by Meagan Jolley
posted July 13, 2009
Rock City Gardens has been recently named as one of the 101 places to visit in National Geographic’s book, USA 101: A Guide to America’s Iconic Places, Events, and Festivals.
“Kitsch, cool and an American original, Rock City is America’s minimalist theme park,” said award-winning travel writer, Gary McKechnie.
Mr. McKechnie will be in Chattanooga this Saturday, at Rock City Gardens’ Starbucks for a book signing from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
America has an abundance of city sights, scenic areas, cultural events and points of interest that would take a lifetime to explore. In Mr. McKechnie’s new book, he has distilled the “American experience” into 101 quintessential destinations that celebrate our country in all its quirky diversity.
Wherever you’re going and whatever your interests, they will be somewhere in this book. The American destinations range from the Statue of Liberty to the Golden Gate Bridge, from Graceland to Disneyland.
There are perennial sporting rituals like the Army-Navy football game, the Indy 500, the Rose Bowl, the Little League World Series and the Iditarod, plus dozens more favorite institutions, old and new, from the Appalachian Trail, Indian powwows and barbershop quartets to New England fall foliage, pie-baking contests, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Miss America pageant.
Each destination is introduced with an entertaining, descriptive narrative that captures its history and special appeal as well as detailed practical advice, contact information and useful tips for visitors.
Back matter includes a comprehensive list of lodging and dining suggestions for each featured destination, as well as a list of 66 “honorable mentions” — other uniquely American sites and events that were in the running but didn’t make the final cut.
Gary McKechnie’s eclectic past includes stints as a comedian, advertising copywriter, video producer and concert promoter. He has been published in National Geographic Traveler, People, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Miami Herald and more.
His previous book, “Great American Motorcycle Tours,” won both a Lowell Thomas Silver Award for travel writing and a Gold Award in the Benjamin Franklin competition.
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