You could call Jacksonville the secret city of Florida because even many natives have a tough time pinning down its defining features and best spots. But for anyone willing to dig beneath the surface, there’s no shortage of incredible sights, hidden histories and unusual relics just waiting to be discovered. Want to see the world’s largest Native American woodcarving, chart the roots of Southern rock, or eat curly fries at the barbecue joint that claims to have invented them? Secret Jacksonville: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure is dedicated to telling the stories behind forgotten, mysterious and just plain interesting spots across Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Fernandina Beach, and the surrounding communities. Here you’ll find out where you can see a long forgotten Florida waterfall with connections to Jacksonville’s founder, and learn why there’s a tombstone in the middle of a neighborhood sidewalk. You’ll hear the stories behind local delicacies like Jacksonville-style garlic crabs, datil peppers, Mayport shrimp, and camel rider sandwiches. And of course, you’ll learn what exactly is up with that orange roadside dinosaur everyone’s always talking about. Jacksonville writer Bill Delaney has a deep passion for his hometown and a keen interest in underrepresented stories. From folklore to history and everything in between, join him to explore a side of the Bold City you can only find by leaving the welltrodden path.

Where in Indianapolis can you find a disappearing painting, a towering “ice tree,” or a giant pink elephant holding a martini? What caused the Great Squirrel Invasion of 1822, and why did Hollywood celebrities once flock to an Indianapolis cottage called Tuckaway? Where can you find a hidden museum dedicated to antique fire extinguishers? And what, exactly, is a Recordface? You’ll find the answers to these questions, and many others, in this guide to Indy’s overlooked, offbeat, and unknown. Secret Indianapolis profiles the city’s best-kept restaurant secrets, strangest parks and museums, creepiest urban legends, and weirdest works of art. It also tells the stories of forgotten local heroes, and it reveals the secrets behind beloved Indy landmarks. You’ll discover the only place in the world where it’s still possible to order Choc-Ola, explore the most haunted house in Indiana, and hear about the very dirty prank Hoosiers once pulled on a former president. Written by lifelong Hoosier and local author Ashley Petry, Secret Indianapolis offers a new way to explore the Circle City—from the quirks of local history to bizarre activities you can try today.

How did Omaha get its nickname, “The Gateway to the West” and where can you gawk at the footsteps of the first human to walk in space? Just scratch the surface of a city best known for Warren Buffett, college baseball, and a great zoo and find far more than meets the eye. And Secret Omaha: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure is just the book you’ll need to uncover all the stories of Nebraska’s lone metropolis. Omaha rises up out of the low broken bluffs along the west bank of the Missouri River and sprawls west across what was once the prairie grasslands of the Great Plains. The buffalo wallows have been replaced by a more urban mix of grit and gentrification, with tree-lined avenues, boulevards, and varied communities that hold on to their heritage for generations. There’s a giant fork in Little Italy and stories told in stone around what was the world’s largest livestock market. There’s an old blues song by Big Joe Williams about an Omaha intersection that’s now on the National Register, and Irish Nationalists erected a grand monument to the Fenian who invaded Canada twice. Anyone in Omaha can take a gander at Goose Hollow or visit a haven for herons, but now author and Omaha enthusiast Ryan Roenfeld takes you on your own behind-the-scenes tour of the Big O. With his book as your guide, you’ll discover a whole new side to the city that’s inspired him for years.

Most visitors know all about Kansas City’s barbecue, jazz, and football success, but there are hidden gems and wild pieces of trivia around every turn in Missouri’s largest city. Is the giant Hereford bull anatomically correct? Can a seed that’s been to outer space still grow into a normal tree? And who really killed President William Henry Harrison? You’ll find answers to the questions you didn’t know you had in Secret Kansas City: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. Learn why three completely unrelated groups have chosen Kansas City as the center of the world and the place you want to be when the world ends. Between these covers, you’ll also find castles, a horse buried in a cul-de-sac, a ghost who likes a good laugh, and the world’s longest snake. This is not a tour guide for outsiders; it’s a scavenger hunt—insiders only, please. Longtime Kansas Citian Anne Kniggendorf is at your service to bolster your love and boost your respect for this middle-of-the-map city. With her eye for the odd leading the way, you’ll have a great time discovering Kansas City.

Stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the trails of the Timucuan preserve, Jacksonville, Florida is a vibrant multicultural city with great weather nearly year-round and the largest urban park system in the country. Known by its many visitors for its rivers and beaches, it also has a treasure trove of unique experiences for young and old to discover. 100 Things to Do in Jacksonville Before You Die is your cheat sheet to Jacksonville’s most iconic destinations. Discover insider knowledge on exciting festivals, shopping hot spots, and the tastiest pizza in town. From historic theatres to state-of-the-art robots, Jacksonville is a city worth exploring. Treat yourself to the smallest donuts at Mini Bar Donuts, and the biggest jumbotrons with the Jacksonville Jaguars game day experience. Hop on the Jacksonville Ale Trail and discover the First Coast’s growing craft brew scene, head to the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens for a wild time, or carve out an afternoon for a walk on Skeleton Beach. Jacksonville is often underestimated, but travel expert and Jacksonville resident Amy West is on a mission to expose all of her hometown’s charms. Follow along as she takes you behind the scenes of some of her favorite places and discover Jacksonville with a local.

Best Easy Day Hikes Jacksonville, Florida includes concise descriptions and detailed maps for twenty easy-to-follow hikes in and around the River City. Discover the natural splendors of the First Coast—including the Ralph E. Simmons State Forest and the St. Mary’s River; Jennings State Forest; the hammock woods, shell mounds, and river views at Fort Caroline; and the best of Jacksonville’s coastal islands Look inside for: • Thirty-minute strolls to half-day adventures • Hikes for everyone, including families • Mile-by-mile directions and clear trail maps • Trail Finder for best hikes for river and stream lovers, children, dogs, or views • GPS coordinates

It is no wonder the ancient city of St. Augustine is steeped in secrets. St. Johns, the oldest continuously occupied county in America celebrated its 450th birthday on September 4, 2015. More like a European enclave than an urban landscape, it is a place of cannon fire, street parties, historical reenactments, concerts, and more. From admiring replicas of fine art at Ripley’s Believe or Not, to hunting haunts in restaurants and museums, to eating ice cream from a recipe originated by World War II bombardiers, St. Augustine has it all from beaches, gourmet dining, festivals, and attractions. A young and vibrant business community coexists with a rich history from the Spanish conquistadors, the British aristocracy, antebellum Americans, and Civil Rights leaders. There are stories behind the forts, old Spanish houses, a slave market, civil rights landmarks, museums, hotels, art galleries, a college that was once a luxury hotel, and more. These places all have secrets to tell and, since it’s St. Augustine, one or two ghost stories as well. Once you come to St. Augustine, you keep coming back. St. Augustine is one place, despite its status as the oldest city, whose secrets never get old.

THE SENSATIONAL SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A heart-warming and hilarious look at life in the classroom from the teachers who host the most popular UK education podcast, Two Mr Ps in a Pod(Cast).

Series statement from publisher's website.

When Hudson catches a Mystery Bug, Juliette's journey of discovery begins. She learns essential hygiene skills, masking, social-distancing and how vaccines rally the body's defenses to keep Mystery Bugs at bay.Here, under one cover are Colleen and Terry Shepherd's beloved stories, "Juliette and the Mystery Bug," "Juliette and the Masked Hero," and the all new "Juliette and the Vaccine." Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, beautifully illustrated by Casey Ratchford, and written in a poetic style that helps kids memorize important health habits, "Juliette and the Mystery Bug - The Complete Collection" is an essential resource to help children stay healthy, whenever Mystery Bugs appear. Readers agree that "Juliette and the Mystery Bug" is not only an important guide to disease prevention, but a delightful story that will become a household favorite."I was so ecstatic to find a book that could help my preschool-aged daughter better understand germs, how they can make you sick, and clean habits to stay healthy; it's never been more important." ~ Linnsey Baker."An important book to teach children how to protect themselves.... But it's also a fun book that adults will enjoy reading to their children and children will enjoy hearing, time and again," ~ Ed SliverAuthor Kate Anslinger writes that "Juliette and the Mystery Bug" is a must-read in today's world. "Terry Shepherd manages to blend prose that is easily relatable to children, with a very real issue in today's world, somehow making a magical mix of education and fun. My daughter's first-grade class has read all of Terry Shepherd's books and they remain a classroom favorite."