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.

Days spent on wide expanses of fine sand. Nights riding roller coasters and carousels, games of mini golf and ski-ball, and meals of thin crust pizza and hand-dipped ice cream. The Atlantic coast beaches and boardwalks shout "Jersey Shore." But beyond the usual haunts lie fortune tellers and forgotten animals, rum runners and voodoo bunkers, pinball wizards and paranormal hubs. The Jersey Shore holds secrets you'll never see listed on a travel brochure. Discover all of these and more while you learn their stories in Secret Jersey Shore: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. Journey to places you've never heard of and revisit those old haunts you thought you knew. Take a trip from the Nike Missiles in Sandy Hook to the underground railroad ties in Cape May. Visit solemn memorials to roadside oddities, from pirate hideouts to pet cemeteries, and from local heroes and beauty queens. Say the Pledge of Allegiance on the site where it was first recited, learn the true legend of Molly Pitcher, and allow a former Miss America to place that coveted tiara upon your head. Lifetime local Mary Dixon Lebeau invites you to visit the full expanse of the Jersey Shore and bring back more than just a good tan. You'll find treasure as you dig into the secrets buried in these pages.

This beloved shore town of Seaside Heights was battered by Superstorm Sandy in October 2012, and one year later, in 2013, it suffered a major fire that destroyed the south end of the boardwalk. Notwithstanding these challenges, recovery is strong and the future of Seaside Heights grows brighter as each day passes. The boardwalk was re-built stronger than the one that Sandy splintered and rises slowly from the ashes of the horrific fire. After Governor Chris Christie visited the site of the destruction, he said, "We'll rebuild it." However, for those who recall the way things were, it won't be the same, as many of the iconic structures that made it what it was are now gone and washed into the ocean. With characteristic resilience and strength, Seaside Heights did rebuild, and came back stronger. "Confronting a storm is like fighting God. All the powers in the universe seem to be against you and in an extraordinary way, your irrelevance is at the same time both humbling and exalting."--Francoise LeGrande, The Quotable Sailor

While the Jersey Shore is known as a destination where salt water taffy and frozen custard were born, Miss America was crowned and The Twist was invented, there's even more to the Shore just waiting to be discovered. With 100 Things to Do at the Jersey Shore Before You Die as your guide, you'll find the best places to thrill, eat, fish, party and swim on the 130 miles of the New Jersey shoreline from the Sandy Hook Lighthouse to Cape May Point. Climb inside a giant elephant, stroll the world's most famous Boardwalk and observe a vast migration at North America's number one birding destination. Admire the Painted Ladies mansions and discover the town chosen by seven U.S. Presidents as the Nation's Summer Capital. Learn about fun ideas for your family on rainy days, find free beaches (and parking), and choose the hottest nightclubs. Beyond the summer, this guide helps you enjoy the Shore year-round. Discover fall foliage at historic battlefields; take a brisk walk in the winter with a llama or hear the hottest rock bands at the legendary Stone Pony. Local author and Shore expert R.C. Staab deftly leads you through top tips and itineraries, whether you've spent many summers at the Jersey Shore or are looking for your next beach vacation. His book will help you dive deeper into Shore life and enhance your trip.

Explores haunted places, local legends, crazy characters, and unusual roadside attractions found in New Jersey.

From a pheasant farm in Hackettstown to a 44-mile-long canal, to an arboretum and bird sanctuary in Short Hills, New Jersey has many hidden gems unknown to most travelers. Starting with the top of the state on the cliffs of the Palisades to the very bottom at Cape May where herons, egrets, and ibis raise their young, the Garden State offers unique things to see and do.

The often-tortured class weirdo has disappeared, leaving an enigmatic note on the school library computer. Is he a runaway, a suicide, or a murder victim?