New Roadside America: The Modern Traveler's Guide to the Wild and Wonderful World of America's Tourist

by Mike Wilkins, Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, et al.

Book Overview

Roadside America is a Baedeker to the junkiest attractions on America's major, minor, and nearly forgotten highways. Planning to see Graceland? Why not let this delightful volume direct you on the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671769316
• ISBN13: 9780671769314
• Release Date: June 1992
• Publisher: Fireside Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

The Preeminent Reference Work

The New Roadside America by Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, and Mike Wilkins is the preeminent reference work about the wonders of roadside America. Do not expect descriptions of mainline corporate attractions such as Disneyland in this book. The New Roadside America celebrates extant small-scale attractions which show the ingenuity and pride of individual entrepreneurial initiative. The authors report every palpably gaudy, tacky, and tawdry detail of each roadside attraction. The authors' descriptions should not be interpreted as disapproval. On the contrary, the lack of polish of roadside attractions is part of their appeal. The authors relish the dilapidated splendor of each attraction, as should the reader. One caution: the second edition is becoming dated. Because of the intrinsically high attrition rate of roadside businesses, many attractions are now closed. Check before starting your journey. A third edition is eagerly anticipated. The New Roadside America by Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, and Mike Wilkins. Don't leave home without it.

For Road Trip Lovers and Those Seeking the Unique Vacation.

As a teenager living in a very dull community with a yearning to do something other than the usual mall and movie, I came across an ad in a Wisconsin tourist book about the World's Largest Talking Cow. I was immediately intrigued and decided to travel the six hours with my best friend to get there. While for some people it may not be worth the drive and the .25 you have to pay for the cow to talk, if you're the kind of person who shuns Disney World type trips in search of the unique this book is for you. After my cow trip I went online and found the website for this book, which has almost more info than the book, including preplanned trips across America centered around these Roadside Attractions and Paul Bunyan sightings. The book itself gives quite a detailed amount of information about each site, and you can always double check the website if you're worried about if its still existing, which can be an issue for smaller attractions. You'd be suprised how many of these things are close to home, and for me that meant the Mustard Museum in Mt. Horeb Wisconsin and Metropolis, IL (home to Superman everything...though most quickly note that Superman was not born in Metropolis.)If you're up for an interesting road trip or two that DOESN'T involve another Hard Rock Cafe stop, you should definately get this book. It was 7 years ago that I picked it up, and now I make a point of getting out at least once a year to find something wacky along the road.

My favorite travel book

I purchased this book after discovering the related website roadsideamerica.com. This book was published in 1992 and some of the attractions contained in the book have closed, but in a way that only adds to the appeal because if you really want to see an attraction featured in this book you'd better get going before it's too late. I only wish I had met Tom Gaskins before he passed away, but at least I know of his life's work. The lack or directions and phone numbers is understandable when you realize just how many area codes have been added since 1992 and how many road names have changed. For me, this book represents the finest scavenger hunt of kistch ever written, and the lack of phone numbers and directions only addes to the experience. This book is the first thing I throw into the suitcase when I travel for business or other reasons. The pages are dog-eared from use and the cover is stained with coffee and how knows what from that diner in Tennessee, and I wouldn't have it any other way. The best part about the entire Roadside America experience is that if you discover something on the road you can add to the fun via roadsideamerica.com. Buy this book and hit the road.

A celebration of roadside attractions

The point of this book is not to provide point to point directions. Doing so would just take up room that could be dedicated something else, and listed hours and phone numbers become dated and useless in no time.What this book does is capture the joy some of us feel while driving around the country and discovering roadside attractions on our own.I've had fun visiting dozens of the places mentioned in this book, but I've had just as much fun following my nose and finding places on my own. The book is about the joy of exploration and the weird things people do. This doesn't change even if attractions close or move.These are all fun places to visit, but the best part is that they exist (or existed). In a very entertaining way, the authors let you know what's out there and what's entertaining about it.You'll love this book even if you never leave home. It's fun to read. You may, however, be inspired to drive around a little on your own and find out how much fun it is to stop at a convenience store and ask where the giant chair is.

More than a guide, its a trip

This is a book to have laying around to just pick up at odd moments and start enjoying. True , the directions are scanty (you'd have to work to find alot of these places) but thats got to be part of the fun. And it needs updated, but thats where the website comes in ROADSIDEAMERICA.COM, which is how I found this book in the first place: Add your own entries, updates, etc. A joy if you never even hit the road. I'm giving copies to my British in-laws. Will give you a new appreciation of American culture.