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101 Places Not to See Before You Die
Irreverent and compulsively readable, 101 Places Not to See Before You Die highlights destinations we can all live without - like Jupiter's Worst Moon, an Outdoor Wedding During the 2021 Reemergence of the Great Eastern Cicada Brood, and fan hours at the Las Vegas Porn Convention - while reminding us why we're willing to put up with the bed bugs and the food poisoning and set out to explore the world.
249 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
93 people are currently reading
784 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Price
27Ìýbooks283ÌýfollowersCatherine Price is passionate about learning and experiencing new things, understanding first principles, and using her background as a science journalist to help people question their assumptions and make positive changes in their lives.
Her journalistic work has appeared in publications including The Best American Science Writing, The New York Times, Popular Science, O, The Oprah Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post Magazine, Parade, Salon, Slate, Men’s Journal, Self, Mother Jones, Health Magazine, and Outside, among others.
Her journalistic work has appeared in publications including The Best American Science Writing, The New York Times, Popular Science, O, The Oprah Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post Magazine, Parade, Salon, Slate, Men’s Journal, Self, Mother Jones, Health Magazine, and Outside, among others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
September 7, 2010
Really should be 2.5 stars. I agree with another reviewer who said that she thought it seemed the author really hadn't worked hard to write these pieces (coming up with 101 ideas seemed much of the "work"). I don't mean to disparage Price's ability; she's a good writer, and I'd be happy to read a focused, cohesive work of hers in future.
The initial essay on having her first menstrual period in remote China, where necessary products were nowhere to be found within hundreds of miles, was the strongest. On the other hand, there are a couple of entries that are one sentence each, and a couple that are (based upon) historical events.
So ... if you're looking for a "carry around for downtime" book, this one would work well. However, unless you've got cash to splash, I wouldn't recommend purchasing a copy for less than 50% off - there's just not enough content.
The initial essay on having her first menstrual period in remote China, where necessary products were nowhere to be found within hundreds of miles, was the strongest. On the other hand, there are a couple of entries that are one sentence each, and a couple that are (based upon) historical events.
So ... if you're looking for a "carry around for downtime" book, this one would work well. However, unless you've got cash to splash, I wouldn't recommend purchasing a copy for less than 50% off - there's just not enough content.
October 14, 2022
Good Fun
December 14, 2011
OK, let me state right off the bat- I am not a traveler, unless you count going to and from work, then yes, I am a traveler. I am glad there are people like Catherine Price writing books like this one. I haven't been simultaneously amused, stunned, and left scratching my head at the same time- all while reading a book- in a while. This one worked. From the wall of gum in Seattle, Washington to the Little Boy Who Pees statue in Munich, well, i can say I'm glad I won't see any of these places before I die. I'm also glad that Catherine warned us so the rest of us don't ever have the experiences she's had. Yikes. A funny, easy-to-read, and hard to put down once you get into the book.
March 10, 2012
This little red book with a snake on the front curled about a suitcase is peppered with a bunch of places the author deems unworthy of a waste of your precious time and cash. Within is some inspired writing, interesting travel anecdotes and filler. Sort of like early Beatles albums; on their second you get inspired (She Loves You, You Can't Do That, Money), interesting (Roll over Beethoven) and filler (Please Mister Postman, You Really Got a Hold On Me). Not that those last songs aren't good, but I prefer The Marvellettes and Smokey Robinson, respectively.
Catherine Price is an intrepid travel author, and it runs in her family. Perhaps her best story here is #14, "An Overnight Chinese Train on the Day of Your First Period." Suffice it to say, there is not a drugstore in sight. Or maybe it is about the two places I have actually been (The Winchester Mystery House and Bay Area Rapid Transit -- BART). Both take your money, but only one smells like a wino that has not showered in three months. She was spot on with those places. I looked so forward to going to the Winchester House after I came to the San Jose area. I went, walking roughly 4 miles from my hotel in 95 degree heat to get there. Perhaps I could not read the map (check), perhaps San Jose is a giant sprawling monstrosity (check), perhaps it was because I was hallucinating by the end of the walk due to heat exhaustion. Even if I was hallucinating, my tour guide sucked and it was a huge let down. My ass is more haunted than that place. Why? My ass has produced unexplained noises, olfactory sensations best not repeated and has led to people leaving a room exclaiming "My God!". I rest my case.
