Life on the Road

Lonely Planet USA by Jeff Campbell et al. ($28.99)
I will admit, this is the more current version of the 2006 book, which is the version we have (but I just didn’t want to link you to the out of print version). But this is a meaty book with lots to offer for travelers in the US.

One of the best things this book gives you, in fact, is the perspective of someone from outside the US. The introductory section is worth reading, because the assumed audience is clearly a European traveler coming to the States. The US’s foibles and strange little cultural quirks– which we take for granted– are exposed for all to see!

It also gives you a perspective of what people from outside the US (and many from inside) think of the “important” parts of the US to visit. So, California and Florida take up huge chunks of the book, while entire regions like “New England” are lumped together. This is a shame, in my opinion, if only because there is a great deal to see in the non-tourist states… but I suppose it’s nice to have all the tourists funneled into one corner or another. Makes us easier to keep an eye on, don’t you know.

It’s another one that’s worth buying if you’re going to travel the US for any length of time. It’s a particularly good pick for road-trippers and folks who hop from place to place for business, because many of the destinations are focused around cities, and the Lonely Planet editors have clearly paid attention to common business and conference-related destinations.

Since I’m going out of town this weekend, I decided this would be a good time to pre-write and post a few book reviews for your enjoyment while I’m away.

1000 Places to See in the USA and Canada Before You Die by Patricia Schultz ($19.95 retail).

This is a very handy book, especially if you aren’t squeamish about tearing pages out and carrying them around like a mini-guide. The book delivers exactly what the cover promises: 1000 places to go and events to attend in the USA and Canada. It’s a great book for RVers, because it gives us a guidebook to the whole US, not just one little section of it. Also, it’s inspiring to read the book and realize that, hey, a great historical or artistic legacy is just minutes away from wherever you are.

Are there more places to visit than listed here? Absolutely! There’s no doubt that any book like this has to leave something out– the beauty of guide books, of course, is that you can keep drilling down (1000 places to see in California… 1000 places to see in Lake Tahoe…. etc.) until you find yourself describing a visit to a single tree. For this book, however, that tree better be majestic to compete with the 999 other things to see in the US and Canada.

And, of course, this book is available on the Kindle. Since I carry my Kindle with me everywhere, having an enormous encyclopedic book of destinations without adding any extra weight… well, that’s just icing on the cake!