Off the Beaten Path - Washington: A Guide to Unique Places    by Sharon Wootton & Maggie Savage Order:  USA  Can GPP Travel, 2009 (2009) Softcover Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Bob Walch If you are looking for something different to do in the Evergreen State, here's a handy guide that features interesting, unique places you probably didn't know existed. Sprinkled throughout the book are also tips on where to find the best birding locations, wineries, festivals, unusual B&Bs, and haunted buildings. Dividing the state into six sections, the authors provide information on local attractions, good places to shop, restaurants, and places to stay. The most fun, though, are the trivia sidebars you'll find on all sorts of fascinating things. For example, you'll discover that Conconully (Central Washington) hosts festivals such as Miners Day, Outhouse Races, the Snow Dog Super Mush and, my favorite, the annual Cowboy Caviar fete. (If you are wondering, this special culinary delight's main ingredient is bull testicles.) For motor enthusiasts who wish to see the only three Howard Cooper fire trucks in existence or actor Walter Brennan's 1928 Phaeton, the Car and Truck Museum located between Malo and Curlew is the place to visit. Those who are looking for something really different and want to engage in some monkey business will want to sign up for a one hour Chimposium at Central Washington State. The workshop delves into how chimps use sign language as well as looking at their culture and what they communicate about. To keep the price down, this guide isn't filled with a lot of glossy photos, which is not a problem. Unfortunately, although there are maps, they are not very detailed. Therefore, it will be necessary to consult a good road map to find the precise location of many small towns (like Conconully!) and off the beaten track attractions. I'd suggest you use this guide to plan a trip and decide what you wish to see. Then use a marker to highlight the route on your good map. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Travel books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews