BOOK REVIEW: 1000 Places To See Before You Die (US & Canada)

Patricia Schultz has followed up her best selling book 1000 Places to See Before You Die which took her over 12 years to research and write, with another best seller focusing on sites in the United States and Canada.

1000 Places to See Before You Die in the US and Canada has over 1100 pages that cover sites in the 50 United States and 10 provinces of Canada. Additionally there are a dozen indexes for cross referencing based on interest rather than simple geography. If you're interested in active travel and adventure, Schultz' has an index that organizes lists of sites from the book into 14 sections that include biking, fishing, dog sledding, climbing, horseback riding, ice skating, rafting, sailing, skiing, surfing, swimming and tennis. There is also a "culinary experiences" index, a "great golf" index and a "take the kids" index.

Ms. Shultz admitted in an interview on the Travel with Rick Steves radio program that it took her 4 years to complete this book. When asked why she chose the US and Canada for her second focus she replied that she could not identify such a "singularly astonishing continent in the world in terms of what it offers; the diversity and the importance of what we have here, I think is unmatched anywhere else in the world."

The core of this book was comprised of the 150 sites that Schultz included in her first book which covered the entire planet Earth. The words "1000 Places" in the title of this book is slightly misleading. Readers will be pleasantly surprised to find that several locations are frequently folded into one of the 1000 mentioned sites. For example, one of the 1000 places identified in the book is "Garrett County Maryland", but in that one entry, Shultz mentions riding rapids down the Youghiogheny, Deep Creek Lake, Wisp Ski Resort, an organic farm in Oakland, and seven state forests and parks. She begins the entry, "The far western tip of Maryland packs more outdoors options into one single county than any other in the state."

Just as I thought there was much in Maryland she didn't cover, many will say Patricia Schultz didn't get some of the best sites in their home states and territories. But it was her project, so I respect her choices. The book is a perfect resource for an individual or family taking a road trip that covers several states. If you're traveling through South Carolina and Georgia on your way to Florida, Schultz offers choices and alternatives to zooming through states without a second glance. This makes road trips far richer. Her indexes allow the traveler to focus specifically on areas of personal interest as well as geographic locations.

My husband, Dan and I are going to Maine this month. We try to get up there every two years in order to visit his large family. But this year, instead of taking 16 hours to rush through 8 states we're going to take two days and stop in Hartford CT to see the home of Mark Twain, and Salem, MA (since I just read The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry) where we'll see the House of Seven Gables, go to the Peabody Essex Museum (the oldest continually operating museum in the country), and look at other things "witchy."

As far as Ms. Schultz' coverage of my home state - Maryland, I'm impressed that one of the 13 sites identified in our state was Crisfield and Smith and Tangier Islands... my home area. The islands are always worth a visit, being the only inhabited off-shore islands in both states. My only gripe was that she referred to Crisfield as "sleepy." What is it with these travel writers? Only last Sunday, Jordan Hruska writer of The Crab Houses of Maryland's Eastern Shore in the NY Times Travel section made this statement about the Hyatt Chesapeake Resort in Cambridge ... "This 400-room hotel, spa and golf resort capitalizes on its views of the Choptank River, just outside sleepy Cambridge." Actually, the hotel is in Cambridge. Secondly, what about Cambridge is sleepy?

Small does not equal sleepy. Brick sidewalks, historic facades, working waterfronts, sailboats and friendly people do not denote "sleepy". Sleepy is almost as tired and overused as quaint, charming, breathtaking, exotic and jewel. None of these cute words merit adjective status when describing Eastern Shore towns. Obviously Jordan Hruska has not read 10 Words and Phrases We Never Want to See in Travel Writing Again. Forgive my little pet peeve digression.

1000 Places to See Before You Die - US and Canada is worth every bit of the $19.95 retail price. Just the information on the Mark Twain House and Salem was double the return on the investment for me, and I expect that value will multiply over the years. The book is one of few guide books that will become a staple in the travel-bag of American tourists that have a penchant for wandering and discovering when they take to the road.

Ann Granados ~ Rest In Peace

Ann Horner Granados passed away on July 5th. It was a great loss not only to my uncle Lou and her children - but to the Granados clan, at least those of us who were fortunate enough to get to know her well.

Dan and I are so sad. Our hearts are heavy to think we'll never again see her smile, feel her enthusiasm or hear her positive voice. She was such a presence.

It always amazed me that though I was but one of 30+ off-spring in the Luis Granados (Sr.) chain, Ann treated me as if I was the only one.

She was always so kind to me, so interested in what I was doing, what I was thinking, how my kids were getting on, what was new in our lives. Ann and my Uncle Lou made every effort to be at all major family occasions, even when getting around and traveling long distances became more difficult as they both experienced health challenges. You could always count on them for support and encouragement- and to be present at important events.



Seven years ago Dan and I moved from Laurel, Maryland where the population was high (87,000) and jobs were plentiful, to Somerset County on the rural Eastern Shore where the population (26,000) was one third the size of Laurel. Jobs were scarce.

Within a few months I got a job working for a small town in Worcester County - the same county Lou and Ann lived in. I did well there, getting my first experience working with local government and economic development.

But one year later I was fired from that job. It was sudden, unexpected, and devastating. I had never left a job where people weren't sorry to see me go. Dan's hours had been cut back due to a slump in the building industry, and we had a daughter in college. Ann rushed to my rescue. She invited me to lunch at the Atlantic Hotel in Berlin and I briefed her on what happened.

