One observer remarked that there was nothing wrong with France except for the French!  Love them or hate them, the French have their own Gallic charm and character  which at once renders them amongst the most interesting and infuriating of any people of the West! In short, they are intriguing and have a history which rivals that of any Old World country – to visit France is to take a journey not just of several thousand miles but back in time several thousand years.

Fodor’s France 2009

By Fodor’s Gold Guides

Fodor is the top selling guide book on France (and many other countries too) in the US and North American market.  Every day in Paris, you can spot the American tourist not so much by their dress or accent but by the manipulation of the Fodor Guidebook!

Fodor is comprehensive but it suffers from a lack of detail and accuracy in the smaller things.  It is not uncommon to find simple errors of geography, especially once you are looking at places and points of interest beyond Paris.

So saying, it is well laid out, lots of good photographs and maps and there is even a basic French grammar and vocabulary though you will probably find a cheap language guide of more use. But that is your business.

Overpriced for what it is, but nevertheless you’re likely going to buy one just for the bookshelf when you return!

One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in France

By Simonetta Greggio

While France celebrates its culture and history in cities such as Paris, Lyon and Toulouse it is only when you get out of the major urban areas and into the countryside that you begin to get a taste of the real France or la vie Francais!

France is primarily an agricultural country with a huge section of the population working and living on the land.  The small towns in France are where the true French way of life is to be found. Whether you are looking for the statue of Cyrano de Bergerac in Bergerac itself, megez in Arcachon, calvados in Caen or La Loup de Rocamadour (the Wolf of Rocamadour) in, where else but Rocamadour – then this is the book for you.

It is not coldly detailed as many guides are but tries to give you a taste of small towns and places to go visit and hopefully stay a while so you can truly enjoy the unique culture of France.

France (Country Guide) (Paperback)

By Nicola Williams and others

This is a collaborative work from seven different writers, each with their own views on France and covering different cities and rural areas.  As the work of constructing the guide has been split between so many different reviewers you are assured of two things – differing points of view on the same topics and reviews by people who truly know about the areas they are talking and writing about.

I also liked this book because it contrasts the views of French and foreign guide reviewers – you are sure to get an honest opinion from different perspectives using this volume which can make the difference between a great vacation and a wasted trip.

France (Eyewitness Travel Guide)

By Roger Williams & Robin Gauldie

This is a very comprehensive volume and you will not get lost for lack of something to see or do.  The attention to detail is pitched at the right level – guide books so often deteriorate into histories or a collection of personal anecdotes which defeat the object.

Informative without being overbearing and the writers hit the target when it comes to providing enough basic information to cover the mundane while providing more advice and tips when it comes to the more interesting.  For instance, points of interest such as museums or art galleries come complete with direct dial telephone numbers and email addresses, which is something you usually don’t find in other mainstream guides.

The photography and image reproduction are first-rate with cutaways and diagrams marking standing out and which are the signature of the Eyewitness series.

The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography

By Graham Robb

For many, Paris is France but too the cognoscenti, the real country is to be found in the provinces.  So to with the history of the country which though it may have Paris as the focus, once you have covered a fraction of this volume you will quickly see that Paris is overrated to the extent that it has eclipsed the role of the rest of this vibrant and interesting country.

Robb has taken the country in from the comfort of his bicycle (cycling is important in France – just ask Lance Armstrong) but while his original intention was to create a history of France, what he has come up with is a book which contains innumerable, intriguing places to visit and soak yourself in the culture and history of the area.

For instance, 100 years ago, only 20% of the population spoke French – the rest spoke Basque, Breton and 55 other dialects and languages – the story of France is not about the French, but about the numerous different cultures and people who today make up France.

Quiet Corners of Paris

By Jean-Cristophe Napias (Author), Christophe Lefebure (Photographer) & David Downie (Translator)

Think Paris and iconic sights come to mind – the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysses, Louvre, Sacre Cours, Notre Dame and at night, Moulin Rouge.

Except this is not Paris.  These are just some of the sights which are located in Paris but they are not what makes up the City of Light.  You find Paris in more than the central arondisements which are the focus of virtually every other guidebook – instead, the entire city is taken in and this is positive in itself because it draws you out of the iconic imagery of what Paris is and intrigues the reader enough to go visit the places and neighbourhoods where real Parisians hangout.

