Sam has a passion for history, often the history that was swept up and tucked into the corners of America. Everyone should have such a passion. In combination with wanderlust, Sam travels as an 'every' man. What is the story of a place and why does it resonate still? Never satisfied to visit a place and get the standard and often repeated story, Sam digs deeper, settles down, takes off his shoes and gets comfortable and intimate with each new place his van delivers him too.

Karl Koster, fur trade historian and National Park Ranger at Grand Portage National Monument

This is the story of America as told through treasured physical places. Gennawey delves into questions about what we choose to preserve, who tells our stories, how we deal with our egregious failings, and momentous achievements in a way that evokes the skillful storytelling of Erik Larson's Devil in the White City.

Steve Tatham, Walt Disney Imagineer

Our pride in America's national parks as a rite of passage is beautifully served in this book. Molding wanderlust into patriotism, there is nothing like them in the world. Sam Gennawey takes “we the people” on the road trip of a lifetime, rekindling, with wit and conviction, our faith in the country and ourselves.

Alfred Runte, author, National Parks: The American Experience

Sam's book brought home the careful choreography of the national park visitor experience, the placemaking, and storytelling. One example is the “One Good Road,” where a “show path” carefully hugs the landscape and provides the spine of the National Park experience. Thanks for inviting me to “ride shotgun” with you and “Darlene” on this “E-Ticket” ride!

Mel McGowan, co-founder and CCO of Storyland Studios

Sacred Landscapes is a skillful blend of colorful descriptions, interesting anecdotes, and key facts gleaned from the author's visits to nearly 400 National Park Service sites. Sam Gennawey combines those details with commentaries on the history behind some of those areas, and the result is an informative and thought-provoking book.

Jim Burnett, author of Hey Ranger! True Tales of Humor and Misadventure from America's National Parks