Top Ten Tuesday – Ten Places Books Have Made Me Want To Visit

No time to waste, let’s start our journey!

#10 A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

I wanted to start and end with my two favorite pieces of literature. This was the first book I ever remember thinking, “Gosh, I wish I could go there, too.” Just imagining Meg, Calvin and Charles Wallace makes me want to reach for my well-loved copy and go on a journey with them once again all around the universe.

#9 A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson

I have always wanted to go to Maine because it was the home of my dear great-grandpa. Bill Bryson’s funny narrative just increased that desire. Comedy, nature and bear sightings all wrapped into one (very long) hike.

#8 The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Hey, Mars Colony guys, if you’re ever looking for a snarky, wannabe photographer and her giant dog to join your expedition, you know how to get a hold of me.

#7 Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen

I love Florida. It is home to some of my favorite people on Earth. But I’ve always liked beachy Florida, or lighthouse lookout Florida, or swim with dolphins Florida. Leave it to a crazy kayaker and man-eating crocodiles to make me want to see the Everglades.

#6 Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

First question, will Jamie be there? If the answer is yes, I have no follow up questions; I will be booking my trip ASAP. If the answer is no, could it be arranged? If the answer is a final no, I guess I would settle for the rich history and culture, the landscapes even Photoshop couldn’t enhance, actual castles, those cute shaggy cows, and all the plaid.

#5 Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

Tracking a mysterious sea creature in a spaceship-esque submarine not exciting enough for you? This book has the lost city of Atlantis. Of course I would love to see the infamous civilization and walk/swim(?) through its ruins.

#4 Off the Road: A Modern-Day Walk Down the Pilgrim’s Route into Spain by Jack Hitt

The thought of a pilgrimage has been in my head most of my adult life, but from a purely theoretical standpoint. Enter this book, and all of that changed. While my future walk won’t center on the divine, if I’m ever in the neighborhood, I would happily take a stroll down the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.

#3 Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

I know, I know. It’s an incredibly obvious choice, but stick with me. I could have picked Wild by Cheryl Strayed or Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes for a better emotional journey. EPL simply has three places for the price of one – and they’re all on my bucket list. Plus, I’ve always wanted to have a Julia Roberts moment.

#2 Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Aaah, already mentally packing my bags. Get me on the fastest flight out of here so I can see some dinosaurs. Yes, I might get mauled by a T-Rex. No place is perfect.

Drumroll please…My number one literary destination is:

#1 The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Seriously, when can I leave? I would be one kick-ass Hobbit. Sure, they have that pesky problem of the all-consuming evil that is Sauron, but the rolling hills of the Shire, the ethereal beauty of Rivendell and Lothlorien, the Misty Mountains all would be amazing vacation destinations. Let’s just say if there were ever a LOTR theme park opened (a la Wizarding World of Harry Potter), I would be tapping into my rainy day fund as quickly as humanly possible. Hogwarts, Winterfell, Narnia, you are in my heart, but that heart belongs solely to Middle Earth. Allow me to present my argument for the best place ever.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

I rest my case.

Tell us, if you could go anywhere you have read about in a book, where would you go?