The Road from the Past: Traveling through History in France

By Ina Caro

Visit France and you are not travelling to a geographical location but to a repository of culture and custom going back a few thousand years.  Caro has written a book which takes in the historical and cultural significance for the visitor but one criticism I have of this book is that Ina tends to allow her personal prejudices and petty dislikes to influence her writing far too much.  While I like the tone and the snippets which are true gems, I simply don’t care about her waiter-fixation on someone who gave poor service and who I’m certainly unlikely to ever come across personally.

by Karl Hindle

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It can be very beneficial to read up on a location before you visit – especially if you’ve never been there before.  Additionally, if you’re not sure where you want to go on your next travel adventure, reading travel books might be a good way to decide.  If you take your gastronomical pleasure into account when making these plans, it might behoove you to read up on the best places to eat in the places you are considering seeing.  But wait…that sounds like a whole lot of reading, doesn’t it?  Lucky for you, we’ve gathered 7 of our favorite books about food AND travel.  Check them out before you plan your next trip, and we are sure your wanderlust will be satisfied along with your appetite.

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives:  An All-American Road Trip…with Recipes!
by Guy Fieri and Ann Volkwein

If you’re looking to stay within the Continental US, this book would be a heck of a good travel companion.  Also, a bottle of Prevacid might come in handy.  Guy Fieri won The Next Food Network Star the second season it was on, and he had a show called Guy’s Big Bite, wherein he taught us how to make amazing chili fries, the best nachos ever, and about 11 different types of barbecue.  He went on to host Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, wherein he took us through hole-in-the wall eating establishments that actually gave some of us hunger pains while watching.  Seriously – Captn’ Crunch French Toast?  Genius!  This book follows the same vein and features many of the places he visited on the show.  Read this book for a list of places to visit as you take an all-American road trip.

Frommer’s 500 Places for Food and Wine Lovers
by Holly Hughes

One of the most popular series of travel guides, Frommer’s is the  series that gave us Europe on $5 a Day and many other great books.  Frommer’s also has a comprehensive website where you can get all sorts of helpful destination information, plus they have bloggers that blog about travel.  This book covers a wide range of places around the globe where you can find great food and wine – like farmer’s markets, vineyards, specialty food stores, and more.  Also, it offers great tips on hotels and public transportation that will assist with your travel planning.

Roadfood:  The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 700 of the Best Barbecue Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors, Highway Diners, and Much, Much More
by Jane and Michael  Stern

This book is touted by USA Today as “a bible for motorists seeking mouth-watering barbecue or homemade pie.”  Jane and Michael Stern are well-versed in their subject, having authored more than forty books about the country’s local food.  The book (and the previous six editions of it) is arranged by region, then by state.  For a guide to the best barbecue, ice cream, hotdog stands, and more, pick up this book.

Her Fork in the Road:  Women Celebrate Food and Travel
by Lisa Bach

Part of the Traveler’s Tales series of books about the human’s emotional relationship with food, this book features essays by some highly talented female writers about specific experiences they’ve had with food – in many different countries and towns.  From an essay called “Tempted in Jakarta” by Faith Adiele, to one called “Easter Nachos in Warsaw” by Kristin Roberts, this book is more than a treat for your culinary appetite, but for your spiritual appetite as well.

500 Things to Eat Before It’s Too Late:  and the Very Best Places to Eat Them
by Jane and Michael Stern

Given that the authors of this book are experts on food around the US, it is not unusual that two of their books would make our list.  Since not every restaurant, food stand, and mom-and-pop eatery lasts forever, this book complies all of the Stern’s must-eat foods around the country.  To further convince you, the book includes vibrant photographs so realistic you can almost smell them.  This book will have you planning a road trip in no time.

Food:  A Taste of the Road
by Richard Sterling

With essays by some truly talented writers, this book talks about local cuisine in Mexico, China, Malaysia, and more.  With stories so amazing and outlandish that you feel like you have stepped into another world, this book inspires the itchy feet that many of these essayists experienced that took them to their destinations.  Thought-provoking and sometimes downright delectable, this book is a good read whether you like to travel or not.

Food Journeys of a Lifetime:  500 Extraordinary Places to Eat Around the Globe
by National Geographic

A National Geographic book generally has some aspects you can count on.  One – it will be well-researched.  Two – the photographs will be amazing.  This book does not disappoint in either category.  If one were to follow the itinerary set forth in the book, one would realize they’d be spending a lot of money on travel, because such a wide territory is covered.  From the US to Tokyo, to South America, to Europe and beyond, you will learn about famous eateries, as well as lesser-known places.  A pleasurable read for anyone, and a valuable addition to your home library.

Brought to you by Concession Trailers.

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