Rockies Handbook Available

Sun., Sept. 13, 1998

By Susan English susane@spokesman.com

Anyone who travels through or plays in the North Rockies should enjoy a new book that’s part-guidebook, part-natural history: “Journey to the Northern Rockies” by Michael McCoy (Globe Pequot Press, $19.95).

McCoy covers the mountain range in Northern Wyoming, Western Montana and Central Idaho, addressing the variety of geologic phenomena accessible there.

The Northern Rockies, of course, don’t stop at the Canadian border. And because of our proximity to Canada, a lot of recreationists play in those Rockies, too.

But the strength of this book is in providing the reader a depth of information along with interesting, if useless, tidbits about the mountains just to our east.

Each chapter includes an introduction to the region, a narrative about the geologic history and the human history, points of interest if traveling through the area, and minimal lodging, food and tourist info.

This might not be the only guidebook you’ll want when planning an extensive tour of the North Rockies, but it’s the one you should take along with you as you travel.

Shopping for an inn?

There are a number of ways to get information about regional inns and bed and breakfast lodging. Among them is just asking for a guide from the regional B&B associations.

The brochures available are by no means comprehensive; they list only those inns which join the association. But they’re a good place to start.

The brochures are free. Following are addresses for the West Coast B&B associations:

California Association of B&B Inns, 2715 Porter St., Soquel, CA 95073; (408) 464-8159 or on the Web at www.innaccess.com.

Oregon B&B Guild, PO Box 3187, Ashland, OR 97520; (800) 944-6196; www.obbg.com on the Web.

Washington B&B Guild, 2442 NW Market St., Seattle, WA 98107; (800) 647-2918; www.wbbg.com on the Web.

Western Canada B&B Innkeepers, PO Box 74535, 2803 W. Fourth Ave., Vancouver, BC, Canada V6K 4P4; (604) 681-2889; www.bcbandb.com on the Web.

Bed & Breakfast Association of the Coeur d’Alene, call (800) 773-0323 or (208) 667-5081 or www.bb-cda.com on the Web.

For kids

Three regional authors - Molly, Sherry and Filipe Mirabal - are marketing a new book geared for children taking a vacation in Mexico.

The book, “My Mexico Journal,” includes maps, information, pages to color, and space for keeping a journal and pasting photos after the trip.

The book costs $10 plus postage. For information, call Sherry Mirabal at (509) 442-3879; e-mail mirabals@iomet.com; or write My Mexico Journal, The Mirabals, PO Box 561, Ione, WA 99139.

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