The Route 66 Traveler's Guide and Roadside Companion [Paperback]

Tom Snyder (Author), Michael Wallis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1990

New and Expanded
42 Updated Strip Maps
Chicago-L.A. Milage Table
350 Towns and Attractions
Highway Memorabilia
Personal Tour Planning

The Most Detailed Guide You Can Buy

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Author Tom Snyder was an early advocate of a Route 66 revival and his 1990 Route 66 Traveler’s Guide & Roadside Companion for St. Martin’s Press was the first guidebook to the old road written in omore than forty years, as well as the first to map the route since its decertification in 1985. He lives on the West Coast, dividing his time among British Columbia, Washington, and California.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st edition (December 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312045875
• ISBN-13: 978-0312045876
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 4.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,886,262 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As an architect of the retro-touring movement, Tom's labor of love with fabled Route 66 has led nearly a half-million travelers to rediscover the old highway. He has appeared on the evening news of the three major US television networks, CBS News This Morning, the Sunday Morning show and segments for The Discovery Channel and PBS. Tom has also been a frequent radio guest around the US, in Europe, Japan, and the BBC.

Tom's best-selling "Route 66 Traveler's Guide & Roadside Companion" is now in its fourth edition, and his wine-and-food touring book, "The Two-Lane Gourmet," won the Gourmand prize as Best in the U.S. Most recently, Tom has published "Tramp," an eBook novel of love, adventure, terror, and faith aboard a hundred-year-old steamer seeking its own resurrection, plus a second eBook, "China Point. This mystery / thriller is based in L.A. and on Catalina Island and follows the the assault on truth when an insurance company turns on its own top investigator. Both books are available in 32 markets worldwide.

In media, Tom was Contributing Producer for the 21st Century Classics DVD production of John Steinbeck's masterpiece, "The Grapes of Wrath," later published by Penguin. While on staff at the University of Southern California, he produced a number of short films and multi-media works on communication and interpersonal development.

He has also served as a probation and parole officer and as project director of a nationwide program for interactive evaluation of programs serving those with special needs. Acting from personal concern, Tom also works pro bono with adult survivors of childhood tragedy and abuse.

Tom holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Michigan State University, plus a doctorate from USC. In the Pacific Northwest he taught writing and editing for the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts, a pioneer organization offering a nationally accredited standalone MFA program.

In addition, Tom is a well-published photographer, with work appearing in a number of books, national magazines, and even as a giant backdrop for a cruise-ship bar . . .

Along the way, Tom worked as an oil-field swamper, fry cook, and sailing coach. He is a lapsed pilot and semi-prudent motorcyclist who acknowledges a genetic weakness for open spaces and quick machines.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enlarged, improved 3rd edition of a standard Route 66 guide, May 2, 2000

By 

Doug Pappas - See all my reviews

This review is from: Route 66: Traveler's Guide and Roadside Companion (Paperback)

10 years ago, Tom Snyder compiled the first modern guide to driving Route 66. For this third edition, Snyder has thoughtfully separated the driving directions ("Traveler's Guide") from his trove of 66-related anecdotes ("Roadside Companion"), making the book more useful. The guide's most distinctive features are reproductions of period maps from the Automobile Club of Southern California, over which the route of the modern Interstate has been superimposed.

Snyder's book is a fun read and quite helpful for planning a Route 66 drive. But once you're on the road, BY FAR the most useful navigational aid is Bob Moore and Patrick Grauwels' *The Illustrated Guidebook to the Mother Road*, which unlike Snyder's book provides turn-by-turn directions and mileage.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but..., August 7, 2006

By 

MonkeyBunker (Great Lake State) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Route 66: Traveler's Guide and Roadside Companion (Paperback)

The book itself is interesting, but not "the" guide. It's now somewhat out of date, and no where as easy to follow (or as accurate) as the "EZ66 Guide For Travellers" by Jerry McClanahan. Use that if you really want the nitty-gritty on finding your way around and on Route 66.

However, this book is still an interesting read, and I don't regret buying it, and would recommend it. (though not as a guidebook for your Route 66 trip)

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful and fun, April 30, 2006

By 

Konrad Baumeister - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Route 66: Traveler's Guide and Roadside Companion (Paperback)

Snyder's Route 66 guide is broken down into two sections; the first is essentially a town by town guide through the from Chicago to Santa Monica pier, and the second is a collection of stories, history, and perhaps a couple of tall tales of the Mother Road and the people along it. There is also a bit of introductory information on planning for the road trip, estimating times, what to take along, and this would be helpful for the first-time roadie.

The directions, as far as they go, are accurate, and the maps (all from the Auto Club of Southern California) are serviceable but small. Snyder's narration of the drive is easy to read, he points out various attractions and areas of interest along the way, and the route is easy to follow. This doesn't mean you won't need any other maps; every roadie would benefit from Bob Moore's set of maps and directions.

Also, Snyder presents the route in its east-west direction only; someone following the route from west to east can do so, but other books will serve far better.

Snyder's Roadside Companion of stories from the road are interesting and well worth reading in your motel before going to sleep before another day on the road.

The ardent roadie will find both information and a lot of love for the Road in Snyder's book, and it is highly recommended.