Of the various Best American anthologies published each year by Houghton Mifflin, I regularly read the Fiction, Sports Writing, and Travel Writing. Curiously, though, I would have to say that the Travel Writing series is the most reliable read on a year-in, year-out basis. Some years have more “heavy” stories; others concentrate more on humorous fare. Invariably, though, I emerge having learned a good deal about many parts of the world that I’ll likely never visit.

The 2004 anthology is as good as any. The tone is pretty balanced—there are many pieces about places in the world facing challenges, including a resort attempting to get off the ground in war-torn Kashmir; a depressing tale of the deterioration of the Ivory Coast, an erstwhile African jewel; mountain gorillas under siege by the war in the Congo; and a curious piece about a writer trying to cross the border into Burma.

For me, the best piece of all was one on Barre, Vermont of all places. The essay focuses on a local radio station and a diner that features almost nothing but food grown within 50 miles. This was a story that made me question whether I’m doing the right thing by saving a few bucks via amazon.com as opposed to pumping more money into the Brookline Booksmith. Without getting too preachy, that piece talks about what we’ve lost as a nation by having amazingly little local radio or local anything, really.

This is a highly recommended series and should be a must-read each year, even if you’re purely an armchair traveler. ( )