Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Bison are Giant and Other Observations from an American Road Trip

Two Lane Gems, Vol. 2: Bison are Giant and Other Observations from an American Road Trip is a delightful tale of buffalo, waterfalls, and frosty treats. Theresa L. Goodrich and her ever-so-patient husband, Jim, embark on a cross-country adventure through the northwest. Departing from the Chicago-area, the couple heads for the Oregon coast with a loosey-goosey itinerary and a bucket of trail mix.

Their journey began in front of a dumpster, but they quickly made their way to a UNESCO City of Literature. Over the next 35 days they camped in National Parks, State Parks, and RV Parks. They stayed in hotels, motels, a cabin on a lake, and a 1913 Gambrel cottage-style mansion. They followed scenic byways, highways, two-lane roads, the Outlaw Trail, the Oregon Trail, and the Lewis & Clark Trail, hitting the highlights - and the low-lights - of America's westward expansion. With a thirst for knowledge and frosty treats, they searched for, and found, what makes this country beautiful and unique.

They also:

• drank in a mermaid bar in Montana
• slept with bison - and survived
• met a man named Lizard
• stepped on the center of the universe
• almost stepped on the center of the U.S.A.
• escaped a rattlesnake - twice
• fed horsies
• petted alpacas
• chased an eagle
• did not degrade the surface
• did not kill each other

In this epic, eyes-wide-open love letter to America, little is planned, much is ventured, and everything is gained.

Theresa L. Goodrich is an Emmy-winning author and content creator with a penchant for storytelling and a keen eye. She's the founder and publisher of The Local Tourist and author of the Two Lane Gems book series. Theresa has appeared in Crain's Chicago, the Chicago Tribune, and Chicagoist, and on WGN, WLUP, ChicagonistaLive, ArcLight Connects, and WCIU. She was one of the founding bloggers of ChicagoNow, was the Chicago Expert for Answers.com, and is a contributor to multiple travel outlets. She's also spoken on marketing, motivation, entrepreneurship, writing, and (of course) travel. You can follow Theresa at thelocaltourist.com and theresalgoodrich.com.