Travel book author Freeman dies at 47

VENICE, Calif., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. advertising executive Dave Freeman, who co-wrote the popular travel guide "100 Things to Do Before You Die," has died at age 47, family members say.

Freeman's father Roy told the Los Angeles Times that Freeman died Aug. 17 at his home in Venice, Calif., after hitting his head.

Published in 1999, "100 Things" took a unconventional approach to travel writing, using an adventuring theme and entertaining graphics that later swept the publishing industry, co-author Neil Teplica told the newspaper.

"It wasn't just physical adventure, it was cultural adventure and spiritual adventure, such as a voodoo pilgrimage in Haiti," Teplica said.

The Time said the book, subtitled "Travel Events You Just Can't Miss," was an offshoot of the pair's travel Web site, which Freeman often noted was ahead of its time. The Web site ran from 1996 to 2001 and highlighted festivals and events. One of its popular features was called "The Coolest Place on Earth Today," which was heavily incorporated into the book, the newspaper said.