Sue Fliess

Lake Tahoe is world-renowned for its peaks and slopes, its powder and breathtaking views of the bluer than blue lake below. But Tahoe and its surrounding towns are so much more than ski getaways. These two guide books dive deep into the lake, as well as the greater Tahoe area including Reno, Nev., and show readers this is one picturesque spot that offers something for everyone, year-round.

When going to the Hawaiian Islands, you need to pre-program your brain for an island attitude: Hang loose and slow down. The next two guidebooks made me want to grab the next flight, a cold mai tai, a comfortable hammock, a snorkel and some hiking boots. Not necessarily in that order, but you get the picture. Both the Big Island and Maui offer such an abundance of activities that there’s something for everyone and every whim.

As we anxiously (and sometimes painfully) await the news of who will be named the 2008 Democratic nominee and gear up for another presidential election, it’s hard not to talk a little bit of politics around the house. Heck, even my 5-year-old knows who Obama is. But it’s one thing to watch the rapid-fire debates on television, and another to journey to the place where it all goes down: Capitol Hill.

Five Family Favorites with Sue Fliess, Author of Calling All Cars Wow, to choose only 5 family favorites… means I have to create a virtual ven diagram to see the overlap between all of my favorites, my husband’s, and my kids…a difficult task! But here’s my best attempt:

Who says you have to stop traveling when you have kids? I never got that memo. My husband and I traveled plenty through our courtship and saw a fair amount of the world the first five childless years of our marriage. When we had our first son, everyone said, “You’ll slow down your traveling now, right?” Even though we answered yes, we did just the opposite. With both of our families on the East Coast and us on the West, ending travel simply was not an option.

These guidebooks are essential for your family trip to Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, but they guide you through the vast peaks and valleys in two very different ways. One is a traditional guidebook—highlighting where to stay, what to do—while the other is more, how should I say, organic? Instead of identifying monuments, the book explains how to identify another kind of landmark: animal poop.

Traveling during a recession? According to NBC’s Today show travel editor and New York Times best-selling author Peter Greenberg, there’s no better time! Peter Greenberg’s budget travel guide reveals the industry secrets that airlines, hotels, cruise ships and rental car companies don’t want you to know. Or do they?

Want to show your kids America but get nauseous at the thought of airplane travel with your family? Not to mention those security lines! Why not get behind the wheel instead? Whether you’re cruising in your minivan or a rented RV, here are two books that can help your family plan a road trip to discover and uncover the best the United States has to offer, from prime stretches of two-lane highways to gems hidden in the winding backroads.

If you want to be smarter than the average bear (literally) at Yellowstone, pick up these two comprehensive books for you and your kids. The first is a guide to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which includes both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. This guide offers 52 fun family outings between both parks, as well as helpful tips for biking, hiking, backpacking, paddling, camping and, yes, bears.