Backroads of Texas: Along the Byways to Breathtaking Landscapes and Quirky Small Towns

Veer off the interstate and explore strange, sublime, and breathtaking sights. It's all available on the backroads of Texas.

Texas is the second largest state in the United States, and you can be sure it's home to plenty of incredible sights waiting just off the beaten path. Backroads of Texas guides readers off the main drag where they can find intriguing sites, offbeat characters, and glorious landscapes. These are the sights normally missed by interstate-centric travelers.

The book includes thirty backroad drives and excursions that take travelers into the boondocks where all the craziest natural sights occur. Watch frenzied bats as they fly by the thousands from San Angelo's Foster Road Bridge. Catch your breath as you drink in the majestic Guadalupe Mountains. Get ready for goosebumps when you spelunk into the shadowy depths of Inner Space Cavern, and try not to get spooked when you see the paranormal "ghost lights" near the eclectic town of Marfa. These off-road sights are what truly set the Lone Star State apart from its neighbors.

Completely reimagined for a new generation of road-trip takers and explorers, Backroads of Texas is lavishly illustrated with photographs, maps, and vintage advertising of Texas's many scenic, historic, and cultural attractions. You think you know what Texas looks like? Think again. Backroads of Texas has something to surprise and excite everyone.

Gary Clark is the weekly nature columnist for the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express News and a professor at Lone Star College-North Harris. The winner of eight writing awards, he also publishes feature articles in state and national magazines and has written several books, including Backroads of the Texas Hill Country, Texas Wildlife Portfolio, and Portrait of Houston.

Kathy Adams Clark has worked as a professional photographer since 1995. Her photos have been published in many magazines, calendars, and books, including Backroads of the Texas Hill Country and Portrait of Houston. Her images have also appeared with her husband Gary's weekly nature column in the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express News. Kathy is a past president of the North American Nature Photography Association. She teaches photography and is a popular speaker at local and national events. Kathy remains a proud native Texan; her family settled in Texas in 1845.