The deep, dark months of winter sometimes take a bit of imagination to make it through. I personally like to look into unique destinations (some more far-flung than others) to help fuel my sense of wanderlust. My favorites are the literary-based ones, so I can indulge my love of travel and my love of books all at once.
If you’re considering taking a journey—or just like to daydream about one—read on for (even more) of the most interesting places to stop on your own personal book tour.
Concord, Massachusetts
Where: Bush at 28 Cambridge Turnpike
Why: Bush is the name given to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s home in which he lived with his wife, Lidian, after their marriage in 1835. It was there that he raised his family and wrote some of his most famous masterpieces, such as his essays “Nature” (1836) and “Self-Reliance” (1841). It was this home that turned Concord into the “center of American Transcendentalism.”
For those in search of a bonus destination, the house is less than a one-hour drive from Boston—the home of Harvard University, where Emerson attended (and an overall fantastically literary-minded city in general!).
Norfolk Island, Australia
Where: Out Yenna at 79C Taylors Rd
Why: Out Yenna is the name that author Colleen McCullough, most notably of The Thorn Birds fame, gave to her home of almost thirty-six years. Located on the remote Norfolk Island, it’s surrounded by lush vegetation and is known to be quite isolated. The house is also where she authored many of her novels and is chock full of various knickknacks that McCullough gathered while traveling around the world.
This particular tour, however, is only available through one company: Baunti Tours, which has set up exclusive rights to bring people in. So if you’re a big McCullough fan—or just want to take a tour of Australia that’s a bit more off the beaten path—you’ll have to go through them.
Paris, France
Where: House of Victor Hugo, 6 Place des Vosges (formerly Place Royale)
Why: I personally love the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of my favorite authors—such as roaming around the apartment that Victor Hugo (author of Les Misérables) rented from 1832 until 1848. The furniture, knickknacks, and art inside the multilevel space were all either created by the author, owned by him, or inspired by his writing.
While you’re in Paris, you could make an additional stop at Notre-Dame, the famed cathedral opened in 1345(!) that acted as home for Quasimodo, the ill-fated character from another of Hugo’s famous works, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Admission to the cathedral is free, but you must make reservations on their official website beforehand.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Where: Craigmillar Castle, Craigmillar Castle Rd, Edinburgh EH16 4SY
Why: I listed the address for Craigmillar Castle, since that is one of the famous spots mentioned in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. But trust me—for fans of the books or show, the whole of Scotland is your playground. If you don’t know where to start, you may want to consider booking a tour, either a one-day or multiday romp around the country that takes you everywhere from Doune Castle and Culloden Battlefield to Blackness Castle and Falkland village.
The multiday tours also usually cover the Highlands, a particularly scenic portion of the country. If you really want to immerse yourself in the Outlander experience, some tours even offer add-ons like eighteenth-century weapons demonstrations and kilt fittings. There is truly something for every Outlander fan.
Great Neck, New York, USA
Where: Great Gatsby Boat Tour, Long Island
Why: The suburban community of Great Neck on Long Island is not only the location of the house where F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote much of his legendary The Great Gatsby (the house itself is a private home and cannot be visited)—it is also the inspiration for the novel’s fictionalized town of East Egg.
If you really want to immerse yourself in the novel and become “boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past,” you can take a Great Gatsby boat tour through Manhasset Bay and Long Island Sound to view the inspiration for East Egg and West Egg, along with all the gorgeous architecture and scenery that you’ll likely recognize from the novel’s pages.
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Where: Green Gables Heritage Place, 8619 Rte 6, Cavendish
Why: Fans of L. M. Montgomery’s beloved series Anne of Green Gables will delight in visiting the house and gardens that served as inspiration for Anne’s own home. The structure is located inside Prince Edward Island National Park and includes beautiful winding trails. There are also meaningful locations nearby, including the Cavendish United Church where Montgomery attended services, as well as her gravestone in Cavendish Cemetery and a bronze sculpture of the author in Montgomery Park.
Andrea Moran lives outside of Nashville with her husband and two kids. She’s a professional copywriter and editor who loves all things books. Find her on LinkedIn.
