Towpath Tours

This book describes seventy-five of the best trails the Empire State has to offer—from the 4,000-foot peaks of the Adirondacks and the lore of Rip Van Winkle's Catskills, to the glacier-gouged landscape of the Finger Lakes region and the Niagara Frontier's historic Erie Canal.

We travel to grow our Adventure Guides show you how. Experience the places you visit more directly, freshly, intensely than you would otherwise sometimes best done on foot, in a canoe, or through cultural adventures like art courses, cooking classes, learning the language, meeting the people, joining in the festivals and celebrations. This can make your trip life-changing, unforgettable. All of the detailed information you need is here about the hotels, restaurants, shopping, sightseeing. But we also lead you to new discoveries, turning corners you haven't turned before, helping you to interact with the world in new ways. That's what makes our Travel Adventure Guides unique. The author is fascinated with these islands and her passion comes across in the text, which is lively, revealing and a pleasure to read. Detailed town and regional maps make planning day-trips or city tours easy. Adventures covered range from town sightseeing tours and nature watching to sea kayaking and mountain climbing excursions. Travelers looking for a more relaxed vacation may want to sign up for dance lessons and take part in the local Carnaval or join a local cycling club and tackle some of the most scenic areas - these cultural adventures will introduce you to the people and afford you a truly unique travel experience. This guide focuses on Curaçao primarily and is based on material found in our larger book, Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao Pocket Adventures.

An indispensable resource for dedicated cyclists planning to bike across the state or the casual rider looking to take the family out for a couple of hours. Great for walkers, boaters, and auto travelers, too. The Erie Canalway Trail is a cycling destination for riders of all abilities. Following one of the world’s most famous manmade waterways, it spans New York State between Albany and Buffalo. Whether enjoying a leisurely ride from one village to another, or spending a week completing the entire 360 miles, the Erie Canalway Trail offers endless adventures exploring the charming towns, living history, scenic beauty and cultural attractions of New York State. The trail route follows both active and historic sections of the Erie Canal. For more than thirty years, state and local governments have been transforming the old towpath and abandoned rail corridor into a 360-mile multi-use pathway; by 2015, more than three-quarters of the off-road route was in place. The guidebook is designed primarily for use by bicyclists, but it is also useful for those planning to enjoy the trail on foot, travelling the canal system by boat, or visiting the Canal corridor’s many sites by car. The revised edition includes new inset maps to guide trail users through complicated stretches. All new trail segments developed since 2012 have been added, along with on-road routing updates. The guide’s comprehensive listings of attractions, historic sites, visitor centers, and parks make it an indispensable resource for dedicated cyclists planning to bike across the state or the casual rider looking to take the family out for a couple of hours.

Medina traces the history of a community that came to life with the building of the Erie Canal. Located at a bend in the canal, halfway between Buffalo and Rochester, Medina became a regular stop for barge traffic. The famous Medina culvertthe only tunnel road that goes under the canalis here, as are the falls and Medina sandstone, quarried and used not only in local buildings but also across the state and even at Buckingham Palace.

The Erie Canalway Trail is a cycling destination for riders of all abilities. Following one of the world's most famous manmade waterways, it spans New York State between Albany and Buffalo. Whether enjoying a leisurely ride from one village to another, or spending a week completing the entire 360 miles, the Erie Canalway Trail offers endless adventures exploring the charming towns, living history, scenic beauty, and cultural attractions of New York State. The trail route follows both active and historic sections of the Erie Canal. For several decades now, state and local governments have been transforming the old towpath and abandoned rail corridor into a 360-mile multi-use pathway. The guidebook is designed primarily for use by bicyclists, but it is also useful for those planning to enjoy the trail on foot, travelling the canal system by boat, or visiting the Canal corridor's many sites by car. The fifth edition includes information on the statewide 750-mile Empire State Trail, which the Erie Canalway Trail is now part of; updated maps, trail routing, and surface conditions; and an updated, comprehensive listing of attractions, historic sites, visitor centers, public transportation options, easily accessible lodging, bike shops, parking, and other services. This guide is an indispensable resource for dedicated cyclists planning to bike across the state or the casual rider looking to take the family out for a couple of hours.

This updated guidebook features seventy-five of the best trails the Empire State has to offer—from the 4,000-foot peaks of the Adirondacks and the lore of Rip Van Winkle’s Catskills, to the glacier-gouged landscape of the Finger Lakes region. Each featured hike includes detailed hike specs and descriptions, trailhead location and GPS coordinates, mile-by-mile directional cues, gorgeous full-color photography, and a detailed map.

In the summer of 2010, brothers-in-law Marty and Jim embark on a cycling trip along the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal, a 335-mile trek from their home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Jim's boyhood home in Washington, DC. Chance encounters with colorful local characters and other surprising escapades during five days on the trail make for nonstop laughs. As they travel through forests and along winding rivers, they experience the breathtaking scenery of western Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, exploring early American history while learning more about each other as well as themselves. This true story is for adventurers and cyclists as well as couch potatoes looking for a lighthearted take on friendship and some hilarious fun.