One bright spot in a challenging publishing landscape, editors say, is the strong interest in books on naturally socially distant travel—road trips, hikes, camping, and other adventures that don’t require sharing an armrest with a dubiously masked stranger.
“When we took stock of the trends that have come up as a consequence of the pandemic, we saw a huge boom in outdoor activities and road trips,” says Chris Zeiher, senior director of trade sales and marketing at Lonely Planet. The camping guide Under the Stars: Europe pubs in March; a U.S. version follows later this year. The publisher is also focused on its line of road trip guides, with summer updates to books on the Blue Ridge Parkway (July), New England (Aug.), and other domestic destinations.
To meet the demand, some publishers are dusting off relevant backlist titles for new readers. “We’ve relaunched a stalwart series called Road Trips,” says DK Travel publishing director Georgina Dee. “People are focusing on traveling slower, going where they know, where they feel comfortable.” DK is also, in May, releasing a new coffee table–style trekking compendium, Hike.
“We’re seeing it across the enterprise,” says Allyson Johnson, senior editor at National Geographic Books. There’s a lot more interest in outdoor activity, in road-tripping rather than air travel. We’re also seeing an increase in domestic travel as compared to international.”
A collection of forthcoming books celebrate the pleasures to be found far from the madding crowd.
50 States, 500 Campgrounds
Journalist and photographer Yogerst compiles top campgrounds across North America. Inspirational photos accompany practical information including location, contact info, open seasons, and amenities. The book is a companion to 2017’s 50 States, 5,000 Ideas, which has sold 377,000 print copies, per NPD BookScan.
Crossing Paths
This anthology collects essays and poems—most original, some previously published—by Pacific Crest Trail hikers, including an excerpt from Cheryl Strayed’s Wild and a Nicholas Kristof article that ran in Backpacker. Divided geographically by trail section, the collection includes stories of walking-as-therapy, what it means to be a “trail angel,” and the effects of climate change on a beloved hike.
Epic Hikes of the Americas
Spanning North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean, this new entry in the Epic series (previous installments include 2016’s Epic Bike Rides of the World, 30,000 print copies sold, per BookScan) takes readers on 50 treks, from day-trip saunters to adventurous multiday treks. Each route includes a difficulty rating, a first-person account, and tips for an enjoyable outing.
Hike
This photo-rich guide to global hikes details each region’s offerings, from the well known to the obscure. Meant more for inspiration than orientation, the book helps backpackers choose their own adventure with information on each trail’s elevation, difficulty, estimated days to complete, and other criteria.
The Hiking Book from Hell
Sometime in Norwegian comedian Kalvø’s 40s, it seemed all his friends were being seduced by the call of the mountains. He decides to see what all the fuss is about in this wry part-memoir, part-satire. With a healthy skepticism about perfectly elevated heart rates, lycra wardrobes, and mountaintop epiphanies, Kalvø straps on the gear and heads out to discover what’s keeping his friends out of the pub.
Off the Beaten Track: England and Wales
Dorey has written a series of books and hosted a BBC2 TV show about his life in a camper van. This newest offering focuses on the remote spots, scenic vistas, and inspiring locations that Dorey says have evaded the typical top 10 list.
The South West Coast Path
Journalist and volunteer surveyor Neale identifies 1,000 highlights along a popular trail that ventures 630 miles along the coastline of southwest England. Hardy through-hikers can use the hefty paperback to locate the best places to swim, bike, fossil-find, or just take in the scenery.
Under the Stars: Europe
Hut-to-hut hiking in the Austrian Alps, island-hopping in Greece, star-gazing in Switzerland—Europe offers a plethora of opportunities for getting out into the open and appreciating the beauty of the continent’s mountains, waterways, and open spaces. This volume guides nature lovers to the best hiking, biking, foraging, and camping spots.
