Friday, October 30, 2020

Book Review - National Geographic’s Drives of a Lifetime


My Review

National Geographic's Drives of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Road Trips (Second Edition) is a big, beautiful coffeetable book. It is organized thematically:

Hills and Mountains

By Sea and Shore

Rivers, Valleys and Canyons

The Road Less Traveled

Village Byways

Urban Excursions

Driving Through History

Gourmet Road Trips

Each road trip is on a separate page with a description of the trip, a map, a photo, and basic information (roads, driving time, when to go, planning).

I wanted to read Drives of a Lifetime because I am a lifelong road trip fan!  I was very curious about this book and knew there would be some fun new ideas here.

Wow! This is an amazing book for a road trip fan. As someone who has traveled a lot in the south, I had to look up southern road trips to see information on road trips I am familiar with. For instance, Crossing Chattahoochee is a road trip through Helen, Georgia with an excursion to the gold rush town of Dahlonega.

There is, of course, a page devoted to Route 66, which is one of my "bucket list" road trips. It is illustrated by a beautiful photo of an old diner lit with a neon sign.

Drives of a Lifetime has worldwide road trips.  I wish that the book was divided into American trips and international trips;  I am a leisurely American travel fan, and would have loved the flow of information about American road trips grouped together. 

Drives of a Lifetime is such a gorgeous book and it is going to please lots of travel fans!  It would be a wonderful gift idea for anyone who loves road trips.

Book Synopsis

This lavishly illustrated travel planner features 500 of the world’s most memorable driving experiences, from legendary Highway 1 in California to Japan’s famous Irohazaka Winding Road.

Compiled from the favorite trips of National Geographic’s legendary travel writers, Drives of a Lifetime spans the globe to reveal the best celebrated and lesser-known road trips on the planet. Inside this fully updated and revised edition–featuring more than 20 new drives–you’ll find routes through spectacular landscapes, ideas for quick getaways, leisurely journeys of discovery, and revelations of secret worlds beyond Google Maps. Some are legendary long-distance odysseys; others are easy day trips close to home, taking you down charming local byways. All will inspire you to pack up the car and hit the road. The possibilities are endless: Take Colorado’s San Juan Skyway for a 10,000-foot climb over towering mountain passes. Or travel the ancient Silk Road on an expedition across Central Asia and through time. Or why not drive the perimeter of Puerto Rico, a tropical paradise with many beaches along the way? Whatever your taste and budget, you’ll find plenty of routes tailored to your interests. Alongside detailed descriptions, full-color maps guide the way and planning tips help you make the most of your journey; top 10 lists offer quick, easy side trip ideas. Beautiful, informative, and inspiring, this luxurious volume is a lifelong resource that readers will treasure.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble


 

1 comment:

trish said...

I'm dreaming of taking my kids on some road trips soon, so this is going to be a must buy for me!

Thank you for being on this tour!