The filler is just that. "Jupiter's Worst Moon" and "An AA Meeting When You're Drunk" seem like cop outs to push the number to over 100. On the whole, the wheat outnumbers the chaff here: a theme park in Argentina with a 59 foot plastic Jesus who rises after his crucifixion to the dulcet tones of the "Hallelujah" chorus, a former IKEA now filled with steamy piles of excrement, the "Testicle Festival".
#84 is the state of Nevada. I am not sure I agree with this, and Price states that she included it for the "Nevada Haters" and asks persons of Nevada to "please forgive me." (196.) Frankly, I can think of worse states than Nevada. Arizona for one, Maryland for two. Maryland does have Baltimore and does not take 776 hours to drive across like Arizona does. So, I guess I would include Arizona. Could we move Meteor Crater to New Mexico? Please?
Catherine Price is an intrepid travel author, and it runs in her family. Perhaps her best story here is #14, "An Overnight Chinese Train on the Day of Your First Period." Suffice it to say, there is not a drugstore in sight. Or maybe it is about the two places I have actually been (The Winchester Mystery House and Bay Area Rapid Transit -- BART). Both take your money, but only one smells like a wino that has not showered in three months. She was spot on with those places. I looked so forward to going to the Winchester House after I came to the San Jose area. I went, walking roughly 4 miles from my hotel in 95 degree heat to get there. Perhaps I could not read the map (check), perhaps San Jose is a giant sprawling monstrosity (check), perhaps it was because I was hallucinating by the end of the walk due to heat exhaustion. Even if I was hallucinating, my tour guide sucked and it was a huge let down. My ass is more haunted than that place. Why? My ass has produced unexplained noises, olfactory sensations best not repeated and has led to people leaving a room exclaiming "My God!". I rest my case.
The filler is just that. "Jupiter's Worst Moon" and "An AA Meeting When You're Drunk" seem like cop outs to push the number to over 100. On the whole, the wheat outnumbers the chaff here: a theme park in Argentina with a 59 foot plastic Jesus who rises after his crucifixion to the dulcet tones of the "Hallelujah" chorus, a former IKEA now filled with steamy piles of excrement, the "Testicle Festival".
#84 is the state of Nevada. I am not sure I agree with this, and Price states that she included it for the "Nevada Haters" and asks persons of Nevada to "please forgive me." (196.) Frankly, I can think of worse states than Nevada. Arizona for one, Maryland for two. Maryland does have Baltimore and does not take 776 hours to drive across like Arizona does. So, I guess I would include Arizona. Could we move Meteor Crater to New Mexico? Please?
September 20, 2010
Don't bother with this book. I mean who lists Mount Rushmore as a place to NOT see?
February 26, 2012
The title of the book is somewhat misleading in that some of these "places" are not places you would ever be in a position to see: some are in the past, like "An Island off Germany's East Coast, January 16, 1362"; some are fictional, like "Varrigan City" (the fictional setting for the videogame "MadWorld"); some were specific to her life, like "An Overnight Train in China on the First Day of Your First Period"; and some were just plain silly and uninformative, like "Your College Campus Four Months After You Graduate"; etc.
Granted, the author does state that pretty clearly in the introduction, but I still found it to be a bit disappointing, especially since some of those places also seemed to be almost like off-target, silly "page fillers" to me.
Yet, this book was good (in a light, entertaining sort of way) in that: (a) some of the places were pretty interesting or unknown to me; (b) each place was neatly and tightly packed up into its own short chapter, making for easy stop-and-go, non-committal reading; and (c) it was written in an easy, light manner.
