Secret Seattle: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

Secret Seattle: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
Author: Mary Jo Manzanares
Publisher: Reedy Press LLC
Total Pages: 305
Release: 2021-09-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 1681063085

Where in Seattle can you get married in a shipping container? What about playing vintage pinball games, visiting a mummy, or renting an elephant? Is the Fremont neighborhood really the center of the Universe? Where can you research the occult, conspiracy theories, and other topics people don’t want to talk about? With Secret Seattle: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure in hand, you’ll discover the unique destinations, colorful history, and wacky legends that make the greater Seattle area such a popular destination in which to live and to visit. You’ll find out if the Seahawks really did cause an earthquake and what happened to the Bubbleator. Researched and written by travel writer Mary Jo Manzanares, this book serves as a guide to places you might never discover on your own. Whether you’re a local looking for something new or a visitor wanting to feel like a local, Secret Seattle lets you in on dozens of secrets around the Emerald City.

Secret America: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

Secret America: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
Author: David Baugher
Publisher: Reedy Press LLC
Total Pages: 327
Release: 2017-08-15
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 1681061236

Did you know ...that a hidden room exists behind Abraham Lincoln s head on Mt. Rushmore? ...that North Carolina was almost accidentally destroyed in a nuclear holocaust? ...that the Mason-Dixon Line had nothing to do with dividing north from south? ...that Major League Baseball once hosted a single game between three different teams? ...that there is a designated state highway in Michigan where cars are not allowed? ...that 21 people were once killed by a 15-foot wave of molasses that devasted a Boston neighborhood? ...that the National Security Agency has a gift shop with logoed merchandise? Whether you want to visit the New York grave where Uncle Sam is buried, stop by the future hometown of Star Trek's Captain Kirk in Iowa or see the room in California where the Internet was created, Secret America: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure is your ticket to some of the nation's least-known but most interesting spots. It is here where you can explore a historical marker dedicated to Barack and Michelle Obama's first kiss, find out how to acquire logoed merchandise at the National Security Agency's gift shop or examine why Case Western Reserve University has such an unusual name. Secret America is a look at the United States as you've never seen it before a tourist guide that gives you answers to the questions no tourist ever never knew they were supposed to ask. If you are tired of trying to enliven dull family roadtrips searching backroads for the World's Largest Ball of Twine, this is a handbook for truly interesting sites that can transform any cross-country adventure into a tour of the unique spots that make America the odd but fascinating nation that it is.

Secret Bend, Oregon: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

Secret Bend, Oregon: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
Author: Joshua Savage
Publisher: Reedy Press LLC
Total Pages: 345
Release: 2024-09-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 1681065584

Oregon, the final frontier. Early in our nation’s history, the land west of the Mississippi River was unmapped and unexplored. Only the local indigenous peoples were familiar with the mysterious Pacific Northwest. The states we know as Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Wyoming and Montana were part of the vast Oregon Territory. The history of the current Central Oregon region is filled with popular tales of Native Americans, fur trappers, sheepherders, cattlemen, homesteaders, railroads, lumber mills, and most recently, recreation. The lesser known but equally intriguing stories talk of ghost towns, mining, moonshine, cults, and everything in between. Secret Bend, Oregon: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure weaves together these tales from the past with stories from the present. It delves deeper into history and local peculiarities to uncover why the region is so fascinating. From natural beauty to the origins of our towns, from pristine lakes to colorful alley art, and from fantasy Hobbit houses to astronaut training, the unique narrative of Central Oregon is enthusiastically shared in this book. Both educational and entertaining, locals and visitors who read Secret Bend, Oregon will walk away with a greater understanding and deeper appreciation for the area. They will also have many new places to explore!

Secret Reno: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

Secret Reno: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
Author: Janice Oberding
Publisher: Reedy Press LLC
Total Pages: 295
Release: 2021-04-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 1681063077

With a well-known nickname like the “Biggest Little City in the World,” you might think Reno has no secrets. But you shouldn’t bet on that. For example, What is Reno’s connection to Mount Rushmore? How can you participate in a real-life cattle drive, see a shrunken head, or sip a glass of Picon punch in the midst of poltergeists? Arm yourself instead with Secret Reno: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure, and you’ll soon discover these and many more of the city’s secrets and lesser-known adventures. How about a lazy day kayaking down the Truckee River? You might want to climb the world’s tallest artificial climbing wall, or take a stroll where the lynching of an innocent man occurred in 1892. But be warned—his angry ghost is said to haunt the location, occasionally harassing passersby. If you’ve donned your leathers and are all in for a bike ride, you might want to know that Reno has an annual motorcycle rally not to be missed. Local author Janice Oberding loves to find adventure off the beaten path and be your guide to unconventional, but worthwhile, exploration. All you’ll need is here in this book about the Biggest Little City’s secrets.

Secret Pittsburgh: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

Secret Pittsburgh: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
Author: Karyn Locke
Publisher: Reedy Press LLC
Total Pages: 292
Release: 2020-10-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 1681062844

Pittsburgh, PA is affectionately known as The Steel City and The ‘Burgh to locals, but there’s so much more to the renaissance city than just nicknames—and that includes all of the weird, wonderful, and obscure locations that make it an ideal place to visit and call home. Where can you find a road paved solely with wood or public steps that have actual street names? Is there a place in The Golden Triangle where 1 + 1 = 1? And what about putting french fries on a sandwich or pancakes fit for a U.S. President? Filled with tales of culture, history, and, of course, the bizarre, readers will delve into what makes Pittsburgh unique including an official name for the color of its prominent bridges, an acorn from space, the story behind the Pittsburgh parking chair, and even a museum dedicated to the macabre. Secret Pittsburgh is all about the stuff you simply can’t make up but would make for amazing fiction if it wasn’t. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a true “Yinzer,” travel writer and Pittsburgh resident Karyn Locke will help you find truth behind the stories and tales that keep folks coming back—and staying put.

