Life's Little Adventures

What's New?

Here's what I'm up to now. My current — and most challenging — "Little Adventure" is to develop a fresh approach to travel apps for the iPad, iPhone, and iPodTouch, as well as for many tablets and smartphones using the Android operating system, and later as e-books.

What's so special about that? There are plenty of travel apps out there, many of which are free. Well, mine can take you to some quite unusual places that are usually overlooked, as well as to the familiar. And they are loaded with background information, plenty of photos, links to videos, attraction websites and multiple sources of up-to-date information.

But best of all are the MAPS. So far, over a hundred "Diagram Maps" have been specially created just for this project. These show you exactly where everything is and how to get there, and the simple design and bold type make them easy to read on even the small iPhone screen. In addition, for every Day Trip and attraction entry there is an embedded Google Map with even more detail.

Most of the many restaurant recommendations have direct links to the establishment's website so you can study their menu in advance.

The very small download price of $2.99 each — less than a cup of coffee — entitles users to FREE future updates and revisions.

I began this project in November 2010, and had the first one online in January 2011. Since then I have completed three more, and am nearly finished with a fifth. 

WHY NOT CHECK THEM OUT? CLICKY.

Vienna & Beyond

Innsbruck & the Alps

London's Backyard

London's Backyard for Android

Paris Day Trips (requires free Sutro World app to download. Click here)

And coming soon: Philadelphia Day Trips. And coming even sooner: Assisting Avedon, my first non-travel app, recalling my experiences with the famous photographer Richard Avedon in the 1950s and 60s.

My app publisher, SUTRO MEDIA, has literally hundreds of travel apps covering all corners of the Earth. Here are just a few of my favorites:

Real Pizza of New York

Berlin Essential

California Essential Guide

Click on Sutro's website for more information about them.

Another really great one is Puerto Escondido on the southwest coast of Mexico, available for both iPad via Sutro World, and for Android via Google Play.

Another one that I've reviewed and found fascinating is Jeff Steiner's Southern Burgundy Explorer, available on Apple's iTunes app store. This is a must if you're wandering through southern France.

I've discovered two really good guide apps to the beaches of South Carolina, both by Liz and Charlie Mitchell. The first is Hilton Head Essentials, and the second is Myrtle Beach's Best. If you're heading that way with your iPad or iPhone be sure to check them out by clicking on their names, which links to their Apple iTunes page. 

Free Travel APP

Have an iPad? iPhone? iPodTouch? Like to travel? 

Well, here's a great FREE app to download that can open a new world of travel possibilities and inspiration! Check it out!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sutro-world/id446206531?mt=8

 

Yes, I'm on it a little bit, but so are two hundred other travel writers.

Not only is this the very best source of reliable travel apps anywhere, but soon this little fella's joining in the fun as well.

Paris Day Trips

At long last: My travel app for easy one-day trips to intriguing destinations outside of Paris is available for download to Apple iPad, iPhone, and iPodTouch devices — and soon it will also be ready for Android devices as well.

"...The Île de France has no regional unity, it does not offer any precise boundaries..." This undefined region within easy daytrip range of Paris is truly the heart of France. Its best attractions are fully explored on my Paris Day Trips: A Travel Guide app. 

To view free samples of this you will first need to download the FREE travel app SUTRO WORLD (click), which also allows you to sample pages and illustrations from over 300 of the very best travel apps anywhere. Listings are grouped by region. For mine, touch "Europe" and then scan down to "Paris Day Trips: A Travel Guide." Open that, then touch words in bold face blue to explore further. If you like what you see, click on the low, low price in the upper right corner to begin a quick download to your Apple iDevice. It's that easy.

 

SO, just what Little Adventure am I up to now in 2012? Why, just the most challenging one of them all! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT.

London's Backyard

"...This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England..." is the most memorable line from Shakespeare's 1595 play Richard III. It neatly sums up the affection Englishmen have for their "sceptered isle."

For many, the very best of that land lies in London's Backyard, in what William Blake called "England's Green and Pleasant Land" in his 1804 poem Milton.

London's Backyard takes you on a series of 25 one-day journeys to nearby towns, villages, and countryside by inexpensive public transportation, or by private car. Suggested walking tours are included, along with everything you need to know for a wonderful outing.

At long last, my new travel guide app for Apple's iPhone, iPad, and iPodTouch is ready and raring to go.

 

Ready for some fun? Take a ride on the Bluebell Railway, where the Age of Steam lives on in all its glory. Then relive World War II espionage while experiencing the birth of modern computers at Bletchley Park. Britain's oldest recorded town, Colchester, began in the Bronze Age. Today its ancient castle displays Celtic and Roman antiquities, its quirky local museum delights kids and grownups alike, and its progressive zoo is easily among the best anywhere.

