For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON—From New England’s quaint fishing villages and the Midwest’s pastoral hideaways to the rustic frontier outposts of the West, America’s small towns provide the perfect antidote to modern-day stress, offering sublime pleasures entwined in the tapestry of local life.

GUIDE TO SMALL TOWN ESCAPES (National Geographic Books, ISBN 0-7922-7583-7, June 2000, U.S. $25) captures the essence of 77 of the country’s most idyllic getaways, beckoning travelers with picturesque views, nostalgic charm and regional attractions. Take a carriage ride along streets lined with Tara-style mansions in Beaufort, South Carolina. Explore old mining roads by Jeep outside Ouray, Colorado. Stroll the vintage main street shops of Red Wing, Minnesota. Hear an orchestra play “Rhapsody in Blue” on the scenic bluffs of Mendocino, California. Or just soak your cares away in a claw-foot tub in a historic B&B in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

“I love the fact that, for one weekend, my only task is to discover what special things a place has to offer,” writes GUIDE TO SMALL TOWN ESCAPES editor Barbara Noe in the book’s introduction. “There are no set agendas; I have the choice of doing everything or nothing. And, in the pursuit of relaxation, I never know what will unfold.”

The book’s evocative narratives by knowledgeable travel writers take readers to the insiders’ favorite places and relay tales of local lore. A comprehensive Travelwise section lists popular activities, major festivals, must-see sights, unique shops and distinctive inns and restaurants. Each listing suggests the best seasons to visit and sources to tap for more information. Locator maps help visitors easily find their destination, and a section on nearby places encourages local meandering.

In each location that it celebrates, GUIDE TO SMALL TOWN ESCAPES focuses on soul-nurturing delights that are best savored in places that time has forgotten—sampling homemade fudge and steaming chowder; strolling through whimsical museums, galleries and antique stores; exploring scenic trails and sinking into a soft, four-poster bed.

“This is the essence of a small town escape—the chance to briefly slip away from the hectic 21st century into a quieter realm, where life seems simpler, less pressured, even calming,” says Noe. “Small towns are close enough to home for an easy escape, and yet they’re worlds—or centuries—away.”

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