10 great places to find true Americana

— -- In an increasingly techno-world, there are still places and events that remain rooted in the heart and soul of the American past. Author Gary McKechnie searched for such Americana for the recent National Geographic book USA 101: A Guide to America's Iconic Places, Events and Festivals. He shares favorites with Larry Olmsted for USA TODAY.

Little League World SeriesWilliamsport, Pa. "Of all the things I've seen in America, few are as wonderful as the Little League World Series," says McKechnie, who compares the ballpark in Williamsport, headquarters of the Little League since the organization's founding in 1939, to the baseball classic Field of Dreams. The 63rd tournament starts today and runs through Aug. 30. Like all Little League games everywhere, it's free, so bring a blanket and find a spot on the grass. 570-326-1921, littleleague.org

Mark Twain's AmericaHannibal, Mo. With its carefully preserved small-town living, the author's birthplace bills itself as America's Hometown, and McKechnie agrees. "Mark Twain created the American dream of childhood, whitewashed fences, exploring caves, swimming holes, the benchmark for the next 150 years." In Hannibal everything Twain is celebrated, from the author's boyhood home (now a museum) to the famous fictional fence, riverboat cruises, guided cave tours, theater groups, horse-drawn tours, and Twain and Tom Sawyer impersonators. 866-263-4825, visithannibal.com

All-American Soap Box DerbyAkron, Ohio Soap box derbies peaked in popularity in the 1950s, yet kids from around the world still make their way to Akron each summer for the sport's main event. "It is absolutely one of my top favorites, bar none," McKechnie says. "You think it is just kids rolling down a hill, but it is so much more, so nostalgic. Jimmy Stewart postponed his honeymoon to attend, Ronald Reagan went, Indy 500 drivers go." The annual week-long event is held in late July and includes parties, parades and races on Derby Downs, a 954-foot track. 330-733-8723, aasbd.com