Hidden Places — An Unusual, Fun Travel Guide

Early in March, a new book will be published that promises to transport you to places you never dreamed existed. It’s Hidden Places by Sarah Baxter, illustrated by Amy Grimes (White Lion Publishing, March 3, 2020). Preorder your copy now, because you are definitely going to want to read this fascinating book!

* Complimentary copy received for review. This post contains affiliate links.

You may be wondering what the book’s title really means. Sarah Baxter describes it herself in the introduction: “A hidden place is one that confers a feeling that you’re somehow peeling back a layer, going somewhere few have been, gaining an insight into something once—or still—concealed.” I first imagined that I’d be reading of remote, secret locations, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that many of Baxter’s hidden places are actually quite accessible, even some in major cities! As Baxter explains, “Sometimes it’s less the site that is hidden than its meaning.”

The first location in Hidden Places captures that sentiment perfectly: Tyneam, a village in England that was abandoned by its residents when it was appropriated by the government during World War II. The empty village now stands as a vivid reminder of difficult times.

Hidden Places includes 25 of these special hidden places from around the world, including locations from several European countries, as well as Asia, Australia, Africa, Central and South America, and North America, with three right here in the USA. Each location has its own chapter, complete with illustrations. You’ll learn all about Spirit Island in Alberta, Canada, which is really “a small land-tied spit” rather than an island, relatively easily accessible today but with history dating back to the early people of the First Nations. Or virtually explore Yonaguni, a mysterious underwater site off the southern tip of Japan where rock formations look like they might have been created by ancient humans. Every chapter of Hidden Places will take you to someplace wonderful!

This book is perfect for an armchair traveler like me. Baxter’s writing is rich with details that take me to places I’ll never get to see for myself, revealing each site’s stories, secrets, inhabitants, and history.

Amy Grimes’ illustrations do more than any photograph could. Rather than simply recording what the “hidden places” look like, each of these beautiful illustrations evokes the spirit of the location, conveying feelings as well as sights.

Hidden Places is the third book in the Inspired Traveller’s Guide series. Sarah Baxter is also the author of the two previous books, Spiritual Places and Literary Places, as well as the fourth book, Mystical Places, scheduled for publication in September 2020. Based on how much I’ve enjoyed Hidden Places, I’m putting all of the books in the Inspired Traveller’s Guide series on my wish list.

* This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may or may not receive a small commission which helps to support this site. Thank you!

Giveaway: One lucky winner is going to win a copy of Hidden Places thanks to White Lion Publishing, an imprint of the Quarto Group.

Giveaway Details: This giveaway is open to residents of the US ONLY age 18 and over. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering. This giveaway will close on March 2nd, 2020 at 11:59 pm EST time. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

Disclaimer: A. Bailey received a complimentary product for review purposes & feature on The Classy Chics blog. No monetary compensation was received. A. Bailey’s thoughts, opinions and words are 100% her own. Your thoughts may differ. Please read the blog’s terms of service policy before entering any giveaways. The Classy Chics are NOT responsible for prize fulfillment or shipping of any items won from this blog. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, we may or may not make a small commission which helps to support this website. Thank you!!!