Take a stroll along the Thames near Cookham, wallowing in scenes that made some major painters famous, while the Keeper of the Royal Swans carried out the Queen's bidding and an author was inspired to write an immortal children's book. Another walk, which  can be either short or long, takes you into the 18th century at the preserved canal village of Stoke Bruerne.

These are just five of the 25 one-day adventures that await you in London's Backyard, backed up by 225 separate entries just packed with information, hundreds of photos, maps covering everything, and links galore to restaurant menus, museum website, and much, much more.

For the time being, downloads to your iPhone, iPad, or iPodTouch cost only U.S.$2.99, less than a cup of coffee — and that includes free future updates!

Everything included on this app is fully embedded and does not require WiFi or cell connections to function.

CHECK IT OUT HERE:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/londons-backyard/id440430871?mt=8#

And now on ANDROID! CLICK HERE for a free preview.

 

SO, just what Little Adventure am I up to now in 2012? Why, just the most challenging one of them all! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT.

ALSO, on this blog, check out:

Future of Travel Guides     Waltzing Through Vienna  Innsbruck & the Alps   Paris Day Trips

e-Guides Continued

Hello, Earl Steinbicker here. A few weeks ago I wrote on this blog about how the entire world of travel guides is changing completely, almost overnight, from pages printed on paper to interactive digital files read on such small devices as the Kindle, Nook, smart phones, or iPads.

Now I have taken action on these developments. My first effort, my little baby, is now available on Apple’s iTunes website for downloads to Apple’s iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, for the low price of only $2.99. I give you:

Waltzing Through Vienna

But this waltz goes far beyond five walking tours in Vienna itself, also describing one-day adventures and self-guided tours in the Wienerwald, the Wachau Valley, up the Schneeberg, down into the Burgenland, and on to such destinations as Mariazell, St. Pölten, and Linz.  Every trip can be taken by public transportation; no car needed.

But that's not all. The interactive indexing allows it to also be used as a conventional guide, independent of suggested tours. And there are plenty of restaurant recommendations, and lots of photos.

Thanks to a computer program developed by Sutro Media, this is surely the future of travel guides. And it's here now!

Coming next: Innsbruck and the Alps.

 Let your cell phone be your travel guide!

Check it out by clicking the line below: 

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/waltzing-through-vienna/id414967727?mt=8

I am the author, Earl Steinbicker, and all of the above images were taken directly off the screen of my iPod Touch, shown exactly as they will appear on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. It's got far more up-to-date information than most $20 printed guides, and costs only $2.99. 

 

NEW! June 28 2011. Waltzing Through Vienna has been greatly improved in a new edition with a new name, Vienna & Beyond, free for current holders of the app. It now includes many "Diagram Maps" especially created for the small screen, making it easier to find your way around. CHECK IT OUT HERE.

 

AND NOW Innsbruck & the Alps is available for download to your iPhone, iPad, or iPodTouch. CLICK HERE to learn more.

 

SO, just what Little Adventure am I up to now in 2012? Why, just the most challenging one of them all! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT.

 

June 2011. My new London's Backyard travel guide for the iPhone, iPad, and iPodTouch — describing all the wonderful discoveries that lie just outside the city — is now available for download at a very low price. Check it out Here.

February 2012. It's now available on ANDROID for those devices, at only $2.99 for a download with free future updates. CLICK HERE for a free preview.

The Future of Publishing

I’ve been writing travel guides for over thirty years now, and have had many little adventures during that time — some of which are recounted on these pages.

Now Comes the Biggest Adventure of All!

e-Guides!

The entire world of travel guides is changing completely, almost overnight, from pages printed on paper to interactive digital files kept constantly up to date and delivered via the internet or cellular phone system to such hand-held devices as Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes & Noble’s Nook, Sony’s Reader, Samsung’s Galaxy — and most notably for travelers, Apple’s iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

Are these just a digitized version of traditional guidebooks? They could be, and unfortunately some are. But that’s missing the point. Those who create them are re-inventing the whole idea of travel guides to take advantage of exciting new possibilities. Here’s an example of how this might work:

Check This Out!

Let’s say you’re walking down the street in a strange city, not sure of what’s there, what to visit next, or even how to get to it. You simply pull out your handy i-Phone (or other such device), open the application (“app”) for that town, and browse. For every attraction there’s an interactive entry, complete with photos and a live Google map that can pinpoint the exact spot you want, fill the whole screen, and can be expanded into neighboring streets with the flick of a finger. Want to know what that museum has to offer? Just touch its name and all is revealed. Want to know still more? A touch on the screen over its website address opens that for your perusing.

