Book review: ‘Are We There Yet?: Family Road Trip Guide to America’s Roadside Oddities’

Les Brady is a man after my own heart—someone who shares a deep love (and perhaps a not-so-mild obsession) for the wonderfully weird corners of roadside America. As a fellow oddity enthusiast, I was thrilled to see how many of the featured attractions I’ve already visited—and even more excited by how many new stops I now want to add to my travel bucket list in his new book, “Are We There Yet?: Family Road-Trip Guide to America’s Roadside Oddities: Mystery Spots, Gravity Hills, UFO Festivals & Abandoned Parks”.

The book is conveniently organized into quirky categories like:

• Giants Among Us

• Mystery Spots and Gravity Hills

• Underground America

• Extraterrestrial Encounters

• Houses of the Holy Strange

• Forgotten Theme Parks

• Museums of the Bizarre

• Food Follies

• Ghost Towns and Oddball Architecture

• Festivals of the Freaky

But this isn’t just a checklist of destinations. Brady digs deeper, offering insight into the cultural and historical forces that shaped these attractions. With wit, humor, and firsthand knowledge, he explores the soul of America through its strangest landmarks. He explains the psychology of giant advertising sculptures, the science behind gravity hills, and more. It’s part guidebook, part cultural commentary, and all heart.

I also appreciated the practical tips sprinkled throughout—how to discover your own roadside oddities, how to prep for specific types of attractions, and when and how to find the best photo ops. In an age starting to be dominated by AI-slop, it’s clear that Brady didn’t just use ChatGPT to write his book—he’s lived it.

I own quite a few books about quirky roadside Americana, but this one rocketed to the top of my list. A must-read for road-trippers, curiosity-seekers, and anyone who loves the strange side of the open road.

Highly recommended!

You can find it available on Amazon here.

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