On that merit, and since there were more on-target, interesting chapters than there were off-target, silly ones, I give this 3 stars, and am just putting that "caveat" out there for anyone thinking about getting it or reading it that you might just find the title to be a bit misleading as I did if you aren't aware of its actual nature in advance.
Granted, the author does state that pretty clearly in the introduction, but I still found it to be a bit disappointing, especially since some of those places also seemed to be almost like off-target, silly "page fillers" to me.
Yet, this book was good (in a light, entertaining sort of way) in that: (a) some of the places were pretty interesting or unknown to me; (b) each place was neatly and tightly packed up into its own short chapter, making for easy stop-and-go, non-committal reading; and (c) it was written in an easy, light manner.
On that merit, and since there were more on-target, interesting chapters than there were off-target, silly ones, I give this 3 stars, and am just putting that "caveat" out there for anyone thinking about getting it or reading it that you might just find the title to be a bit misleading as I did if you aren't aware of its actual nature in advance.
September 29, 2010
Oh, what a fun little book! I've never had any desire to read these books where you just HAVE TO do something before you die, especially over 100 things. Bitch, please. So when I saw this title, I went, "Okay, I can do that."
I saw some reviews on here that complained because she only gives each item two or three pages each, and it seemed like she could've done more research. To this I say, are you insane? If she'd spent a ridiculous amount of time fleshing out each location, I would've been bored to tears. As it was, she included just enough information to explain why these places are hell (one of them literally!), and why you shouldn't go there.
Mind you, some of these are intensely tongue in cheek. Jupiter's moon, Io, Hell, the birth canal of a Hyena. But also included are Times Square on New Year's Eve, and The Blarney Stone. The book is hilarious, and I kinda want to visit some of the places. Because I'm a masochist.
I saw some reviews on here that complained because she only gives each item two or three pages each, and it seemed like she could've done more research. To this I say, are you insane? If she'd spent a ridiculous amount of time fleshing out each location, I would've been bored to tears. As it was, she included just enough information to explain why these places are hell (one of them literally!), and why you shouldn't go there.
Mind you, some of these are intensely tongue in cheek. Jupiter's moon, Io, Hell, the birth canal of a Hyena. But also included are Times Square on New Year's Eve, and The Blarney Stone. The book is hilarious, and I kinda want to visit some of the places. Because I'm a masochist.
July 13, 2023
This book should be on the 101 Books Not to Read Before You Die list.
April 21, 2011
I have spent the past hour reading reviews for this book, which has been nominated for the Green Mountain Book Award, "a reader's choice award for students in grades 9-12. Co-sponsored by the Vermont Department of Libraries and the Vermont School Library Association, this program is designed to introduce to high school students some excellent books for their pleasure reading." (The list can be found ).
101 Places has not gotten rave reviews and not one review praised the book's quality of writing. The writing has been described as "inconsistent," "uneven," "a good bathroom reader," "smug," and "full of snark." I would add "inaccurate" to the list.
, Price cites a National Cancer Institute study that says "atmospheric tests done in [the Nevada nuclear testing site] had contaminated large parts of the country with radioactive iodine-131 in quantities big enough to produce ten thousand to seventy-five thousand cases of thyroid cancer." I had to look that one up.
In a 1998 report, The National Academy of Sciences (read the report ) states "After examining analyses of population data on thyroid cancer and mortality from several national cancer registries, the IOM and Research Council committees found little evidence of widespread increases in thyroid cancer related to the patterns of iodine-131 exposure described in the NCI report. The number of additional thyroid cancers is likely to be in the low end of NCI's estimated range, the report says. Moreover, almost half of the thyroid cancers resulting from this exposure already have appeared." The report goes on to explain how the methodology of the NCI study was flawed.
When there are so many excellent authors with quality stories to tell, I am confused as to why the Vermont Department of Libraries and the Vermont School Library Association would nominate a book full of profanity, sarcasm, derogatory comments about other people, and scientific inaccuracy. This is a sloppy book written to titillate and make money.
I have not read the other GMBA nominated books, but I doubt that they are as poorly written and sloppily researched as 101 Places Not To See Before You Die.
