Our good friends at the American Hiking Society have a new dog-friendly hiking page. Along with helpful information on hiking with dogs and dog-friendly trails across the U.S., they are also hosting an awesome contest with great prizes. Three winners will be selected. Prizes include: doggy gear from Ruffwear, food from Milk Bone, and dog guides from Wilderness Press and Falcon Guides.

Follow this link for more details and contest information http://www.americanhiking.org/resources/hiking-with-dogs/places/

The text and photos that accompany the map are also available. It was as good as tearing the book’s pages about this hike and stuffing them in my backpack.

The folks over at active.com have taken notice of Patrick Brady’s latest book The No-Drop Zone. You can believe that the people behind that site know their stuff. The book is written with the new cyclist in mind, addressing the fact: you may have an expensive bike and all the right gear, but what’s expected of you and how do you pull your own weight when out riding with others? This book answers all of your questions.

Brady has been cycling for more than 20 years and pours that knowledge into his full-color book The No-Drop Zone. He also writes over at the extraordinary cycling blog Red Kite Prayer. Check him out before you head out for your next ride.

Bob Sehlinger has been in the travel publishing business for almost 30 years and authored 27 books during that time. He is also the one we call “boss” around here at the Menasha Ridge Press offices. Bob is always one of three places: traveling some distant corner of the globe, behind his desk writing or out on the trail riding his bike. We’ll let you guess which he prefers best.

The folks over at the Travel Writing 2.0 site caught up with Bob recently and asked him a few questions about the travel book industry, travel and publishing. You can check it out over on their site.

It’s here! The 2012 Keen Catalog featuring all of the newest titles from Menasha Ridge Press, Wilderness Press and Clerisy Press. Give any of the imprints a call to get a copy or click here to download a PDF of the entire catalog right now. We have some very fun travel titles this year that we’ll be featuring. So stay tuned and let us know which guides you are using on your adventures this year.

The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market kicks off on January 19th and we’ll be there! Stop by booth 32080 to order books, maps, ask questions, get the inside scoop on our new partnership with ViewRanger or just say ‘hi’!

This is going to be a great year for Menasha Ridge Press and Wilderness Press. We have a ton of things lined up. In fact, our new catalog just arrived (just in time for the show. phew!) so give us a call if you’d like to see one or click here to download the pdf version.

We are very excited to announce our latest iPhone app, Peaceful Places: New York City! It’s a unique app that was built with tourists and locals in mind. The content is based on Menasha Ridge Press’ popular pocket-sized travel guide of the same name. With the app though, we’re able to tie-in all kinds of real-time and gps-enabled goodness. The goal of the app (and book) is simple: to help people find a peaceful spot that offers a quick slow down to the hectic pace that is New York City.

Screen Shots from the iPhone App

Sometimes you’ll want to sneak away by yourself or with friends. Sometimes you’ll want a drink or to be surrounded by books. All of this can be found in Peaceful Places series. So click on over to iTunes and give it a try and let us know what you think (the series also has a fun Facebook page). We’re confident that you’ll find your favorite secret jewel of a spot, to claim as your own and just enjoy your surroundings.

Hello! I’m Ronnie, a guest blogger, here to highlight a few adventure spots as it gets closer to my favorite time of the year and warmer weather. Featured below are three hikes that offer unique experiences for either the beginner or the veteran hiker this spring and summer.

1) Most people don’t think of Pennsylvania when they think of trekking in the great outdoors. One of our recent books, Rail-Trails Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, brings to light railroads that have become trails in the Northeast. One of the trails highlighted is the Allegheny River Trail, a 32 mile, paved trek that is perfect for multiple forms of travel. Whether walking, cycling, inline skating, horseback riding, or even cross country skiing, this trail offers picturesque views of the Allegheny River and local wildlife. This trail also offers wheelchair access and fishing spots that make it perfect for a family vacation. If you are planning on visiting, check in with the Allegheny River Trail Association for updates on trail conditions.

2) On the other side of the country, author Tom Courtney offers multi-day hikes that vary in difficulty in his book Walkabout Northern California. Each hike takes you to an inn at the end of the day to enjoy the evening before setting out for the next part of the hike. The popular Mendocino Coast hike is a two-day, romantic hike that totals 14.1 miles from Albion to Little River on the first day and from Little River to Mendocino on the second day. The author even suggests taking an extra day or two to wander the coast. Along the way, stop at the Albion River Inn, Little River Inn, or Mendocino Hotel and Garden Suites to enjoy an evening of relaxation or even a massage.

3) Going to Maui on vacation and need one more idea? Perfect! Author Sara Benson’s newest publication, Top Trails: Maui, is a must-have for day treks. The short Ohai Trail is a seldom-traversed hike that is often overlooked by those stopping to take advantage of the view that’s offered. The 1.3 mile hike is a mixture of dirt, grass, and paved trail that forms a semi-loop going past the West Maui Forest Reserve. The hike takes approximately 30-45 minutes to traverse with low difficulty that makes it ideal for a family visit. To find out more about guided hikes, check out the calendar for the Maui group of the Hawaii chapter of the Sierra Club.

Design Is How It Works by Jonathan R. Greene

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Certainly business books like this come pre-packaged with a distinct POV (which usually—hopefully–is clear in the title). So no Sherlock skills are necessary to know that this book showcases B2C companies which have thrived because the design of their products is both appealing and hews to the form follows function value.

A fair amount of this book is comprised of the usual suspects: Nike, Porsche, Virgin. Steve Jobs and Apple pop up often enough in the text to be the MC for the evening (it is a quick read). The author’s primary point is that these companies have succeeded because design is tied to consumers’ usage. He argues compellingly that design is both central to the creative and manufacturing process as well as the determining factor in win/lose. Overall, though, the selection is a fair one…and you probably could come up with another group on your own, like this: Patagonia, Levi, Salsa Cycles, Icebreaker Clothing. As this second list reflects, maybe experiential R&D is more important for outdoor products than maybe kitchen fixtures or lawn mowers; because if it doesn’t hold up in the wilderness, you can quickly become lost, hurt or MIA.

What I enjoyed the most about were the chapters on REI and Clif Bar, once again, because they are near and dear to the outdoor marketplace, adrenaline enthusiasts and our books. In both cases, hands-on in-the-field development pushes their product design, not a graphic designer perched at a Mac. They’re both brilliant operations and it’s good to see them get time in the spotlight.

The big plus was the profile of Ace Hotels, which I hadn’t heard of before, but after reading this, I was so intrigued that I stayed there last week when in Seattle…and it was perfect. Clean, contemporary, and a nice cross between a hostel and a hotel…soft on the wallet, long on vibe. When not bunking on someone’s couch, Ace is definitely my first choice for overnights.

View all my reviews