I have generally been happy with Lonely Planet tour books, particularly for Maui, and Munich&Bavaria. However I was sorely disappointed with the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah installment of this series.

First, both the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Parks are quite extensive. Each have far more opportunities for beauty and recreation than can possibly be represented in half of a book this thin. Each jewel of a the National Park System deserves its own book.

I was particularly dismayed to realize that only a handful of hikes were suggested for each of these parks. Given the vast mountain ridges over which both the Smokies and Shenandoah span, I was expecting more to be described, or at least noted prominently with maps. Maps are relatively few, and often somewhat small and not very detailed, so they are not particularly useful on the trail. Given the extensive network of trails available for various lengths and difficulties, hiking and camping are great activities to pursue in these parks, but is given relatively little attention.

I can only assume that the intended audience for this book is the more casual visitor, riding in a car, who might perhaps try to visit both parks in one trip or vacation. Information included on the Blue Ridge Parkway, more or less connecting the two despite the considerable distance between them, further supports this inference. While incredible views can be seen driving through each of these parks, this is only one way to enjoy them, and merely scratches the surface.

Overall, this book is not recommended for anyone who is looking to visit just one of the parks at a time or for someone who wants to really explore either of them. ( )