What do movable dolls’ eyes have to do with a Catholic church? Where could you meet Plain Bob Maximus and Surprise Major? Why does just one person know where Oliver Cromwell’s head is buried? And where is a dog a very large cat?
The answers to all these questions lie in Cambridge, which combines the magnificence of a medieval university with the dynamism of a high-technology hub. Tens of thousands of visitors flock to Cambridge every year to see the colleges, go punting on the river, and shop. But there is much more to Cambridge than its university and Silicon Fen. Over the centuries, town and gown together have transformed this city, which was an inland port until the 17th century. Eccentricity is something of a Cambridge tradition, and the town seems to delight in taking its visitors by surprise, whether that’s with a huge metal time-eating grasshopper, May Balls held in June, sculptures that dive into the ground feet first, or a museum that makes a feature of broken pottery. You will find these and many more curiosities in this book.
London is full of strange and beautiful sights. It is a place for traditions and rebels, for the establishment and every alternative subculture. This book celebrates the diversity of the city. It invites you to see Little Ben or the fake 10 Downing Street, and answers both conventional and unusual questions. What, apart from Rolling Scones, will you see at God’s Own Junkyard? Where does an old-school gentleman buy his wine and umbrellas? Why did Robbie Williams feud with his next-door neighbor? How has the city commemorated the Queen Mother and Princess Diana? In which park do 100-year-old naked ladies cavort on the banks of the Thames? Where did Lenin and Julian Assange campaign for their beliefs? And which bridge rolls itself up?
Experience the less explored nooks and pockets of Britain’s capital through the eyes of a passionate local. With its labyrinth of characterful streets and alleys, charming squares, open green spaces, monuments and museums, public artworks, bustling markets, and tempting boutiques and restaurants, London is a walker’s paradise. Whether you’re a first time visitor or longtime local, the city offers endless surprises – fascinating sights and stories, both ancient and modern, hidden in plain view. London insider and native Nicola Perry leads you away from the famed attractions on 33 strolls through the city’s most interesting enclaves, sharing entertaining insights, historical anecdotes, and engaging tips at every cobblestoned turn. Each walk burrows its way into the heart of a neighborhood, crafting and curating a path that reveals its individual essence and personality. Also available: 111 Coffee Shops in London That You Must Not Miss ISBN 9783954516148 111 Places in London That You Shouldn’t Miss ISBN 9783740816445 111 Shops in London That You Shouldn’t Miss ISBN 9783954513413
Few, if any, cities have a literary history as rich as that of London. Writers have written about it; and lived, loved, stayed and died there. Here are 111 stories to be revealed. Among them are the lives of writers and their characters, and the plots and venue. Where can you see the first printed book in the western world, or visit the library with no books? Where did two poets marry secretly and then flee to Italy; and what happened when Sigmund Freud met Salvador Dalí? What is the mystery of the signed copy of Mein Kampf?
This is a guide to the capital unlike any other – not only enlightening to residents who may have thought that they knew their city (and their books), but the visitor, too. These are sights you shouldn’t miss – but which you’re unlikely to find without this book.
Often called the ‘Heart of the Midlands’, Nottingham has given the world Robin Hood, Raleigh bikes, John Player cigarettes and Boots the chemists – and it was here that Ibuprofen first saw the light of a petri dish to the benefit of a million hangovers. As if that wasn’t enough, Alan Sillitoe and D. H. Lawrence went to school here, Lord Byron’s ancestral pile is just on the city’s outskirts, and it was here that King Charles I raised his battle standard at the start of the English Civil War – though precious few rallied to the cause. Local heroes include the cantankerous Brian Clough, who led Nottingham Forest Football Club to a pair of European Cups, the fast bowler Harold Larwood, who famously bowled Donald Bradman during the Body Line Ashes of the 1930s, and the charismatic William Booth, who founded a worldwide movement, the Salvation Army.
Despite all this and much more, Nottingham wears its charms lightly, avoiding the tourist crowds, but this fascinating city has much to offer – and we have selected 111 Places to intrigue, amuse and illuminate.