101 Places has not gotten rave reviews and not one review praised the book's quality of writing. The writing has been described as "inconsistent," "uneven," "a good bathroom reader," "smug," and "full of snark." I would add "inaccurate" to the list.
, Price cites a National Cancer Institute study that says "atmospheric tests done in [the Nevada nuclear testing site] had contaminated large parts of the country with radioactive iodine-131 in quantities big enough to produce ten thousand to seventy-five thousand cases of thyroid cancer." I had to look that one up.
In a 1998 report, The National Academy of Sciences (read the report ) states "After examining analyses of population data on thyroid cancer and mortality from several national cancer registries, the IOM and Research Council committees found little evidence of widespread increases in thyroid cancer related to the patterns of iodine-131 exposure described in the NCI report. The number of additional thyroid cancers is likely to be in the low end of NCI's estimated range, the report says. Moreover, almost half of the thyroid cancers resulting from this exposure already have appeared." The report goes on to explain how the methodology of the NCI study was flawed.
When there are so many excellent authors with quality stories to tell, I am confused as to why the Vermont Department of Libraries and the Vermont School Library Association would nominate a book full of profanity, sarcasm, derogatory comments about other people, and scientific inaccuracy. This is a sloppy book written to titillate and make money.
I have not read the other GMBA nominated books, but I doubt that they are as poorly written and sloppily researched as 101 Places Not To See Before You Die.
August 27, 2011
Funny little book about places not worth the trip....not sure that I would agree that the Testicle Festival should be #1 though....
December 31, 2020
I've had this book on my list for a while, but I figured the middle of a pandemic would be a particularly good time to read it as an antidote to any FOMO induced by inability to travel. The humor was hit or miss for me, but the book moved quickly, with each of the entries being at most a couple pages long. Favorite listing: #84, the entire state of Nevada. I cackled at six people independently lobbying for its inclusion, but more importantly I discovered that one can actually take tours of the Nevada Test Site! As someone who once planned an entire trip to New Mexico centered on one of the twice-yearly opportunities to visit the Trinity site, I can't believe the author held this up as one of the reasons NOT to visit Nevada. I also wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall in Disaster City (#88), and while I wouldn't exactly want to visit the Inland Empire Regional Composting Authority (#23, "A Giant Room Filled with Human Crap"), I was fascinated to learn about this piece of infrastructure that's been hiding right under my nose (ba-dum chsh). Anyway, if this book were a place, it would be one I didn't mind visiting, even if I didn't feel much of a desire to return.
October 16, 2019
I enjoyed it. Some of the entries are real, extensive, with pictures. Others are fictional, but no less entertaining. A fun quick bathroom read.
March 24, 2011
Fun frothy, candy reading for a vacation. At least if you're into nonfiction. There's quite a mix in here, from personal short stories from the author's own travel history (An Overnight Train in China on the First Day of Your First Period), to moments in history (A Stop on Carry Nation's Hatchetation Tour), to things like "your bosses bedroom" and Hell. And sometimes it feels a bit twee. Some of the locations are adult-rated, so sadly this won't be on my booktalk slate anytime soon. Some of them I've been to (Winchester Mystery House, Mount Rushmore, Stonehenge), which was fun. The guest writer entries are generally VERY short, so if you're picking this up because it says Nicholas Kristof, or Michael Pollan, or A. J. Jacobs on the back cover, you'll be disappointd. Some of it even feels like a persuasive essay (Pamplona, from the Perspective of a Bull). I enjoyed the depiction of Times Square on New Years Eve, and The Road of Death, and Jennifer Kahn's guest entry on Burning Man, and The Thing and The Third Infiltration Tunnel at the DMZ. Clearly, there's a lot to like here. In some ways I wish she'd stuck strictly to places people might actual visit intentionally when they traveled in present day, but sometimes the fun facts about Yamaha Rhinos, Pig Lagoons, and Bikram Yoga are interesting too.
