Dream Destinations
From the day Ponce de Leon first glimpsed the coast of Florida in 1513, our state has been considered Paradise. And LIFE books agrees. On May 1, LIFE is releasing Dream Destinations: 100 of the World’s Best Vacations. Destinations range over the entire globe, but Floridians will be especially proud, as no less than four Florida hotspots make this list: Orlando, Lake Okeechobee, Daytona Beach, and Key West and the Marquesas Keys.

The destinations in the book are split into six categories (For Families, For Culture Vultures, For Sightseers, For Sporty Types, For History Buffs and For Romantics) to satisfy every taste, and more than 100 color photographs depict each stunning location: from Austin and Mount Vernon to London and Reykjavik.

Whether you plan on visiting these majestic locales or remaining an armchair traveler, LIFE’s Dream Destinations is an inspiration.

The Beginning
Patrick Smith, author of the best-selling A Land Remembered, is re-releasing another of his classic Southern novels. The Beginning was written at the height of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s.Met with some controversy at the time, it now proves an interesting study and a look back at what this country has overcome. This paperback re-print became available in March for $16.95. Visit www.patricksmithonline.com for more information.

This Great America
This Great America is a book that will inspire and bring to life once again why America is so great. Through its pages weaves a story in prose, sonnet, and magnificent photographs from the Atlantic to the Pacific and beyond to the 50th state in the union. The photography has been chosen to lead the story and make the reader want to be there and go there and stand in the same place taking in the beauty of America first hand. Inspiring words of the author, quotes from some of the founding fathers and wonderful sonnets coming from the modern heart bring this book to life and will leave lasting memories to the reader.

This Great America is not a book to read and then put on a shelf to gather dust, it is instead a book to display proudly—a tool that teaches and brings uplifting joy to young and old.

For more information visit www.ajboydphoto.com

Florida State Parks ... 75 Years
The Florida State Parks have a deep and respectable past, dating back to the early 1900s, before they were even part of the government-funded Florida State Park System. From land acquisitions to battles for funding, the parks have survived and prospered throughout the years, earning the reputation of one of Florida’s best attractions. In celebration of the parks’ 75th anniversary, Florida State Parks…75 Years goes back to the very beginning, beautifully weaving a tale, much like the waters twist around the state, to show how much has happened. With beautiful, historic photographs dotting every page, this book is a wonderful asset to anyone who’s ever enjoyed swimming, fishing, paddling, or even relaxing at any of the 160 glorious state parks.

To order visit www.floridabookstore.com