— By Keegan Williams —
There’s something about Americana many people discover a solace and luxury in, whether or not or not we acknowledge it overtly. That is very true in the case of hitting the street and seeing the sights. As we marvel at these relics of the previous, they provide us a slice of a a lot bigger story. They spark our curiosity as merely observing tells us one thing concerning the place we discovered them and the happenings that occurred there earlier than we arrived. And it’s usually fleeting: We really feel that sense of ease within the second, nevertheless it usually fades as we rapidly flip our consideration again to the current.
Rolando Pujol is an exception.
“The Nice American Retro Highway Journey: A Celebration of Roadside Americana”
The creator and journalist paperwork these intriguing insights on America’s previous as a lifelong ardour and key a part of his work.
As Pujol notes within the introduction of his new e-book, “The Nice American Retro Highway Journey: A Celebration of Roadside Americana,” the pursuit emerged in childhood as he marveled on the eccentricities surrounding him. The recollections had been profound and protracted, particularly as these staples of his upbringing slowly pale to pave approach for the rising trendy period.
“I started to understand how important these locations had been, how nearly criminally underappreciated they had been by a lot of society,” Pujol writes.
This realization pushed him to discover and share the distinctive landmarks that survived, first in newspapers after which on information web sites, social media, and finally his ongoing weblog and e-newsletter, The Retrologist. Now, anybody serious about a better look can maintain Pujol’s account of nostalgic American historical past and tradition of their fingers.
Pujol spent the final a number of years compiling his explorations from The Retrologist and past into the brand new e-book, printed earlier this week on June 24. He referred to as the e-book a “great subsequent step on this journey, a blessing in life that lays a powerful, new basis in my quest to discover and rejoice roadside Americana.”
A Lifelong Retrologist
The origin of “The Nice American Retro Highway Journey” begins with Pujol’s first household street journey to Miami Seaside in 1977, when he was simply 4 years previous. Even at such a younger age, he discovered the journey extra thrilling than the vacation spot.
In 1988, he took his first solo street journey at age 25. Having full management of the itinerary, Pujol centered his debut expedition across the roadside Americana he’d see alongside the best way. But it surely wasn’t till the brand new millennium that he actually tackled this ardour in a public-facing approach. His earliest skilled writing on the subject was in 2005, reporting about New York Metropolis preservation points for amNewYork as managing editor.
As he started posting a mixture of extra random content material on Tumblr and Instagram in 2012 underneath The Retrologist, he discovered that individuals had been particularly drawn to the nostalgic stops he recounted on-line. Sensing a chance to share one thing he liked with an appreciative viewers, his focus shifted towards the classic remnants of America’s previous. His Instagram web page gained traction in 2019, and the pandemic craving of 2020 created an much more aggressive starvation for nostalgia-related journey content material.
By the tail-end of 2022, a writer took curiosity in his work and Pujol knew he needed to go for it.
Retrologist outlined: “A practitioner or knowledgeable within the ‘retro’ — actually, it’s classic, although ‘Vintagologist’ doesn’t sound fairly as good.”
Excerpted from “The Nice American Retro Highway Journey” by Rolando Pujol (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2025. Images by Rolando Pujol
Structuring “The Nice American Retro Highway Journey”
The e-book is split into 10 areas (The Northeast, New England, The Mid-Atlantic, The Southeast, South Central, The Midwest, The Heartland, The Desert Southwest, The Mountain West, The Pacific Northwest, and California).
Every area consists of classes to include distinct components of roadside Americana:
- Roadside Quirks: these one-off, usually quirky, marvels you received’t discover elsewhere
- Roadside Eats: basic culinary stops
- Mainstay of Important Avenue: locations you’d discover in an American downtown or strip mall
- On with the Present: theaters and leisure
- Candy Stops: sweet shops, ice cream stands, and different candy spots
- Cheers!: bars, taverns, and liquor shops
Pujol additionally consists of sidebars all through, that includes eating places and distinctive locations meriting a deeper dive.
Design and Visuals
Whereas the contents are expansive and detailed, “The Nice American Retro Highway Journey” doesn’t really feel bloated. The regional sections and repeating classes inside assist, however pairing them with clear and practical design offers a good smoother expertise.
