| In Review: Road Trip USA, by Jamie Jensen | | | | network of route combinations, color-coded and |
| "Road Trip USA...takes you as close to the real | | | | extensively cross-referenced to allow for hundreds |
| America as you are ever likely to get." | | | | of possible itinerarieso More than 125 detailed driving |
| Here's a question for you. If you had the time and | | | | mapso Full-color interior with modern and vintage |
| the money to undertake just one extensive trip by | | | | photos and illustrationso A road trip resources section |
| road on any continent on the planet, which one | | | | with contact information for popular hotel and motel |
| would you choose, and where would you go? I ask | | | | chains, car rental companies, state tourism boards, |
| this question because time and money seem to be | | | | and road condition centers |
| the only things stopping many people from | | | | My personal criteria for a good guide book is that it |
| undertaking their ultimate dream vacation. | | | | should inform, enlighten, and occasionally even |
| Last year (March 2008), a survey conducted by the | | | | surprise, so I'm please to say that Road Trip USA |
| Australian online automotive website Cars Guide | | | | has no trouble being informative, enlightening, and |
| indicated that Aussies love to hit the road. In fact, | | | | yes, even surprising. |
| the survey of 810 respondents, found a whopping 99 | | | | I have no hesitation in saying that when I undertake |
| per cent of Australians would go on a road trip | | | | my own road trip across America, this will be the one |
| because of the freedom and spontaneity it allows. | | | | book I will have by my side at all times. |
| Not long after the Cars Guide survey appeared, a | | | | What's Missing? |
| Rand McNally survey (May 2008), examining American | | | | Unfortunately, Road Trip USA is almost entirely |
| attitudes to long road journeys found similar opinions | | | | devoid of links to online resources. In an age when |
| to this form of vacation. According to the Rand | | | | almost every printed piece of paper has a website |
| McNally survey (of 2,030 U.S. adults), three in four | | | | URL and an Email address on it somewhere; and |
| adults (75%) were at least somewhat likely to take | | | | when so many modern electronic devices come |
| a road trip, and about three in ten (29%) said they | | | | Internet ready, this seems to be a glaring omission. I |
| were very likely. | | | | can only assume this is a deliberate choice by the |
| Meanwhile, a recent article published in the online | | | | author and publisher. With thousands of places of |
| edition of the Wall Street Journal (May 2009), | | | | interest detailed in the book, they may have taken |
| reported that the road trip was poised to make a | | | | the decision to try and cut down on the visual clutter |
| comeback as the American summer travel season | | | | associated with URLs, and make the contents more |
| began, despite the lingering recession and rising fuel | | | | 'readable' by avoiding them altogether. |
| prices. | | | | While one doesn't expect a URL or Email address for |
| While the cost of fuel and accommodation were | | | | every location mentioned in Road Trip USA, surely |
| nominated as the two biggest concerns both in | | | | major places of interest do warrant the inclusion of a |
| Australia and America, it seems our respective love | | | | web link (where available). A quick look through other |
| affairs for the open road is not likely to diminish any | | | | guide books on my bookshelf reveals that all those |
| time soon. | | | | printed over the last five years or so, include web |
| Which brings me to Road Trip USA. | | | | addresses throughout, and future editions of Road |
| Jamie Jensen's best-selling guide book, Road Trip | | | | Trip USA would be well served to do the same. |
| USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America's | | | | Before You Go |
| Two-Lane Highways, (Fifth Edition, Avalon Travel, | | | | I think Road Trip USA would also benefit from a |
| 2009) takes you as close to the real America as you | | | | 'Before You Go' section outlining basic information |
| are ever likely to get. | | | | regarding preparations for the journey. This chapter |
| With 11 trips to choose from, covering classic | | | | might cover such topics as:o Useful (online and |
| American landscapes such as the Appalachian Trail, | | | | offline) sources of information regarding trip |
| Atlantic Coast, Oregon Trail, and the famed Route | | | | preparations.o Information about safety (personal, |
| 66, Road Trip USA steers intrepid road warriors | | | | vehicle break down, and other safety issues)o What |
| through major cities like San Francisco and Chicago as | | | | to do in an emergency (break downs, accidents, |
| well as remote, but charming all-American towns like | | | | personal attack, etc)o A checklist of possible items |
| Dyersville, Mississippi (where the baseball field created | | | | to pack and prepareo A checklist of pre-trip vehicle |
| for the Kevin Costner movie Field of Dreams attracts | | | | preparations (brakes, tyre and engine checks, etc)o |
| visitors from near and far); or the small blue-collar | | | | Traveling with children and pets |
| town of Seneca Falls, in New York state (which saw | | | | Road Trip USA does have a small Resources section |
| the birth of the American women's movement in July | | | | at the end of the book, running to just eight and a |
| 1848). | | | | half pages - four of which contain a Recommended |
| As you might expect, Jensen's routes also lead to | | | | Reading list. The others refer to organizations |
| popular destinations such as Disneyland, Yellowstone | | | | associated in some way with automobiles and |
| National Park, Niagara Falls, and the Statue of Liberty. | | | | highways; a short list of hotel/motel chains, and car |
| Complete with local lore; oddball trivia (Memphis's gifts | | | | rental companies; and a list of U.S. and Canadian |
| to American culture - and the world's - include the | | | | agencies dealing with State Tourism and road |
| supermarket, the drive-in restaurant, the Holiday Inn, | | | | conditions. And that's pretty much it. |
| oh, and Elvis Presley). Filled with noteworthy details | | | | The good news is, the omissions noted above do not |
| and roadside curiosities (a sign in Texas spelling out | | | | detract in any way from the overall depth and quality |
| the command: "Rattlesnakes Exit Here"), Road Trip | | | | of the detailed information presented in Road Trip |
| USA contains a wealth of recommendations on | | | | USA. At just over 900 pages, I think it is fair to say |
| where to stop, what to see, and where to eat and | | | | that Road Trip USA covers all the 'bases' and then |
| sleep. This is one guide aimed at getting travelers off | | | | some. In deed, I have no hesitation in saying that |
| the freeway system, and driving into the heart and | | | | when I undertake my own road trip across America, |
| soul of America. | | | | Road Trip USA will be the one book I will have by |
| Other features of this edition include:o A flexible | | | | my side at all times. |