Culture Trails

Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews the book Culture Trails by Lonely Planet, which has a section on Vintage Hollywood alongside 51 other perfect weekends for culture lovers around the world.

Culture Trails Book CoverCulture Trails Cover

We worked with publishers Lonely Planet to bring readers of Pacific Coast Highway Travel an extract from their new book Culture Trails. Click over to Vintage Hollywood and you can read a typical spread from the book. You can also visit one of our other travel websites, Greece Travel Secrets, to read a second extract: Artistic Athens. If you want to know about the rest of the book, read on.

Culture Trails Book ContentsCulture Trails Contents

We were impressed with the extracts we saw, and even more impressed when a finished copy of the book reached us. It's a big and handsome coffee table book that will make a great present for anyone you know with a bad case of wanderlust, or indeed a wonderful treat for yourself.

Culture Trails Sample SpreadCulture Trails Sample Spread

You can see sample spreads from the book on this page and on the two extracts from the book, so we don't need to tell you how good it looks. Just imagine them blown up to full size. Each spread picks a cultural theme that's appropriate to the destination, so for Havana it's music, for Copenhagen it's design and for Ethiopia it's ancient religions. You can see that the cultural topics are quite wide-ranging, as are the destinations, from Australia to the USA. The 52 perfect weekends are spread across 33 countries.

For travel in the USA there are some interesting options, in addition to Vintage Hollywood. For the Deep South the natural choice is the Blues Trail, from Memphis into Mississippi. It's a route we've driven ourselves, to places like Clarksdale and Greenwood, and the author Joe Bindloss captures the atmosphere well. 

Culture Trails Sample SpreadCulture Trails Sample Spread

The same author also writes about New York, covering Bob Dylan and Greenwich Village. This is another place we've been lucky enough to visit and wander around, and again the spread reads well and mentions all the best places, like the Chelsea Hotel and the Bitter End. The other two US entries are Cape Cod's literary landscapes and Washington DC as portrayed in political TV dramas like House of Cards.

The spreads each have an introductory essay followed by a route linking all the main places. There are then suggestions on Where to Stay, Where to Eat and Drink, and Celebrations. This bit lists any special events related to the cultural theme so you can plan your visit to take them in, if you want to.

Culture Trails Sample SpreadCulture Trails Sample Spread

A few of the other topics covered around the world include:
• On a Classical High in Vienna
• Confronting Soviet Ghosts in Bulgaria
• Literary Paris through the Eyes of Hemingway
• Traditional Music in the Wild West, Ireland
• Mackintosh & the Glasgow Style
• Aboriginal Art in the Northern Territory, Australia
• Tokyo Pop Culture
• Finnish Sauna Culture

If that doesn't get your travel bug itching, there's also Bob Marley's Jamaica, Venice's art masterpieces, comic-strip art in Brussels (great choice!), and the creative artisans of Marrakesh. We loved the eclectic collection and it's certainly fired us up to take some of these culture trails.

Culture Trails Sample SpreadCulture Trails Sample Spread

Don't expect the thoroughness of a guidebook, as the strength of this book is in enjoying the readable essays. The practical sections are limited to a couple of hotels and a couple of eating or drinking recommendations, though they're usually ones that link with the theme.

You'll still need to do a little bit of work to turn these culture trails into perfect weekends. Other than that, you're good to go with this highly enjoyable book. You can buy it on Amazon.

Other books pages

  • The Best Coast is a west coast travel guide, sub-titled A Road Trip Atlas it doesn't use photos but instead has hundreds of beautiful illustrations.

    The Best Coast Book Review

    The Best Coast is a west coast travel guide, sub-titled A Road Trip Atlas it doesn't use photos but instead has hundreds of beautiful illustrations.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Guide book covering the drive from Vancouver to San Diego.

    Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Guide

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Guide book covering the drive from Vancouver to San Diego.

  • Plant lovers can visit hundreds of gardens along or near the Pacific Coast Highway,ranging from lush gardens in the Pacific North-West to southern California.

    Gardens Of the Pacific Coast Highway

    Plant lovers can visit hundreds of gardens along or near the Pacific Coast Highway,ranging from lush gardens in the Pacific North-West to southern California.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the most romantic hotels in Los Angeles, including beach-front beauties as well as those in the heart of the city.

    Most Romantic Hotels in Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the most romantic hotels in Los Angeles, including beach-front beauties as well as those in the heart of the city.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the best museums in Los Angeles including the top art museums and museums for families.

    Best Museums in Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the best museums in Los Angeles including the top art museums and museums for families.

  • To John Steinbeck Monterey's Cannery Row was a place of sardine canneries, bums and honky tonks, but today the Monterey Aquarium attracts visitors.

    Cannery Row in Monterey

    To John Steinbeck Monterey's Cannery Row was a place of sardine canneries, bums and honky tonks, but today the Monterey Aquarium attracts visitors.

  • Books About the Pacific Coast Highway in California, Oregon and Washington including travel guidebooks, route guides, restaurant guides, and many more.

    Books About the Pacific Coast Highway

    Books About the Pacific Coast Highway in California, Oregon and Washington including travel guidebooks, route guides, restaurant guides, and many more.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks ten fun family things to do in Los Angeles, from Universal Studios to the Los Angeles Zoo and Children’s Museum.

    Ten Fun Family Things to Do in Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks ten fun family things to do in Los Angeles, from Universal Studios to the Los Angeles Zoo and Children’s Museum.

  • Some of the best California Backroads are included in Backroads of the California Coast, with 24 highly recommended driving tours off the Pacific Coast Highway.

