Book offers info on popular, odd sites
Lynette Olson, Special to the Gazette
Friday, July 24, 2009
“Off the Beaten Path — Newly Revised & Updated: A Travel Guide to More Than 1000 Scenic and Interesting Places Still Uncrowded and Inviting” by the Editors of Reader’s Digest published by Reader’s Digest Association copyright 2009 Maps copyright $30.00 2009 GeoNova Publishing
By Lynette Olson
Emporia Public Library
It has happened many times — you’re on a road trip for a special occasion like a wedding or a reunion and while you’re out there, you want to grab the opportunity to check out what special sights the town, the city, or the state has to offer. That’s when “Off the Beaten Path” would be your best friend. Or you want to plan a trip that includes places that let you “revel in nature, science, art, and culture, and encounter the unexpected as you explore…” This is a super-easy reference that shows you where to go, how to get there, and what you need to know before you begin your adventure.
“Off the Beaten Path” highlights over 1,000 of the United States’ most overlooked must- see destinations. These include museums, historic inns, castles, rock formations, dinosaur trails, pontoon boating, parks, lakes, wildlife sanctuaries, and zoos. This book is for the traveler looking for interesting hidden wonders and scenery (no theme parks or party districts.) The book contains over 1,000 photographs of these sights. This is the third edition of this best-selling travel book and has new content, 200 additional sights and over 200 new full-color photographs, and all-new, up-to- date maps.
The book consists of 50 chapters, each devoted to one state. The tourist bureau in each state has verified that each site listed is, indeed, still not (yet) heavily visited. In each chapter is at least one “Did you know?” box that has an interesting fact. The end of each chapter also has a calendar of events (seasonal activities, such as Strawberry Day in Tennessee) for the state. Each chapter also has a detailed state road map, with the sites marked out. As you read about each site, you can refer back to the map to see where it is.
For a given destination, you will find:
• Title of site.
• Street address (or nearest highway and city).
• Well-written description that explains what the site has to offer.
• Notes on availability, access, tours, and the like (including if an admission fee applies)
• Web site information.
• Phone number of the relevant agency, foundation, operator, or owner.
• Icons that show which of 16 different types of amenities are available. Three new ones (since previous edition): pet-friendly, handicap-accessible, and wi-fi compatible.
For those who don’t like to travel, this book allows the reader to be an “armchair traveler” to the many wonders and interesting sites across the USA or in your own state. If you haven’t taken an interesting trip lately, “Off the Beaten Path” may be just the thing to help you plan one that you’ll thoroughly enjoy.
“On the Shelf” is a weekly column provided by the Emporia Public Library and is written by library staff members and volunteers.