia; and updated information throughout, this timely new edition is the perfect resource for travelers who crave adventurous trips–from trekking the heights of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to mountain biking in Transylvania–and those searching for more specific experiences (the world’s top small cruises, hot new museums around the world, secrets for following in the footsteps of film and TV heroes, and more). Each chapter features stunning photography, full-color maps, and practical tips, including how to get there, when to visit, and how to make the most of your journey.

Informative and inspiring, this luxurious volume is a lifelong resource that readers will treasure for years to come.

my thoughts:

If travel is your bag, then this gorgeous book from National Geographic is for you. Journeys of a Lifetime is a giant travel guide (perfect for coffee tables) that is chock full of beautiful photographs, fascinating tidbits about dream destinations, the how-tos on ways to travel, and so much more. This lovely book will have you fantasizing about all the trips you never knew you wanted to take.  

The detailed descriptions of all the exciting things to-do in these 500 trips are just beyond - think surf school in Hawaii to a Champagne Tour in France to stalking the "Big Five" in Botswana (a country I would love to visit after reading all of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books).  There are just so many amazing destinations in the world waiting to be visited and experienced - it is unbelievable! I couldn't help but be reminded of just how big the world really is and how much it has to offer. And so, I found myself thinking of a travel bucket list - how could I not?

This awesome list of lifetime trips was created by National Geographic's legendary travel writers; which means that all of these trips going to be fun, thrilling, and unforgettable.  The list is diverse and offers all of the various types of transportation options available.  Plus, these trips are for everyone - meaning, they cater to wine lovers to thrill seekers.  This is one book you won't want to put down.  I couldn't stop flipping through it and planning out dream vacations for me, my family, and friends.  I just LOVED this book to bits!! And I know that you will LOVE it, too. 

I would happily recommend Journeys of a Lifetime to fans of travel and National Geographic - you won't want to miss out on this fantastic book!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Journeys of a Lifetime

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!