By Robert Lucke
"Insider's Guide to Glacier National Park, Including the Flathead Valley and Waterton Lakes National Park," second edition, published by Globe Pequot, is a 241-page guide with maps and photos that sells for $16.95.
Being a Glacier Park junkie, I bought the first edition of "Insider's Guide to Glacier" in 1999. After reading the book I felt like I had been ripped off. Getting a review copy of the second edition, nothing has changed. This book may be all right for a newcomer or tourist, but even that is a stretch.
I suspect this book was written by a group that publishes these "guides" all over the United States. To give regional authenticity, they employ a group of "locals" to do the writing. Those "locals" must not have much to do with the layout. There were Glacier photos completely misidentified in edition one. Those same photos are still misidentified in edition two.
The guide is a what-to-do and what-to-see sort of guide, along with places to shop, eat, stay, and camp. The only problem with this is that only places that pay are included. Hence, many good places that tourists would enjoy are not mentioned at all. Places like Applebee's in Kalispell or the Winchester or Spencer's. It is that way throughout the book. It is really not a guide at all, but a long descriptive narrative about folks who have paid to be in the book.
The premise is great. The book includes things like history, attractions, arts, antiques, kidstuff, outdoor recreation, annual events and on and on. Why, there are even sections about the media and hints for relocation. The only problem is the way this book is presented and written. It is not only not complete by any means, but it is misleading. It is written to say very nice things about places that pay them to say those things.
Not worth $16.95 even if you are a Glacier junkie.
