Sunday August 22nd, 2010 Advenutre Awaits

Summer months are often spent traveling: camping trips, road trips and trips that may take you to the other side of the world. In winter, snowbirds find their way to warmer climates, needing a break from the seemingly long and cold weather. With a couple weeks left of summer vacation, there is time for more travel. Do you have a destination in mind? If so, the library has hundreds of guidebooks to help you plan your vacation. If not, there are many books that can help you decide what kind of adventure to go on.

Do you have young ones going along on your journey?

For tips, try books such as Travel with Children: Your Complete Resource from the Lonely Planet. This book is divided into 5 parts that include information on preparing for your trip, what type of trip to take and games to play with little preparation. Also take a look at The Rough Guide to Travel with Babies and Young Children by Fawzia Rasheed de Francisco and part of the Rough Guides series. With checklists for travel and brief descriptions of customs and etiquette of countries around the world, this is a helpful resource for the adventure of traveling with children.

Are you looking for excitement on your next trip?

Make your next vacation memorable; try an activity from 500 Adrenaline Adventures by Lois Friedland, Marc Lallanilla, Charlie O’Malley, and Jennifer Swetzoff. HALO jumping, white-water rafting, safaris or the Air Guitar World Championships, there is something for everyone. This new book from Frommer’s will give you ideas that will take you on a wild and exciting ride or send you to do something completely bizarre. If you’re looking for thrills, this book will help you plan the trip of a lifetime.

Do you want to do something different, experience the cultures and traditions of other countries?

Take a look at A Year of Festivals: A Guide to Having the Time of Your Life. This is another book from Lonely Planet that lists monthly festivals around the world, letting you know when and where they take place and what to expect. You’ll find events such as La Tomatina, the tomato throwing festival, in Spain happening on the last Wednesday in August. Were you checking out pirates when the MS Bounty was here? Why not take a trip to the Cayman Islands to see the Pirate Festival in November. This book is full of festival information to help you plan an unforgettable getaway.

Are you traveling within Canada and the United States?

Brodie and Waverley Reference Departments are currently updating their map file which is a collection of road maps and visitor guides. Map file items are not available for loan but can be used while in the library. If you’re looking for something to do on a long weekend, take a look at what the communities in Northern Ontario have to offer. For example, the file for Cochrane, Ontario has information on how you can swim with polar bears. If you enjoy camping, there is information on Ontario’s Provincial Parks and Canada’s National Parks and Historic Sites. You may even discover more things to see and do right here at home! When you plan your next vacation, remember the library as a travel planning tool.

Laura McCormack, Library Technician