Library Journal Review
The ``Umbrella Guide'' series focuses on the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia). Each book in the series covers a specific type of attraction, activity, or recreation area. Each book is written by a different author, expert in the area or activity. While this might lead to variety in coverage as well as quality, the three titles reviewed here are all quite good. Lighthouses lists all 25 Washington lighthouses, their histories, keepers, and current visiting hours, along with chapters on ``lenses, lamps, whistles and bells'' and a table giving the light flash and fog signal frequency for each lighthouse. Bicycling is a top-notch and useful biking guide to the Oregon coast plotted as a number of day rides from north to south. Included is a potentially very useful table listing bike repair shops along the way. Inland Empire is perhaps the most unusual of the books: it chops up the areas around Spokane and the Idaho Panhandle and treats them in small, focused pieces. While primarily an auto tour book, it also provides information for bicycle tourists. Overall, the series looks promising, and a standing order from libraries in the Northwest probably wouldn't be a bad idea.--Thomas K. Fry, UCLA Libs. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.