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Title: Maui Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Snorkel, Paddle, Surf, Drive
ISBN: 0967007240
Author:
Jerry Sprout
Janine Sprout
Publicate Date: 2007-03-15
Publish: 2007-03-15
List Price: $16.95
Average Customer Rating: 5.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $10.95
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $5.07
Amazon Merchant Price: $11.53
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Best Vacation Ever!
Best Vacation Ever
The fifteen days we had on Maui breezed by so fast. We thank our Trailblazer tour book for supplying all the funstuff and steering us away from the standard tourist traps. So many of the most beautiful beaches were unmarked so the exact driving directions were much appreciated. We spent one entire day darting in and out of the waterfalls along the Twin Falls trail.
Their frank advice saved us tons of time as we planned our itinerary each morning with our daughter who is fifteen. She wanted to get some beachtime in almost every day and we managed to make it happen. We chose their beginner snorkeling spots. The addresses to rent equipment were listed in the back pages.
By far our best vacation take along. Recommend it. Next up: Kauai!
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2: Maps and information missing
The Book includes a lot of hikes and nice spots on Maui but it was not a big help anyway. Some parts are written nicely, but this applies mostly to the car parts.
The different hikes are not rated by difficulty and also no estimated time is given. Even worse is that maps of the hikes are missing so you lack orientation when you are on your way - I personally would even appreciate topographical maps - but not even knowing which trails I would cross or whether there were any alternative routs was very annoying. Furthermore description of the trail heads is unclear. Different hikes that are not alternative routes are described in the same chapter which makes reading confusing. All together I can not recommend this book, especially not as a full travel guide to Maui or as your only hiking guide there.
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3: A quick read on To Dos in Maui
I bought this book to get an idea of where to hike on Maui -- without hiring a guide to show me the way. I won't know if this is successful until later in the year when I finally get to go to Maui.
What this book does do, though, is point out the best places to do activities. Then you can do further research in other books. I'm not gonna spend more money on another book! But I will, however, use this book as the basis for doing more research on the internet just to justify what the book states as the best To Dos in Maui.
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4: The Best Activity Guidebook to Maui
There are four activity guidebooks in this wonderful series: Maui Trailblazer, Kauai Trailblazer, Kauai Trailblazer, and Hawaii the Big Island Trailblazer (there is also a great planning guide to all the islands called No Worries Hawaii). I have been reviewing guidebooks for many years (and, in fact, wrote several well-received guides to travel guides in the pre-Internet era) and I can say without reservation that these four books are the best available for Hawaii. The authors, Jerry and Janine Sprout, have been roaming the Hawaiian islands for decades and taking a lot of useful notes and beautiful photos along the way. All of this translates into a wonderful, informative read (I've read them all cover to cover) even if you're only an armchair traveler dreaming of a vacation in the land of aloha. You'll learn a lot about these magical, magnificent places in addition to the activities that best meet your needs. No matter which island you pick, each book is similarly organized and equally well done. And the black-and-white photos are a joy. (If you're not sure where you're headed, their planning guide, No Worries Hawaii, can help you decide which island to head for and what part of that island makes the most sense). Important tip: Be sure to read the "How to Use This Book" section to learn how to get the most out these great resource books. And don't miss the "Best Of" section, which is divided into lots of useful categories from waterfall walks, big views, and sunset beaches to town strolls, gardens, and perfect places with little walking--there is something here for everyone. There are also good maps to orient you. Driving and parking directions are excellent--no small trick in a place where the only sign to tell you you've arrived may be a small mile marker along the highway. You'll definitely want to learn two new, directional words, which are very helpful in a land surrounded by water: makai--meaning "toward the ocean," and mauka--meaning "inland or toward the mountains." Read carefully, follow along and the Sprouts will get you to some places few tourists ever go. Each walk or hike provides parking instructions, round-trip distances, elevation gained, and other practical information. Hiking/walking directions are also very well done. In general, you won't need a topographical map, but for more serious hikes some folks may feel more comfortable with one. Other activities at each location, such as surfing, biking, snorkeling, are carefully described as well. Practical information on every possible subject includes great driving tours, the best stuff for kids, climate, important resource numbers, and cryptic but very well chosen lists of the best food and lodging choices in each area. Whatever all-purpose guide you choose, don't visit the islands without the appropriate Trailblazer guide in hand. It will make all the difference.
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5: Wish we had more time
The places we did get to check out were awesome. I know we wouldn't have found the "aquarium" without this book and that was our favorite snorkel spot. I wish we had more time in maui to explore.
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