I truly enjoyed the concept of this book. I agree with the previous reviewer that the photographs are exceptional in that they often depict the history of a subject as well as the present.

I am quite disappointed, however, in the editing (or lack thereof) of the book. It appears that the manuscript was put together in haste. The editor and/or the publisher really fell short of their job.

Because I was born, and still live in Indianapolis - and my family history began in this city around 1850 - I looked forward to reading each of the chapters. Unfortunately, the frequent grammatical and typographical errors really distracted from the content. If the work had been edited, it would have a home among other treasures on my bookshelf. It is sad, however, that I would be expected to pay even Amazon's discounted price for a piece that could have truly been a treasure - if someone had just taken the time to edit it.

I grew up in Indianapolis and really enjoyed reading about all of the things that have gone away since I was a little kid. I used to love Burger Chef, and the downtown Ayres store. I remember the Riverside Amusement Park sitting closed there for years when we would pass it going out to the Speedway.

The author also has a webpage called "Lost Indiana" which talks about some of the Lost Indy topics, but also some other neat sites in the rest of the state. You could google this to find it.

I live in the Indianapolis area, so this book is extra special. The photographs are amazing. It tells the story of the old Indianapolis and how life used to be in our fair city. The canal is lovely to look at now, but the author takes us back to when the canal was used for trade. You can still shop at LS Ayres in the suburbs, but you can't shop in the store downtown in all it's history and glory. shopping used to be a big event. This book is wonderful. The stories are told in a way to take you back in time. Who knew Indianapolis had interurbans & streetcars? Now I Know....

This is a great book for any Hoosier or lover of the Hoosier State. The photographs are both interesting and beautiful. I proudly keep this book on my coffee table so that friends and guests can see and understand why I love and talk about Indiana so much. Whenever I'm feeling a little homesick, all I have to do is open this book and I'm "back home again in Indiana".

this book says it all about indiana. the photography is simply breathtaking and put together marvelously! i would recommend this book to anyone who lives in or likes indiana or enjoys looking at beautiful artwork.

I purchased this book just prior to moving to Cincinnati. I found it to be a great help. This book tells almost everything a newcomer needs to know from information about local communities to where to go bargain shopping. When I moved from Cincinnati, I gave this book to the people that bought my home.

The Insiders Guide to Cincinnati is a great city guide. I bought the book shortly after I moved here to get an idea of the sights, museums and restaurants in the area. I got a lot more than I bargained for. Great for anyone moving here or planning to visit.

Insight Guide Chicago is a mine of useful information in an accessible format. This, however, is not what distinguishes the Insight Guide from books with a similar mission, such as Frommers or Fodors. What marks Insight Guide apart is its wonderful photographs, which provide the would-be tourist with a rich taste of what it must be like to spend time in this vibrant, world class, but still comfortably Midwestern city.

The other thing that sets this Insight Guide apart - even from others in the series - is the darkness of its text. If you read this book like a book, rather than a reference work (its stylish writing invites such use) you are regaled at every turn with tales of poverty, crime, corruption and racial division. That Chicago suffers from these problems is no doubt true but reading about them in a guidebook doesn't make me want to go there.

i found this chicago travel quide to be an exceptional difference in the usual "go here, do this" mentality of most tour books. the writing was insightful and thought-provoking, the information was straight forward and the photographs were exceptional. evidently a well thought out and researched book. even though this edition is somewhat dated (1999) i highly recommend this purchase.

This is a wonderful book for traveling in Iowa. I am an Iowa resident, and found some very interesting information within the covers of this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone who desires to learn more about the hidden treasures in the heart of the midwest.

I just returned from an 8 day driving tour of the great state of Iowa. I purchased two books for the trip but relied on this one. It was a great resource and a good read besides. Starting from the west heading south then east and finally north, this guide was invaluable book of knowledge that made my road trip an experience to remember. I plan on purchasing the "Off the Beaten Path" version for my own home state and take weekend trips to see if Missouri can rival Iowa in charm and hospitality!

I was born and grew up in Kansas, yet there is much of the state I've never seen. I recently began driving the back roads of Kansas to get from my house to my daughter's on the western side of the state. I am learning to appreciate the undervalued beauty of Kansas. This atlas, showing all the roads in Kansas, including county roads and minimum maitenance roads is an excellent resource for finding my way around the state. It's fun to look in the atlas and find the little dirt road that runs by the cemetery or to see the gravel road that edges the pasture owned by a friend. I didn't realize map reading could be this fun!

Once again, Delorme atlases won't lead you astray. Living in Kansas City, I often take excursions into Kansas when I want to get out of the city. With this atlas I can head onto almost any back road and not get lost. These maps are great for finding places that the basic road maps can't show. Whether you're birding, hunting, or camping, you'll find this atlas useful. You can get to Lyon County Fishing Lake, Quivera NWR, Morton County or any place in Kansas easily. Highly recommended!

