""One day I was gazing out my window at a stretch of trees when I was suddenly struck with the realization that I couldn't name any of them .... like most Americans, I had somehow become an adult who could not claim even an elementary knowledge of my natural neighborhood."" "Thus begins Mary Blocksma's ambitious quest to identify the flora and fauna of her Great Lakes home. With no big program, no particular organization, Blocksma sets out to identify her environment just a name at a time, a few times a week, for a year. Covering everything from blue moons and bald eagles to arbor vitae and lake-effect snow, this book transports the armchair explorer out of the living room and into the forests and wetlands of the Great Lakes." "In this charming guide to the everyday but often overlooked ecological treasures that await the would-be naturalist, you'll find not just the names of plants and animals but tips on buying bird feeders, identifying spiders, and telling a blue jay from a belted kingfisher. Packed with helpful hints, novel trivia, and a useful "guide to guidebooks," Great Lakes Nature is sure to delight and educate."--BOOK JACKET.
The Late, Great Lakes is a powerful indictment of man's carelessness, ignorance, and apathy toward the Great Lakes. With the longest continuous coastline in the United States, they hold one-fifth of the world's freshwater supply. Author William Ashworth presents a compelling history of the Great Lakes, from their formation in the Ice Age, to their "discovery" by Samuel de Champlian in 1615, and, finally, to their impending death in our time. Ashworth systematically deals with the wild life that once flourished in the region-beaver, salmon, whitefish, and trout-and describes the threatening elements which have displaced them-the predatory sea lamprey, the alewives, toxic waste, and volatile solids.
Practical travel guide to The Great Lakes & Chicago featuring points-of-interest structured lists of all sights and off-the-beaten-track treasures, with detailed colour-coded maps, practical details about what to see and to do in The Great Lakes & Chicago, how to get there and around, pre-departure information, as well as top time-saving tips, like a visual list of things not to miss in The Great Lakes & Chicago, expert author picks and itineraries to help you plan your trip. The Rough Guide to The Great Lakes & Chicago covers: Chicago, The rest of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Inside this travel guide you'll find: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLER Experiences selected for every kind of trip to The Great Lakes & Chicago, from off-the-beaten-track adventures in The North Shore to family activities in child-friendly places like Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Ohio or chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas, like the Lake Erie Islands. PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIPS Essential pre-departure information including entry requirements, getting around, health information, travelling with children, sports and outdoor activities, food and drink, festivals, culture and etiquette, shopping, tips for travellers with disabilities and more. TIME-SAVING ITINERARIES Carefully planned routes covering the best of The Great Lakes & Chicago give a taste of the richness and diversity of the destination, and have been created for different time frames or types of trip. DETAILED REGIONAL COVERAGE Clear structure within each sightseeing chapter includes regional highlights, brief history, detailed sights and places ordered geographically, recommended restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs and major shops or entertainment options. INSIGHTS INTO GETTING AROUND LIKE A LOCAL Tips on how to beat the crowds, save time and money and find the best local spots for hiking, camping, and scenic drives as well as quaint towns to visit. HIGHLIGHTS OF THINGS NOT TO MISS Rough Guides' rundown of Chicago's River Boat Tours, Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Abraham Lincoln sites of Illinois and the best sights throughout the region and top experiences help to make the most of each trip to The Great Lakes & Chicago, even in a short time. HONEST AND INDEPENDENT REVIEWS: Written by Rough Guides' expert authors with a trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, to help to find the best places in The Great Lakes & Chicago, matching different needs. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Comprehensive 'Contexts' chapter features fascinating insights into The Great Lakes & Chicago, with coverage of history, religion, ethnic groups, environment, wildlife and books, plus a handy language section and glossary. FABULOUS FULL COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY Features inspirational colour photography, including the stunning Rocks national Lakeshore and the glitzy Downtown Chicago. COLOUR-CODED MAPPING Practical full-colour maps, with clearly numbered, colour-coded keys for quick orientation in Cleveland, Detroit and Downtown Chicago and many more locations in The Great lakes, reduce the need to go online. USER-FRIENDLY LAYOUT With helpful icons, and organised by neighbourhood to help you pick the best spots to spend your time.
