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.
Come to Philadelphia for the arts. Stay to discover the city’s lesser-known contributions to American culture. It is the birthplace of the political cartoon and the rich history that followed, a hub of early American burlesque that led to Gypsy Rose Lee’s discovery, and a national model for public art with the country’s largest public arts program. Uncover the fun secrets, like where to score a free music degree, enjoy free orchestral concerts, and catch free circus arts performances around the city. And if you’re searching for a painting so gruesome it was once considered too offensive for display but now calls two museums home, this book will tell you where to find it.
Whether your interests lie in high culture or the underground, the magnificent or the macabre, fitness or food, or even just the casually quirky, 111 Places in Philadelphia That You Must Not Miss will reveal something new to everyone, even lifelong residents.
Whether you have visited Washington, DC several times or have been here all your life, 111 Places In Black Culture in Washington, DC That You Must Not Miss will give you some surprising new insights into the city.
You’ll learn about the largest attempted escape from slavery on record, the first Black millionaire, and the official dance of Washington, DC. This book sheds new light on some beloved businesses and introduces others that are sure to become favorites. It weaves its way through all four quadrants of the city to help locals and experienced travelers learn more, explore more, and do more. Experience a more inclusive look into the city with historical narratives that have often been overlooked or excluded.
Space City. Bayou City. Hustletown. Clutch City. Crush City. What’s the story behind all these nicknames? 111 Places in Houston That You Must Not Miss is your guide to the hidden stories behind the city’s monikers, stereotypes, and statistics. As America’s most diverse city, this book provides 111 different ways to explore Htown.
This illustrated guidebook is a readable tour of places representing the distinct personalities that make up the population of the nation’s fourth largest city. Traverse Houston’s massive landscape of strip malls and interstates, and you will find a city that not only embraces diversity, but transforms it into its own culture, where Hindu temples take up office space, an enterprising Vietnamese jeweler supplies the hip hop scene with bling, and one man’s mission to cover his house in beer cans is now a museum.
Whether you’re a native Houstonian or a newcomer, this book serves as both a good read and a resource for getting to know the city – one unique place at a time.
Faneuil Hall is fine and the duck boats are just dandy, but if you want to go beyond the Boston of brochures and get to the heart of this mysterious, charming old metropolis, you have to dig deep and be willing to get a little weird. 111 Places in Boston That You Must Not Miss is a guidebook with a twist: one that takes you far off the beaten path – and the Freedom Trail – to explore a side of the city that’s offbeat, unexpected, and completely fascinating for visitors and locals alike.
Whether you want to pay your respects at the memorial for a fictional character, sneak behind a vending machine to go shopping for sneakers, sip cocktails where hardened criminals sat behind bars, or hang out with some life-sized puppets, you can do it all here… and before dinnertime, to boot. Throw on your Red Sox cap, hop on the T, and uncover some secrets along the way.
Discover the Finger Lakes: 4,692 square miles of Upstate New York packed with history, vineyards, waterfalls, gorges, and hidden treasures.
111 Places in the Finger Lakes That You Must Not Miss takes you off the beaten path to the odd, the unexpected, and the downright fascinating. Explore stories, legends, and secrets most visitors never find. Visit the place where Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn came to life. Spin on the world’s fastest carousel. Stand beneath waterfalls taller than Niagara. Tour a haunted winery. Browse a collection of brains. Try your hand at circus school. Wander a garden inspired by Claude Monet. Visit the Dalai Lama’s North American retreat.
The Finger Lakes have been called magical, creative, historic, and breathtaking – and you’ll see why. Adventure, mystery, and wonder await at every turn.
“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.
