Paper Maps, No Apps : An Unplugged Travel Adventure
By Johnny Welsh
What happens when you ditch the apps, turn off your phone, and hit the road with nothing but paper maps?
In this laugh-out-loud memoir, bestselling author Johnny Welsh turns a dare into a life-changing social experiment — proving that the best kind of connection happens offline.
About the Book
Paper Maps, No Apps is a laugh-out-loud travel memoir by Johnny Welsh, revealing the joys and chaos of a seventeen-day road trip — entirely unplugged. Daring to ditch their phones, Johnny and his partner ventured across America guided only by paper maps, passion, and a desire to reconnect with the world around them.
Along the way, they discovered tequila-soaked campfires, quirky characters, and real human connection — all without the glow of a screen. This witty, insightful journey invites you to ask: What are we missing when we're always plugged in?
Whether you're a travel junkie, a tech-weary soul, or just love a good adventure, Paper Maps, No Apps will leave you laughing — and thinking — long after the last page.
A Word of Warning:
This self-deprecating satire pokes fun at our tech habits and dares you to disconnect. What starts off as a dare becomes a way of life. Unplugging the phones and being present are the rules.
⚠️ Side effects may include: spontaneous conversations, real-life moments, and a serious craving for map-led road trips.
Explore more moments and snapshots from Johnny’s adventures.
What Readers Are Saying
Forbes
“Welsh points out that a vacation is the perfect time to disconnect—and that it may change your perspective and your life if you do.”
The Nerdy Girl Express
“Paper Maps, No Apps is a fun read that will keep you laughing as you travel along the road with the tech-free couple.”
Summit Daily News
"Through their journey, you'll: laugh at inside jokes you're not a part of, constantly think "Hmmm. I do that a lot," laugh again at their shenanigans, rethink your life, wish you were on a beach with a cold beer, think about great times you've had with friends ..."
Meet the Author
Johnny Welsh brings stories to life with a witty, observational style shaped by years behind the bar. As a professional bartender in Colorado’s famous ski country, he's had a front-row seat to countless conversations, confessions, and quirks of human nature. These moments fuel his writing—offbeat, insightful, and often laugh-out-loud funny.
With a knack for turning everyday experiences into entertaining reads, Johnny blends humor with genuine storytelling in his books, offering readers both a good laugh and a fresh perspective on modern life.