September 2, 2011
Have you ever felt overwhelmed when, wandering down the bookshelf aisles, you see a plethora off books that each declare that they contain the 1,001 things you just have to do, see, read, or visit before you die? If so, then Catherine Price is your girl. After having a similar experience, she decided to write a book that would help you rule out some of the things you shouldn't see, and placed them all in a neat little book.
101 Places Not to See Before You Die is a short, hilarious look at some of the places in this world that you just do not need to waste your time on. My favorites include The Testicle Festival, Your Boss's Bedroom, Any Hotel That Used to be a Prison, and Anywhere on a Yamaha Rhino.
Price's narration and explanation of her choices of 101 places you don't need to waste your time on is witty and humorous. I read through all the entries in one night, and definitely marked some places off of my "too see" list. If you're in the mood for a quick, light read, try this one on for size.
101 Places Not to See Before You Die is a short, hilarious look at some of the places in this world that you just do not need to waste your time on. My favorites include The Testicle Festival, Your Boss's Bedroom, Any Hotel That Used to be a Prison, and Anywhere on a Yamaha Rhino.
Price's narration and explanation of her choices of 101 places you don't need to waste your time on is witty and humorous. I read through all the entries in one night, and definitely marked some places off of my "too see" list. If you're in the mood for a quick, light read, try this one on for size.
October 19, 2013
Travel tales gone bad are the staple of any good travellers bag of cocktail stories. This light hearted romp of places you don't need to bother visting. Some chapters are the author's personal travel tales gone bad and some are just short tales of horrible places that you might want to avoid like a super fund site or your bosses bed room. The author also includes stories of awful moments in history.
I was tickled by #17 being BART 'Why would BART decide it was a good idea to upholster the floor?"
Some of the places actually sounded kinda interesting like the Korean temple or the hotel that used to be a prison so maybe that is a sign I need to collect a few more diaster stories of my own.
I was tickled by #17 being BART 'Why would BART decide it was a good idea to upholster the floor?"
Some of the places actually sounded kinda interesting like the Korean temple or the hotel that used to be a prison so maybe that is a sign I need to collect a few more diaster stories of my own.
March 26, 2011
This was a fun, irreverent, sometimes bordering on silly (OK, parts of it were very silly--Jupiter's moon, a vomitorium, your boss's bedroom) look at places in the world one should never consider visiting. I took a little offense at Winchester Mystery House as I thought it was pretty bizarro and creepy (yes, I liked it) but the chapter on Times Square on New Year's Eve was interesting (no bathroom visits!) as were a few other sites and events in the world. Recommended if you are looking for a book to keep in the car (or the bathroom, although please don't borrow from the library for this purpose) for short bursts of reading time.
July 11, 2014
This is such a funny book! I can really see why some of the places listed in the book are good places not to go. The Testicle Festival near Missoula, Montana, where people munch down on bull testicles. Hell. Your boss's bedroom. Yep, makes sense. But I've been the the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, and it was pretty fun. And I'd like to see the Pacific garbage patch! And the Seattle gum wall! Who doesn't want to see that???? And Jupiter's moon IIo? I'd go see that too. So, the author and I don't 100% agree. We do agree that being stuck in a small airport anywhere in China is not fun. Been there, done that.
May 19, 2019
I'd be generous and give it 1.5 stars but since it's not good enough for 2 stars I've settled on a single star. I'm assuming the author attempted to be humorous but it just came off as someone who went through wikipedia randomly. Some are events that took place in the distant past, some are tourist "traps" she poo-poos, some are places that would never be on someone's travel list to begin with (the bottom of a pig lagoon, a room filled with human crap) and some aren't even real places (Shangri-la). I powered through because I'm stubborn and I don't like to quit a book I've started, but this book is definitely on my "101 books NOT to read before you die" list.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2018
Terrible and Unfunny
I thought this would be a book about, I don’t know... places not to see, with possibly interesting or humorous anecdotes about experiences in these places. Not so. Most are just ridiculous ideas like, “imagine if you were a hyena baby having to pass through that birth canal!� The “place not to see�? The inside of a hyena’s birth canal. Really? Some were places you could never see, as they were events in the past or future. Some weren’t even places at all, but occurrences. This is just a hashed together book that makes zero sense. Give it a pass.
