BOOK REVIEW: 100 Things to Do in America Before You Die

100 Things to Do in America Before You DieEarlier this month we attended a special event at the Kansas City Public Library.  The Library is nationally known for having an extraordinary ‘Friends of the Kansas City Library” program which entails having national and regional authors giving programs.  This was a very special program featuring Saint Louis, Missouri broadcaster and national travel writer, Bill Clevlen who recently had his book, 100 THINGS TO DO IN AMERICA BEFORE YOU DIE, published.

The auditorium was nearly packed with people wanting to hear about his travels.  He said that it was the largest audience that he has had on his book tour.

Besides being a great travel writer, Bill is also a great raconteur who is highly skilled in relating stories and  anecdotes interesting.  He kept the entire audience listening to every word that he spoke.  He was fun, funny and a true professional speaker.  The audience would have stayed for a couple more hours listening to him.

Bill Clevlen

His book tells readers about everything from Niagara Falls to Florida, Seattle, Los Angeles and different cities both large and small across America.

Among very interesting things he tells readers to do are:  eating Thomas Jefferson Ice Cream at Mount Rushmore, riding a mule in the Grand Canyon, have a mint julep at the Kentucky Derby, drink free water at Wall Drug in the middle of South Dakota where coffee is only 5 cents, see the Beatles drums at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, watch a case at the United States Supreme Court as well as sitting in the bus seat that Rosa Parks refused to give up.

Other interesting things he suggests are visiting the beautiful fountains in Kansas City, Missouri which boasts more fountains than any city in the world other than Rome, taking a hot air balloon ride over Albuquerque, New Mexico, take a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi River and of course he lists 100 of things to do and see before you die!

In his book he also has a great series of Trivia questions which is very interesting like where is the highest State Capitol, why did the tradition of ‘dropping of the ball’ in Times Square begin in the first place?, can you name the state that has the most Presidential Libraries plus dozens more.  Before his presentation, we had an interesting chat with him and compared notes about traveling.

Bill Clevlen hosts a weekly radio show and podcast  in Saint Louis, Missouri called ‘Bill on the Road’ that features road trip ideas and uplifting stories. When he is not traveling or on the radio, Bill’s hobby is ‘pickleball’. He realizes that a lot of people enjoy traveling abroad but he really enjoys touring America and meeting people. You can visit his website:  www.billontheroad.com  We highly recommend that everyone purchase his book and you can order an autographed copy directly from him at his website.

Don and RayAlways remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married).

Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/