Road Trip America: A State-By-State Tour Guide to Offbeat Destinations, by Andrew Wood


The first time you leaf through Andrew Wood's Road Trip America: A State-By-State Tour Guide to Offbeat Destinations, you might be tempted to set it aside as being not current or useful for planning a road trip. Although they are appealing, the retro illustrations and design mask the fascinating and up-to-date roadside discoveries that Andrew Wood has compiled. Read the text! You'll discover that the author has done a terrific job of profiling the weirdest and wackiest roadside attractions in each of the 50 U.S. states.

The author personally visited all of the attractions he describes, and his genuine appreciation for the offbeat comes through on every page. The signpost in Lynchville, Maine, that indicates you're only 14 miles from Norway, 15 miles from Paris and 94 miles from China is a perfect example of the kind of roadside whimsy Wood includes. He made a pilgrimage to the Madonna Inn's famed "Caveman Room" in San Luis Obispo, California, and he watched aficionados consume vast quantities of Rocky Mountain Oysters at the annual Testicle Festival in Clinton, Montana. If you're headed to western Oregon, you'll find out where you can stay overnight in a tree house, and if Massachusetts is on your itinerary, you won't want to miss visiting a house constructed entirely of paper. Wood has discovered equally quirky and enchanting destinations in every state.

For those who enjoy vintage postcards and historic photographs, Road Trip America is a real treat. While there are no current photographs of the wonders Wood describes, be warned! His engaging descriptions just might make you unable to resist filling up your gas tank and hitting the road.

Mark Sedenquist
7/03