Going Places

Whether you’re a visitor or a local looking for something different, Alabama Off the Beaten Path shows you the Yellowhammer State you might have never known existed. Uncover the roots of the civil rights movement at the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery. Tour the state's network of limestone caves, like Cathedral Caverns in Woodville. Soak up the sun on the sugar-white sands of Alabama's Gulf Shores.

For history buffs and those who appreciate the lesser known side of life, It Happened in Alabama offers an inside look at over 25 interesting and unusual episodes that shaped the history of the Cotton State.

Florida Off the Beaten Path features the things travelers and locals want to see and experience––if only they knew about them. From the best in local dining to quirky cultural tidbits to hidden attractions, unique finds, and unusual locales, Florida Off the Beaten Path takes the reader down the road less traveled and reveals a side of Florida that other guidebooks just don't offer.

A wonderful diversity of flavors has defined Northwest Indiana as a dining destination from its earliest days to the present. The pan-fried fish of Teibel's, open for almost a century, carries on the tradition of "perch palaces" like the now lost Phil Smidt's. Pierogis have been a staple at the Cavalier for decades. So great was the demand for frog legs that the venerable Vogel's raised its own at a small lake nearby. Serving Northwest Indiana-style, crisped-edge hamburgers, Miner-Dunn and Schoops both survived the onslaught of fast-food chains and continue today. Local author Jane Simon Ammeson leads a tasty tour of historic Region restaurants.

Whether you’re a visitor or a local looking for something different, Indiana Off the Beaten Path, revised by Jackie Sheckler Finch, shows you the Hoosier State with new perspectives on timeless destinations and introduces you to those you never knew existed.

A first edition, Insiders’ Guide to Indianapolis is the essential source for in-depth travel and relocation information to Indiana's capital city. Written by a local (and true insider), this guide offers a personal and practical perspective of Indianapolis and its surrounding environs.

From the Bridges of Madison County to the Loess Hills, a guide to sites in Iowa.

Explore the Sunflower State through its varied geology, unusual attractions, fascinating history, and tasty cuisine. This travel guide reflects 100+ solo road nights, 13,000+ research miles, and 130+ author photographs.

If you’ve “been there, done that” one too many times, get off the main road and venture Off the Beaten Path to Kentucky in this guidebook by Jackie Sheckler Finch. View the world’s largest known collection of ventriloquistic figures at Vent Haven in Fort Mitchell. Find your inner Zen at Furnace Mountain spiritual community near Clay City. See what other Bluegrass treasures await in this book.

Soothe your ailments and your hunger with the healing properties of poke at the Poke Sallet Festival. Take an expedition through Walt Whitman’s “vale of the Elkhorn” in a canoe. View the largest known collection of ventriloquist dummies at Vent Haven. Visit the incredible fossils on display at Big Bone Lick State Park, in an area where colossal mammals came to lick salt (and sulfur) more than 10,000 years ago.

Ride over a pirate pistol-adorned bridge to swashbuckler Jean Lafitte's stomping grounds. Or stop and smell the roses at the country's largest rose garden, the American Rose Center in Shreveport. Or check out "America's Most Haunted City" and explore the historic cemeteries of New Orleans--if you dare!

Have you ever heard how ski warfare helped the US secure an important WWII victory? Learn more about this fascinating story at the Ski Hall of Fame in Ishpeming. Written by Jackie Sheckler Finch, the Great Lakes State guidebook has many more terrific tales and tidbits.

Rising from the waters of Lakes Michigan and Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island is a car-free escape with a complex history and more to enjoy than its legendary fudge, horse-drawn carriages and Victorian architecture. Learn about the Anishnaabek people who first gathered here; the arrival of voyageurs and fur traders; the military presence; and the tourism push that made Mackinac Island the destination it has been for well over a century.

Linked to Michigan’s Mitten-shaped Lower Peninsula by the five-mile Mackinac Bridge, the U.P. is a sprawling, rugged slice of land with 1,700 miles of Great Lakes shoreline and plenty of solitude. Here’s a sampling of what to see, where to eat, and what to experience in this land of woods, waterfalls and wildlife, and the hardy Yoopers (U.P.-ers) who call it home.

Surrounded by three Great Lakes, Michigan’s thickly forested, sparsely populated Upper Peninsula is like one big, isolated secret. Get to know some of its quirky characters, historical events and scenic wonders, whether you’re an armchair traveler or hitting the road to learn what makes the U.P. so special.