I have used and enjoyed this Michigan atlas countless times for traveling back roads in pursuit of my many outdoor hobbies, which include birdwatching, fishing, camping, and hunting. Looking for alternate routes to avoid heavy traffic, or just to discover someplace new, it's been invaluable to me. However, it cannot replace a detailed county map, but who has all those? Another possible drawback is the lack of Forest Route numbers in the state's national forests. You will need to buy the appropriate National Forest map if you wish to wander there. Use this atlas together with a Michigan Department of Transportation map (free from the state) and you can go just about anywhere in the Great Lake State.

Living "up North", I-75 is basically the only interstate running up the middle of the state. This book has been a huge help to us in helping us to avoid heavy travel periods, traffic accidents and tie-ups and even road closures. This book has gotten us off the beaten path more than a few times and we've also discovered some of the pretty little places our state has to offer. We highly recommend it and are always glad we have it in the car, when needed.

for any gardener's library. A great reference tool for anyone attempting to grow a nice garden despite the Midwest's unpredictable weather. Concise reviews of the plants most common to this region, with wonderful photos. Would like to see an expanded version with more unique and lesser-known plants for the adventurous gardener.

I was tired of wading through thick gardening books trying to find information about zones 4 and 5 plants and falling in love with interesting plants, only to discover that they only grow in Florida or Hawaii! Now, I have one book that covers all the basics for my area. I have often thought about writing to the author to express my appreciation, but perhaps this review will do until I actually get around to accomplishing that.

The photographs (yes, real photographs, not just illustrations!) are great and the information is presented in a format that makes looking for specifics easy as can be.

I'm a novice gardener, and our home is only six years old, so we have been trying to put in some new vegetation each year. It helps me make decisions on what kinds of plants to purchase and where to place them in the yard.

The book also gives you care instructions, which are handy for maintaining the plants. For instance, I've learned that I can shear back my phlox in midsummer to prevent them from looking ragged.

I also use the last few blank pages to make notes to keep track of plants and page numbers that particularly impressed me. I like the book because it's basic, not exotic. I have been able to enter a garden center and ask for plants in this book and they are either in stock or easily ordered without any problem.

This book is my gardening Bible!

This guidebook deals with some great topics and locations in the state of Minnesota, plus highlighting a few to be found in western Wisconsin as well. It's a good connection to a variety of destinations and because of the wide range of interests covered; there is something here for everyone's curiosity, set of pace and budget. A few of the themed chapters revolve around: Family Day, Country Churches, Small Town Antiquing, Caves, Waterfalls, Garden Tours, Wine & Beer Tours, History & Arts, Train Trips, Romantic Getaways, the cities of Duluth and Rochester and many more. My personal favorite, the chapter that I particularly relished was The Extreme Adventures. But all together I think the book skimped out on one of my favorite activities, downhill skiing. It seemed like the small list of ski places was an 'oh by the way' last minute addition to the Odds & Ends chapter. But on the other hand, it provides many other options for winter sports, and outdoor recreation for all seasons in general.

On most attractions the book offers a load of marvelous facts, sometimes giving clues as to what the expense, season and hours are expected to be like. In addition to some very basic directions and map illustrations along with address, phone number, and/or internet connections. But the book is not always so consistent in providing these helpful details on every place listed. There is a short but beneficial outline of contents at the beginning of each chapter, highlighting the information found under each theme. This makes it easier to find certain attractions but not necessarily certain places or towns.

It's great for discovering something new and unique to explore in the Minnesota region and the author's personal touch of suggestions should help make your trip an interesting experience. This book is best used for brainstorming, to find intriguing destinations for a short trip on a weekend. It might also be useful in obtaining information on places around a particular location for a trip already in the planning. [review author: tilley_traveler]

This book is great to plan a quick get-away for a day or two. When you can't leave for a week's vacation, this book is perfect for a mini vacation.

I received this book for Christmas 2001. Had been looking forward to it as I've always been interested in the roadside attractions of MN, ND, and the upper midwest. This is an excellent book that not only covers the gigantic roadside statues in MN, but also a number of unique events and places--such as the "Museum of Questionable Medical Devices" in MPLS.

My only complaint regarding the book is that the photos are in black and white. Color would've added a lot to the book (including a higher price, I'm sure). Also, I would've like to have seen more than just one poto for several of the icons--e.g., the picture of the Frazee turkey burning down is great, but how about a picture of the new one? Also, the black duck (Blackduck, MN) is the old one, what about the new one? How about that "famous" picture of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker standing in front of the black duck?

Regardless of these minor complaints, the book is full of great information about the attractions, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. In fact, I have made a couple more purchases for friends. It makes a wonderful gift for those interested in travel, those who have visited MN, or ex-patriots of the state. It also serves as a great compliment to the book "Roadside America", for it's added information about each statue/attraction.

My husband and I brought this book with us on a trip to Minnesota in April 2002. We are sure glad we did! This book lists so many great roadside attractions. We stopped and saw a giant fiberglass walleye, Frank Lloyd Wright's gas station, the Jolly Green Giant, a giant hockey stick, a huge dala horse, the spam museum and multiple other fascinating sights listed in this book. That made our trip so memorable. Our friends loved seeing our pictures. Using the book, we were even able to plan day trips from Minneapolis to hit several sites. I only wish we'd had time to see it all! A must-buy book for a traveler in Minnesota.