Secret Providence A Guide To The Weird Wonderful And Obscure

Where in Providence can you…pay homage to the birth of sideburns?...visit a Vampire grave….? view North America’s largest collection of fresco paintings?...see a tree that “ate” a state founder?...get a glimpse of a 58-foot blue bug?...discover the origin of the Seabee?...spend the afternoon at the home of America’s longest-played baseball game?...explore a castle in the middle of the city? You’ll find all these unique—and often little-known—landmarks, attractions and hidden gems and more inside Secret Providence: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. Whether you’re interested in Rhode Island’s haunted, hysterical, surprising or somber, Secret Providence gives you insider access to all the mysteries you never knew the city was holding and takes you on a tour like none you’ve seen before. Founded to establish a community of and home for visionaries looking to break free of rules and the status quo, Rhode Island has a deeply rebellious history and those who call it home have always celebrated its spirit of individuality and embraced its welcoming of the offbeat and unique. This scavenger-hunt type guide to the state’s capital city and beyond is an exploration of the weird, wonderful and obscure odds and ends that continue to make it an idyllic spot for uncommon living.

Where in Charlotte can you… - get up-close with the “Miracle on the Hudson” plane? - indulge in conspiracy theories about occult symbols in public murals? - see a giant head sculpture by a notorious Czech artist? - eat something called burgushi? - hear a parking garage that sings? - watch a giant dragon blow smoke? - visit the grave of cojoined twin sisters who were the inspiration for a Broadway musical? Whether you’re riding at top speeds around the 24-degree bank of a NASCAR track turn, exploring the history of Charlotte’s gold rush and the 17-pound nugget that started it all, or eating ice cream at a Dairy Queen that’s a designated historic site, it’s impossible to be bored in the Queen City with a copy of Secret Charlotte: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. From delightful surprises to hair-raising theories, in these pages you’ll find answers to the questions around town you didn’t even know you had. Filled with fascinating—and often bizarre—stories about the locales that define Charlotte’s culture and history, this is the city’s ultimate scavenger hunt.

Did you know ...that a hidden room exists behind Abraham Lincoln s head on Mt. Rushmore? ...that North Carolina was almost accidentally destroyed in a nuclear holocaust? ...that the Mason-Dixon Line had nothing to do with dividing north from south? ...that Major League Baseball once hosted a single game between three different teams? ...that there is a designated state highway in Michigan where cars are not allowed? ...that 21 people were once killed by a 15-foot wave of molasses that devasted a Boston neighborhood? ...that the National Security Agency has a gift shop with logoed merchandise? Whether you want to visit the New York grave where Uncle Sam is buried, stop by the future hometown of Star Trek's Captain Kirk in Iowa or see the room in California where the Internet was created, Secret America: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure is your ticket to some of the nation's least-known but most interesting spots. It is here where you can explore a historical marker dedicated to Barack and Michelle Obama's first kiss, find out how to acquire logoed merchandise at the National Security Agency's gift shop or examine why Case Western Reserve University has such an unusual name. Secret America is a look at the United States as you've never seen it before a tourist guide that gives you answers to the questions no tourist ever never knew they were supposed to ask. If you are tired of trying to enliven dull family roadtrips searching backroads for the World's Largest Ball of Twine, this is a handbook for truly interesting sites that can transform any cross-country adventure into a tour of the unique spots that make America the odd but fascinating nation that it is.

What’s on your travel wish list? Immersing yourself in local culture? Enjoying world class dining, exhilarating outdoor activities, and eclectic museums? How about experiencing all these things, and much more, in a city that is as exciting as it is welcoming? Providence, Rhode Island, dubbed the Creative Capital, is a small city with unlimited potential for adventure. Visitors of every age and interest will find themselves falling in love with the city’s rich historical, cultural, and entertainment offerings. This second edition of 100 Things to Do in Providence Before You Die is the guide to introduce you to all of it, whether you’re looking for the perfect romantic weekend, a family trip to make lifetime memories, or a place to get away from it all with your best friends. And, if you’re a Rhode Islander, you’ll want to make this book your ultimate Providence bucket list. Inside these pages is all you need to know to make your time in Providence the time of your life.

Why is the most iconic building on the Providence skyline called the Superman Building? What's that giant termite hovering over I-95 in Providence? Why does Rhode Island have a monument to a chicken? Rhode Island packs a whole lot of weird, wonderful, and obscure into a little package, and you'll learn all about the smallest state's fascinating history and unique quirks in Secret Rhode Island. From Newport to Narragansett, Woonsocket to Westerly, comb through nearly 400 years of Rhode Island history and the state's diverse culture. Explore forgotten World War 2 prisoner of war camps, hidden beaches, "poison" tomatoes and Mr. Potato Head statues, Hobbit houses and the final resting place of the man who gave us Thanksgiving.Did you hear the one about the tree that ate the priest? The tale of how Rhode Island founder Roger Williams wound up in a woody embrace is just one of the 90 unusual stories unveiled in this fun and fascinating book. You'll also learn about street battles over the price of pasta, the infamous murder of a beloved elephant, a collection of books bound in human skin, and how the most famous ship in Australian history came to an ignominious end at the bottom of Newport Harbor.Local author Bob Curley takes you through some of the biggest secrets in the smallest state. You'll find the answers to all your questions, new places to visit and more in Secret Rhode Island: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure.

Rhode Island proves the old adage true: good things come in small packages. From the opulence of Newport to the hustle and bustle of Providence to the rustic peace of the northwest corner, the Ocean State is brimming with off-the-beaten-path charms. Discover the impressive collections of vintage and unusual aircraft at the Quonset Air Museum, the wonderful array of Portuguese restaurants in East Providence and Bristol, a tantalizing selection of wines from the native grapes at Diamond Hill Vineyards, a 42-acre bird sanctuary overlooking the Barrington River in Osamequin Park, and the oldest continually operating merry-go-round in America - Watch Hill's Flying Horse Carousel. This fully revised and updated edition also includes historical and cultural information, detailed maps and driving directions, admissions fees and hours of operation, and restaurants and places to stay.