Compass American Guides: Boston

The layout of the Eyewitness Travel Guides is outstanding; they separate cities by areas and color code each area, with tabs on the side of the book to make the area easy to find. There is a map of all the central color coded areas on the inside of the front cover, and inside the back cover, a more complete map of the region. Each chapter is a "color," covering Back Bay and South End, Beacon Hill and West End, North End and the Waterfront, Old Boston and Financial District, and Chinatown and the Theater District. There is a final "Farther Afield" chapter that covers Cambridge, the JFK Library and Museum, as well as his birthplace, which is a fascinating, small house in Brookline, the Museum of Fine Arts, the U.S.S. Constitution in Charlestown, and much more. For those like me who can't live without maps, there are plenty of them. Each chapter starts with an area map that has numbered location markers, and other pages have highway and train maps, a six page "Street Finder", and more. As well as information on all the sights to see in this great city, you get "The History of Boston," "Boston Through the Year," "Travelers' Needs," with hotels, restaurants, entertainment, etc. A "Survival Guide" that covers emergency, banking, and practical concerns, and is a must for any foreign visitors to the city, ends this most useful of all guide books. I lived in the Boston area for many years, and appreciated its rich history and beauty, and there is no single guide that represents the city as well as this one. With sturdy construction and terrific photography, reproduced on thick, glossy pages, if you're travelling to Boston, or any major city (I also have the Chicago, San Francisco, and New York City books), Eyewitness Travel Guides are the first, and maybe the only, guide book you'll need. Make sure to always get the latest edition of the guide for updated information, although all of the editions will carry the same information on the landmarks, and will be good for sightseeing.

I live in New England and this is another of my favorite books from this region of the country. DK has always published quality books in their Eyewitness Travel Guides and they have done an excellent job with this volume on Boston. Unless you visit Boston on a frequent basis it is easy to get disoriented. I really found this book quite useful and the colorful layout of this book with maps, illustrations, photographs and text really inspired me to delve into its pages and check out one of New England's premier cities. The historical information on Boston was invaluable. I never realized some of the things I used to walk past. I think it is also very informative, not only from a historical perspective, but also as a point of reference for sightseeing, travel and enjoyment.

The Eyewitness Travel Guide to Boston was recommended to me in a bookstore and it was perfect for a recent 5-day trip to Boston. The guide is laid out by area, so you really get a feel for what else is around you when you are at a particular destination. The overall maps are very good and well detailed and the book is chock full of great photos. It also includes great history and background info. My Boston friend kept asking me "how do you know all this stuff?"

This Eyewithness book is up-to-date and very practical. It contains a lot of pictures which is extremely usefull if you are planning a trip. When planning the trip it makes the book in a way easier to use than for example the Lonely Planet of Boston since you got a clear picture of the surroundings.

My old favorite is the Michelin Green Guide to New England and it remains the best for driving tours. But if you're popping into the city for a weekend of power tourism, this D-K book is the best. If you're a photographer, you'll appreciated the thumbnail images of every sight that you're considering visiting. As a bonus, this guide offers thoughtful hotel and restaurant recommendations. I've lived in Boston for 20 years and didn't find anything in the book with which I disagreed.