Around the time I first started travel writing in 2013, I visited the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Little did I know that more than a decade later, it would be the reason I wrote my latest book called Presidential Road Trips – 100 Places To Explore and Experience The History of American Presidents.
Back then, I had no idea what a presidential library was and definitely didn’t think I’d be interested in learning about President Ford. As I wandered around the museum, I was stunned by the things that were on display. Documents that were once “Top Secret”, gifts from world leaders and an exact replica of the Oval Office as Ford had decorated it. The museum showcased personal artifacts from Ford’s life – from childhood and his days as a college football player to his life in retirement.
However, it wasn’t until I saw one specific display that I started to realize how cool these presidential sites can be. The museum had the actual tools that were used in the infamous Watergate break-in during the Nixon administration in 1972. “I can’t believe someone thought to save this stuff” I remember thinking. It piqued my curiosity and led me on a 12 year journey to visit all of America’s presidential libraries and museums – along with historic homes and grave sites.
My new book Presidential Road Trips includes 100 of the places I enjoyed most and suggest for a historic road trip across America. I included places that can easily be viewed by the public and nearly all of them are available to tour. From George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate to the mountain top cottage where Ulysses S. Grant spent the last few weeks of his life. I walked through Lincoln’s home, sat in a rocking chair on Teddy Roosevelt’s back porch, explored the tombs of John Adams and James Garfield, and stood in the small midwest bedrooms where Ronald Reagan and Harry Truman were born.
As with most of my books, they are written to inspire travelers to hit the road and experience things for themselves. I often joke that I write books for people that don’t like to read. There’s a reason for that! I want people to go see these historic places and learn by standing where history took place. I’m just here to push you in the right direction with a bit of inspiration.
Using Presidential Road Trips as a guide, you can do things like stand in the home library where James Madison crafted the early drafts of the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution; tour the home where Thomas Jefferson escaped to spend quiet time with his family and grandchildren; peek inside the room where Abraham Lincoln died across from Ford’s Theatre; or see the small train depot where Jimmy Carter launched his first presidential campaign.
The best part of the experience is that it really has little to do with politics. I never found myself caring about my personal beliefs while exploring any of these historic sites. Instead, I found that I understood these leaders just a little bit better and was able to simply view them as human. Something that’s difficult to do with powerful figures in any society.
I hope you enjoy Presidential Road Trips and take advantage of the incredible history lessons that are waiting for you and your family to experience. It certainly makes us better citizens to understand and appreciate how far we’ve come in 250 years.
If you’d like to buy a copy – please order yours through the link on this website. Hope to see you at one of my book tour stops across the country in 2026!