Photo credit: www.publishersweekly.com
Regional Travel Guides Inspire Local Exploration
As global destinations become easier to reach, there’s a noteworthy trend emerging in travel literature: an emphasis on regional and specialized guides that encourage exploration close to home.
Globe Pequot, a publishing house with a local-centric approach since 1947, exemplifies this trend. Acquisitions editor Greta Schmitz notes that their titles provide a “very realistic” perspective on New England travel. “We offer a rich assortment of books based in New England that allow readers to visit each state over a year or two,” she adds.
One of their latest additions is Jamie Coelho’s Rhode Island Food Crawls, set to release in July. According to Globe Pequot marketing manager Alyssa Griffin, this guide showcases culinary experiences in places like Providence for brunch or South County for fresh oysters and ocean views. “The book presents various ideas for both night outings and day trips,” Griffin mentions, emphasizing the guide’s role in inspiring readers to explore their local food scene.
The publisher also features various imprints that cater to specific interests; for example, Stackpole focuses on fishing-related titles. This includes the upcoming release of Alabama’s Best Fly Fishing by Matthew R. Lewis in April, which is designed for novice anglers. Following it, books highlighting fishing opportunities in Texas and Oregon are set for release in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
In another dimension of local exploration, Backbeat Books, recently acquired by Bloomsbury from Rowman & Littlefield, will publish The Music Lover’s Guide to North America in June. Travel writer Josephine Matyas and musician Craig Jones authored the book to provide insights across a variety of musical landscapes. While their previous work, Chasing the Blues, focused on the Mississippi Delta, this new guide aims to explore a broader range of musical origins and cultural intersections across North America.
The guide highlights a mix of music museums and significant sites throughout the U.S. and Canada, ranging from renowned institutions like those operated by the Smithsonian to local venues that may go unnoticed. “Even if Bob Dylan isn’t your favorite, visiting the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an experience you won’t forget due to Dylan’s impact on music,” Matyas remarks. This center lies in close proximity to the Woody Guthrie Museum, which serves as a reminder of Dylan’s admiration for the folk legend and a reason for his choice to establish his archives in Tulsa.
Meanwhile, at the travel-oriented Hardie Grant Explore imprint, Walk Her Way New York City, set to release in February, spotlights influential women in various fields including politics and activism. Authors Jana Mader and Kaitlyn Allen point out that while traditional guides focus heavily on landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, often overlooked are figures such as Emily W. Roebling, who took charge of the construction when her husband fell ill.
With a unique perspective, the book offers ten walking tours spanning neighborhoods from Harlem to Brooklyn Heights. Though Hardie Grant operates from locations across Australia and California, it shares the regional focus seen in both Globe Pequot and Backbeat’s offerings.
Return to main feature.
A version of this article appeared in the 01/20/2025 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: Local Guides.
Source
www.publishersweekly.com