{"product_id":"2940015586039","title":"Exploring the Back Roads","description":"Take the Long Way Around\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI have often thought, while observing the desperate driving maneuvers so many people employ to gain a few seconds' advantage over other drivers, that the most crucial lesson of driving behavior has been forgotten—or, perhaps, never learned. That lesson is: You are almost never in a desperate hurry. And, if you are not, then why do you hurry? And why, instead of rushing in order to shorten your trip, shouldn't you deliberately lengthen it? And if you can do that, then go one step further and make the trip itself —rather than the end of the trip—your goal.\u003cbr\u003eThese back-road tours vary considerably in length. Some, if you did nothing but drive, would be over in an hour. Others require half a day or a full day. Much depends on how devoted you are to taking your time about it. If you cannot squelch the urge to “make time,” you may gain minutes or hours to devote to some other restless activity but you will have gained nothing of what your tour has to offer.\u003cbr\u003eSome of the tours go to or pass by historic sites or other places of interest. Others are mainly drives that do not take you to a particular place, but rather are to be enjoyed for the scenery and for the quiet pleasure of having eluded the madding crowd. Some trips will occupy a day in themselves, but can also be done in conjunction with other things. For instance, if you are visiting the wineries of Napa County, you can enhance your wine-tasting by taking the Pope Valley-Aetna Springs trip, or the Silverado Mine-Great Western Mine Road loop out of Calistoga.\u003cbr\u003eHave you ever wondered how to entertain visiting relatives once they have seen all the standard tourist sights? Have you ever racked your brain trying to think of a pleasant activity for someone who cannot do strenuous things? Have you grown bored with driving the same roads over and over again, and wished there were some new route to arouse your interest and curiosity? If so, then your troubles are over, for you're holding the answer to those questions in your hand.\u003cbr\u003eThe maps in this book have been made to supplement a California state road map. No other maps are necessary, though if you have something more detailed you may be able to create variations on the routes I have described. If you are an AAA member, get their maps; they are the best.\u003cbr\u003eAll of these trips were originally made between January and June of 1978. I did them all again in 1996, and in 2006. The information in this book was accurate as of that time. Keep in mind that road conditions, hours, and rates and fees do change. If it is essential for you to visit a particular park, winery, or other attraction, it would be wise to phone ahead for current information or to check that entity’s website. We hope that you will be in a relaxed frame of mind while touring. There are many quiet back roads and many sights to see.","brand":"Great West Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47080848163056,"sku":"2940015586039","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940015586039_p0.jpg?v=1763622099","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940015586039","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}