This was a sample ARC from NetGalley read on a mobile phone. The pictures are gorgeous and the facts given about various parks are interesting. I even learned (just from this tiny sample) of a couple of parks I'd never heard of before. However, it's incredibly hard to judge a book like this based on such a small sample, so until I get a chance to see the full print version, I'm giving two stars. I do think this would make a great coffee-table book or a gift for your favorite traveler. I'd even consider doing a tour to many of these parks myself after reading this book.

#100GreatAmericanParks #NetGalley

Just a sample teaser, sadly, but the few pictures were nice. Needed a bit more to give me a better sense of the book details, but looks like would be a good coffee table book.

I was only given a sneak peek into the beautiful pictures in this amazing book, that takes readers around the US. In a day and age when traveling is something people aren’t easily able to do, because of the COVID restrictions, it’s wonderful to be about to see the countryside from the comfort of your own home.

I was only able to view about 10 pages or so of this book, but it left me wanting more. The photography is breath taking. I also enjoyed the insight into the countryside and what people can glean from it. I know I’ll be checking out this book and marking the place I’d like to visit when traveling is easier.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

Simply said, these photos are absolutely stunning! Each Park has a section of Year Established & Time to Go. Did you know Central Park has been around since 1858!!! Something you take for granted has been around for 164 years! Take a trip, visit a park, you won't be disappointed.

The parks featured in this book are broken up by region and then even further by state. A brief history and description of the park is provided, along with helpful information like the best time to visit and whether there are any accommodations within the park.

The review copy I received only contains 4% of the book, but it has great information and beautiful photos. I’m looking forward to the rest of the book.

Thank you NetGalley and National Geographic for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A huge thank you to National Geographic and NetGalley for the arc. I cannot wait to see the full book! I absolutely love the photos that grace these pages. This book is perfect for any outdoor lover. I admire how the book takes the reader on a journey through a variety of parks in the U.S. I recommend anyone who has a curiosity in our environment to grab a copy when it comes out in May.

“100 Great American Parks”
By: Stephanie Pearson

A Visual Feast of America’s Parkland Treasures

The unparalleled photographic wizardry renowned of National Geographic is featured once again in a soon to be released full-color, breathtakingly illustrated travelogue of “100 Great American Parks,” by Stephanie Pearson.

With a forward by multi-award winning singer and songwriter, Garth Brooks, this visual feast of America’s wildly diverse State and National scenic treasures is chock-full of expert advice on hiking trails; river rafting; picturesque views; wildlife spotting; general travel tips; recreational sites; picnic spots; city parks; green spaces: historic monuments, and so much more.

This comprehensive collection features all 63 U.S. National Parks, as well as 37 state and city parks from coast to coast, including Massachusetts' Cape Cod National Seashore to California’s giant Sequoias and Hawaii’s erupting volcanos.

Stephanie Pearson’s, “100 Great American Parks,” is a true patriotic tribute to our nation's geographic beauty as exemplified in Katherine Lee Bates 1895 personification of “Pikes Peak,” also known as “America the Beautiful.”

‘O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain! America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!’


=====================///=======================

The Book Maven’s Journal—Reviews for Word Connoisseurs

REVIEWER: J.Hunt
STAR RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“100 Great American Parks”
Author: Stephanie Pearson
Genre: Travel | Non-Fiction | (Adult)
Publication Date: 09 May 2022
Publisher: National Geographic Books

With Sincerest Appreciation to NetGalley, Author Stephanie Pearson and Publisher National Geographic Books for Providing this Advance Reader’s Copy for Review.

The Netgally version of this book is a synopsis and not formatted well for a phone. From what I could tell, the description of the parks was helpful and the photographs vivid and lush.

I am often amazed when I talk to friends and hear that they have never visited any of America’s national parks. From the time I was a child, my parents took me to gasp in awe at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, watch the bats fly out of Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, and relax in Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. But in Stephanie Pearson’s new book for National Geographic, 100 Great American Parks, she shows us that we don’t have to visit a national park to appreciate nature and have a little fun. There are loads of great places to choose from!

As a California native, I have to say that one of our most remarkable national treasures is Yosemite National Park. It’s not the biggest national park in the country—in fact, it comes in third in size next to Yellowstone and Sequoia National Parks—but it is one of the most iconic.

Established in 1890, it once supported 36 villages and was home to the Ahwahneechee Indians, before the soldiers, settlers, and gold prospectors forced them out of the area. Yosemite is made up of 1,169 square miles of land, including towering sequoia trees, sheer granite walls, and plunging waterfalls, so there is definitely plenty to see!

On a much smaller scale, Pearson also writes about another park that is near and dear to my heart, New York City’s Central Park. It isn’t part of the national park system, and was a rocky, swampy mess when it was first purchased back in 1853. But park designer Frederick Law Olmsted had a vision for the 1.31 square mile property that would ultimately make it the “lungs of the city” and attract 42 million annual visitors.

When I lived in Brooklyn back in the early 90s, my friends and I frequently took the subway under the Hudson and up to Central Park to relax, play frisbee, or walk around the Lake. More than a decade later, I took my wife there to enjoy the musicians who played there, to visit the zoo, and enjoy watching both the people and the wildlife that could be spotted among the flowering trees. It is definitely a respite from the chaos of the city and is a gem you need to visit if you ever make your way to Manhattan.

