101-day Summer Exploration - Summer of '12
I have been on road trips before and created a post asking about specific equipment for this trip. It's going to be a doozy. 101-days. Costs are roughly:
I am looking at anywhere from $10,000-$18,000 total cost - depending on how cheap I want to be (which I am never a cheap traveller...it always leads to me not enjoying my time, sleeping in cars).This is a pretty good deal for the time spent and a hotel each night averaging $80 (which I have searched to be the average costs of hotels, some as much as 200-300).
I am overall looking to revisit many areas, and explore new ones. I will post an itinerary soon if anyone is interested. It is mainly well-known back country and a few cities. My questions is this. Does anybody know of any non-tourist historical spots, particularly spots with local lore/tales. I absolutely LOVE following local history, treasure tales, etc. I am just unaware of any spots out west other than the main ones, that could satisfy my need for history, without interference from loads of tourists all around me. Any suggestions of areas would be great, and possibly, a brief description. Thank you in advance.
Traveling through History
Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!
Throughout my travels, I have tried to keep an eye on the history of the region I'm in at any given moment. it's simply, in my opinion, the best way to understand what's there now, geologically, culturally, gastronomically, etc. There are of course major historical sites such as Jamestown, Gettysburg, and the like, but if you really want to understand an area you need to 'get down in the weeds' and the best way to do this is to visit some of the untold number of local history museums, sites. and lectures. The things I really look for are docent led tours of sites and museums where I can get some interpretation and ask questions. Now, if you're expecting me to give you some list of places to go, you're going to be greatly disappointed. There are just too many. I have recently had cause to look for sites pertaining to Native American Anthropology and Archaeology within a day-trip of Tucson, AZ. Now that's a pretty limited subset of "non-tourist historical spots, particularly spots with local lore/tales", and yet I easily found somewhere between 3 and 4 dozen such possibilities. So, if that's the type of attraction you want to see, you're simply going to have to inquire locally at such fonts of information as Welcome Centers, tourist information booths, and local libraries. And at the end of each visit, tell the people which way you're headed and ask what similar sites are particularly interesting.
AZBuck
Even better than the local librarian
Quote:
Originally Posted by
LtBrannigan18
Does anybody know of any non-tourist historical spots, particularly spots with local lore/tales.
Just adding a source that is often over-looked when doing local research. Stop in at barber shops or nail salons in whatever town you are going to. Get your hair cut, a shave or whatever and ask the customers and the barbers about local events and local history. I've made some of my best discoveries from these informal oral history sessions.
Mark
Huge list of books, but....
There are thousands of good books detailing US history -- but one I would certainly pick up and take with you, was supposed to be the first of a series, but the authors grew disenchanted with the process and so, alas, there was only one published -- but check, out Suzanne & Craig Sheumaker's
America's Living History - The Early Years. and then here's a growing reference of books that RTA contributors are submitting for local historical reference.
Mark