San Francisco: the home of hills and valleys, of dreamers and trailblazers, of hippies and hipsters. From the gold rush to the Golden Gate, the City by the Bay has always basked in the glow of its colorful and celebrated history and world-renowned landmarks. But for those who live and love on this compact, seven-mile by seven-mile metropolis, San Francisco is a treasure trove of unusual neighborhood sights and places that sparkle with the allure of hidden pleasures and local lore. Discover a stairway that transports you from the depths of the ocean to the heights of outer space; take a spin class amidst the grand elegance of a repurposed 1920s movie palace; or slide down a century-old sundial that sits at the center of what was once California’s first racetrack for cars. This is the real San Francisco. Strung together, the 111 experiences gathered here tell the B-side story of the city once romantically known as the Paris of the West.
Whistler is so much more than one of the best places on Earth to ski. Tucked in the southwestern corner of British Columbia, less than two hours from Vancouver, the resort municipality is really as much a state of mind as a destination. Its modern culture, firmly rooted in the great outdoors, offers a unique healthy and active lifestyle that people around the world can only dream about. Yet many of the over two-million people that visit Whistler annually from every corner of the world are in such a hurry to get up into the mountains they miss so many of the secret sites, hidden gems and offbeat attractions scattered throughout the Sea to Sky corridor – home of Canada’s most scenic road. When you know where to look, you’ll be amazed by Whistler’s rich diversity and quirky surprises, from the funky dives where local “Liftees” dine, to high-end, glamorous shops in the village, aboriginal landmarks, ghost towns, and left-over traces of the Winter Olympics. And although mining and logging have been replaced by tourism, vestiges of the early pioneer days still pop up in the most unusual places.
Cheshire is one of England’s most stylish and elegant counties, a land of picture-postcard villages, rolling countryside and captivating river views. Perfectly placed between Wales, Manchester and the Peak District, it is the gateway to the North-West. Though it has little traditional coastline, the sweeping estuaries of the Dee and Mersey give it an unexpectedly long sea edge, while its landscapes stretch from fertile plains to upland fringes. At its heart lies Chester, a historic gem with Roman ruins and the longest city walls in Britain. Across the county you’ll find grand estates such as Lyme Park and Tatton Park, the awe-inspiring radio telescope at Jodrell Bank and some of the country’s most striking streets. Cheshire also delights with its quirks and secrets: the home of the Cheshire Cat, mystical mines at Alderley Edge, the nation’s oldest racecourse, vast wartime shelters and intriguing modern legends. This guide reveals a county that is endlessly surprising, rich in stories and full of unmissable places.
Whether you’re a lifelong local or a curious visitor, this is your essential guide to the county’s hidden gems and eccentric delights. Immerse yourself in colorful confetti, glinting Venetian glass or the thrum of cars racing to beat speed records. Admire Birmingham’s skyline, meander through meadows or peer through a window into the underwater world of the River Severn. Discover a TARDIS in the National Collection of telephone kiosks, the history of electric milk floats or how to create the eye of a needle. From Elgar’s grave to George Bernard Shaw’s mulberry tree and from fairy houses to a nuclear bunker and Civil War sites, every entry offers a fresh perspective on Worcestershire’s past and present. Whether you’re entertaining guests, planning a weekend escape or simply curious about your own backyard, this guide will take you on a journey through the county’s most unexpected places.
The Yorkshire Dales is a truly special corner of Britain, offering a glorious mix of beautiful countryside, charming villages and prosperous market towns. It’s a place to climb high peaks or venture deep underground, and to enjoy local arts and crafts, good food and locally made drinks. This book explores a quirkier side of the Dales and includes 11 carefully chosen walks to help you discover it on foot. Find out where a queen lost a valuable item of clothing, visit the world’s smallest art gallery, take on the Three Peaks Challenge, meet a jolly gang of scarecrows and learn how to forecast the weather the Yorkshire way. Along the way you can explore fictional villages and their real-life inspirations, meet a god trapped forever in stone, follow in Robin Hood’s footsteps (and perhaps glimpse his bare bottom), party like it’s 1959 in an authentic American diner and search for Yorkshire’s own Atlantis beneath a lake. Written by an author with deep local knowledge, this guide reveals the many hidden splendors of the Yorkshire Dales.
