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

Author: Cheryl Thomas

Publisher: Reedy Press LLC

Published: 2020-10-01

Total Pages: 337

ISBN-13: 168106281X

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Where can you see a spider as big as a school bus? How did the world’s largest flying dinosaur land in Austin? Where is the college dorm room where a struggling student started Dell computers? And why are there thousands and thousands of bats in Austin? Find the answers to these questions and many more in Secret Austin: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. Learn about the lost-cause oil rig that became a gusher and funded higher education for generations. Follow in the footsteps of famous Austinites like Janis Joplin, Farrah Fawcett, and Matthew McConaughey. With life long journalists and Austin fans Cheryl and Les Thomas as your guides, you’re bound to find more than a few surprises about Austin—even if you’ve lived there forever. Whether you’re a slacker, an entrepreneur, a poet, or just a bluebonnet admirer, you’ll find Austin’s most fascinating hidden gems, strange history, and obscure trivia in this guide to the “City of the Violet Crown.”

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

Author: William Dylan Powell

Publisher: Reedy Press LLC

Published: 2019-10-15

Total Pages: 339

ISBN-13: 1681062097

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What's the best place in Houston to watch ostrich racing? Is there really buried treasure in Hermann Park? Do you know where to catch live jazz on the site of the original Republic of Texas capitol, or enjoy world class Cajun food in a church cloister from the 1800s? You'll find the answers to these questions and more in Secret Houston, your guide to H-Town's offbeat, overlooked and unknown. This book will take native Houstonians and fresh-off-the-freeway Newstonians alike on a behind-the-scenes look at the funkiest bits of the nation's fourth-largest city. Did you know Memorial Park was once a World War I training camp? Or the original use of the Last Concert Café and why its front door was always kept locked? And what's up with that old, mysterious crypt built into the bank of the bayou or that weird golden dome out on the west side? Local writer and longtime Houstonian William Dylan Powell helps you unlock Bayou City's most intriguing, entertaining and arcane secrets in this guidebook to the obscure. Some of these secrets you can enjoy today, while others are merely ghosts, legends or shadows of our city's past. But they're all waiting for you to explore right now in Secret Houston.

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

Author: Anastasia Mills Healy

Publisher: Reedy Press LLC

Published: 2021-03-15

Total Pages: 312

ISBN-13: 1681063050

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Did you know that there’s a Connecticut hotel room with a real helicopter inside? Can you guess who inspired the character of Indiana Jones, who was president before George Washington, and who flew before the Wright Brothers? Find the state’s most interesting and offbeat stories in Secret Connecticut: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. Are you interested in taking a safari or racing a chariot? Had you ever heard that Martin Luther King Jr. spent two summers in Connecticut? Included are more than eighty engaging stories that provide insight into one of America’s oldest states. Inside are tales of pirates, an underground prison, and a possessed doll. Aren’t you curious about the spectacular stained glass church that was unknowingly built in the shape of a fish by a famous architect? From the world’s smallest Native American reservation to professionally coiffed cows and a replica of Marie Antoinette’s palace, you’ll find intrigue around every corner of this small but surprising state. Author Anastasia Mills Healy brings to life the long history of intriguing people, places, and events that will fascinate even life long residents of Connecticut.

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

Author: Elizabeth Licata

Publisher: Reedy Press LLC

Published: 2021-04-01

Total Pages: 311

ISBN-13: 1681062593

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What’s the true story behind the “buffalo” wing, and why do Buffalonians refuse to call it that? Where is the nature preserve that was once an outlaw colony? Which obscure shop on the city’s East Side produces hats for Hollywood? Find the answers to these questions and many more in Secret Buffalo, a guide to the mysteries, surprises, and incredible stories of this Gilded Age hub. Now known for its architecture, food, and natural beauty, Buffalo’s history hides more than a few gems to astound visitors and locals alike. Learn about an early motion picture theater, the first woman to run for US president, the first Olmsted-designed park system, and more. Discover Buffalo’s hidden public art, travel the Underground Railroad, and make a bucket list of hidden parks to enjoy. It’s all here, and with local author Elizabeth Licata’s lifetime of exploration to guide you, you’ll be well on your way through the weird and wonderful sides of the Queen City. Uncover the secrets of a city you thought you knew.

