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New Roadside America: The Modern Traveler's Guide to the Wild and Wonderful World of America's Tourist Paperback – June 1, 1992

by Mike Wilkins (Author), Ken Smith (Author),
Doug Kirby (Author)
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39 customer reviews
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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 complete Elvis tour, including a miniature "Elvis City" in Roanoke, Virginia; the Elvis-theme McDonald's in Elvis's birthplace of Tupelo, Mississippi; and the Elvis Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Learn about the Curse of the Pyramids, and see the many unfinished pyramids that litter America's heartland. Jump into the debate about which town has the largest ball of string, the biggest tree stump, or America's true weather-forecasting groundhog. The locations of giant statues of the Jolly Green Giant, an "African village" in South Carolina claiming to be an independent kingdom, and the mysterious "Thing" of the Sonoran Desert are all found here. Buy it and drive west, young trendies.

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Product Details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Fireside; Revised edition (June 1, 1992)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0671769316
  • ISBN-13: 978-0671769314
  • Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,521 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Good intentions marred by low detail and poor organization
By hyperbolium on May 5, 2000
Format: Paperback
While the authors' hearts are definitely in the right place, their lack of thoroughness and haphazard organization severely mars this book's usefulness as an actual working travelguide.
By sorting the items under topics (e.g., "Gators" "Elvis", etc.), the book turns into a good bedside reader, and a poor guide to "what's here." Providing a geographical index (by state, then city) in the back, means that you're constantly flipping back and forth to try and figure what's near you. And with no map to locate a city within a state's boudaries, it's difficult to tell whether you're within a hundred miles or more. The only solution is to employ a map (paper or web-based) to figure this out.
Add to this a complete lack of addresses, phone numbers or hours, and you'll find yourself searching through a phonebook as well.
It's a useful source of ideas, but leaves the reader to do way too much of the legwork.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
More than a guide, its a trip
By Husker Du on March 21, 2000
Format: Paperback
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.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
A celebration of roadside attractions
By Craig S. Thom on February 19, 2001
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
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.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Great Book, but a few cautions
By Mortimer on December 14, 2002
Format: Paperback
Unmistakably, this is a wonderful book. I used the first edition for years, then the revised edition since it appeared in 1992. It has served as the basis for more than one weekend trip, and rarely leads one to a deep disappointment. However, you have to rein in expectations, and be prepared for a search.
The most significant drawback to the book is simply its age. While most of the features will be around for a long time, they may no longer be as available as the book might imply. Once in Forest City, NC, a search for Charlie Yeltsin's bottle house took several hours, a whole host of inquiries in town and around, interpretations of vague recollections, etc. When we finally found it, the house was on private land, with caged barking dogs adding a distinct foreboding to our exploration. We were able to explore it, but all the time cognizant of a possible irate owner with a shotgun. Our persistence was rewarded with a delightful attraction, though in dire disrepair. So, be prepared for this sort of adventure.
As another reviewer has observed, many of the references in the book barely provide a rough location, so it is not intended for the casual exploration.
The attitude pervading the book is right on the money, and at the very least provides a list of waiting adventures.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
My favorite travel book
By Gregory W. Brown on March 10, 2001
Format: Paperback
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.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
For Road Trip Lovers and Those Seeking the Unique Vacation.
By Jessica on December 14, 2002
Format: Paperback
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Like 3 old whores standing by a fence saying "come ...

New Roadside America was very old. Had a bunch of weird out dated stuff. Like 3 old whores standing by a fence saying "come see our huge meat curtains. Read more

Published 14 days ago by kristopher michael stevenson
Three Stars

i expected a more pinpoint for each town and state.

Published 1 month ago by Fillin' Buckets
Roadside

A bit dated...still entertaining...."16 more words required"...are you kidding me. It is a book and some of the "attractions" are gone.

Published 16 months ago by Mitchell Reeves
It's okay

This book is a tad bit boring. I do want to be able to visit everything in it someday but I think it could be better written OR better pictures?

Published 18 months ago by Christine A. Pawasarat
New Roadside America: the Modern Traveler's Guide...

The book was informative. It would have been more helpful if it had been listed by state, so you don't have to randomly flip through the book looking through places you want to... Read more

Published on March 26, 2011 by laurielipsit
the bible for adventurers

Had one, used it for all my adventures, had it stolen, had to get another, a great read even if you're not adventuring in America. Read more

Published on April 11, 2009 by James D. Bell
A Good Start

This book is a good start at taking us back down memory lane. It points out places you went when you were a kid in the back seat without a safty belt. Read more

Published on August 27, 2008 by Elizabeth A. Post
Unusual places

We are going to be using this book to plan our road trip this summer. It has all the unusual places you never know if they really exist. Read more

Published on February 21, 2008 by By Roadwarrior
If your looking for fun things to look for on a long car trip!

This was the answer for a 5,000 mile trip.
What fun it was to track different oddities in different states.

Published on December 11, 2007 by Stephanie Munson
Not very practical

This books gives you a lot of sites to see on your Road Trip but doesn't give you very practical advice how to get to them or their exact locations. Read more

Published on August 23, 2006 by R. Hirt

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