In my own state, I never knew there was a 12-acre Japanese garden in Rockford, Illinois. Inspired by seeing a similar garden in Portland, Oregon, a businessman named John Anderson created a special garden in Rockford embracing the tranquility and inspiration found in the peaceful artistry of Japan’s garden designs. This gem shares space with the Garden of Reflection, a five-story high waterfall, and has opportunities to spot migrating birds.
The Garden of the Gods Wilderness Area in Herod, Illinois shows the effects of hundreds of millions of years of wind, wearing the limestone and sandstone. The result is spectacular ridges and canyons. As you can imagine, it’s a popular spot for photographers, birdwatchers and climbers. The Garden of the Gods area overlooks a 3,300 -acre forest with six trails, including a River-to-River trail for hikers and equestrians to enjoy startling vistas along a ten mile trail.
Obscurities covered in Off the Beaten Path include:
- a small general store, operating since 1831 in Kentucky
- a lavender farm on hillside at the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii
- a collection of 30 wind-powered whirligigs, wacky works of art with motion and sound in North Carolina.
Off the Beaten Path makes a lovely gift for armchair travelers with fond memories of road trips, back when the road was our primary means of escape. More than an atlas for vacation planning, it’s a great way to map out an extended trip, to experience rather than bypass the best our country has to offer.
The book’s impeccable organization includes color-coded tabs for each state and a snapshot state map on the opening page for each state. All articles are coded and numbered with references back to the map, and include web addresses and phone numbers where relevant.
Lots of Americana trivia and a listing of seasonal events in each state will ensure you don’t miss any wine festivals, great music, or ballooning adventures on your journey.
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