Michigan is home to more lighthouses than any other state and some 30 of those are rumored to be haunted by the spirits of former keepers, mariners and others with ties to these historic beacons. Inside the pages of “Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses,” long-time writer and promoter of all things Michigan, Dianna Stampfler, shares stories of those who dedicated their lives—and afterlives—to protecting the Great Lakes shoreline.

Greater Lansing is famous for the three Cs, cars, the capital, and the campus at Michigan State University. 100 Things to Do in Lansing Before You Die provides a set of local itineraries, tips for enjoying all the must-sees in this diverse town, and the secret treasures some locals may never have found.

Although almost half a million people call the Greater Lansing area home, Lansing offers a small-town atmosphere with ample city comforts. Learn how to take on the “Ultimate Carnivore Food Challenge,” where to find art from world-renowned artists, and how to reach tranquility in a Japanese Garden’s serenity. Native Lansingite Amy Piper is the source to maximize your visit.

Amy Piper’s latest book is “Secret Michigan: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure.” What’s surprising is how many secrets Michigan hides behind the well-known destinations. The mysteries it keeps, places you may have been, but things you never noticed. Stories that only the locals know. Places the locals didn’t want revealed. Occasionally, they would request that she not disclose an exact location for fear of spoiling it.
For this book, a secret may be a surprising backstory behind a well-known attraction or the world’s largest, most miniature, and unusual food—things that make you exclaim, “That’s weird!” Even for Michigan’s lifelong residents, it’s surprising what you might not know. Harry Blackstone, Thomas Alva Edison, and Sojourner Truth are historical figures associated with other places whose roots you’ll discover were in Michigan.

Explore charming communities along Missouri’s Katy Trail or spend the night in a grain silo. Poke around in little towns in the Kansas prairie, fly with Amelia Earhart and enjoy a delicious meal “out in the middle of nowhere.” These and more delightful ways to spend the day all within two hours of Kansas City.

Whether you’re a visitor or a local looking for something different, let Nebraska Off The Beaten Path show you the Cornhusker State you never knew existed. From the birthplace of Arbor Day and Jessie James hideouts to remote sculpture gardens and sandhill crane migrations, Nebraska offers an expected selection of all the things that make travel worthwhile.

Ohio's natural beauty and unique attractions from Ashtabula to Zoar as
seen through the lens of award-winning Cleveland photographer Laura Watilo Blake.

This friendly, easy-read book shares attractions in the Buckeye State where you can dine and dance aboard a Cuyahoga River cruise, shop Ohio’s largest Amish and Swiss Mennonite communities, and tour the historic homes of former Presidents.

Whether you’re a visitor or a local looking for something different, Ohio Off the Beaten Path shows you the Buckeye State with new perspectives on timeless destinations and introduces you to what you never knew existed.
Dine and dance aboard a Cuyahoga River cruise, shop Ohio’s largest Amish and Swiss Mennonite communities, or tour historic homes of former Presidents. So, if you’ve “been there, done that” one too many times, get off the main road and venture Off the Beaten Path.

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 the bizarre, find out 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.

Nashville offers extraordinary opportunities for those either visiting or seeking to relocate to this country music mecca. Insiders’ Guide to Nashville is packed with information on the best attractions, restaurants, accommodations, shopping and events from the perspective of one who knows the area well.

This engaging book features the things travelers and locals want to see and experience––if only they knew about them. From the best in local dining to quirky cultural tidbits to hidden attractions, unique finds, and unusual locales, Tennessee Off the Beaten Path takes the reader down the road less traveled and reveals a side of Tennessee that travelers will treasure.

Yes, there really is a Luckenbach, Texas, as Waylon Jennings sang in his popular song. Visitors find music, cold brews and friendly folks in this tiny town (pop.3). The nearby Fredericksburg region is known not only for its German heritage but also its booming wine industry and its museum honoring native son, Admiral Chester Nimitz. The National Museum of the Pacific War includes the beautiful Garden of Peace, a gift from the people of Japan.

A guide for the traveler looking for familiar and favorite comfort foods or wonderful culinary experiences around Wisconsin. Celebrating the people, places, foods and culinary heritage that define the multi-ethnic Badger State.

Featuring 60-some recipes from 40 Badger State supper clubs, a mix of rural and urban endeavors, some with four generations of family ownership. Expect a mix of classic recipes and contemporary interpretations of supper club food. Added bonus: Learn each supper club's intriguing backstory.

You know the adage. Good things come in small packages. Here’s proof: dozens of delicious little destinations that delight travelers who crave fun, safe, surprising, and under-the-radar escapes from big-city bustle and congestion. Time to downshift and discover the natural beauty, unique spirit, and enduring character of unusual burgs of Wisconsin.