It’s easy to fall in love with the Hamptons. Charming towns, pristine beaches – and that luminous light cherished by locals and generations of beach lovers. While it’s famous for its magnificent mansions and coiffed hedges, there is so much more here to than meets the eye. Come find the hidden secrets of the Hamptons waiting to be discovered with 111 Places in the Hamptons That You Must Not Miss. Hang ten at a secret surfers’ beach. See the studio where artist Jackson Pollock painted his masterpieces. Get lost in a field of lavender. Visit a haunted lighthouse. Ride a horse along a secluded beach. Take a stroll in the graveyard where Picasso’s forgotten muse is buried. From wood-shingled windmills to hydrangea-rimmed roads. White, sandy beaches – to calm, bayside views. These places of nature, history, art, and delightful quirkiness are the very reasons why the East End of Long Island has become one of the most beloved travel destinations in the world.
111 Places for Kids in Chicago That You Must Not Miss is not your typical kid-centered guide to Chicago: Step off the beaten tourist path, lace up your gym shoes and get ready to set off on 111 adventures across Chicagoland. Feed a giraffe; kiss a beluga; find a ghost; descend into an energy portal; see (and smell!) a corpse flower in bloom. Learn how soap is made; meet a million dollars and more. If you’re looking for out-of-the-box family adventures, this is the guide for you.
New York City’s borough of the Bronx draws millions of people annually to visit the largest zoological park in the United States, or to catch a baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Beyond the animal cages (and batting cages) is a section of the city filled with art, food, music, and unusual sites that can only be found in one place: Da Bronx. The Bronx offers some of the most amazing experiences for visitors to New York City because it is so unexplored. You can take a canoe down a river, or take a course in pole dancing school. The Bronx has a rich history, which includes the American Revolution, that has given way to today’s rebels in street fashion. Sit down and feast on dishes from Ghana and Italy. Learn to roll cigars. Pay homage to the founders of rap music and hip hop culture. And explore quiet cemeteries’ stunning architecture. The borough is home the largest park in New York City, waterfront vistas that are unparalleled, and access to riverfronts and bays. Whether you are a first time visitor, longtime resident, or a native, you will find 111 hidden gems in the Bronx. The most unexplored borough of New York City is yours to discover with 111 Places in the Bronx That You Must Not Miss.
Toronto, from its humble beginning as Muddy York, has emerged as an exemplary, world-class city. As the 4th largest urban area in North America, it is a treasure trove of obscure, trend-setting Canadian places. Ranked as one of the world’s leading places to live, it represents home to almost 20% of Canada’s population. Toronto has become the nation’s capital of business, culture, sports and entertainment. A place where you can take in the best of all sports, especially hockey, live music, art, and an award-winning culinary scene, all in a weekend. The city’s strength and roots come from its diverse population. Toronto takes from its indigenous and British past, a welcoming and collaborative twist on this dynamic multicultural city. Toronto has been described as a city within a green space. Hike inner city trails along the many ravines. Ride in a canoe or skate along the water’s edges. Take the longest streetcar ride in North America through flourishing neighborhoods, full of hidden gems to discover. Find the small artisanal ice creameries, wander the graffiti alleys, or make music at a karaoke cocktail lounge. Explore the allure of the 6ix, with 111 Places in Toronto That You Must Not Miss.
“…a wonderful concept and an interesting, enjoyable read. A fine addition to the (jet) backpack of any budding astronaut.” – BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Prepare for an unforgettable journey beyond Earth with 111 Places in Space That You Shouldn’t Miss! This extraordinary guide takes you on a cosmic adventure through the most breathtaking and mysterious destinations in the universe.
Would you dare tunnel through the icy crusts of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn and dive their deep dark water oceans in search of alien life? Or would you try base jumping from the tallest cliff on a comet, falling slowly under its tiny gravity without a parachute? How about visiting a kaleidoscopic nebula where gas and dust swirl and spiral inwards to make new stars and planets, or witness the death of a star in a giant supernova? This book invites you to explore the wonders of space like never before.
Featuring stunning images captured by advanced telescopes and space missions, this guide brings the cosmos to life. Whether you’re a science lover, a space enthusiast, or simply curious about the universe, this book is your ticket to exploring the most extraordinary places in existence.
‘Keep Portland Weird’ is just the tip of this delightfully bizarre city’s iceberg. Though the City of Roses has experienced its fair share of changes in recent years, the spirit of ‘Old Portland’ lives in the shadow of gourmet donut shops and farm-to-table restaurants, and that’s where the real adventure begins. Summon spirits at a haunted pizzeria. Let it all hang out at a nude beach on the Columbia River. Get your kicks at the world’s only vegan strip club, and visit the world’s smallest park (blink and you might miss it).
