As the United States rapidly barrels toward its monumental 250th anniversary, the standard historical heavyweights like Boston, Philadelphia and Yorktown are naturally gearing up for massive, crowd-heavy celebrations. But if you want to truly connect with the spirit of 1776 without fighting gridlock or standing in massive tourist lines, your best strategy is to look just beyond the famous landmarks.

Emmy-nominated PBS host and veteran travel expert Darley Newman is doing exactly that with her highly anticipated new book, Revolutionary Road Trip: Hidden Stories of America’s Founding Journey. Dropping just in time for mid-summer travel on June 30th, the book serves as the ultimate blueprint for travelers looking to uncover the fascinating, often-overlooked corners of the original 13 colonies that traditional history textbooks completely skipped over.

Drawing from years of on-the-ground exploration for her hit PBS series and podcast, Travels with Darley—which is currently filming its milestone 100th episode season—Newman takes readers on a vivid, firsthand trek through small-town taverns, hidden battlefields, and historic communities that are actively keeping America’s founding stories alive.

“When people think about the American Revolution, they often picture places like Boston, Philadelphia, and Yorktown,” said Newman. “I traveled beyond those well-known locations to uncover hidden gems and explore how everyday people shaped the nation’s founding in remarkable ways. I hope readers are inspired to visit these places and experience history where it happened.”

The narrative blends deep, meaningful historical context with lighthearted road-trip adventures, whether Newman is sampling Martha Washington’s famous Cherry Bounce cocktail recipe or walking the solemn grounds of South Carolina’s Camden Battlefield alongside a veteran military historian.

Instead of just recounting dates and battles, the book acts as a practical, inspiration-driven travel guide highlighting spectacular, low-key destinations you can easily drive to right now.

Newman shines a brilliant spotlight on the incredible local preservation efforts and culinary scenes in gorgeous, photogenic regions like Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Valley and York County, the historic streets of Princeton, New Jersey, the sweeping landscapes of Saratoga, New York, and the charming colonial towns of Delaware and North Carolina.

Ultimately, Revolutionary Road Trip proves that the best way to celebrate the nation’s big milestone isn’t just by staring at a statue—it’s by getting behind the wheel, hitting the pavement and experiencing history right where it actually happened.