An eclectic mix of communities makes the cut for this selective guide to rural treasures, many of which are lesser known because of limited or no advertising. Visit for an hour, day, overnight or longer. All these special places have a population of no more than 5,000 people, and many have less than 1,000.

A culinary travel guide, part of a Gourmand World Cookbook Award series, for those who seek authentic dining and cooking experiences while in Germany or enjoying armchair travel at home. Including a culinary history, food/flavors guide, regional specialties, recipes. Winner: Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

Your step-by-step guide to planning a magical journey to Ireland! Jody Halsted, publisher of Ireland Family Vacations, begins at the beginning- when is the best time to visit Ireland?– and works through every aspect of your trip: flights, transportation, lodging, attractions, food, and even how to save money.

The newest edition features a continuously updated online resource with additional articles and podcasts, as well as special savings from Ireland tourism businesses.

Read the stories and visit the sites found in the Hauntings of the Underground Railroad: Ghosts of the Midwest such as a lost toddler who wanders the woods near the Story Inn in Nashville, IN, eternally searching for the mother torn from him by slave hunters and the Union soldier who at night walks the perimeter of the Anti-Slavery Friends Cemetery in Westfield stopping at the gravesite of a fallen comrade.

A memoir told through trips to a dozen holy sites around the world.

The bronze place winner in the 2019-20 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition in the Travel Book category, takes us to fascinating and lesser-known historical places where Lincoln lived and visited, sharing stories and anecdotes about what makes them worth the trip.

A blend of memoir, travel, and spirituality that focuses on places that can teach us about mortality

Off The Beaten Page offers a literary look at fifteen U.S. destinations as seen through the works of famous writers. "A bookworm’s dream, this title is an inspiring, unique read. Book clubs and the literary-minded will love it for the travel ideas, book lists, and delightful commentary on each city’s history. Highly recommended.” --Library Journal

A green guide to the Midwest states that introduces unusual, fun and innovative places to visit. All with an environmentally conscious approach: National Mississippi River Aquarium in Dubuque to Target Field in Minneapolis. An eclectic mix – low budget to luxury – of LEED leaders, repurposed structures, delights of the natural world.

Campers will appreciate these candid reviews and ratings of more than 350 campgrounds in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

In the pages of Death & Lighthouses of the Great Lakes: A History of Misfortune & Murder, you’ll find an amalgamation of true crime details, media coverage and historical research which brings the stories to life…despite the deaths of those featured.

From the Serpent Mound of Ohio to the Redwoods of California—and, ultimately, by air to see natural wonders in Alaska and Hawaii—Erickson uncovers deep connections both to the lands that now make up the United States and to the elements that have had sacred meaning to people throughout history and across the globe. Through her profound, informative, and witty reflections on the power of stone, water, light, fire, and more, readers will discover new destinations in North America while deepening their own connection to spirit. Whether exploring national parks or visiting holy sites, this book makes for the perfect spiritual companion and guide.

Farming is more than hogs and cows, corn and wheat. It’s amazing architecture, intriguing museums, mansions, windmills and barns. It’s American history. As farming changes from small farms to large commercial operations, smaller equipment and the companies have ceased to exist, and some of these locations offer insight into the different ages, and types of agricultural development.

Author Cindy Ladage lives on a farm in central Illinois.

Fall From Grace is a genre-bending psychological thriller where characters trump action. There is a murder, but more compelling is what happens to an array of relationships --- friendships, families, therapist and client--- in the aftermath. Pitting integrity against DNA, intuition against evidence, Fall From Grace challenges our illusions of control and assumptions about who will stand by us when we are faced with the unthinkable. Meet Grace McDonald, a middle-aged therapist and mediator, in Book One of the Grace McDonald Series.

All God’s Children centers on a custody battle over a child in the gay-bashing, funeral-picketing Westboro Baptist Church. Grace McDonald returns, along with a core cast of her family and friends, in this 2nd novel in the series that, again, tackles polarizing social issues and makes them personal. Readers go behind the closed doors of custody mediation, domestic court, and the locked gates of the WBC, as Kraus explores the meaning of family, loyalty and love when each are put to an ultimate test.

Insufficient Evidence draws readers into a reality where one word -- “Consensual” –or the disclaimer “It was just a hookup”--- undermine all traditional forms of evidence. It’s a page-turning psychological thriller, as Grace struggles to understand college hookup culture and its impact on the legal system, ability to prosecute, and personal accountability. When her drive for truth collides with professional ethics, she goes a little bit rogue --- at the same time that her client is exacting a very personal payback.