Throughout these pages, you’ll learn about Portland’s (at times sordid) past; relive the pioneers’ grueling trek to Oregon; discover the strangest museums you’ve ever heard of, and get the scoop on the restaurants, bars, and coffee shops that don’t come with an hour-long wait. Whether you’re a frequent visitor or first timer; recent transplant or Portland native, you will discover 111 hidden places that prove Portland is weirder than you could have ever imagined.
111 Places in Ottawa That You Must Not Miss reveals to Ottawans and visitors alike the city’s most interesting people, places and stories, some lurking off the beaten path and others hiding in plain sight.
Pay homage to a Soviet intelligence officer whose shocking defection reportedly ushered in the Cold War. Admire a giant piece of stone money at one place and learn how money is made at another. Follow a trail of historic sundials.
You can dine in a restaurant that’s home to an Elvis Sighting Society beside a lane named for the superstar, long-gone but never forgotten. Fly over the city in a vintage, open-cockpit biplane. Or surf on a river with views of the Parliament buildings. You can also find the spots where homegrown musician Alanis Morissette and actor Ryan Reynolds once walked. And learn why Ottawa loves tulips.
Join author Jennifer Bain and photographer Liz Beddall as they take you on a quirk-filled journey through O-Town, the modern and multicultural capital city that promises to be “Canada in one city.”
Where can you hatch a baby alligator in your hand, or zoom over a swamp by zipline? Where can you travel through time in your own T.A.R.D.I.S, cocktail in hand?
New Orleans blends the unconventional with the orthodox to create a cultural collision unlike any other city. Known for its jazz, cocktails, Mardi Gras celebrations, and centuries-old mysteries, New Orleans has a history rooted in revelry and mystery.
From historic buildings that housed early jazz legends, to museums devoted to the Red-light district, to eateries offering local specialties, 111 Places in New Orleans will introduce you to the distinct vibrancy of the city, and reveal the musical, spiritual, historical, edible, and often sinful, sides of the Crescent City.
Experience the depths of dive bars and the heights of haut monde as 111 Places in New Orleans escorts you through a tableau of the Big Easy’s best kept secrets. New Orleans may be known as the “City that Care Forgot,” but locals and visitors alike will always remember the storied places profiled in these pages – places that embrace the eccentric, celebrate the supernatural, and memorialize the macabre. As noted musician and New Orleans native Allen Toussaint once said, “To get to New Orleans, you don’t pass through anywhere else.”
London is full of strange and beautiful sights. It is a place for traditions and rebels, for the establishment and every alternative subculture. This book celebrates the diversity of the city. It invites you to see Little Ben or the fake 10 Downing Street, and answers both conventional and unusual questions. What, apart from Rolling Scones, will you see at God’s Own Junkyard? Where does an old-school gentleman buy his wine and umbrellas? Why did Robbie Williams feud with his next-door neighbor? How has the city commemorated the Queen Mother and Princess Diana? In which park do 100-year-old naked ladies cavort on the banks of the Thames? Where did Lenin and Julian Assange campaign for their beliefs? And which bridge rolls itself up?
“In Los Angeles, everyone is a star.” – Denzel Washington
For more than a century, seekers of sun and celebrity from around the world have flocked to this sprawling metropolis on the Pacific, which Dorothy Parker once described as “72 suburbs in search of a city.” But beyond the red-carpet reputation and Tinseltown trappings is a west coast wonderland teeming with unexpected cultural experiences, iconic architecture, gorgeous open spaces, quirky museums, hidden vistas, unconventional art, and obscure stories about the starlets, moguls, personalities, and players who have made Los Angeles their playground. This unusual guidebook explores 111 of the city’s most interesting and unknown places and experiences: wander a serpentine path in a spiritual quest of your own making; channel your inner cowboy at a tried and true honky tonk bar; pay homage to the Dude at the bungalow where the big Lebowski lived; turn your car tires into musical instruments on the country’s only ‘musical’ road; sleep with the ghosts of Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin; view a constellation of stars more vivid than anything Hollywood has to offer. From the San Gabriel Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, Angelenos and visitors will fall in love with the real Los Angeles. Adventures beckon. Surprises await. Just imagine how much more scintillating your dinner-party storytelling will be.
