Running on the Map
Running on the Map
The Great American Road Trip
Have you been enjoying Wednesdays on the road?? We’re not back on the road yet, but thought you might look back through the family album at the most popular stops on the road trip so far. Only ten more stops to go and we will have covered the country coast to coast and then some. It has been a great ride.
Kerry Dexter posted a short time ago about the favorite road trip stops among her readers. Kerry is our road trip D.J.–she picks the CDs to pop in the CD player to match each state. I’ve enjoyed discovering new music, new books and new movies every week, and hope you have, too. The readers at Music Road liked these (comments lifted from Music Road).
Michigan “Tops on the list, in terms of numbers of you reading, is Road Trip Music: Michigan, in which you learn about Irish American singer and songwriter Cathie Ryan.”
Beginnings “You’re also liking the story of the beginning of the road trip idea atGreat American Road Trip: Music begins.”
Ohio “Road Trip Music: Ohio, which features Wilderness Plots, an album about the history of the Ohio Valley from five contemporary songwriters…”
Indiana ..”and Road Trip Music: Indiana, a look at some fine songs from Indiana native Carrie Newcomer.”
Alabama “Road Trip Music in Alabama: bluegrass, faith, and architecturerounds out your top favorites. Claire Lynch and her album Whatcha Gonna Do was a choice for our soundtrack through the wiregrass and red clay hills of Alabam’.”
Let’s see how Music Road readers’ choices compare with the favorite posts at A Traveler’s Library. Here are your favorites.
- West Virginia The movie October Sky with Jake Guyellenhaal (or maybe it was just Jake) continues to draw a lot of traffic to this beautiful, off the beaten track state.
- Road Trip Kick-Off Post: Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon is a classic of American road trip books, and a favorite of mine. Glad you like it, too.
- Northern New York State. The new-ish book City on the Edge by Mark Goldman introduces Buffalo, New York. I introduced it by talking about my Aunt Maude who lived there. Although the city has much to recommend it, I was not crazy about the book, and frankly not at all sure why this post has drawn so much attention.
- North Dakota. Sam Loew, an Arizona writer who comes from North Dakota, wrote this guest post about the movie Fargo. He included descriptions and pictures of some of the odd attractions of North Dakota and persuaded a lot of people it is a good place to visit.
- Maine I liked the little memoir, The Lobster Chronicles by Linda Greenlaw that tells about life on an island where most everyone catches lobsters. This is the post where I requested lobster ice cream. Ever helpful Kerry Dexter came up with a place that sells it, and I did a follow-up post.
(So far no matches with Music Road, except for the #2 slot–Kick Off post, so let’s dig a little deeper)
6. North Carolina A new book, winner of an Edgar for best mystery novel of the year, The Last Child by John Hart, also became one of my favorite books of the year.
7. Massachusetts Another excellent new book, Dogtown, by Elyssa East captured my attention with its combination of mystery, supernatural hints, history and landscape. The book went on to win awards and intrigue many readers.
8. Florida. Nature Girl by Carl Hiassen is a quick and frothy mystery read that captures some quirky characters, Hiasson’s usual humor and a picture of modern Florida beset by unscrupulous developers.
Isn’t that interesting, that the music lovers at Music Road picked entirely different states that the travel book and movie fans here at A Traveler’s Library? I should add that road trips in general are very popular here. By far the most popular post over all in the past two years has been one about the Five Best American Road Trip books. Another popular post lists books about American road trips; and one about Steinbeck and McMurtry books about road trips also ranks pretty high.
I’ll hope you’ll take a look at any of these that you missed the first time around, and let me know which state was YOUR favorite visit on the road trip so far. And come back next Wednesday, when we stop in Montana–Big Sky country.
The photo at the top is by Archibald Jude, and you can click on the picture to see more adorable pictures at Flickr of that little boy playing on the map.
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About the Author:
A freelance writer who loves to travel. When she is not traveling she is reading about travel. When she is not reading or traveling, she is sharing with the readers of A Traveler's Library, Reel Life With Jane and other websites. Also co-author of a biography, Quincy Tahoma, The Life and Legacy of a Navajo Artist. Contact Vera Marie by e-mail.
Vera Marie Badertscher – who has written 677 posts on A Traveler's Library.
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Tags: best, best posts, Favorite posts, Great American Road Trip, Kerry Dexter, Music Road, road trip
Now I know what to pack to read (and listen too) when I finally take that cross-country road trip I’ve been dreaming about doing.
I just adore your photo! Precious.
Every time I read your posts I realize how far behind I am in my reading. You do inspire me.
Thanks, but I goofed. Should have explained it is not my photo. Comes from Flickr. I used it once before, but should have credited it here.
interesting that choices differ quite a bit, isn’t it? it’s been a good journey thus far, and as you point out, more to come….
Kerry Dexter would like you to read..New Years Eve
Yes, a book a week and a visit to a state a week can keep people busy, but hang on…next Tuesday I’m listing my ten overall favorite books of 2010, and on Wednesday we’ll be back on the road with a wonderful book about the settling of the west as we stop in Montana.
Well, THIS list ought to keep the literary travel lover busy for a while!
I love mysteries. And, after reading this post, I got several ideas of mystery novels to check out.
Jeanine