Hungry? The guide suggests various restaurants. Touch their names and their files open. Another touch takes you to their website, where you can examine a menu, check prices, hours of operation, and more.

Want to know how to get to that out-of-town attraction without a car? It will tell you, and then connect to the correct schedules.

How did we ever do without this?

Recently I’ve begun investigating just how best to use this technology to present my travel information. Some early observations are:

A few months ago I purchased a Kindle, the model with both 3G and WiFi connectivity, and downloaded several travel guides into it. The Kindle is great because its e-ink screen is easy to read under almost all light conditions, the unit is lightweight and small enough to carry easily, and connects to the internet over both cellular and WiFi systems. Photos and maps, however, are in black-and-white only, and have a very limited range of tones. So far, the maps that I’ve seen on it are taken from the printed book versions of the guides, making them quite difficult to read. This could be overcome by creating special maps with larger type and more contrast. If I decide to put my guidebooks on the Kindle, I will certainly draw new maps. The reading material is sold by Amazon.

Recently I acquired an Apple iPod Touch, which is quite similar to their iPhone except that you can’t make calls from it, and its connectivity to the internet is by WiFi only. This is not a really serious drawback as once text and images are downloaded there is no need for a net connection. And it is much, much cheaper. The beauty of this device, and of the iPhone, is its tiny size. It can easily be carried in a shirt pocket, yet the text, photos, and maps are entirely readable. Apple’s iPad is a bit larger and heavier, but still easy to carry as you go about exploring. Travel guides and other books, plus music, are sold on Apple’s iTunes store. A good selection of recent travel guides is available online through Sutro Media. The photo on the left is of me holding my new toy as it displays a European travel website.

Now I must get to work! More will follow as things develop. Stay tuned.

 

SO, just what Little Adventure am I up to now in 2012? Why, just the most challenging one of them all! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT.

Daytrips From London

Oh, happy day! The first copy of my new guidebook just arrived from the printer, and it's all I hoped for. The operative word in the title — and what distinguishes it from my earlier books about England — is "From." This time I've eliminated the walking tours inside London in order to make space for new discoveries within daytrip range of the city. These include a preserved 19th-century canal village where you can ride a canal boat, take a waterside walk, visit the National Waterways Museum, or just watch the activities from a canalside café. Another is to a highly secret World War II military intelligence center where the Nazi codes were cracked and early computers developed. A third features a secluded 14th-century moated manor house, Winston Churchill's country estate, and one of the greatest of England's stately homes, along with the optional opportunity for real country walks. Then there's that Thameside village just west of London long favored by leading artists, and where the Keeper of the Royal Swans pursues his strange and uniquely British ceremonial duties.

 

 CLICK HERE for Free Sample Chapters!

 

SO, just what Little Adventure am I up to now in 2012? Why, just the most challenging one of them all! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT.

 

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This book is also available from Amazon Great Britain for £13.50, or Amazon in Europe for €15.50.

 FIND OUT MORE or purchase the book from Amazon by clicking below:

A New Alpine Viewing Platform at Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Something new and exciting has just been added to the Garmisch-Partenkirchen-Zugspitze region, an area covered by my current guidebooks Daytrips Germany, Daytrips Bavaria, and Daytrips Austria.
 

The AlpspiX viewing platform juts out some 43 feet over the edge of an abyss, and it's 3,300 feet straight down to the Höllental Valley of Hell. Stroll out on it if you dare!

There are several ways of getting to it from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the Gateway to the Zugspitze Mountain and an easy daytrip from Munich by train or car. There are some good walking/hiking opportunities here, ranging from comfortable to somewhat strenuous. And, of course, great views towards Germany's famed Zugspitze.  CLICK HERE for current information.

Earlier entries on this blog include the full chapters on both Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Zugspitze, both with maps and photos. Click on their names to view.

NEW!

Interactive

e-guides

For Apple's i-Phone, i-Pad, and i-Pod Touch. Travel today's way.

CLICK HERE to Check it Out

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CHECK OUT the books on Amazon by clicking the links below:

Whats wrong with Guided Tours?

I can understand why some people prefer to experience Europe (or any other destination) on guided tours rather than on their own. Tours are easy. They're non-threatening. And they can be realatively inexpensive. But they're just never as rewarding as independent travel.

      For one thing, people on tours are treated more as tourists than as guests. The smiles they get are purchased smiles with hands out for tips, not a genuine friendliness or a desire to communicate.

    Another point is that many, if not most, tour directors lead their sheep to shops and restaurants from which they derive a percentage of the "take." These are seldom "bargains," and they do not result in an authentic experience.

