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216 N Marshall Ave

Litchfield MN 55355

(320)693-2483

All Pioneerland

While all Pioneerland Library System buildings remain closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Curbside Pick-up of library items is available. You may place items on hold using the online catalog. Library staff will call you to schedule a pickup time once your hold is ready. Pickup days/times vary by location. Please contact your library if you have questions or need assistance in using this service.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Dreaming of Faraway Places


by Beth Cronk, Litchfield head librarian

Has the cold winter weather made you dream of getting away for a vacation?  Whether you’re actually planning a getaway or just wishing for one, the library has new books about faraway places that you can check out.

For someplace truly tropical, we have a recent edition of Lonely Planet's Tahiti and French Polynesia.  This travel guide covers the history and culture of this group of islands in the South Pacific, along with suggested itineraries and information on the beaches, lagoons, and cities. 

We also have new Lonely Planet guides to Scotland, Iceland, and, for a much closer destination, Chicago.  The Chicago travel guide covers Willis Tower (still the Sears Tower the last time I was there), deep-dish pizza, and baseball, among other attractions.

Another guidebook to a tropical locale, Canary Islands, is part of the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide series.  DK includes many more photos and illustrations than other travel guides, much like the other informational books they publish, often for kids.  This book covers where to stay, eat, shop, golf, and find other entertainment in the Canary Islands.  This island community is part of Spain but off the coast of Morocco, and their tourism department claims that they have the best climate in the world.

We also have the newest DK Eyewitness guide to Egypt.    It includes cutaway 3-D drawings of important sites, floor plans of the major museums, and insights into the history and culture of the country.

Frommer’s Easyguide to Las Vegas 2018 is a short guidebook to this popular, warm destination.  They offer a few suggested itineraries based on your interests, such as sightseeing or a bachelorette party.  Beyond the casinos, they cover the shows, spas, shopping, and even the attractions within driving distance, like Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.  Frommer’s guides have been published since the ‘50s.

Moon travel guides have been around since 1973, with the publishers starting out as advocates for independent travel.  Their new guidebook Utah gives travelers ideas for visiting national parks, going skiing or river rafting, and touring historic sites. 

We have also recently added Moon guides to Norway, Maine, and Tennessee.  Their guides often include advice on when to visit the locations and how to navigate them with special needs, such as with children or the elderly.

The Rough Guide to Canada gives readers an overview of the huge country from coast to coast.  This guidebook has a lot of information on outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing, whale watching, and camping.  It also covers Canada’s cities.  Rough Guides are published in the UK, which is a bit of a different perspective, but they provide information for American travelers, too.

When you’re planning a vacation, you can visit the library for resources to help you make decisions about where, when, and how to travel.  Bon voyage!