Inchcolm - of course; I had forgot to mention this beautiful but small island. The Jazz cruise to Inchcolm is great but I am not sure that it runs as early as May and at that time of year you will not get a good view of the island (it runs at night) nor is there anytime set aside to disembark.

Palmettoprincess - I mentioned the authors to my hubby and he said that his Ian Rankin book is already waiting for him at the library (Flesh Market?). From the sound of the title, not sure if this is the kind of book we should be reading right before our trip

Inchcolm looks very interesteing - fairly off the beaten path? Just what we were looking for. Thanks again all.

Yes, read Fleshmarket Close. You can take your picture by the sign on the high street.

The Quintin Jardine series are also a good Edinburgh read, especially the Skinner stories. They are harder to find in the US, but available through Amazon.

You know whemn you think about it, a lot of the iction about Edinburgh seems to focus on it's seamier side - but for reality we can't forget Burke & Hare

Hubby already enjoying Fleshmarket Close. I found a video clip of Ian Rankin walking the actual street.
A picture is definately in order!

If you do go to South Queensferry, don't miss a visit to the Hawes Inn. It was here that Robert Louis Stevenson was inspired to write "Kidnapped".

Hi
For a day trip by public transport I would definitely say either Stirling or St Andrews / East Neuk. You might be able to visit several of the lochs in the Trossachs region just beyond Stirling. There's an old fashioned bus called the Trossachs Trundler that does trips from Stirling or Callendar through the best of the area. I haven't seen the 2006 timetable yet but if they still have a departure point in Stirling you can get there easy enough by train from Edinburgh. The Trossachs were an obligatory stop on the "Scottish Tour" so beloved of 19th century travellers, Walter Scott based many of his books there, and they've been a major tourist attraction ever since. You won't find "highland" type scenery nearer to Edinburgh. Try and arrange your transport so you have time to actually get out and wander around for a couple of hours, or you'll miss the best of it.
With a car I'd suggest a day trip to some of the Border towns but by public transport I don't think it's realistic.
I don't know what whisky (no "e" in the Scottish spelling) prices are like in the US just now but it's very possible you can get the stuff at home for less than we would pay in a "duty free". Shop around in local supermarkets away from the centre of Edinburgh and you might get a bargain. If you want quality, don't buy anythimg that is not a Single Malt - there are some good blends but also some that are only fit for cleaning paint brushes.
If you can arrange trasnsport in the evening there are some terrific places to eat in South Queensferry, often at much less than the same standard in Edinburgh.
For a slightly different view of Edinburgh search out the poems of Robert Fergusson. He died in a lunatic asylum at the age of 24 and lay in an unmarked grave until a guy called Robert Burns read his poems and the rest, as they say, is history. Burns thought he was the greatest poet Scotland ever produced, and organised the funding to give him a proper memorial stone in the Canongate kirkyard - not far from Mrs Agnes "Nancy" McElhose aka Clarinda, one of the great loves of Burns's life. Over 200 years later Edinburgh City Council finally got round to erecting a statue in his honour. They had to add a plaque because no-one in Edinburgh had heard of him!

So much to read, so little time! A trip to the Trossachs and South Queensferry are winning over a day on a tour bus. We love just wandering on our own - since I'm not familiar with the Trossachs and my guidebooks just touch on them, I would appreciate any advise on where to start and what not to miss.

Also, any suggestions for lunch or dinner in South Queenferry?

Maybe one bottle of a nice single malt to share with friends. Other suggestions for inexpensive but unique gifts for friends?

Peter Irvine (Scotland the Best) recommends Orocco Pier as a "cool bistro". He also mentions Dougal Philip's New Hopetoun Gardens, near S. Queensferry, a garden center that has a tea room/orangerie with "commanding views and tasty home-made stuff".

What I bought for gifts in 2003 were pillboxes with Charles Rennie Mackintosh enamelled designs. They were inexpensive and unusual as well as being small and unbreakable (very easy to pack)unusual. Everyone I gave them to seemed to like them. I found them at the tourist information center in Stirling, but when I was there this summer I didn't see them.

You could also do shotglasses - when you share the single malt your friends can keep the glass.

I bought thimbles in the Parliament shop, for my American friends at Christmas. They loved them.

I saw a place in South Queensferry reviewed in the Scotsman not long ago; and went looking for it for you.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/maga...?id=1029902005

You will see they were not impressed with Orocco Pier but did like the Boathouse next door.

Sheila - Thank you for taking the time to look for that great article in The Scotsman. The Boathouse sounds like a wonderful place for fresh seafood.

If I may ask two more questions, I have researched the Trossachs Trundler and it looks it does not operate in May. I have not been able to locate any other hop-on/hop-off transportation for the Trossachs. Is there a one-day bus tour we could take of the area - one that would allow some time on our own to explore? I found many services that transport luggage for hikers but not the day visitor. If not, I may have to learn how to drive a manual transmission and drive on the "wrong" side of the road. Can I rent a car for just one day near the Trossachs?