When it comes to travel guides for the weird at heart, the Weird U.S. series is one of the best references out there. Since I plan to helm Weird Wanderings for years to come, I figure I’ll eventually review several of the titles in the Weird series, including my personal favorites, Weird Pennsylvania and Weird Ohio. But for now, let’s start with the original: Weird U.S.: Your Travel Guide to America’s Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets.
Comprised of urban legends, ghost stories, and bizarre places, Weird U.S. doesn’t focus simply on hauntings or oddities but instead delves into both. Released in 2009, authors Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman compiled tales from across America for this comprehensive guide to oddness and creepiness hiding in your own backyard. From 2004 to 2005, Moran and Sceurman even hosted a short-lived television show based on the book for the History Channel, and though it lasted only one season, the program was as entertaining as the book series, thus making it worthy of a viewing on Netflix.
At over 350 pages, Weird U.S. doesn’t scrimp on the details. The hardcover book features beautifully creepy photographs and eerie graphic design to accompany the hundreds of stories. A large amount of the book employs reader contributions in the form of short sidebars. Some of these are very detailed and help add flavor to the more objective, research-based accounts that open each chapter. Unfortunately, some of personal anecdotes are not so great. Particularly in the “Midgetville” section, several comments prove downright offensive. This doesn’t ruin the overall book, which overflows with wit and effervescence, but the occasional small-mindedness certainly mars the experience.
Because this book is several years old, parts of the information might be out of date, so be sure to check online or call any of the places you want to visit ahead of time. Otherwise, you’re liable to end up disappointed that an old asylum or giant roadside shoe was demolished years ago.
So if your upcoming travel plans include an impromptu or unusual roadtrip, take Weird U.S. along for the ride. From multi-story museums of the macabre to quick, kitschy sights along the way, you’ll find plenty of bizarre things to do in these hallowed pages.
Happy haunting!