There is possibly no city in the United States as misunderstood as Baltimore, and yet there are few that can match it in majesty. One of the oldest Great Cities of America, Baltimore is profoundly rich in history and culture. But its character is not only derived from its past: Charm City’s present and future belong to the thousands of artists and innovators who call it home. Baltimore is full of adventure and surprises. You’ll visit the site of one of the most notorious scenes in cinematic history, and the home of the gay divorcée who stole the heart of a king. You’ll hear music performed by future classical music stars, grab a bite at the last old-fashioned Polish smokehouse on the East Coast, and spend a day on a street art scavenger hunt. Whether it’s your first visit or your 20th, and even if you’ve lived here for a lifetime, you’ll embark on a journey of discovery through 111 fascinating spots across Baltimore.
Staggering ethnic diversity, rich cultural history, and a robust arts scene make Queens one of the most exciting destinations in all of New York City. See and taste the world, travel back in time, and experience nature all without leaving the confines of Queens. Home to immigrants from Azerbaijan to Vietnam and everywhere in between, Queens is truly a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. Eat your way through China, Malaysia, Romania, and visit a Tibetan dumpling speakeasy – no passport necessary. Visit the birthplace of religious freedom in America and then tour local Hindu, Thai and Korean temples. Marvel at migratory birds and terrapins and visit the oldest tree in New York City. Whether you’re a first time visitor or a long-time resident, you’ll find 111 hidden places in Queens. The most majestic of New York City’s boroughs is yours to explore and discover.
With non-stop entertainment, endless gambling opportunities, and world-class dining, there’s no shortage of things to do in Las Vegas. But beyond the neon lights, buffets, and slot machines is a city with a unique history, extraordinary natural wonders, rich culture, and close-knit communities. As the fastest growing city established in the 20th-century, Las Vegas is continuously evolving, gaining new attractions each day and revitalizing cultural gems.
111 Places in Las Vegas offers a chance to rediscover familiar haunts or unearth new favorites to better understand this sensational city. Grab a drink at the oldest freestanding bar in the city or check out the only operating casino named to the National Register of Historic Places. Explore Vegas’s quirky themed street names or drive along the starry-est route in America. Search for centuries old petroglyphs or learn about the city’s modest origins. Whatever your personal tastes and travel style, this neon-lit entertainment capital has it in spades. And then some.
Atlanta gifts her visitors a generous dose of Southern hospitality and international culture steeped in history, flavors, and high-tech, all on the wings of progress and a keen eye on the future.
Let’s explore the city from its Native American origins through the tumultuous U.S. Civil War, uncover contemporary oddities, and even venture all the way to 8,113 A.D. You’ll meet Atlanta’s first African-American millionaire, discover whose shrine features a golden toilet, explore sites along the city’s journey to become a global leader in filmmaking, and learn the city’s Grammy connections to the State song, ‘Georgia on My Mind’. Striving to keep a grasp on her illustrious, rich history while simultaneously making magnificent strides, leaps, and bounds to continue growing as a major metropolitan area and international destination, Atlanta’s 111 places will fascinate and surprise even Atlanta natives.
111 Places for Kids in Houston That You Must Not Miss is a readable resource that will inspire adventures taking your family on a rickshaw ride through ancient China and crawling through a colossal colon. Drive through a car wash that’s in the Guinness Book of World Records. Ride a miniature steam train. Skate on ice or with the roller derby.
As the nation’s most diverse city, the places in the book reflect our melting pot from bahn mi to bagels to crawfish and conchas. Where else will you find a menu devoted to french fries or BBQ paired with chocolate?
Go on location with Texas revolutionary heroes and pioneers from back in the day and recent hometown heroes like Beyoncé and Simone Biles.
This book captures the spirit of Houston and will capture your family’s imagination one amazing field trip at a time.
Seattle has fueled the hopes, dreams, and imaginations of countless individuals throughout its history. Their energy, ideas, and inventions have influenced the city’s skyline, the evolution of air travel, the music and art worlds, and even the very coffee we drink. They are the reason Seattle is gifted with so many unusual, offbeat, and truly compeling places for explorers to discover and enjoy, from a coin-operated attraction filled with enormous shoes, the world’s greenest commercial building, and urban old growth forests, to a haunted staircase and museums dedicated to pinball, dialysis machines, and rubber chickens.
