News

Touring the Western North Carolina Backroads is included in the Salisbury Posts's gift guide

Features and Interviews

Carolyn speaks with WGHP Fox TV in High Point, North Carolina (original air date: Sept. 22, 2011)

Carolyn shares four great driving trips for the fall with John Bordsen, travel editor for the Charlotte Observer.

"Touring the Western North Carolina Backroads by Carolyn Sakowski is the book to consult for Thanksgiving. No, it doesn't have recipes but it has more important help. It will help you entertain your out-of-town guests."
— Danny Bernstein, Hiker to Hiker

"Sakowski doesn't choose routes simply for the scenery; almost any mountain road presents visual delights. She finds stories about people and places, then connects them, guiding readers along a narrative path as well."
— Doug Clark, Greensboro News & Record

"Whether you are an armchair traveler, a history buff, or a motorist looking for an alternative to crowded highways, Touring the Western North Carolina Backroads will take you to unforgettable places and introduce you to memorable characters and events.
— The Mountaineer

"A favorite guide to day trips is back in a third, updated edition. Carolyn Sakowski's Touring the Western North Carolina Backroads offers 21 tours that dwell more on history and lore than on best eats and admission fees."
— Rob Neufeld, The Read on WNC

"For those who want to experience autumn's glory a little farthur afield — and learn some regional history along the way — the third printing of Morganton native Carolyn Sakowski's excellent Touring the Western North Carolina Backroads is now available.
— Lynn Hotaling, The Sylva Herald

Praise for Touring the Western North Carolina Backroads

"Sakowski’s great contribution to the bookshelf—if not the back seat of the car—is 1) latching onto a rich concept; 2) applying an eye for delicious anecdote; and 3) delivering crisp prose. . . .She is a reliable traveler, a homegrown appreciator, and a wonderful storyteller... "
— Rob Neufeld, North Carolina Libraries (journal of North Carolina Library Association)

"I recommend it highly—not only for you outdoorsy types but also for history buffs and anybody who enjoys a good, old-fashioned Sunday drive."
— Polly Paddock, The Charlotte Observer

"Those who enjoy the Western North Carolina scenery—but don’t appreciate the crowds—will enjoy Touring the Western North Carolina Backroads….it can bring the traveler closer to the history, people and beauty of Western North Carolina."
— Alva Stewart, The State

"Whether traveling the backroads of western North Carolina from the cushioned comfort of a mini-van or a squeaky front porch rocker, Sakowski’s book offers hours of enjoyable reading and a glimpse at life not visible from the fast pace of the freeway."
— Rose Erskine Out ’n About

"Every once in a while you’re overwhelmed with chagrin stemming from a sense of “What a good idea. Why didn’t I think of that?” Well, it is a good idea, and Carolyn Sakowski did think of it, and she has a winner….This is a book to have beside you on the front seat as you explore the backroads of the mountains."
— Jim Dumbell The Charlotte Observer

"For adventurous travelers, or those who want to get away from tourist traps, or even history buffs, this is an enjoyable, educational, entertaining work."
— Deirdre Parker Smith The Salisbury Post

"This guidebook is so encyclopedic in scope that I give it as a gift to newcomers to the area. Even though I am a native of the area, I learned nearly everything I know about western North Carolina from this book alone, and it remains my primary reference."
— Reader review

“If you want to know more about western North Carolina and spend your days enjoying a
well-written dialog that accurately directs you to places the other guides don't even mention,
buy this book.”
-— Reader review