One for the Road: The Year of the Goat

by Kelly Amabile on

Here’s a heads up about a unique road trip memoir hitting shelves next month: The Year of the Goat: 40,000 Miles and the Quest for the Perfect Cheese. The title alone suggests that if you can tell a good story, you can write a travel book on just about any topic these days!

In 2003, six months into the Year of the Goat, Margaret Hathaway and her then-boyfriend Karl Schatz left New York in search of greener pastures. Part food memoir and part travel narrative, the book tells the story of the couple’s fascinating food obsessed journey, introducing a cast of characters that they encounter along the way. Readers can follow along with the “goat mobile” as Margaret and Karl meet with farmers, breeders, cheese makers and chefs, learning everything there is to know about the goats and cheese. Slow food advocates should enjoy this one too, since the story focuses on getting back to the land.

It actually sounds quite charming, and even though goat cheese does nothing for me, I’d consider reading this one. If you can’t wait for the book, there’s a nifty DVD called Goat Love that captures the journey on film. Margaret and Karl are married now, so I guess goat love got to them too!

One for the Road: More Sand in My Bra

by Kelly Amabile on

Travelers Tales has released another title in their hilarious travel story series. First, there was the Leo Trio:Bra, Panty and Thong — three books bursting with funny tales from female travelers. Then the anthology series turned to the gents for their rip-roaring stories in What Color is Your Jockstrap. And now the series comes full circle, returning to the original sandy bra for yet another scoop of silliness and humor from wanderlust ladies.

More Sand in My Bra: Funny Women Write from the Road, Again! is a collection of on-the-road mishaps that is sure to entertain. Leo teamed up with fellow traveler Julia Weiler to co-edit this latest batch of travel blunders–take a booze cruise in Vietnam, get lost at a sex camp and tag along on tour with Ellen Degeneres. Throw this one in your beach bag ladies–I’m fairly certain that these 29 tales will keep you laughing all summer long.

One for the Road: Lonely Planet’s Guide to Volunteering

by Kelly Amabile on

There are already loads of online resources, books and magazines about volunteering that suggest opportunities to folks who are looking for meaningful ways to give back while traveling. The team at Lonely Planet has recently joined the club with their own Guide to Volunteering — a handbook meant to inspire and help travelers make a difference as they move through this world. The guide offers advice on how to choose the right volunteer experience, raise the funds and extend the goodwill once you get home.

Traveling responsibly means looking for ways to make a difference, whether it’s a small act of giving back while on holiday, committing to a long-term overseas assignment, or establishing a grassroots movement or charity. The book has case studies and interviews with dozens of volunteers, and is organized by type of experience: structured or do-it-yourself. If you are considering a volunteer encounter on your next trip, this is a great new resource to turn to for ideas on how to get started.

One for the Road: Fun on Foot in New England

by Kelly Amabile on

The Fun on Foot series is an independently published collection of guides to the best places to run, job and walk. The newest title in the series is Fun on Foot in New England, which highlights the best trails and pathways in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. There are detailed route suggestions for Cape Cod and Nantucket, and cities like Hartford, CT, Burlington, VT, Providence, RI and Boston, MA, which features expanded coverage.

The foot-focused team behind this series of guides is Warwick and Nola Ford, Australian-raised Canadian-Americans with a passion for running, skiing, and travel. While working as an executive, Warwick traveled frequently, and found that his biggest challenge at that time was identifying easy options for fitness in between countless cross-country flights. That led to the Fun on Foot project. Now, Warwick and Nola spend their time researching and documenting enjoyable on-foot routes in cities throughout the US.

One for the Road: Cycling Misadventures

by Kelly Amabile on

Balance for me is only achieved properly through the use of two feet on solid ground. So, needless to say, I’m jealous of all you folks confident enough to ride bikes for pleasure, and those who race competitively too. It’s definitely a smart, ecological and healthy way to travel, but it’s just not my thing.

However, this won’t stop me from telling you about a neat new anthology of cycling stories! A perfect gift for your bike lovin’ pals, Cycling’s Greatest Misadventures is a collection of twenty-seven true stories. Written by a variety of cyclers from everyday riders to expert pros, these tales tell of freak accidents, animal attacks, eerie incidents and an assortment of jaw-dropping bike calamities. Stories are organized around certain themes, like Race Day, Training, Turns for the Worse and Animal Encounters. There’s even a few stories devoted to cycling tales from places like Laos, Idaho and India.

Maybe some of these stories could convince me to face my two-wheel fears?! Possibly, but then one look at the Bike Crash Photo Gallery in the middle of the book, and I’m reassured that walking is indeed more my speed.

There are some events related to this new release coming up soon, including one on July 16th at Distant Lands in Pasadena, CA.