It doesn t take a passport to visit Brooklyn, as some Manhattanites might lead you to believe. Still, Brooklyn can feel a world away. And that’s precisely what locals love about it. It’s independent. Fiercely headstrong about maintaining its individuality. Tolerant of the different, the foreign, the weird. But what outsiders might be surprised to learn is that Brooklyn is less an undifferentiated mass than a collection of neighbourhoods, each with its own distinctive character and history. From Bay Ridge, Bed-Stuy and Bergen Beach to Weeksville, Williamsburg and Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn is a patchwork quilt of communities stitched together with mismatched threads from nearly everywhere in the world. Celebrating its in-your-face diversity, but continually churning those differences into something fresh and unique, Brooklyn embodies a hip and cool version of the American experiment. E pluribus unum – from many comes one. Here are 111 places to start your explorations.
Miami is a city in constant motion, where luxury high-rises reshape the skyline and vibrant art, neon-lit beaches, and tropical charm create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. Beyond the lively nightlife lies the serene paradise of the Keys, a chain of islands steeped in history, hidden gems, and sun-soaked adventures.
This guide uncovers Miami and the Keys’ most unusual experiences, inviting you to explore places you’ve passed or never noticed. Discover rotating art displays in a millionaire’s mansion, dance to Latin rhythms in Little Havana, or slide down a two-story chute into a shopping haven.
Dive into crystal-clear waters to explore pirate shipwrecks, visit the country’s smallest post office, or track down Florida’s elusive Skunk Ape. Seek tranquility at a tropical Buddhist temple, stroll through mango groves, and celebrate sunsets at the southernmost point of the U.S. 111 places are waiting to reveal the magic of Miami and the Keys.
Silicon Valley has become the Mesopotamia of the Digital Age, built on cycles of innovation and disruption, monstrous ambition, and a steady supply of labour and capital. Yet for all that’s known about companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook – and the personas behind those companies – the culture of Silicon Valley remains elusive and contradictory, even to many locals. This unique guidebook, written by longtime local Floriana Petersen, takes you on an insider’s tour of 111 cool, offbeat, and very compelling places that offer insight into the evolving character of Silicon Valley.
Visit the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford to see drawings done by Leland Jr. Stanford, after whom the university was named after his death at age 15 in 1884. Sit at the Rosewood Hotel bar to witness the mating habits of venture capitalists. Go to the Music@Menlo Festival to listen some of the best chamber music to be found anywhere in the country. Enjoy the Stanford Powwow, a festival to celebrate some of the great American Indian tribes of Northern California. Visit Steve Jobs’ final resting place, or spend an afternoon at the Hakone Japanese gardens. Explore the Filoli Estate, a living testimony to the wealthy families who used the Gold Rush to build the infrastructure that has become Silicon Valley.
Framed by the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains, Denver was founded on the banks of the South Platte River in 1858, where the buffalo actually roamed. This former mining depot and crossroads town is steeped in Western history, and it has grown into a hip place for artists, athletes, breweries, and startups. Nearby Boulder is a beacon for anyone wanting to be in a place distinctly known for its healthy outdoor lifestyle.
111 Places in Denver That You Must Not Miss invites you to discover the compelling stories and extraordinary locations unique to this part of the American West. A colorful cast of characters built this town – from Native Americans, pioneers, gold miners, and visionaries to skiers, entrepreneurs, beer-lovers, and thinkers – and they shape the region’s evolving nature to this day. Walk in the footsteps of the literary giants of the Beat generation. Pay homage at a powerful memorial to a World War II massacre. Or stand at the grave of a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
Denver and Boulder are kinetic, and people chase fun here. Learn the art of parkour, pick up a recycled bike, or float on a liquid cushion of salt water. Gaze upon buffalo that are the descendants from the original herds. Sip on what is (un)arguably Denver’s tastiest martini. And listen to the sounds of 10,000 bees in an acoustic garden.
Whether you’ve lived here forever, you’re a more recent resident yearning to explore your new home town, or you’re a visitor who keeps coming back, this guidebook opens doors to the exceptional wonders of Denver and Boulder.