One of our absolute favorite places to visit, however, I’ve saved for last. A number of years ago, the radio company I worked for transferred me from Arkansas to work at its cluster of stations in New Bedford, Massachusetts. While New Bedford itself is a national historical park that is well worth a visit (particularly if you love Melville’s classic novel Moby Dick), it was Cape Cod that totally stole our hearts. At every opportunity, we drove across the Bourne Bridge and made our way to the Cape Cod National Seashore.

We inevitably started at Nauset Beach Light, which was erected in 1923, using an 1877 tower moved there from Chatham. (If you’ve ever purchased a bag of Cape Cod Potato Chips, this is the lighthouse used in the company’s logo.) This 40-mile stretch of seashore was established in 1961 and consists of 68 square miles. It offers up some of the most breathtaking views of the Atlantic that you will come across, whether you’re there during the early hours or during the waning light of day.

Our favorite stretch of seashore, however, is at Marconi Beach, which is named for Guglielmo Marconi, the Italian inventor who transmitted the first transatlantic radio messages from the president of the United States to the king of England. Parking here is ample, and you simply take the stairs down to the beach where you can breathe deep, filling your lungs with crisp ocean air as you either sunbathe or walk the seemingly endless miles of beach to explore nature. It was always thrilling when we saw the seals leap out of the surf and onto the shore in an effort to escape the native great white sharks that hunt them. But don’t let the sharks keep you away. They aren’t as ferocious as the one depicted in Jaws and rarely bite humans.

These are only three of the parks mentioned in this fabulous book full of fascinating details and jaw-dropping photos. Of the 100 parks presented here, only 63 are part of the national park system, while the rest are culled from America’s countless city and state parks. Pearson does a stellar job incorporating all the must-know travel tips you need to find the best views, trails, and spots to catch a glimpse of wildlife. And no matter which state you live in, she’s listed at least one place you should add to your travel itinerary.

If you’re sick of sitting at home, staring at the walls, and waiting for the pandemic to end before you get outside and start living again, Nat Geo’s 100 Great American Parks is a great place to start daydreaming. It will spark your imagination and have you heading out to enjoy nature once again. Most of all, it’s a phenomenal reminder of just how magnificent the American landscape is, and why we should treasure and protect it for generations to come.

This was a great sample of what the full book will offer. My goal is to visit all of the National Parks that I can and it looks like this book will be perfect for that endeavor!! Can't wait to buy the physical book for myself.

While this book was only a sample, it did give a nice overview of the parks that were featured. The photography was nice as well!

Pros: This sample was a great introduction to what this book will be as a whole. The illustrations of the parks are stunning, as is expected from National Geographic, and are a wonderful way to mentally travel. I loved the fast facts about each of the parks and often found myself googling for more information on the parks that I have not visited. This is a great book to inspire a family road trip to parks around the USA.

Cons: None that I can tell from this sample.

Thank you to NetGalley and National Geographic for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a great nonfiction book about 100 of American Parks that are great to visit. It is an interactive story that has pictures that draw you in. The details that goes along with each park makes them exciting and a great place to visit. The pictures bring each place to life and bring beautiful environments to life. This is a great book for anyone of any age that is interested in parks or learnng more about a specific park. If you are looking for more information on a park this book is great for that. I really enjoyed the pictures and the details that went along with them. I highly recommend this book.

A nice preview of what would be a very nice coffee-table book of America's parks - unfortunately the galley is only 10 pages, so I can't really give a through review of the whole thing. I am intrigued, though, and would like to see a full copy when it comes out in May to learn more about America's parks.

The photos in this book are absolutely gorgeous! And it’s not just National parks that grace these pages. The parks are arranged in groups of geographic location throughout the USA, with brief descriptions and seasonal availability for accommodations. It will be a worthwhile purchase for outdoor fans.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

3.5 Stars rounded to 4.
》》Sample copy《《
100 Great American Parks is what looks to be an informative photographic,coffee table book with lots of interesting information about Americas most famous national parks including 33 of the countries recreational, state and inner city parks aswell.
I received a 10 page sampler of this book and it have a small taste as to what was to come in the book. Each two page spread consisted of a photograph and information about the park. The parks I saw snippets of were the Yosemite National Park, Frank Church River of no return wilderness, Cape cod, Central Park, and the Selma to Montgomery National Historic trail. This book is to be pr8nted at a volume of 400 pages so a 10 page sampler was a very small sample to give a lengthy review on.

This sample really has me wanting the full book in both print and ebook form. I love learning about some of our nations most beautiful wonders and want to be able to share it with anyone who's interested. It's got some great information with that famous National Geographic magic!

Thanks to Netgalley and National Geographic for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This brief extract of the full picture book represents a wonderful taster of what I've come to expect from National Geography. Aside from the magazine, I'm also a true fan of these beautiful pictorials. I always enjoy leafing through this kind of book to get an idea of where I want to visit next, although my own photography is never able to compare with the earth-shattering beauty of those of National Geographic.

#100GreatAmericanParks #NetGalley.

What a great peek into this book. We are always looking for good state parks and with this, I think we would learn a lot about parks we never knew existed.

I also appreciate how they are divided.

Stunning photography, beautifully placed quotes and interesting facts about the featured parks. I would definitely purchase to read and gift to others. Again, the photography is absolutely stunning!