Backroads
of New England
Your Guide to
New England's Most Scenic Backroad Adventures
By Kim Knox Beckius
 |
Part
picture book, part travel guide, Backroads of New
England: Your Guide to New England's Most Scenic Backroad
Adventures celebrates the beauty and history of this
part of the country through stories, photographs and touring
suggestions. Divided into chapters by state—Connecticut, Rhode
Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New
Hampshire and Maine—the
book is organized in a useful and informative manner,
entirely attune to the needs of the traveler. Chapters
open by describing the state in general then clearly outline
instructions that take the reader through a carefully
planned day trip, complete with specific driving directions
in sidebars and large maps to accompany the text. Tours
include such routes as New Hampshire’s "Elephants,
Donkeys, and Moose: The Great North Woods" and "Lobster
and Lighthouses: Maine's Southern Shore" to provide
the reader with a variety of different scenic trips. Full-page
asides provide additional interesting information, such
as "The Second Colonization of Connecticut"
and "Why Do Leaves Change Color?"
A
little large for the typical travel book, this won't slip
easily in a purse. But no matter, this book is intended
for leisurely drives through the countryside where its
size isn't an issue. And while this is a book the traveler
will return to time and again, it is just as likely to
hold an esteemed spot on your coffee table. William H.
Johnson's photography captures New England in its vivid
glory, with images of colorful autumns and bright-red
covered bridges. Modern color pictures are further complemented
by black-and-white pictures from the past, such as the
image of Woodman's of Essex where the fried clam was invented
in 1916.
Author
Kim Knox Beckius' appreciation of this part of the country
is apparent in the descriptions of the area and careful
construction of the book. So grab Backroads of New
England, jump in your car, and get ready, because
her love for New England is infectious. 
(Updated: 04/07/08 LH) |
