The Two-Lane Gourmet: Fine Wine Trails, Superb Inns, and Exceptional Dining Through California, Oregon, and Washington

This is a very good book to have when traveling the wine country. I loved the Route 66 and the Pacific Highway guides and this book does not disappoint! With that being said, don't expect this book to be an atlas - a series of maps that can be had for $1.98 at any local gas station. While the book gives you phone numbers, addresses and websites (where available), the traveler is left up to their devices in determining the route chosen (as it should be). It's very apparent to me that the author put in a great deal of time and effort in researching the local wineries and dining establishments so, as a traveler, I won't have to waste my time on less than top-notch locations. Definitely a must have!

"The Two-Lane Gourmet:," detailing back-road wine trails, unique inns, and surprising restaurants is another fine work from author Tom Snyder. One reviewer called it an ambitious project, and it is! Reaching from Southern California, through Oregon and Washington, it samples extraordinary properties out of the thousands that exist. The idea is for readers to set up a base camp in any of the areas mentioned, follow a suggestion or two and then head out on their own, with enough information to ensure a lovely experience. For novices, (like me), Snyder introduces popular wines, local dishes (I loved the description of a brazed fiddlehead fern on his plan in Oregon) with his own brand of warmth and wit. The author has also thoughtfully provided Web addresses and phone numbers to help you stay in tough on unfamiliar roads. In short, this book is a grand tour, with wonderful places and memorable people not to be missed!