Secret Upper Peninsula: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure
Secret Upper Peninsula: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

Author: Kath Usitalo

Publisher: Reedy Press LLC

Published: 2019-10-01

Total Pages: 311

ISBN-13: 1681062232

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How did a sparsely populated landmass surrounded by Great Lakes and completely separated from the rest of the state become the Upper Peninsula of Michigan? At the end of each winter what do Yoopers—those hardy souls who call the UP home—measure with a 30-foot tall “thermometer?” And should you put ketchup or gravy on a pasty? You’ll find the answers to these questions and many more in Secret Upper Peninsula: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. You may know that the UP inspired Longfellow’s “The Song of Hiawatha,” but what about works by Ernest Hemingway and Da Yoopers? Find out where a popular Chicago cartoonist summered in a cottage shaped like a giant pickle barrel, and where a ghost town comes alive once a year for a gathering of the descendants of copper mining families. Discover why believers say the mysterious Paulding Light is the lantern of a railroad man who perished on the tracks, or where to find the world’s longest porch and one of the least-visited National Parks. Local author Kath Usitalo takes you deep into the densely forested peninsula that might seem like one big, isolated secret to an outsider. Delve into this insider’s guide to learn about the fascinating quirks and curiosities of the land of Gitche Gumee.

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

Published: 2019-09-01

Total Pages: 346

ISBN-13: 1681062607

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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.

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

Author: Jonah McDonald

Publisher: Reedy Press LLC

Published: 2020-03-15

Total Pages: 351

ISBN-13: 1681062585

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What’s really inside Atlanta’s sealed Crypt of Civilization? Where can you experience a midnight costume party or get your hair cut at a museum? And is there really an elephant graveyard in the city? Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction, and Secret Atlanta is the right book to prove this over and over again. Beyond the standard Atlanta tourist attractions, visitors and natives will find a city full of secrets—in the history, art, culture, nature, and places that are just plain weird. Tour the most hidden spots in the metro area, or see the famous sites through a new lens. You’ll find the answers to common questions, like why there are so many streets named “Peachtree.” Don’t miss Atlanta’s more uncommon quirks too, such as the story behind the clergy parking spaces at one local bar. Whether you’re a lifelong Atlantan or a first-time visitor, local writer Jonah McDonald will help you marvel at Atlanta’s most obscure oddities. His adventures through the city might sound too interesting to be true—but you couldn’t even make this stuff up if you tried.

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

Author: Mason Douglas

Publisher: Reedy Press LLC

Published: 2018-10-01

Total Pages: 299

ISBN-13: 1681061759

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From prehistoric sabretooth fangs, across remnants of Civil War battlefields hidden in plain sight, around the hillside tombs of past presidents, past street corners where chart-toppers have had inspiration for #1s, to the cold stone heart of Music Row, Nashville is full of rich history…but it also has its share of hidden secrets that keep even the locals guessing. Secret Nashville is an enigmatic tour through the eclectic locations and one-of-a-kind objects scattered across the city and beyond. For the casual visitor to Music City, it offers a much deeper dive into the sightseeing waters…and for the natives, it is the perfect complement to remember the legacies and legends of the area. From the mysteries of the broad skyline silhouette down to the fine white strands of Andrew Jacksons hair, this book explores Nashville in a brand new light, with over 90 unique and compelling obscurities casting the honky tonk neon into the shadows to find the forgotten and unknown lore behind Tennessee’s iconic capital city. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 20.0px; font: 14.7px Arial; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 20.0px; font: 14.7px Arial; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 16.0px} span.s1 {font-kerning: none}

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

Published: 2021-04-01

Total Pages: 295

ISBN-13: 1681063077

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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 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

Published: 2017-08-15

Total Pages: 327

ISBN-13: 1681061236

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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.