Secret Savannah: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

Secret Savannah: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
Author: Chris Berinato
Publisher: Reedy Press LLC
Total Pages: 310
Release: 2019-10-01
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 1681062291

Who is buried under the runway at Savannah Airport? Was “Jingle Bells” really written in Savannah, despite a distinct lack of snow to dash through? And what is the source of that peculiar echo on River Street? Find the answers to these and many more questions in Secret Savannah: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. While it may be renowned for its majestic moss-draped oaks and historic architecture, there are many more things to discover in this beguiling coastal city. Did you know that Football Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath once tried to turn one of Savannah’s most remarkable homes into a nightclub? Or that Martin Luther King Jr. gave an early version of his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in Savannah before he delivered it at the Lincoln Memorial? Local author Christopher Berinato has scoured the fringes of greater Savannah to dig up some deep cuts of history, legends, and maybe even a few ghosts. Let his eye-opening guide astound you with fascinating tales of the most charming city in the South.

Secret Dallas: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

Secret Dallas: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
Author: Mark Stuertz
Publisher: Reedy Press LLC
Total Pages: 345
Release: 2018-04-15
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 168106104X

Take an excursion through the weird, the wry, and the wonderful idiosyncrasies that comprise the Big D. From the Playboy Marfa bunny-with-a-muscle-car sculpture, to the ceaseless failed attempts to navigate the Trinity River, to the invention of the computer chip and German chocolate cake, Dallas is the birthplace of the whimsical, the wistful, and the profound. Secret Dallas answers questions about Big D you never knew you had, catapulting you through a portfolio of little-known but fascinating people, places, episodes, and artifacts. Think of it as a scavenger hunt travelogue, providing insights into hidden rhinestones and diamonds in the caliche. Secret Dallas is a riveting excursion into the city's odds and ends, where the rare and the phenomenal express the big, the bold, and the brash in everyone.

Secret Albuquerque: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

Secret Albuquerque: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
Author: Ashley M. Biggers
Publisher: Reedy Press LLC
Total Pages: 311
Release: 2020-04-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 1681062577

Where in Albuquerque can you find accidentally dropped nuclear weapons, Microsoft's first office, or the remains of an amusement park dedicated to comic book character Red Ryder? Why does Albuquerque have a grave for a fictional character and where do people play in a "maggot pit"? Where can you sleep in a spy's former home, spot an "Arroyosaurus," or walk among monumental origami? And where exactly can you eat a seven-pound burrito? You'll find the answers to these questions, and many others, in this guide to the Duke City's overlooked, offbeat, and unknown. Secret Albuquerque profiles the city's best-kept restaurant secrets, most fascinating museums, and oddest works of art. It shines a light on little-known aspects of local culture and reveals the secrets behind beloved Albuquerque landmarks. You'll discover where the Mercury Astronauts received their pre-mission physicals (even female astronauts), learn how a former brothel became a bed-and-brew, and uncover the deed and misdeeds of a famed archaeologist. Written by Burquea and local author Ashley M. Biggers, Secret Albuquerque offers a new way to explore the Duke City. It's your guide to uncovering hidden histories of places you thought you knew and discovering off-the-beaten-path attractions you can visit today.

Secret Monterey: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

Secret Monterey: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
Author: David Laws
Publisher: Reedy Press LLC
Total Pages: 377
Release: 2022-04-20
Genre: History
ISBN: 1681063654

Did Sir Francis Drake really claim Monterey for Queen Elizabeth? What does it take to win the world’s worst car show? Why did the new nation of Argentina attack the port of Monterey? Monterey County is known nationwide for its agricultural bounty, a bay bursting with marine life, world-famous golf courses, annual displays of automobile extravagance, and Big Sur, one of the top ten scenic road trips in the nation, but what about the stories and places that don’t appear in traditional travel guides? Secret Monterey: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure reveals the unexpected and little-known stories behind major attractions, as well as numerous other spots replete with mystery and intrigue. Did General Sherman really jilt the beautiful Senorita Bonifacio? Why did activists decapitate a Catholic saint canonized in the US? When will the next “big one” strike along one of the world’s most closely observed earthquake faults? Local author, travel writer, and historian David Laws answers these questions and introduces you to the other side of Monterey County, a trove of unexpected and unique places just waiting to be explored.

Secret Twin Cities: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

Secret Twin Cities: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
Author: Julie Jo Severson
Publisher: Reedy Press LLC
Total Pages: 341
Release: 2019-09-01
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 1681062607

Where can you view a rare handwritten letter by Mozart in the same building where a notorious gangster was once chained to a radiator? Whose remains are stored inside a suitcase on the upper shelf of a local German bar? Where is there a park hidden 120 feet below street level, and why is it the subject of an opera? What’s the story behind the world’s largest Lite-Brite and the city bus stop with giant steel flowers sprouting from it? The answers to these and many more questions about Minneapolis and Saint Paul are found within the pages of Secret Twin Cities. The Twin Cities metropolitan area invites visitors and locals to revel in nature, art, science, history, innovation, and—with this book as your guide—a bit of the unexpected. You’ll play a musical sidewalk railing, stand exactly halfway between the Equator and the North Pole, and explore the spot many Dakota people consider as the center of the earth. Weaved into delightful narratives by local writer Julie Jo Severson, Secret Twin Cities is a treasure chest of offbeat, extraordinary gems and legacies. Whether you’re a local or here for a visit, you’ll broaden your Twin Cities itineraries, bucket lists, and trivia vaults.