When you love to read, a good book can transport you to an entirely different location or moment in time without you ever leaving your favorite reading nook. It is a truly magical feeling to lose yourself in a book that is so engaging that you do not notice the passing of time or anything other than what is happening on the page in front of you.

Books are like travel in that they can give you insight into how other people live and think, and help you learn about far off lands and other ways of life. Of course, the best things in life are even better together—and literary vacations are more common than you might think! After all, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to experience the things that you previously imagined in your mind? That’s exactly what you’ll get to do when you visit one of our favorite literary travel destinations. 

“You have brains in your head

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself

In any direction you choose.” 

-Dr. Suess, from Oh, The Places You’ll Go

Literary Vacations for the Whole Family

Traveling to visit the places your kids read about is an incredible opportunity for them to see and experience what they had previously only imagined. It’s like watching the movie version of a book, only 100 times better! We love to create custom trips based on your child’s favorite books. Here are some fun literary travel ideas based on some popular books for a variety of ages: 

Paris, France

Paris, France is the scene of many books including Madeline, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris. You can even take a tour of some of the scenes in the Madeline series and find other child-friendly things to experience—like Family Baking Time or Paris Like a Princess.

Naturally, Paris is a literary travel destination that visitors of all ages can appreciate. Classics like Madame Bovary (Gustave Flaubert) and Notre Dame de Paris (Victor Hugo) take place in the city. Plus, many 20th-century American writers—including Hemingway—spent time in the city. Planning a literary vacation in Paris gives you a chance to see the world as they did!

London, England

Whether your children are fans of classics like Peter Pan and Paddington Bear, or are die-hard Harry Potter readers, your children will be enthralled by London. There are a variety of Harry Potter tours that you can take to check out the studio where the movies were filmed—as well as real-life locations from your favorite scenes. Other great kid-friendly destinations include the London Zoo, the Tower of London, the London Eye, Big Ben, and a seemingly endless list of fun and interesting sights. 

Springfield, Massachusetts

While less glamorous than Paris or London, Springfield, Massachusetts is the hometown of Dr. Suess himself. Located near Hartford, Connecticut, you can spend a day at The Amazing World of Dr. Suess Museum. If you stay several days, you can check out the Connecticut Science Center, Mystic Aquarium, and the Dinosaur State Park. 

Assateague Island, Maryland

Children have been falling in love with the wild ponies of Assateague Island—featured in Marguerite Henry’s classic Misty of Chincoteague series—since 1947.  You can catch the annual Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department pony swim each summer or simply go and enjoy the wild ponies throughout the season, while also enjoying the fun and sun of nearby Ocean City, Maryland. You can usually spot at least one herd meandering through Assateague Island, and many visitors get to witness the ponies casually hanging out on the beach and swimming in the bay. 

Disney World, Orlando, Florida

Children who already love Disney World in Orlando, Florida will adore The Kingdom Keepers series, a fantasy about mysterious things that happen after the theme parks close and the five teenagers who must fight silent and invisible forces to save Disney. Your kids will love reading this series before your next trip, so that they can look for scenes from the book and wonder what really happens after dark at their favorite attractions. 

Plan Your Literary Vacation Today!

There are really no limits to where we can help you travel to help your children experience their favorite book settings in real life. Unless your child’s favorite is Goodnight Moon. Give us a few years, though. You never know where travel or literature will be able to take you in the future—but you can be absolutely sure that TravelAble Vacations can help you get there!

If you’re ready to plan a literary vacation, just let us know how we can help. Read Across America Day is coming up in March, and we’d love to help you celebrate in the best way possible. Looking for more travel or vacation ideas? Get in touch with TravelAble Vacations or explore our blog from home!