Summer is finally here, which means it’s time to slather on the sunscreen, lay out a beach blanket, and relax with a good book. But instead of heading to a local lake or nearby seaside spot, bring your summer reading list to one of these book-lover getaways. They have sun, they have sandy beaches, they have bustling city streets, but more importantly, they have a rich literary history that would make any bibliophile ask, "Can't we stay here forever?"
From America's major seaside towns to Europe's smaller cities to remote wooded hideaways, certain geographical locations have always attracted creative geniuses. Whether it's the warm salty air, the tranquility of the woods, or the hustle and bustle of the city, these are the places the author has discovered, fallen in love with, created, and called home. Home to history, art and inspiration, they are destinations you should add to your travel bucket list because a vacation is not just about what you read, but where you read it.
Pack your bags, print your tickets, and put together your summer reading list, because it's time to head out to one of these 10 book-filled getaways. Be sure to bring plenty of clothes, though, because once you arrive at these literary hotspots, you'll never want to leave.
1. New Orleans
From William Faulkner to Tennessee Williams, many famous literary stars called New Orleans home. Head to the bayou and visit the Monteleone Hotel, a favorite drinking and writing spot of Ernest Hemingway, Anne Rice and John Grisham. Stop by Antione's for a bite to eat, the setting for Frances Parkinson Keyes' murder mystery "Antione's Dinner." Visits to many of Tennessee Williams' homes, as well as the publication of Charles Bukowski's first book and William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Henry Miller, Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s Architecture for Outsider Magazine. If you are a lover of literature, New Orleans is your dream city.
2. Key West, Florida
Home to Ernest Hemingway and his famous six-toed cat, Key West is the perfect nerdy beach getaway. After an afternoon reading in the sun, you can visit Hemingway's former home, take a walk on his estate, and be sure to pet the more than 30 cats that still live there today. You'll be able to see the room where he wrote A Farewell to Arms , eat in his favorite restaurant, and drink in his favorite bar. Hemingway wasn't the only one to feel the warm breezes of the southernmost reaches, either. Tennessee Williams and Robert Frost also walked the island's streets, and now you can follow in their footsteps, too.
3. New York City, New York
Home to thousands of writers and the birthplace of countless books, New York is America's hottest literary hotspot. From American Poets Corner and the Morgan Library and Museum to Mark Twain's Haunted Mansion and the Strand Bookstore, New York has enough literary landmarks to keep you entertained in the city. Be sure to bring walking shoes so you don’t miss a thing.
4. San Francisco, California
Allen Ginsburg, Jack Kerouac, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Robert Frost, Shirley Jackson ), Ursula K. Le Guin – The list of literary talents who have called San Francisco home is endless, which is why you’ll need a lengthy vacation to fully explore the city by the bay. When visiting San Francisco's bookish hotspot, be sure to check out Jack London's favorite haunt, Heinold's First and Last Chance Bar, City Lights Bookstore (the birthplace of the Beat movement), and Vesuvio, a café and bar that was, and still is, a popular haunt for Bay Area literary types—just be prepared to climb a lot of hills.
5. Dublin, Ireland
If James Joyce's "Dublin" isn't enough Irish experience for you, head across the pond to see the real Ireland. While in the Emerald Isle, be sure to visit some of Dublin's coolest literary landmarks, including Saint Patrick's Cathedral, where Jonathan Swift was rector for over 30 years, and Oscar Wilde's , Samuel Beckett and Bram Stoker’s alma mater, Trinity College. Come here and you will definitely be inspired.
6. Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh is the unofficial literary capital of the UK and a book lover's dream. This is the city where JK Rowling wrote "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" . It is the birthplace of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and is home to the famous Sherlock Holmes statue. It is home to the Scottish Story Centre, the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Edinburgh is a place filled with beauty, books, art and inspiration, and if you holiday there you may never want to come back.
7. Paris, France
The City of Light should also have a nickname: City of Literature. You may know this place as a place of love and puff pastry, but writers like Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Joyce, Henry Miller and more discovered it was a place for art, The perfect place for camaraderie and creativity. If you're making this your summer vacation destination, be sure to plan a route to Père Lachaise Cemetery (the resting place of Oscar Wilde and Colette, among others) and Le Rosebud, home to Hemingway and Fitzgerald Met on the street for the first time in a popular speakeasy. There are cemeteries to wander, cafes to relax in, and bars and bookstores to shop, so drink plenty of coffee because you're going to need energy if you want to visit all of Paris' literary locations.
8. Verona, Italy
If you've ever dreamed of Romeo calling to you from beneath your woman, there's no better summer getaway than Verona. In addition to the city's ancient beauty and timeless culture, Verona was the filming location for Shakespeare's beloved Romeo and Juliet , with its famous balcony, the real-life balcony of Juliet's House, among other A popular tourist attraction for celebrities. Across the notes left by lovers. Although the practice is now a fined offense, Verona is still a beautiful city well worth spending your bookish holiday in.
9. Bath, UK
Is your favorite book a Jane Austen book? Is your perfect partner a Mr. Darcy type? Are you dreaming of quaint picnics and formal balls? Then Bath is a great place to escape the summer heat. Bath was Jane Austen's hometown, and she actually didn't like the city. Bath is a stunning country town famous for its natural hot springs and famous literary legend. You can explore the Jane Austen House Museum and Jane Austen Center in the morning and have tea in the garden in the afternoon. Sounds like the perfect getaway, doesn’t it?
10. Matamata, New Zealand
Pack your pipes and teacakes in your bag, because you're heading to the Shire—or, more accurately, to Hobbiton, where you can actually visit scenes from the movies. Whether you've seen the Peter Jackson movies or not, if you love The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books, you'll love this literary summer destination.
Image credits: Andres Iga/Unsplash; Link Hoang, Anthony Delanoix, Michael Hirsch/Unsplash; tpsdave, Mariamichelle, Walkersk, skeeze, pcdazero, MasaHu/Pixabay