111 Places in Seattle That You Must Not Miss invites and inspires locals and visitors alike to seek out the Emerald City’s hidden treasures, overlooked gems, and charming curiosities.
San Diego: it’s a coastal paradise with year-round perfect weather, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and a laid-back vibe that will instantly put a smile on your face. It’s not only sunshine and perfect waves, though. This SoCal spot is rich in history. It is a mecca of delicious food and drink. And its proximity to Mexico makes for a breathtaking border culture that is seen, felt, and tasted everywhere you go.
From exploring haunted mansions to channeling your inner bookworm at a queer-owned feminist bookshop, going on a guided mezcal adventure to shopping for doll house construction materials, or fraternizing with friendly ungulates to wading in mineral-rich hot springs, there’s no shortage of fun to be had in San Diego County.
So, whether you’re a San Diego native, a visitor, or just considering a sunny vacation, this book will give you 111 ideas for a really good time. Go on, what are you waiting for?
There’s more to Washington, D.C. than politics. Beyond the suits and monuments, the nation’s capital is a playground for kids of all ages. Where else can you find a hidden slide inside a public library or rent paddle boats surrounded by iconic memorials and monuments? Fairy gardens, dinosaur parks, swings, and themed playgrounds pop up everywhere, offering adventures at every turn. Kids can also taste the world without leaving town – empanadas from Latin America, Asian-inspired ice cream, and bustling food halls.
Museums aren’t just for grown-ups either: create at the Hirshhorn’s art carts or join a scavenger hunt at the National Portrait Gallery. Families can hike Civil War-era trails, cheer at Nationals Park, or step inside a mansion with 80 secret doors once visited by Rosa Parks. Washington, D.C., is a place where kids can discover history, science, art, and more – all while having a blast and making lasting memories. Explore these 111 kid-friendly spots and uncover a city that’s fun, surprising, and unforgettable.
111 Places in Calgary That You Must Not Miss takes you on adventures across a city that is full of secrets and surprises. Walk in the footsteps of Calgary’s most flamboyant, diamond-covered madam. Pay homage at the grave of the region’s first Black cowboy, who became a legendary rancher. And admire an important buffalo hide robe at an Indigenous museum at the southwestern city limits. Learn about the birth of the Caesar – Calgarians know it’s neither an emperor nor a salad, but Canada’s most beloved cocktail. Discover the magic of Stampede Park when the rodeo is not in town. Beware of a ghostly lady who haunts a historic mansion. And find out if you’re brave enough to try a mouthful of prairie oysters.
Grab your toque, your sunscreen, and a friend, and go exploring. Calgary’s true energy is all around you.
Many people only know Orlando as the home of Mickey Mouse, Harry Potter, and immersive fantasy lands. It is packed with budget chain hotels, chain restaurants, and roughly a billion gift shops. Except the reality of Orlando is equally as enticing as these fantasy worlds, if not more!
Most of the most fascinating aspects of Orlando predate its theme park persona by decades.
111 Places in Orlando That You Must Not Miss reveals the city’s true backstory and dramatic modern face, highlighting how the first settlers survived in the 1830s, and the area’s role as the hub of Florida’s 19th century citrus industry. Explorers will find out what’s left of the city’s front-line Strategic Air Force Base from the Cold War; and the iconic “gator mouth” that has swallowed up tourists since 1949.
Unearth the offbeat sites and hidden gems of The City Beautiful and discover all the ways it didn’t begin – or end – with a mouse.