Each area is accompanied by its personal colour, lining a few fourth-inch on the prime of every web page. When the e-book is closed, you’ll see the sequence of colours from the facet and prime illustrating every regional part. As you make your approach inside, this straightforward however efficient code acts as a simple reference level. When you get a really feel for the e-book, it’s a fast visible cue to seamlessly information you to every particular area.
Each web page is embellished with ample visuals, which feels non-negotiable for this matter. Every photograph is paired with a quantity tied to an in-text reference, so you possibly can rapidly be taught extra after taking a look at a photograph or in any other case discover corresponding visuals whereas studying Pujol’s written explanations. The primary point out of each new place and attraction is bolded, creating much more ease and guaranteeing you by no means get misplaced within the textual content.
Excerpted from “The Nice American Retro Highway Journey” by Rolando Pujol (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2025. Images by Rolando Pujol
Placing the “Retro Highway Journey” on Paper
It’s evident as you flip via the pages that “The Nice American Retro Highway Journey” got here from many years of journey and tireless documentation, from the pen of somebody who is really passionate and dedicated to those cultural wonders.
Even so, I couldn’t fairly fathom that these experiences all got here from the identical particular person. I felt compelled to substantiate that every little thing in Pujol’s e-book culminated from his travels and observations alone. (The reply is sure.)
Chunks of “The Nice American Retro Highway Journey” got here from his previous work for The Retrologist. Nonetheless, Pujol realized that he needed the e-book to have a extra complete method as he started writing. So, he hit the street to fill within the gaps.
“I managed to get to each state within the decrease 48 in an more and more mad-dash whirl of hectic weekend getaways because the deadline neared,” Pujol stated. “It was vital to me to have that geographic swath of illustration. Apologies to Alaska and Hawaii — I’ll get there if there’s a subsequent e-book, and I hope there shall be as a result of I’ve loved this one a lot.”
Writing and Storytelling
It’s merely a stunning e-book. I discovered myself dropping time merely flipping via and taking a look at the entire photos, with these particularly catching my eye prompting me to be taught extra through the in-text reference quantity that accompanied it. And Pujol’s writing is simply as partaking.
Whereas I used to be shocked this was all his doing, I’d be hard-pressed to consider that such detailed and immersive prose got here from somebody who hadn’t really been on the street and lived these experiences firsthand. It’s written as in case you are on this journey with Pujol, together with private musings, his ongoing “travelogue” all through the trek, some historical past, and (in Pujol’s phrases) “all coronary heart.” He instructed me, “Quite a lot of myself goes into this work,” and it exhibits.
As quickly as you begin studying, it’s clear you’re in good fingers. His accounts are partaking and enjoyable to learn, however Pujol’s many years of expertise as a journalist additionally shine via. The storytelling is powerful, and every pit cease lasts so long as it ought to. Every little thing he shares offers the reader ample data to spark curiosity and supply wanted context. Although it by no means feels such as you’re overstaying, as Pujol swiftly has you again on the street en path to the following vacation spot.
Excerpted from “The Nice American Retro Highway Journey” by Rolando Pujol (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2025. Images by Rolando Pujol
Extra Than Only a Journey Ebook
Candidly, I wasn’t conscious of Pujol’s work till I pursued this overview and interview. Because the editor of Highway Journeys for Households, I’m all the time searching for related tales to share with our viewers. After I first realized about this upcoming launch in early Could, it was an apparent match. I didn’t assume a lot concerning the matter or how I felt about it. Then I acquired my fingers on the e-book, and I noticed how closely these retro relics of yesteryear pull at my very own heartstrings.
An Angeleno of 5 years dwelling in Hollywood, I nonetheless really feel like an LA child (perhaps I’ve made it to toddler standing). I usually take further moments to marvel on the indicators and constructions that had been clearly right here lengthy earlier than I used to be alive, not to mention dwelling amongst them. As I discover myself experiencing the brand new chapters of Los Angeles as they’re being written, I’m usually confronted by the finished passages that got here earlier than. I treasure this sense after I return dwelling, spying ’90s remnants in Northern Colorado that promptly transport me again to my childhood. Even in new locations, these echoes of a previous period persist with me. They elicit a way of consolation and reflection, although I’m seeing them for the primary time in a spot I’ve by no means visited earlier than.
