Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Karen Berger Entry Title: Hiking America’s National Parks Entry Credit: Karen Berger Judge Comment: This is a gorgeous, oversized guide. The excellent photography paired with clear text make it a winner. The organization of the book is straightforward — by national park is what most users of the guide would surely want. The vast travel experiences of writer Karen Berger and photographer Jonathan Irish are evident.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Maria Lenhart Entry Title: Secret Cape Cod: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure Entry Credit: Maria Lenhart, Linda Humphrey Judge Comment: Solid local history and enduring myths are skillfully combined in this travel guide. The people factor adds a welcome dimension, as the guide points readers to celebrities and to lesser-known individuals who established footprints in the Cape Cod region. The light tone, as well as the question opening each chapter, feels just right.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Mary Bergin Entry Title: Small-Town Wisconsin: Fun, Surprising and Exceptional Road Trips Entry Credit: Mary Bergin Judge Comment: Author Mary Bergin decided to limit this book to Wisconsin locales with a population of 10,000 and under. That wise decision means travelers new to the state will learn about numerous places that often exist under the radar of most traveler guides. Dividing the state into quadrants offers easy planning for travelers wanting to explore a region rather than Wisconsin at large.
Place Name: Honorable Mention Contestant Name: Randy Johnson Entry Title: Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway Entry Credit: Randy Johnson Judge Comment: This is a beautifully produced guide for explorers who seek to proceed on foot. Author Randy Johnson offers sound advice for travelers before the walking begins — packing sensibly and driving to the beginning of each adventure. Each hike gets featured in an extremely practical, well-organized section complete with understandable maps.
