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

Author: Christine K. Bailey

Publisher: Reedy Press LLC

Published: 2017-08-15

Total Pages: 335

ISBN-13: 1681060728

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Whether you are exploring the rabbit warren of rooms that comprise Mystery Castle, hiking the steep, jagged face of Piestewa Peak named after the country's first female Native American killed in combat, or standing among the towering saguaro cacti found only in the Sonoran Desert, it is hard to avoid adventure with a copy of Secret Phoenix: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure in your backpack. This book traverses the historical, geographical and cultural landscape of an unlikely city that has risen from the dust of an ancient civilization to be the sixth largest city in the U.S. From the native peoples who first established the vital canals of yore to the lungers plagued with tuberculosis who flocked to the dry, dry desert to find some relief to the builders, engineers and architects who created the highways and skyline you see today, the city's story is one of survival, innovation and rugged determination. A new and eager city bent on growth, Phoenix has often eschewed history for the sake of progress and over time has lost too much of its heritage; however, for those who look closely, ask the probing questions and choose to explore, there is a history (and a future) to be found. From Glendale to Tempe, Scottsdale to Goodyear, Chandler to Carefree, this book is an examination of metropolitan Phoenix through the bits and pieces left behind and the new spaces and places just beginning to take shape.

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

Author: Amy Delcambre

Publisher: Reedy Press LLC

Published: 2022-10-15

Total Pages: 370

ISBN-13: 1681064049

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

At a glance, Mobile, Alabama, is a reserved Southern city, steeped in charm, heritage, and history. But look a little more closely and discover a winding tale of revivalist zeal, quirky contradictions, and delightfully ghastly scandals and scoundrels. In Secret Mobile: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure, you’ll unearth secrets of the past. People will be quick to tell you that Mobile is the birthplace of Mardi Gras in America, and they’ll be even quicker to tell you about Joe Cain, the rebellious firefighter credited with restoring the Mardi Gras tradition following the Civil War, but is that really the whole story? Not even close. As you’ll quickly learn, when it comes to Mobile, there’s always more to the story. Learn why the City of Mobile was twice burned to the ground, what famous presidential quote was uttered in the historic Battle House Hotel, and how a telltale oak grew out of the grave of an allegedly innocent convicted murderer. You’ll explore new terrain—like how to join the city’s most spirited kayaking group, where to find Hippie Beach, and the best way to see the iconic Middle Bay Lighthouse and the cow that lived there. Intrigued? Local author Amy Delcambre is just getting started. She’ll be your storytelling guide to explore all of the unseen threads that make up the fabric of Mobile and help you dive in to untangle the facts and the legends that make up the best of Mobile’s secrets.

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

Author: Marijean Oldham

Publisher: Reedy Press LLC

Published: 2021-09-15

Total Pages: 342

ISBN-13: 1681063328

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Charlottesville, Virginia is best known for its role in history, current affairs, and its connection to Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, and the University of Virginia. Secret Charlottesville: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure takes readers on a magical tour of lesser-known haunts, pulls back the curtain on the region’s historical sites, and whispers of treasures found around many corners. This beautiful city in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains has so much to offer, from secret swimming holes like Snake Hole, to unfrequented hiking trails like those at Foxhaven Farm, gorgeous hidden gardens like New Dominion Bookshop’s secret rose garden, and historic church graveyards, like Grace Episcopal Church in Keswick. Learn where to find hidden restaurants, like Vu Noodles or Lampo, to delight your palate. Climb a keelboat at Darden Towe Park or a giant salamander sculpture at Wildrock. Explore art from far-flung regions and experience the joy of sports teams with unique challenges. Do you know about Charlottesville’s connection to the Grand Duchess of Russia? Or Edgar Allen Poe? How about the time a famous painter got unstuck from her creative block at the University of Virginia? Local author Marijean Oldham finds inspiration in hidden attractions, outstanding architecture, extra-special restaurants, fun activities, and fascinating backstories. This guide provides behind-the-scenes detail and answers to Charlottesville questions you didn’t even know you had and unlocks local secrets just waiting to be told.

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

Published: 2024-09-15

Total Pages: 345

ISBN-13: 1681065584

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

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

Author: Anietra Hamper

Publisher: Reedy Press LLC

Published: 2018-03-15

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 1681061252

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Where in Columbus can you find a grave of specimens from an insane asylum? Stroll down Memory Lane? See the world’s largest gavel? Sniff the rarest smelly flower in the world? Soak up relics from the old National Roads? Soak up relics from the old National Road? The progressive pulse of Columbus secretly rests on fascinating, shocking, and bizarre events. Secret Columbus: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure is a journey of awe-inspiring moments combined with exciting knowledge about Ohio’s capital city. This book discovers what trash-eating pigs have to do with the landfill and how Columbus police are related to the Short North arts district. Researched and written by Columbus native and career investigative television journalist Anietra Hamper, this book reveals exciting discoveries that take you to places you would never find on your own. From settler-era squirrel hunts to the famous smoking Mai Tais of the defunct Kahiki Supper Club, the secrets of Columbus are waiting for you. With Secret Columbus as your guide, uncover new truths about the places you thought you knew and experience an element of adventure along the way.

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

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

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 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

Published: 2022-04-20

Total Pages: 377

ISBN-13: 1681063654

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

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

Author: Kim MacKinnon

Publisher: Reedy Press LLC

Published: 2020-03-15

Total Pages: 307

ISBN-13: 1681062100

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

What Boston landmark was first envisioned in a newspaper column? Which of the city’s nicknames was originally meant as an insult? What is the story with that costumed bear playing music in the T? You’ll find the answers to these questions and many more in Secret Boston—a guide to the unknown, strange, forgotten, and wonderful places and people that make up the Hub of the Universe. In a city with this much history, the mists of time are bound to hide more than a few hidden gems. Learn the fascinating history of the area’s more unique landmarks, quirkier places, and legends, generally known only to locals, and sometimes not even by them. Learn about the building that announces the weather by color. Hear the stories behind the tourist stops, like the person who rowed out to the USS Constitution and sawed off its figurehead or the iconic Boston sight created by a nun. Author and longtime local Kim Foley MacKinnon brings an insider’s perspective to revealing the secrets of this historic and creative city. Even those who think they know everything about Boston will be surprised by some of its forgotten history, hard-to-find landmarks, and colorful characters.

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

Author: Ruth Carlson

Publisher: Reedy Press LLC

Published: 2021-09-15

Total Pages: 422

ISBN-13: 168106331X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

How do you step into a live fairytale with aerial dancers, opera singers, and a huge rabbit? Where can you walk on a beach covered with broken pottery? What is the Institute for Abnormal Arts? Who will show you evidence Bigfoot is real? Find the answers to these questions and many more in Secret California: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. This is a book for travelers who love to meet quirky characters, discover oddities, and experience littleknown aspects of the Golden State. Learn the fascinating tales behind all the points of interest and discover some new places to look for adventure. Learn where to spend a night in a museum, explore an underground city, and watch silent movies in the same theater where Charlie Chaplin premiered The Tramp. Find out about the country’s only perfume museum, how a wall became covered in frogs, and why a colorful garden will not grow. Whether it’s an ancient society’s crypt or the second city underneath the capital, this guide leaves no stone unturned. Author Ruth Carlson uses her years of experience as a Californian to fill you in on the hilarious, the bizarre, and the beautiful in this unusual guidebook so you can experience the hidden treasures locals would like to keep to themselves—if only they knew about them!

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

Published: 2020-04-01

Total Pages: 315

ISBN-13: 1681062577

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

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.