Here are a few interesting new titles by Lonely Planet (with contributions by yours truly!). These books both fall in the category of “inspirational” travel books. That means they are filled with unique ideas and gorgeous photographs to inspire readers to start planning their next trip. In these cases, the inspiration comes in the form of “offbeat” destinations and EV road trips.
Offbeat North America
For Offbeat North America I covered North Adams, Massachusetts. (What a coincidence! I was just there last week! And eight years ago!) What’s it all about?
For over a century, artists and writers and wealthy city dwellers have retreated to the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts. Lured by cool mountain air and glorious vistas, they built seasonal homes in picturesque villages like Stockbridge and Lennox, attending summer symphonies and theater festivals.
Meanwhile, gritty North Adams is surrounded by these same forest-covered hills and flower-filled pastures, and it’s a mere 20-minute drive from the state’s highest peak at Mount Greylock. But this former mill town and rundown industrial city held little appeal for well-heeled vacationers.
That all started to change in 1999, when a defunct electric company was converted into the country’s largest contemporary art museum, known as Mass MoCA. Since then, North Adams has undergone a slow and somewhat sporadic transformation into a regional art center, with a proliferation of art galleries and an impressive assemblage of public art, not to mention popular music festivals and sophisticated dining and lodging. Now a contemporary cultural hub, North Adams is an edgy alternative (and contrast) to the region’s more idyllic destinations.
Electric Vehicle Road Trips (USA & Canada)
For Electric Vehicle Road Trips (USA & Canada), I wrote up several routes, including the White Mountains Loop in New Hampshire.
It’s a challenge to keep your eyes on the road as you weave your EV through the glorious White Mountains, where every turn shows off a stunning view of rocky peaks and forested valleys, rushing brooks and placid lakes. Your journey starts in the side-by-side tourist hubs of Lincoln and North Woodstock, where you can stock up and charge up for the coming days’ adventures. Hike – or take the gondola – to the summit of Loon Mountain to get an overview of where you are headed: the spectacular northern peaks.