    California Backroads

    Some of the best California Backroads are included in Backroads of the California Coast, with 24 highly recommended driving tours off the Pacific Coast Highway.

  • 101 free San Francisco attractions and things to do are in the Kindle guide, 101 Free Things to Do in San Francisco, in the Travel Free eGuidebooks series.

    Free San Francisco Kindle Guide to Free Attractions

    101 free San Francisco attractions and things to do are in the Kindle guide, 101 Free Things to Do in San Francisco, in the Travel Free eGuidebooks series.

  • The Los Angeles travel guide book from Lonely Planet also covers San Diego and Southern California, including Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, and Disneyland.

    Los Angeles Travel Guide

    The Los Angeles travel guide book from Lonely Planet also covers San Diego and Southern California, including Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, and Disneyland.

  • Pacific Coast Highway travel suggests the best time to visit Los Angeles with information about the weather and climate month by month and season by season.

    Best Time to Visit Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway travel suggests the best time to visit Los Angeles with information about the weather and climate month by month and season by season.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel's California Camping book review rates the 20th anniversary edition of Moon's complete guide to over 1400 tent and RV campgrounds.

    California Camping Book Review

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel's California Camping book review rates the 20th anniversary edition of Moon's complete guide to over 1400 tent and RV campgrounds.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel's book review of Insider's Guide to San Francisco guidebook by Jill Loeffler, publisher of the San Francisco Tourism Tips website.

    Your Insider's Guide to San Francisco

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel's book review of Insider's Guide to San Francisco guidebook by Jill Loeffler, publisher of the San Francisco Tourism Tips website.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel brings your guide to public transport in Los Angeles to show how you can get around in the city without a car, even to the beaches.

    Public Transport in Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel brings your guide to public transport in Los Angeles to show how you can get around in the city without a car, even to the beaches.

  • The Frommer's Guide to Seattle has good information about the city and side excursions to the Olympic National Park and elsewhere, plus free city and area map.

    Frommer's Guide to Seattle

    The Frommer's Guide to Seattle has good information about the city and side excursions to the Olympic National Park and elsewhere, plus free city and area map.

  • Greetings from California is a beautiful coffee-table book which describes the legends, landmarks and lore of California, including the Pacific Coast Highway.

    Greetings from California

    Greetings from California is a beautiful coffee-table book which describes the legends, landmarks and lore of California, including the Pacific Coast Highway.

  • Soul of Los Angeles from French publishers Jonglez is a travel guide to 30 Exceptional Experiences in California's largest city.

    Soul of Los Angeles

    Soul of Los Angeles from French publishers Jonglez is a travel guide to 30 Exceptional Experiences in California's largest city.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks ten of the best views in Los Angeles, including Malibu, Santa Monica, the Griffith Observatory and the Getty Center.

    Ten Best Views in Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks ten of the best views in Los Angeles, including Malibu, Santa Monica, the Griffith Observatory and the Getty Center.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel lists the new hotels in Los Angeles, and those refurbished and renovated, and all open for business in 2025.

    New Hotels in Los Angeles

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel lists the new hotels in Los Angeles, and those refurbished and renovated, and all open for business in 2025.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews 111 Places in Hollywood That You Must Not Miss, a guide that includes iconic attractions and hidden secrets too.

    Must-See Hollywood

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews 111 Places in Hollywood That You Must Not Miss, a guide that includes iconic attractions and hidden secrets too.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews an Olympic Peninsula Travel Guide published by the Beautiful Pacific Northwest website.

    Olympic Peninsula Travel Guide

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel reviews an Olympic Peninsula Travel Guide published by the Beautiful Pacific Northwest website.

  • Brewpubs and good beer are at the heart of the Good Beer Guide to the West Coast USA which lists the best bars and breweries from Seattle to San Diego.

    Brewpubs and Good Beer on the West Coast USA

    Brewpubs and good beer are at the heart of the Good Beer Guide to the West Coast USA which lists the best bars and breweries from Seattle to San Diego.

  • West Coast Road Eats is a road food guide covering the Pacific Coast from California through Oregon to Washington, giving the best road trip food stops.

    Road Food Guide

    West Coast Road Eats is a road food guide covering the Pacific Coast from California through Oregon to Washington, giving the best road trip food stops.

  • The Pacific Coast Highway in California book shows in historic photos the building of the Pacific Coast Highway from its earliest beginnings in 1911.

    Pacific Coast Highway in California

    The Pacific Coast Highway in California book shows in historic photos the building of the Pacific Coast Highway from its earliest beginnings in 1911.

Recent Articles

RSS

  1. 15 Of The Most Dangerous Roads In California, According To Statistics

    Oct 28, 25 04:50 AM

    California's highways are legendary. From US-101, which plots some of the most breathtaking road trips along the West Coast, to underrated freeways dotted with hot springs, and even a monumental route…

    Read More

  2. 7 Most Scenic Drives in Southern California

    Oct 28, 25 04:50 AM

    Southern California isn't just about beaches and Hollywood glamour - it's also home to some truly breathtaking road trips that offer a whole different kind of adventure. If you're looking to escape th…

    Read More

  3. One Of The Pacific Northwest's Best-Kept Secrets From Tourists Is A Quiet Coastal Locale With Unspoiled Scenery

    Oct 27, 25 04:08 AM

    So you're planning on traveling the coastline of Washington state this year? You'll want the camera fully charged and a Sharpie at the ready — you know, to strike line after line from the bucket list…

    Read More