Review of USA 101: A Guide to America's Iconic Places, Events and Festivals
Now’s the time to explore our own country, in person or aboard your favorite recliner! Here’s a listing of 101 quirky, wholly American, historic or hysteric destinations, events, and celebrations from the Statue of Liberty in the east to the Golden Gate Park in the west—and all stops in between. If you can’t find something to entertain here, you might as well sell that armchair on E-Bay right now!
It's a challenge to come up with 101 places, events and festivals that encompass a country's history, faith, art, nature, adventure, sport, leisure and favorite pastimes. But that was the challenge that Gary McKechnie gave himself. The result is this entertaining book. He includes many quintessential American activities -- clambakes and fall foliage, Little League games, rodeos and state fairs, barbershop quartets and quilting bees, pie-baking contests and square dancing -- as well as stops in places associated with particular people, places and events, from Gettysburg and Graceland to the Miss America contest and the Academy Awards. One of the quirkiest and perhaps silliest of the iconic events is Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pa., an American twist on the German holiday known as Candlemas. McKechnie also lists 101 Honorable Mentions, which include cattle drives, the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D., covered bridges, hog-calling contests, lighthouses and Route 66.
- Chicago Tribune