Great escapes USA

The USA is one of the most varied and fascinating countries in the world. Its areas of natural beauty such as the Pacific Coast, the Yosemite National Park, and Monument Valley are the stuff of great cinema (Hollywood finds its best settings practically in its backyard). For everyone who explores the USA beyond its big cities on a classic road trip, on the trail of Native Americans and pioneers, in the mountains or by lakes and beaches, unforgettable moments are guaranteed.

In Great Escapes USA, Angelika Taschen presents remarkable places to stay through impressive photography, entertaining texts, and practical details on how to get there, prices, and tips for books and films. Her journey starts on the East Coast, where intellectuals and artists once met in idyllically located country houses such as the Twin Farms in Vermont and Troutbeck in New York State. It continues to the South, where The Moorings Village and Htel Peter & Paul, for example, tell of the history of Florida and Louisiana, and Southern belles such as the Commodore Perry Estate in Austin, Texas reveal their glamor.

Dunton Hot Springs, once a miners' camp in Colorado, now transformed from a ghost town to an upscale rustic resort, lies on the route, just like the urban utopia that is Arcosanti in Arizona, conceived by the architect Paolo Soleri in the 1970s. The trip comes to a wonderful conclusion in California with unique hotels such as Deetjen's Big Sur Inn, where many famous writers have stayed in the Norwegian-influenced wooden cabins, laid-back motels like The Surfrider Malibu, which is all about the California dream, and heavenly destinations for gourmets, for example SingleThread in Sonoma County with its three Michelin stars.

The photography in this opulent publication presents hotels in the tradition of great architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright as well as the work of young contemporary designers and buildings in the typical American mid-century style. A horse ranch, a glamping site, even a hippie bathhouse and vintage mobile homes are also included - places as varied as the USA itself.