These events are true life experiences, including issues with a chocolate syrup can. The intent––to inspire others to laugh at life’s situations even when you run out of chocolate. I hope these words encourage plenty of laughs and a deeper understanding of what it is like to sit on the cold, hard toilet seat of life.

Food historian and St. Louis author Suzanne Corbett brings together 178 recipes from Virginia Campbell’s original 1840’s cookbook, dishes taken from Robert Campbell’s steamboat and hotel business. More than 130 images showcase the recipes and the Campbell House Museum’s extensive culinary collection and archive. Learn more about dining during the Victorian era, including 19th century etiquette and presentation.

How many people did the Bloody Bender family butcher and bury on the Kansas prairie? Who was the Hermit of the Santa Fe Trail and what secrets did he carry with him on his 900-mile journey through Kansas?
And who killed my Aunt Amanda?
These mysteries and more pull back the curtain on some of Kansas’ most fascinating and compelling stories.

Learn about the life and exploits of a shy young man who was born in Chicago and moved at a young age to Columbus, Ohio. He was a fabulous athlete, one of the country's best, having set records in high school and becoming a charter member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He was a 4-sport letterman and 3 times football All American. For one year he co-owned the Chicago Bears, but not long after that he was beset with mental illness that kept him in a VA hospital for the 52 remaining years of his life.

Growing up in a passionately Norwegian-American Iowa town, Lori Erickson rolled her eyes at traditions like Nordic Fest and steaming pots of rømmegrøt. But like many Americans, she eventually felt drawn to genealogy, the "quintessential hobby of middle age." Her quest to know more about the Vikings and immigrants who perch in her family tree led her to visit Norse settlements and reenactments, medieval villages and modern museums, her picturesque hometown and her ancestor's farm on the fjords.
Along the way, Erickson discovers how her soul has been shaped by her ancestors and finds unexpected spiritual guides among the seafaring Vikings and her hardscrabble immigrant forebears. Erickson’s far-ranging journeys and spiritual musings show us how researching family history can be a powerful tool for inner growth.

A poor Norwegian farm girl is seduced by a rich landowner’s son. But despite her dreams, he has no plans to make her his wife. Abandoned, she sees only one path forward or she’ll sink into the black hole of her family’s poverty. But her first goal is revenge and after the landowner’s son dies a horrid death amidst whispers of poison, she boards a boat and sails to America. Norway’s gain is America’s loss.

An entrepreneur whose business was murder, Gunness felt no qualms seducing men for their money and dispatching them with her axe—filling her farmland with her victims.

Missouri’s history is best told through food, from its Native American and later French colonial roots to the country’s first viticultural area. Learn about the state’s vibrant barbecue culture, which stems from African American cooks, including Henry Perry, Kansas City’s barbecue king.

Trace the evolution of iconic dishes such as Kansas City burnt ends, St. Louis gooey butter cake and Springfield cashew chicken. Discover how hardscrabble Ozark farmers launched a tomato canning industry and how a financially strapped widow, Irma Rombauer, would forever change how cookbooks were written.

Through the medium of historic photographs, this book captures the evolution of the people of Lansing, from the late-1800s to the present day. These pages bring to life the people, events, communities, and industries that helped to shape and transform Lansing.

South Holland, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, was once known as the Onion Capital of the world. Learn about the history of the Dutch pioneers who settled this charming community.

Learn this history of this northern Illinois town through the people who lived there and built Lansing into the community it is today.

Tales about the great Houdini and his claim of being born in Appleton; a lawyer who created world’s only mustard museum in Middleton; Teddy Roosevelt giving a 90-minute speech after an attempted assassin shot him in the chest in Milwaukee. These stories and many more in this updated book.

The first 18 months of COVID told through multiple POVs -- innocence lost, lives upended, relationships tested. Love is at a distance -- and Zoom becomes a verb. Meticulously researched, this contemporary historical fiction helps readers discover what they've already forgotten and things they never knew. If you're reading this, you're a survivor --- and When We Lost Touch touches your story, too.

A rhyming, sweet story of nighttime creatures for children ages 3 – 9.

A fun read for children 3 – 9, this book takes us on a ride with a historic firetruck.

Suitable for kids 3 – 9 years old, this book highlights the way we show each other we love them.

Do you have a child who is a picky eater? This delightful story by Carrie Steinweg, a prolific food writer, shows what happens when we embrace the adventure of new foods.