Whether seeking a getaway for a week or a weekend you'll find
many interesting sites to explore across the country. The new travel
guide series Tourist Town Guides, by founder Dirk Vanderwilt,
provides insight into 18 of America’s popular regional tourist
destinations. The current titles include Williamsburg, VA, Niagara
Falls, Myrtle Beach, Atlantic City, Wisconsin Dells, Mackinac, and
Key West.
“Too often, travelers make their decisions on what to do, where
to stay and what to eat based on the promotional materials found
online and in town,” says Vanderwilt. “My best vacations have been
due to hands-on research and advice from frequent visitors to make
the most of what the town truly has to offer.”
Author of Niagara Falls: With the Niagara Parks, Clifton Hill,
and Other Area Attractions, Dirk noticed that many of these famous
vacation getaways were included in travel books covering larger
areas, with only a small section dedicated to that specific town.
His love of travel, especially within the United States, inspired
him to give these towns the attention they deserved, and provide us
with an alternative companion to the promotional literature.
“Our goal with Tourist Town Guides is to ensure visitors get an
honest review of the local hotels, restaurants, and activities,
without the influence of promotional information,” says Vanderwilt.
“All of our writers are local to the area or frequent visitors
exposing not only first-time visitors to the unique treasures of the
area, but regulars as well.”
Each guide begins with a friendly introduction and a general area
orientation chapter that describes certain areas in the region. The
guide then continues with personalized sections for the area of
focus. In the Myrtle Beach, SC edition, sections include “The
Beach,” “Golf,” “Fishing,” and “Water Sports,” in addition to the
usual “Entertainment,” “Dining,” and “Attractions.”
The guides are updated every 1-3 years to ensure travelers have
the most up-to-date information. Vanderwilt’s personal research into
America’s tourist towns, along with proposals from writers, have
been the inspiration for the towns selected for the series. In the
coming year, Tourist Town Guides will add 12 new titles to the
series.