I thought this would be a book about, I don’t know... places not to see, with possibly interesting or humorous anecdotes about experiences in these places. Not so. Most are just ridiculous ideas like, “imagine if you were a hyena baby having to pass through that birth canal!� The “place not to see�? The inside of a hyena’s birth canal. Really? Some were places you could never see, as they were events in the past or future. Some weren’t even places at all, but occurrences. This is just a hashed together book that makes zero sense. Give it a pass.
September 20, 2010
Meh. The concept was very good here but the execution less so; this book was not as interesting or as funny as I hoped it would be. Several of the "places to see" listed don't actually exist, and some of those that do are impossible to travel to (for example, one of Jupiter's moons). This book might be worth a browse, though, for some of the places it mentions (like the Tupperware Museum).
July 27, 2010
I was kinda disappointed by this book. The author is very funny, but it just didn't feel like she worked very hard. It just seemed easy: easy jokes, loose concept, and a lack of focus. Judging by the occasional quality of her work, she should do better.
Read
January 31, 2011Thanks Stacy! now to peek and see if i have seen any of them.
I've been to Wall Drug, Mount Rushmore, Tokyo Trains but not during rush hour or Happy Hour and on the BART. Some of these things are impossible to do, the rest I probably will continue to avoid.
I've been to Wall Drug, Mount Rushmore, Tokyo Trains but not during rush hour or Happy Hour and on the BART. Some of these things are impossible to do, the rest I probably will continue to avoid.
January 6, 2011
This was a fun read for the plane, although I disagree with many of her overrated places. Not to see the Corn Palace? I call bullsh*t on that!
December 26, 2019
This might be a good read while on a trip somewhere. You could sit there, basking in the glow of some warm-place resort reading a book about unusual travel experiences. The effect of describing what “not� to see, however, turns out to be quite the opposite.
““Some people might argue that San Jose, California, is itself a place not worth visiting before you die. Fair enough.�
It’s a simple passage, but there’s a hint of something there if you let it linger. What’s supposed to come across as irreverent and funny actually feels angry and cynical. By Chapter 9’s opening sentence above, I could recognize that angry voice.
Chapter 12 itself contains only one sentence. It’s kind of a joke-y thing but, I wondered reading this if I should have expected more.
Another moment in the book - an overnight stay at a Korean temple smacks of tourists in another country what have to do things they don’t like and get pissed off because they weren’t served burgers:
“Things went downhill from there. Exhausted and cranky, one by one we began refusing to play monk. If one of the whole points of Buddhism was to cultivate acceptance, why, I asked, did we have to go through such an elaborate meal ceremony? The Venezuelan couple went a step further: they left.�
Also, a mention of the Bay Area RT system and its carpeted floor. This was removed in June of 2015, so maybe it’s not so bad now.
This, frankly, reflects badly on the person in the story, presumably the author. A place “not to see� is that way because you didn’t like it? Really? The core of this book seems to amount to “traveler discomfort.� Clearly we’re all going to have different experiences and levels of tolerance to things, but making a compendium of discomfort seems anti to the goal of offering really horrible experiences as a point of interest (the Running of the Bulls from the bull’s point of view, for example).
““Some people might argue that San Jose, California, is itself a place not worth visiting before you die. Fair enough.�
It’s a simple passage, but there’s a hint of something there if you let it linger. What’s supposed to come across as irreverent and funny actually feels angry and cynical. By Chapter 9’s opening sentence above, I could recognize that angry voice.
Chapter 12 itself contains only one sentence. It’s kind of a joke-y thing but, I wondered reading this if I should have expected more.
