Pages: Literary Travels

One of my own (not official by any means) very favorite genres to read is travel writing. Not travel guides. Those show you all the best places to visit when you reach a place. No, I enjoy travel writing. It's the first hand accounts of travelers and tales of writers heading to far off places that I just love. I read these stories to plan trips, but also to dream about places I'll probably never reach (I'm looking at you Bhutan...)

While I've read many - in my library, there are three entire shelves devoted to these wonders alone - these are my top five. And because I'm not so good with narrowing down a list, I've also provided a few similar books that I enjoyed. 

Happy Literary Travels! 

A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdain 

Every Bourdain fan knows this is his least favorite of his own books. But for me, it was the first of his I'd read. I fell in love with his unique philosophy on food, travel, and life itself. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

Similar to A Cook's Tour: No Baggage by Clara Bensen

We'll Always Have Paris by Jennifer Coburn 

I read many, many books about Paris for someone who claims they’re not the biggest fan of the City of Light. There's just something ever so readable about Paris. This account of a mother daughter trip to the city is perfectly captured. You feel the love she has for her daughter on every page, and her desire to share every part of this adventure with her. My mom and I both loved it. Sharing the story with her made it even more special. 

Similar to We'll Always Have Paris: Paris Letters by Janice MacLeod, The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz, The Only Street in Paris by Elaine Sciolino

Mediterranean Summer by David Shalleck and Erol Munuz 

I am actually not a huge fan of sailing in general. But this account by a chef who spent his summer cooking on a luxury sailing yacht may have swayed me. From the ports he visited, to the markets he shopped, you feel the warm breezes of the Med on every page!

Similar to Mediterranean Summer: The Spice Necklace and An Embarrassment of Mangoes both by Ann Vanderhoof

Radio Shangri-La by Lisa Napoli 

I have an unhealthy obsession with all things Bhutan. My psych-major heart is hooked on the research calling it the happiest place on earth. I’d love to look into Michael J. Fox's account of his time there and why his Parkinson's symptoms all but disappeared. It's been built up as this magical place in my mind; but, it's super difficult to reach. Therefore, a personal account of a woman setting up a radio station in this far off land, is right up my alley. She described the area so beautifully, and also addressed the oddness of this almost hidden place. (Pro Tip: I learned that the University of Texas at El Paso's architecture is based on Bhutan. If you're also unhealthily obsessed with the area, put that on your adventure list. It's at least a little easier to reach here in the States.)

Similar to Radio Shangri-La: Holy Cow by Sarah Macdonald and In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

A Fine Romance by Susan Branch 

I love England. It is by far, my happy place. I also enjoy seeing people being crafty. Susan Branch's personally illustrated account of her time in the English countryside, after sailing there on the Queen Mary, has my heart. Her illustrations and her tales from this dream vacation, bring the countryside to life just beautifully. 

Similar to A Fine Romance: Nothing else based in England is really similar to this book but Susan Branch has written and illustrated Martha's Vineyard: Isle of Dreams and The Fairy Tale Girl. Though if you just want a great book based in England, I highly recommend Londoners by Craig Taylor.

*Originally published in Scrappy Travels blog (09/2017)