She went to work, using any influence she had to help me get a job with the State of Maryland. Within a few months I was hired by the Department of Business and Economic Development after going through a series of rigorous interviews.

I'm not ashamed to have been a political appointee, hired perhaps because I knew someone influential ... that's part of our political process. The cause for shame would have come if I didn't do a good job or take the responsibility seriously; if I merely took a free ride and wasted the tax payers money.

As it turned out, I loved the new state job, and was able to be very productive. Working for this Agency I was performing duties similar to those in the small town job - but covering several counties on the Eastern Shore. I thrived in the position and am still at it finding it one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs I've ever had. I have the opportunity to help hundreds of businesses, develop great relationships with people (some who have become lifelong friends), and show the humble few I serve that government really can do good things. I am privileged to be walking proof that Maryland does care about business and economic development, enough to put a human resource in the far reaches of the state to offer on-the-ground assistance to businesses and local communities.

I owe all of that joy and job satisfaction to Ann Granados.


The last time I saw Ann was at my mother's funeral just over a year ago. Even at times when people didn't know what to say, Ann found something comforting and appropriate. She was one of the most loving, energetic people I've ever known.

What a great loss this is for everyone in her world.

My faith tells me Ann is in a better place, enjoying the company of her loved ones that went before her. It also tells me she's preparing a place for all of us who will eventually follow her.

But my selfish nature wishes she was still here for another family reunion, wedding, christening, summer crab feast, Christmas party or chat about the latest craziness in the world or new development in the family.

Her absence will be hard to get used to. But I'm comforted by my memories of her and thankful I was able to get to know her and share my life with her ... Rest in peace, Ann.


Pictures above top to bottom - 1. Ann at an event in Princess Anne, Maryland. John Phoebus in background. 2. Ann and Jim Rzepkowski at Maryland event. 3. Ann and Lou at birthday celebration in Calvert County for Lou's brother, Joe.

Local Man Takes His Own Life

On July 1st - the day before yesterday - the Director of Planning for Somerset County committed suicide. He also served as the Chair of the Board of Education. He was born and raised on Deal Island, an attorney who had his own practice. He was a leader in the local Republican Central Committee. He had a mother, father and three sisters. He had never married, and was 41 years old.

According to local news reports, he spent July 1st with the County Superintendent of Schools at an out-of-town workshop. Meanwhile, postal inspectors and customs agents, known for conducting probes into child pornography and Internet crimes, searched his home and office for evidence. An investigation began, and as an attorney he probably knew what the evidence would turn up. He returned from the workshop at about 5:30 pm, and later that night he got in his pickup truck, pulled into a parking lot on Deal Island and shot himself. He was found that evening... dead.

The community is in shock.

I casually knew this man. More shocking to me than the allegations against him and his suicide, are the nasty blog responses that surfaced only one day later. The scum has risen to top of the blog pond. One poster began with, "he dealt with people in an honest and upfront manner." but ended with, "he did us all a favor by shooting himself. Child Porn and those involved are the sickest most evil people on Earth and they all need to be destroyed."

Go figure.

Nobody beats Joe Albero, though ... a local blogger with a reputation for bashing, and destructive comments. He was the first to post a response to the news article covering the suicide. Albero began with, "When I started interviewing people about this man, each and every person praised him and spoke extremely high of him." and ended with, "Open your eyes Folks. A single man at his age, HELLO!"

The full story and complete postings are at the Daily Times website.

Do we have to stoop to this level to discuss this issue? It seems that when something bad - really bad - happens, we feel compelled to blame and punish immediately... but is it best to recklessly act on that compulsion with no restraint? Are there consequences?

This man, who hasn't been tried yet, was clearly not all bad. He had a family, and people in his life who loved him, valued him. He has a record of helping others in the community. Who does it help to make such statements after such a tragic end, even if he is guilty of a crime?

Does it make you feel better, Mr. Albero, to write such small minded content about a man who may have committed the unthinkable crime, then in shame and humiliation tragically took his own life? Should every 41 year old man who's never been married be suspect now in our communities? Should we be watching them? Should we allow never-married 41 year olds to be teachers, church leaders, run for public office?

Are you so perfect, Mr. Albero?

For the record, I was a victim of child abuse that included being exploited by those who peddled child pornography. It was a long time ago when the medium was Polaroids, and it was horrible. But being the victim didn't make me a hater, and I strive to keep my balance and perspective when making judgments. We cannot be civilized if we rush to judgment and wish the ultimate abuse on those we suspect to be guilty of violent crimes. This is the mentality of lynch mobs, and mindless followers that tag behind strong speakers that spew hate in the name of righteousness.

Child abuse is wrong - and there's never an excuse for it. Perpetrators should be justly punished. But we probably should resist the temptation of enjoying the punishment.

People who commit terrible crimes are still human beings. We demean our own humanity when we reduce ourselves to a mob mentality blinded by all perspectives save the one that sees the criminal as an object to be destroyed.

Jack Willing hasn't been tried for his "suspected" crime ... but he's been convicted by the ones with the loudest voices, and he's not even around to suffer the conviction. Only his friends and family are left to take the punches from the righteous - and it's clear that the righteous love throwing them.