This is a fun book. The reader can build vacations around it. The work is based on the philosophy that (page x):

". . .travel has always been based on removing myself from what is comfortable and safe, on seeking out experiences that broaden my horizons and enrich me in ways superficial and profound."

The author also notes that she (page xiii) ". . .discovered time and again the country that is my home."

I'm from Illinois originally, so I immediately looked at the sites in the Prairie State. Many of these make a great deal of sense. Of course, one can always ask questions like: If Nauvoo, why not Bishop Hill? Still, good selections from my home state.

I lived in New York for quite awhile. I love the inclusion of the Anchor Bar (home of "Buffalo chicken wings"). I enjoyed the weekend jazz music and the wings. This is where Buffalo chicken wings began. The inevitable question: Why not the Genesee River Gorge? Once more, no criticism of the author's choices--just that there are a lot of possibilities that don't show up in the book.

Now, I live in Pennsylvania. And while I can understand the places included in this book, I also wonder why the exquisite Capitol Building of the Commonwealth in Harrisburg is not listed.

However, that is part of the charm of such books. Engaging in a dialogue with the authors' choices.

All in all, a very nice work and a good read.

Review title: Not necessarily

Here's the problem with books like this:

1. Most of these things are not places I want to see. Patricia Schultz leans too much on high-end dining and accommodations. Those are nice, if you have the money, but not the reason most people travel.

2. They go out of date too fast. Places to stay and especially places to eat change hands, names, websites, owners, or go out of business. So once the book is published the contact information starts to age.

3. The scope is too broad. Even with a number like 1,000, when spread over 50 states in the US and the whole breadth of Canada (which gets just 10 percent of the pages of the US) it misses too many places that people really would love to see. Any local or someone with a little regionalized knowledge will be able to recommend more and better places.

To be fair to Schultz, I'm reviewing a book that is 15 years old, and the 1,000-things concept can introduce readers to new places far from home that they didn't know about. I just think at this stage in the internet travel era your favorite search engine is a better source for travel suggestions.

Fished dog earring all the places I need to see! Will always be on my bookshelf ready for our next adventure!

I love these books because it inspires we to travel to all these different locations with my tiny family. If you are planning a family vacation you should read this book.

I don't like that there are just towns that need to be seen. I was looking for fun places when going on a road trip and just tells me to go to a specific town and basically figure it out myself. Not at all what I wanted.

No one will ever agree with All the choices, but the list is 80 for 20. I did skip the states I've never visited.

It has a lot of good ideas and places to see, eat, and visit. But it isn't really geared towards those with kids. More the museum, land mark kind of places. A great way to start planning a trip though! And it's really eye opening too!

An OK guide to some out of the way places you might not have been. Unfortunately the places near me were all ones I'd previously discovered, and the write ups about them didn't make me want to visit! If I were heading to a new place for vacation, this would make an excellent resource, but there are probably better ones that would specific to any area I would visit.

This book is great! I was surprised at how many thing that were recommended for my home state of Indiana. I would recommend this book for families taking trips anywhere in the United States and Canada.

1.5 star
I'm not sure there is anything in this book that you can't find with a good search online. Yes, it may help you find a couple of extra places - I don't know. The layout is poor and descriptions are underwhelming. The book does not fit the title. I don't need to know about three hotels in an area to see before I die, unless they are the most amazing structural marvels to mankind. Bleh. 2-stars because there is probably some valuable stuff in here.

This is not a reading book. This is a browse through and dream with your loved ones then keep in the car and stop and see something on your next trip book. We've already used ours to see Carlsbad Caverns and Ojo Caliente hot springs in Santa Fe and Byrce and Zion National Parks, it even recommended trails. I hope to one day work up to the world version. If you always mean to stop and see something on the way to grandma's and never do it try this book as a way to motivate and take the fear out. It gives phone numbers, hours open, food and lodging reccomendations etc.

I was disappointed. I was hoping for a book with some deep, personal insight into some of these places. Inside tips on where to go, what to do. Instead, this reads like a typical tourist guide. I checked out some of the places I've been on the list, and if you follow this guide, you're going to miss the best parts.