A State-By-State Tour Guide To Nostalgic Stopovers

Collector's Press — Andrew F. Wood, Jenny L. Wood

It's the peak of summer and it's time for a road trip! Oh, but where to go? Set the "Way-Back Machine", Sherman, and let's head down the road to when AM radio ruled the airwaves and the attendant at the Gulf station did more than just take your money.

MOTEL AMERICA (Collectors Press) is a handy resource and follow-up to Andrew and Jenny Wood's ROAD TRIP AMERICA. ROAD TRIP AMERICA (also from Collectors Press) led you and your family across the country to the best offbeat destinations in the USA. Now with MOTEL AMERICA the Wood's point you to the best places to stay on your retro tour.

Before the Federal Highway expansion act of 1956 created today's Interstate system and eventually steered you away from Americana, people would cruise the state highways on vacation adventures. Along the way a motel's neon signs would beckon you to stop. Many of the new interstates—such as the infamous I-40, which parallels the more famous Route 66—guided the public away from these beacons of rest and many eventually went out of business. Fortunately a number of these retro roadside oases still exist.

Within its 112 pages, MOTEL AMERICA is broken down into sections for every state (all 50 of them!), and spotlights each state's top remaining retro motel. Feel like staying in your own individual tee-pee motel room at the Wig-Wam Village Motel along I-60 in Kentucky? It's in here! Cruising down Route 66 though Tucumcari, New Mexico? Then plan a stay at the Blue Swallow Motel! Additionally there are many other classic mom and pop motels, perfect for plotting your destination to so that you can find your own refuge from the modern world.

Included are over 200 illustrations, many of which are copies of original 1950s postcards and advertising pieces as well as some beautiful site shots by Andrew and Jenny Wood. So get behind the wheel of your automobile and drive back to yesteryear with a copy of MOTEL AMERICA.