Another moment in the book - an overnight stay at a Korean temple smacks of tourists in another country what have to do things they don’t like and get pissed off because they weren’t served burgers:
“Things went downhill from there. Exhausted and cranky, one by one we began refusing to play monk. If one of the whole points of Buddhism was to cultivate acceptance, why, I asked, did we have to go through such an elaborate meal ceremony? The Venezuelan couple went a step further: they left.�
Also, a mention of the Bay Area RT system and its carpeted floor. This was removed in June of 2015, so maybe it’s not so bad now.
This, frankly, reflects badly on the person in the story, presumably the author. A place “not to see� is that way because you didn’t like it? Really? The core of this book seems to amount to “traveler discomfort.� Clearly we’re all going to have different experiences and levels of tolerance to things, but making a compendium of discomfort seems anti to the goal of offering really horrible experiences as a point of interest (the Running of the Bulls from the bull’s point of view, for example).
August 23, 2019
A perfect choice for your travels. The book is slim but jam-packed with gut-busting, eye-opening, and stomach-turning anecdotes and trivia. Each entry makes whatever trials and tribulations you may experience on your adventures seem small. The Overnight Train in China on the First Day of Your First Period was vivid and memorable. The Khewra Salt Mines Mosque was unexpected (appreciation for the “This is Spinal Tap� points of reference). The Top of the Stari Grad Bell Tower was hilarious. Schadenfreuders rejoice!
Superb blurb: (Tr)Action Park - “Employees � mostly under 20 years old and often inebriated- souped up to Super Go Karts so that guests could play bumper cars at 50 [mph]. The Super Speedboats, which visitors often rammed into one another, shared a pond with a healthy population of water snakes. The Tidal Wave Pool � nicknamed the “Grave Pool� - required 12 full time bodyguards who reported rescuing as many as 30 people per day on busy summer weekends. The Tarzan Swing dropped people into a pool of water so cold that in 1984, it’s said to have triggered a man’s fatal heart attack. The Aqua Scoot gave people head lacerations. The Diving Cliffs were positioned above a pool whose swimmers didn’t know they existed. The Kayak Experience’s submerged electric fans killed the park’s second victim: a 27-year-old man who was electrocuted when his boat tipped over and he stepped out to right it. And then there was the Cannonball Loop slide - and enclosed waterslide that ended with a roller coaster-esque loop-de-loop. Based on the faulty premise that a wet bathing suit would provide the slickness and momentum necessary to carry a person up and around a 360° Loop, the ride was closed after only a month.�
Superb blurb: (Tr)Action Park - “Employees � mostly under 20 years old and often inebriated- souped up to Super Go Karts so that guests could play bumper cars at 50 [mph]. The Super Speedboats, which visitors often rammed into one another, shared a pond with a healthy population of water snakes. The Tidal Wave Pool � nicknamed the “Grave Pool� - required 12 full time bodyguards who reported rescuing as many as 30 people per day on busy summer weekends. The Tarzan Swing dropped people into a pool of water so cold that in 1984, it’s said to have triggered a man’s fatal heart attack. The Aqua Scoot gave people head lacerations. The Diving Cliffs were positioned above a pool whose swimmers didn’t know they existed. The Kayak Experience’s submerged electric fans killed the park’s second victim: a 27-year-old man who was electrocuted when his boat tipped over and he stepped out to right it. And then there was the Cannonball Loop slide - and enclosed waterslide that ended with a roller coaster-esque loop-de-loop. Based on the faulty premise that a wet bathing suit would provide the slickness and momentum necessary to carry a person up and around a 360° Loop, the ride was closed after only a month.�
July 25, 2019
This is a fun twist on all the places-you-SHOULD-see-before-you-die books out there. Filled with places you can actually visit and plenty of places you can't (one of Jupiter's moons), 101 Places NOT is a funny look at tourist attractions, restaurants, parks, and other places you might consider visiting. Plus, you might even learn something in the process! (All of Yellowstone is over a dormant volcano? Maybe this is something I should have known.)
Back in the 80s my aunt took my cousins and me to an amusement park called Action Park. Back then, I thought it was the greatest thing since the Walkman. But reading Ms. Price's account of the now-closed attraction, it seems I was lucky to have made it out alive. This, and many other fun facts come your way in this book.
