Some of my family’s favorite memories are of road trips. Piling in the car, buying loads of junk food, listening to our road trip mix, and enjoying the view. Our bucket list includes visiting a bookstore in every state. We often plot out a few extra days or a re-route. These trips have led to delightful surprises, like being treated to hot air balloon rides in Albuquerque, being charmed by Cheyenne’s downtown, and giddily spending too much money at Powell’s in Portland.
The books here share that adventurousness on a grander scale, allowing the world to surprise you, discovering hidden gems, connecting with friends and strangers, and shaking off routine to let the world delight you.
Somebody Feed Phil
By Phil Rosenthal
A globetrotting foodie, Rosenthal created a Netflix special documenting his global travels and the food he’s enjoyed along the way. This delightful companion piece shares behind-the-scenes stories and photos. You get a sense of how much he loves connecting with people wherever he goes. And the food!
People love feeding Phil and he is happy to try it all. Flipping through this book you will be treated to happy photos, fun dialogue, and recipes from top chefs from New Orleans, Mexico City, Bangkok, and more.
“...we went to Florence because my mom said it was the most beautiful place she’d ever been. She was right. Florence was somewhere past heaven. It felt like being inside a painting.”
Go Here Instead
The Alternative Travel List
Love the experience but not the crowds? Or maybe you’d like to hit an international film festival but only know the name Cannes. Maybe you’re interested in rail trips and are wondering if there is an African counterpart to the Orient Express (there is, and it sounds amazing). This fun guide gives you a heads-up on how to expand your travel bucket list.
“You’ll find France’s most famous Notre-Dame in Paris. But France’s most impressive cathedral? That’d be another Notre-Dame, this time in Amiens.”
The Catch Me If You Can
By Jessica Nabongo
Nabongo visited every country in the world, and she did it IN STYLE. In 2008 she quit her job in pharmaceutical sales to teach English in Japan. Since then she has earned a Master’s in London, wrote a blog documenting her travels, and started a few companies dedicated to traveling outside the box and supporting local makers. Phew! Here she tells the stories of her more memorable voyages. There are some tips, but also lots of inspiration for armchair travelers who won’t be blazing around the world any time soon.
“I got my first passport when I was four or five years old. What I didn’t know at the time was how generous life could be and that I was being handed the world to explore.”
100 Things to See in the National Parks
By Stefanie Payne
Books encouraging you to visit our National Parks abound, but this slender gem spotlights the 100 best features to visit. From the Wind Caves of South Dakota (which the Lakota consider a “sacred reflection of the underworld emerging into the earthly landscape”) to the Cactus Forest Loop drive that guides drivers, hikers and cyclists through the surprising beauty of the Sonoran Desert, this book tantalizingly describes each destination and gives practical tidbits on when to go and how to get there.
“What did they wear to stay warm? What words and expressions did they use? These questions and others will brim as you journey into your own imagination with your mind’s eye on a distant past carefully preserved in Southwest Colorado.”
Amy Hall is a Collection Development Librarian with Douglas County Libraries. She loves how travel can
lead to charming surprises and shared experiences with the people you love.