Go Here Instead

GO HERE INSTEAD is a recently published book filled with beautiful photographs and ideas for “must see” travel.  The twist? These destinations are alternatives to more well-known sites. For example, if you are interested in theater, try the Chicago scene instead of Broadway or watch ballet in Tbilisi, Georgia instead of the Bolshoi in Russia. There is a small inset map on each page, plus a picture or two, a few paragraphs of description, and usually at least one link so as to help readers investigate further. The many suggestions seem to be loosely grouped by topic (e.g., Art and Culture includes the previous examples and several museums), but I think it would be more helpful for those actually planning to travel if they were organized by location (at least continent?). One can work around that limitation since each section has a one page list of its contents, showing the name of both the endorsed location (e.g., Perth) and the more traditional one (Sydney). Or, use the index and have fun flipping through various parts of the book – maybe even generating a few more goals for your “bucket list.” Some that sound especially fun: Tranzalpine (train in New Zealand) vs. the Glacier Express, Switzerland; Greenland vs. Antarctica; Kintyre 66 vs. North Coast 500 (both Scottish road trips); or Montenegro’s many islands vs. those of Greece. GO HERE INSTEAD could definitely be enjoyed by armchair travelers; it is a diverting starting point, but other resources (for transportation, food and lodging, etc.) would be needed to fully outline a trip. Section titles include: Ancient and Historical Sights; Festivals and Parties; Architectural Marvels; Natural Wonders; Art and Culture; and Captivating Cities.