    Then, too, guided tours tend to herd their charges into "attractions" that they consider to be of mass appeal, often at the bequest of the local tourist authorities — which are, after all, businesses. They seldom venture "off the beaten path."

    Plus, except in rare cases, you don't get to choose your travel mates. They may well be great people, or they could be unbearable louts. But whoever they are, you're stuck with them.

    Worst of all, you don't always get to see what YOU want to see.

Independent travelers, on the other hand, enjoy the satisfaction of having accomplished something on their own. And they have more fun doing it (photo, right).

    That's why I do what I do.

    What I do is explore on my own two feet, poke around promising places, develop a rational approach to them, connecting as much as possible with the locals, and then write and draw maps about it. I've been doing this since 1976, when I launched my Great Trips project, which later morphed into today's Daytrips series of guide books.

After checking out the two above links and some of the free sample chapters they lead to, please visit my personal page on Amazon.com to read what others have said.

 

SO, just what Little Adventure am I up to now in 2012? Why, just the most challenging one of them all! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT.

 

ONWARD to the new Daytrips From London

ONWARD to Sample Daytrips Chapters Index.

ONWARD to Great Trips Guides Index.

ONWARD to Travel Index.

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WHY DAYTRIPS?

My style of independent travel goes all the way back to my military service in Japan during the 1950s. Actually, my first memory of a one-day trip from home was even earlier, when my dad took me to the New York World's Fair in 1939 — where I marveled at those wonders to come. There were other early trips, too, usually by trolley car, bus, or steam train as we didn't have a car during the Great Depression or World War II.

A trip to England in 1975 really changed my life. I was over there on an ill-conceived quest to try my hand at movie making when I discovered that writing about travel destinations was much more to my liking than filming them. This got me started on the Great Trips / Europe project of creating brochure-guides for one-day adventures, described elsewhere on this blog.

Out of that experience came the opportunity to write travel guide books with a daytrips theme for a long-established New York publisher, Hastings House.

This is how I make the point in my Daytrips guidebooks:

"The word "Daytrip" may not have made it into dictionaries yet, but for experienced independent travelers it represents the easiest, most natural, and often the least expensive approach to exploring a fresh new destination from a fixed base, such as a major city.

While not the answer to every travel situation, daytrips offer significant advantages over point-to-point touring following a set plan. Here are a dozen good reasons for considering the daytrip approach:

1. Freedom from the constraints of a fixed itinerary. You can go wherever you feel like going whenever the mood strikes you.
2. Freedom from the burden of luggage. Your bags remain in your hotel while you run around with only a guidebook and camera.
3. Freedom from the anxiety of reservation foul-ups. You don't have to worry each day about whether that night's lodging will actually materialize.
4. The flexibility of making last-minute changes to allow for unexpected weather, serendipitous discoveries, changing interests, new-found passions, and so on.
5. The flexibility to take breaks from sightseeing whenever you feel tired or bored, without upsetting a planned itinerary. Why not sleep late in your base city for a change?
6. The opportunity to sample different travel experiences without committing more than a day to them.
7. The opportunity to become a "temporary resident" of your base city. By staying there for a week or so you can get to know it in depth, becoming familiar with the local restaurants, shops, theaters, night life, and other attractions — enjoying them as a native would.
8. The convenience of not having to hunt for a hotel each day, along with the security of knowing that a familiar room is waiting back in your base city.
9. The convenience of not having to pack and unpack your bags each day. Your clothes can hang in a closet where they belong, or even be sent out for cleaning.
10. The convenience (and security!) of having a fixed address in your base city, where friends, relatives, and business associates can reach you in an emergency. It is often difficult to contact anyone who changes hotels daily.
11. The economy of staying at one hotel on a discounted longer-term basis, especially with airline package plans. You can make reservations for your base city without sacrificing any flexibility at all.
12. The economy of getting the most value out of a railpass. Daytripping is ideally suited to rail travel since the best train service operates out of base-city hubs. This is especially true in Europe.

Above all, daytrips ease the transition from tourist to accomplished traveler. Even if this is your first trip abroad, you can probably handle an uncomplicated one-day excursion on your own. The confidence gained will help immensely when you tackle more complex destinations, freeing you from the limitations of guided tours and putting you in complete control of your own trip."

MOST OF THE DAYTRIPS BOOKS CAN BE READ ONLINE FOR FREE AT GOOGLE BOOKS.

MANY FREE CHAPTERS ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT HERE ON THIS BLOG.

They're all available from Amazon. To get there, just click on their ad in the left column, then enter Daytrips under Books on their main page.

RETURN to Current Main Page.

 

SO, just what Little Adventure am I up to now in 2012? Why, just the most challenging one of them all! CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT.