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Book Reviews


Exploring America's Highways
Trip Trivia

By Michael Heim
Published by: Travel Organization Network Exchange, Inc.
Reviewed by Carole Herdegen

If you ever wondered (like I do), just how the contestants of TV programs such as Jeopardy and Do you want to be a millionaire? prepare to answer their questions; we have to assume they do their homework. By this I mean, in preparation, they must burn the midnight oil over a selection of reference books such as: The Bible, an Encyclopedia, a Dictionary, the Guinness Book of World Records and the latest copy of Who's Who?

Well, I have now discovered another set of books that I would definitely add to the above list. It is Exploring America's Highways - Trip Trivia. My review here covers three of the books, specifically relating to: Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. In the near future, the author, Michael Heim, will be releasing another 12 books covering the States of: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North and South Dakota.

But, even if you are not a quiz show contestant, these books will provide you with a wealth of pleasure and information. And, if you know your destination and you thoroughly enjoy traveling by car, motorcycle, bicycle or recreational vehicle, you most certainly should not be without this series of books.

You've heard the expression, "Half the fun of arriving is in the "getting there". Well, I can assure you, almost ALL of the fun in getting there is to be accompanied by Michael Heim's trip trivia books.

Not only do these books inform you "how to get there" but they provide the reader with a wealth of travel trivia about the history of how towns and cities received their names, local landmarks, all significant happenings associated with each location, prominent people from each place as well as all historical events and a wealth of general trivia.

I must add that these highly entertaining and informative books are intended to open your eyes and minds to the thousands of facts, details, historical references and anecdotes about the many hundreds of places within these three states. They are also a guaranteed remedy for any possible boredom that might develop while driving, especially with children. As such, do not expect to find listings of addresses and phone numbers for hotels, motels, restaurants or other places normally associated with the contents of traditional travel guides.

After reading only a few pages of any one book, you will find you have ventured into a cornucopia of interesting information. For example, for years I have been driving to Chicago from Detroit and I usually stop in Kalamazoo, Michigan as my half way respite for a snack and cup of coffee. Well now, I know a great deal more about my rest stop. The actual name comes from the Native Americans who originally named the place "Kalamazoo", a place where water boils. However, the location was first called Bronson after its first settler, Titus Bronson from Connecticut. I'll let you read the facts on why the townsfolk eventually petitioned to have the name changed from Bronson to Kalamazoo, however, I will also leave you with a piece of trivia. Did you know that Kalamazoo is the only town in Michigan where Abraham Lincoln ever spoke? Neither did I!

And, what about Manistique in Northern Michigan? If your trip happens to be taking you from Ironwood to St. Ignace, you will learn that Manistique comes from the Indian word "monistique" which means the color vermilion in reference to the color of the local water.

Over in Wisconsin, where my husband was born, he has a cousin living in Ixonia. In Mr. Heim's Wisconsin Trip Trivia book, I learned the town was named by a Mary Piper who randomly picked out letters of the alphabet. When written down, they formed the word Ixonia. And, the name, Ixonia, is the only town of that name in the entire United States.

Of course, as your routing may take you through other areas of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, you will find the vastly important role Native American Indians contributed in the naming and historical significance of today's villages, towns and cities.

Although I could provide dozens of more pieces of trivia that excited me, I hope you now have the flavor of Mr. Heim's almost monumental collection of facts. I can only imagine these books being read to children as families travel across our nation's highways. And, I can only envy them in having this modern, factual and absolutely fun way of learning history.

And, who knows? Someday, you or someone you know may actually be invited to be a quiz show contestant.

Check out the Exploring America's Highways website www.triptrivia.com.

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