Explore deep into the heart of Phoenix to find its best kept secrets, natural wonders, and inspiring people – not to mention a few ghosts – and discover the Old Western charm that still permeates the culture here. Visit a giant, golden panda, a gleaming white pyramid on a hilltop in Papago Park, and a curiosity shop on 7th Avenue. You can stargaze on horseback or at the top of a spiral tower resembling the Milky Way. Offer your respects at sites honoring the USS Arizona and the famed Navajo Code Talkers. Revel in the sight of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture, find true beauty beneath a gorgeous peacock staircase, and ponder why a giant robot is reading a book instead of tapping on its smartphone. From the world’s tallest Kachina doll to a serving of rattlesnake and cactus fries, Phoenix is a haven for those who are adventurous and have a passion the Wild West of yesterday and today.
New York, New York – a crazy quilt of evolving neighborhoods, trends, and tastes, and home to natives and newcomers of every nationality, ethnicity, and outlook. New York City’s history and grand ambitions live in every street, park, and hidden alleyway. This unusual guidebook invites the adventurous and curious to explore a wildly diverse selection of little-known places, including: a trapeze school, a giant Buddha in a former porno theater, a Coney Island sideshow, Louis Armstrong’s home, a Central Park croquet court, a Gatsby-era speakeasy, and a secret balcony where slaves worshiped 200 years ago. Play chess with the masters on a Midtown office-tower wall; have a pint at a legendary prizefighter’s hangout in Soho; whisper messages across a crowded train station. Unexpected and quirky, most of these destinations are so under-the-radar they will astound even longtime New Yorkers who thought they knew it all!
Revised and updated edition.
Palm Beach County is known for its glistening beaches, world-class golf and fun in the sun. But beneath the glitz and palm trees lies a legacy of scandal, darkly rich history and a trove of hidden gems.
A playground for the Kennedys, Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, Palm Beach was born of oil and railroad money. Creating an oasis for the elite, the island became a centerpiece of lavish vacationing and hidden dealings. With wealth and power came secrets and whisperings. Over the decades new generations of socialites have graced the island, maintaining a degree of glory days while business executives continue to find rest and relaxation within county lines.
111 Places in Palm Beach That You Must Not Miss provides an in-depth and diverse look into the past and present of the 561. Whether you were born here or are simply enjoying a long weekend, there is much to be discovered between these pages. From hidden artwork in Tequesta to haunted quarters in West Palm Beach to Japanese traditions in Yamato, navigate the varying landscapes of the wealthiest county in Florida.
Hollywood represents the glorious goddesses and gods of cinema. It’s also a real neighborhood in Los Angeles with a grit and greatness all its own. Scout out the hidden secrets and learn the surprising stories that give this fabled area its unique and wonderful character. Explore the places where Hollywood legends have left their traces, and also visit an abandoned zoo, a clown-themed, feminist strip club, and a century-old monastery that bakes mythical treats. Go on a romantic ride on horseback through the Hollywood Hills, and visit a natural oasis with an unsolved murder. Get a tattoo where A-listers get inked, and sip cocktails near the oldest structure in California. Meet the artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, chefs, and neighbors along the way as this book guides you through the places of cultural significance and also the unsung spots that make up this living, breathing neighborhood with deep roots in the entertainment industry and far beyond.
City kids and visiting families alike know there’s no better place for children than the Big Apple, and 111 Places for Kids in New York shows you where to take a big bite. From ultra-hip hangouts for the most urbane toddlers to natural wonders hiding in the middle of the concrete jungle, the five boroughs of New York offer children the richness and diversity of the world with the beloved traditions of home. In New York, you can explore the globe, from a Sri Lankan courtyard to a gritty parkour park to a quaint New England town — all with a swipe of a Metrocard.
With this guide, you will be inspired to explore new neighborhoods, treat the kids in your life to unbelievable experiences, and make the city your own. You’ll discover places and spaces you never knew existed, and rediscover familiar ones in new ways. Read up on helpful tips by been-there-done-that parents (psst — do you know where exhausted parents can bliss out on AC while their toddlers get friendly with baboons?). And learn insider secrets for ways to make the most of your visit to the parks, museums, restaurants, and adventures that make this metropolis so special and so inviting.