A few of these musings are extra aware than others. Nonetheless, I didn’t see them as completely different variations of the identical expertise. I didn’t absolutely acknowledge the prevalence of this train as a software to navigate and higher perceive the world round me till I opened this e-book.
(And That’s What “The Nice American Retro Highway Journey” is Going For)
After I shared this with Pujol, he affirmed this sensation “will get to the guts of what I hope to do with The Retrologist.” Its earliest manifestations had him sharing the small issues he’d see strolling round New York or throughout his travels, coming collectively to inform a extra important story.
“It’s a type of on a regular basis archaeology, mining the latest previous, a approach of stopping and smelling the roses with out risking a sneezing match,” he stated, as each statement comes with a fancy yarn to unravel. “… The Retrologist outlook on life offers you a lens by which to guage your environment in a contemporary approach, to search out little historical past classes or hidden qualities that add that means and worth to your travels, whether or not it’s in your hometown or half a continent away.”
Greater than “appreciation for the sake of appreciation,” he stated, the method provides richness and consciousness which might successfully drive optimistic change; it helps us admire the ecosystem of the constructed atmosphere round us. To Pujol, the “spectacular effort that went into cultivating experiences that may amuse, entertain, and, in fact, get you to fork over a couple of bucks,” is what makes roadside Americana so particular.
“There’s one thing distinctly American about this: It’s a type of cultural expression that peaked within the mid-Twentieth century, using the wave of widespread automotive possession, a booming economic system, and a pre-jet age sense of liberation, however as we get farther away from that interval, and stay extra in our digital and social bubbles, the attract of a tangible piece of American advertising and marketing grit holds extra attract than ever.”
Excerpted from “The Nice American Retro Highway Journey” by Rolando Pujol (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2025. Images by Rolando Pujol
The Verdict
So, must you decide up this e-book? My vote is sure. As somebody who doesn’t journey practically as a lot as they’d like, I’ve already gotten one thing magical out of it.
Might “The Nice American Retro Highway Journey” make for a enjoyable espresso desk e-book? Effectively, certain. Though, inserting this wealthy assortment of experiences and cultural insights inside that field alone seems like a reductive slight to the work that created it and every little thing it would encourage when you see what’s inside.
If you end up hitting the street or touring to new locations ceaselessly, this e-book feels all of the extra sensible so as to add to your assortment. Whereas there’s one thing to be stated for these widespread sights — the locations you’ll discover Googling “what to do whereas visiting [whatever place]” — “The Nice American Retro Highway Journey” invitations you to discover the hidden gems you may in any other case miss. And that’s what Pujol is after: creating a brand new body for vacationers and even people like me, who’re most frequently traversing the place they name dwelling of their day-to-day adventures.
“You’ll start to see issues concerning the world round you that you simply by no means observed earlier than, and that might make your life simply a lot richer and extra attention-grabbing, or so I’d prefer to assume. You’ll begin asking questions and studying issues. You’ll turn into a Retrologist, too.”
Rolando Pujol’s Message to Readers
Pujol hopes readers can go to as many of those locations, and people like them, as doable, calling the e-book “only a hearty serving of a bigger meal.” He additionally urged readers to help these locations so that they stay to see one other day. Pujol shared a extra solemn factor of the writing course of as we wrapped up: Many locations he talked about have since closed, and it occurs quickly. He alluded to a number of spots that had been up and operating in December 2024 however have since shut their doorways for good as of June 2025.
“This e-book is as a lot a celebration as it’s an elegy,” Pujol closed. “Visiting and supporting these locations can postpone the elegy a bit of longer.”
“The Nice American Retro Highway Journey: A Celebration of Roadside Americana” is accessible now in hardcover and eBook codecs.
To maintain up with Rolando Pujol’s travels and ongoing quest to doc America’s nostalgic pleasures, discover him on Instagram.
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Yow will discover them at keeganmwilliams.com or on Instagram @promwitch.
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