It's not a life-changer, but it's a light, funny read you might enjoy.
Back in the 80s my aunt took my cousins and me to an amusement park called Action Park. Back then, I thought it was the greatest thing since the Walkman. But reading Ms. Price's account of the now-closed attraction, it seems I was lucky to have made it out alive. This, and many other fun facts come your way in this book.
It's not a life-changer, but it's a light, funny read you might enjoy.
March 11, 2021
I wasn't sure whether to rate this 2 or 3 stars, but ultimately decided on three because of the undeniably enjoyable writing.
I was intrigued by the idea behind this, but I feel like the author took it easy with this. Another reviewer wrote they believed the hardest part of writing this book was coming up with 101 places and I agree. Some of them are just ridiculous and unimaginative. Like "Your Boss's Bedroom" or "Hell".
Others are hugely subjective, if not to say unfair. Writing off the whole island of Ibiza because of its popularity in partying? I'm not sure about that.
A couple of them serve as a excuse to bring up anecdotes that, while enjoyable to read, are not what I signed up for.
I think I'll create a shelf for "bathroom books" since this is the second book in a couple of weeks that would be great for that.
I was intrigued by the idea behind this, but I feel like the author took it easy with this. Another reviewer wrote they believed the hardest part of writing this book was coming up with 101 places and I agree. Some of them are just ridiculous and unimaginative. Like "Your Boss's Bedroom" or "Hell".
Others are hugely subjective, if not to say unfair. Writing off the whole island of Ibiza because of its popularity in partying? I'm not sure about that.
A couple of them serve as a excuse to bring up anecdotes that, while enjoyable to read, are not what I signed up for.
I think I'll create a shelf for "bathroom books" since this is the second book in a couple of weeks that would be great for that.
August 14, 2019
Super entertaining, but the list isn't very practical. I understand why people would complain about it, but honestly? It's not a novel-it's easy to skim through and get a pretty solid idea whether or not you should buy it or check it out from your library. For most, this one's either a hit or miss.
I've loved Price's writing ever since I read that article on her spontaneous trip to Japan in O, The Oprah Magazine. So naturally, I thought to buy more of her travel-based work. I was kind of disappointed, seeing as how she put in so much more energy into that article than this book, but it's great to pick up every so often and chuckle at the fact that the Las Vegas Porn Convention isn't the kind of place you're ready to cross off your bucket list any time soon.
I've loved Price's writing ever since I read that article on her spontaneous trip to Japan in O, The Oprah Magazine. So naturally, I thought to buy more of her travel-based work. I was kind of disappointed, seeing as how she put in so much more energy into that article than this book, but it's great to pick up every so often and chuckle at the fact that the Las Vegas Porn Convention isn't the kind of place you're ready to cross off your bucket list any time soon.
April 16, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I was slightly afraid of the low-ish rating, but I suppose it's appropriate - a funny, anecdotal book about the author's, and some of her friends', recommendations on places not to go. It ranges from real, current places to go, to future events, and several historical disasters. (I have been to (and survived) five of the 101, which is pretty good when a decent amount of them already or have yet to happen.)
There were several sections where I laughed out loud, and plenty where I cringed. Overall, a good, light-hearted bit to read while we cannot go anywhere - just something to make sure I appreciate all the places I am not trapped right now.
There were several sections where I laughed out loud, and plenty where I cringed. Overall, a good, light-hearted bit to read while we cannot go anywhere - just something to make sure I appreciate all the places I am not trapped right now.
December 7, 2017
Every traveler has their places where everything went to hell or places that are just flat-out disappointing, and this book describes some of these and more. Easily read in little pieces, and I'm mildly amused by ridiculous lists like this one. I've personally been to 8 of these "places", like Mount Rushmore and a Bikram yoga studio, and my life's not any worse for any of them. Some of them, like the bottom of the Kola Superdeep Borehole, I will obviously never go to, but others I would probably still stop by if in the area.
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