A Bookish Travel Guide

There’s something undeniably romantic about planning a trip based on your TBR pile. Forget the crowded tourist traps and over-filtered beach shots—bookish travel is the new it-girl of vacation planning. It’s for the readers who want a getaway with a plot. So, pack a tote bag, grab your annotated paperback, and let’s take a tour of the towns where literature lives and breathes.

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What Is Bookish Travel?

Bookish travel, however, isn’t limited to professors on sabbatical or people who own more than one fountain pen. On the contrary, It’s for anyone who’s ever read a book and thought, I need to experience this. In essence, It’s a form of travel where the itinerary is built around stories (real or imagined), authors, and the destinations feel like actual settings, not just stops.

In fact, bookish travel brings a little magic to the mundane: a creaky floorboard becomes a plot point; a local cafe becomes your main character moment. Meanwhile, in a world that’s constantly asking us to do more, be more, and post more, bookish travel invites you to be still and read more.

How to Plan a Bookish Road Trip

You don’t need a literary degree or a full-blown itinerary. Just curiosity, a map, and maybe a little room in your suitcase.

Start with a theme. Are you into Southern Gothic? Small-town bookstores? Author homes with cats? Let that guide your region.
Follow indie bookstores on Instagram. They often post events, pop-ups, and community happenings that don’t show up on Google.
Check local calendars. Look for readings, book festivals, or walking tours. Some small towns have surprisingly rich literary scenes.
Map your route around bookstores and cafés. Add in time to wander, browse, and pretend you’re the main character.

Look for museums, statues, or memorial benches. Especially in legacy towns. They’re subtle but powerful.

Bookstore Bucket List

Of course, there’s something sacred about a good indie bookstore. The smell of paper and possibility, the handwritten staff picks, the urge to whisper even though no one asked you to—it’s all part of the ritual. Fortunately, the U.S. is full of shelves worth traveling for.

Powell’s City of Books – Portland, OR

First up: this is the mothership. Powell’s is a city block of literary temptation. With its over a million books, color-coded rooms, and the smell of espresso wafting from the café, it’s literally book hoarder heaven. So, don’t blame us if your suitcase leaves a little heavier!

Books Are Magic – Brooklyn, NY

Next on the list: cozy, colorful, and community-driven, this indie darling feels like the beating heart of Brooklyn’s lit scene. In fact, owned by novelist Emma Straub, the shop is famous for its events, curated selections, and that now-iconic mural outside.

The Ripped Bodice – Culver City, CA

Now for something truly unique: the only romance-only bookstore in the U.S., and it’s fabulous! Feminist, inclusive, and brimming with tropes you’ll actually want to read. Plus, they have a dog named Fitzwilliam! You’re welcome.

Second Story Books – Washington, D.C.

Nestled in Dupont Circle, this bookstore is a treasure trove of rare, antique, and out-of-print finds. Not only do you come for the literary thrill of discovery, but you also stay for the dusty-hardback energy and unexpected first editions.

Vintage Books – Honolulu, HI

This cozy indie by day turns into a secret speakeasy after dark, complete with literary cocktails and moody, bookish vibes. With a rotating drink menu and a hidden back-room feel, it makes for pure island magic that’s perfect for story lovers.

Parnassus Books – Nashville, TN

Founded by literary powerhouse Ann Patchett, Parnassus is truly a Southern dream. Moreover, it serves as a reminder that bookstores can still be sanctuaries, and yes, there are shop dogs—plural! Expect poetry, local love, and books you didn’t know you needed until they softly call your name.

Nowhere Bookshop – San Antonio, TX

Owned by Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess), this quirky and beloved newcomer offers curated chaos in the best possible way. With books, wine, and the kind of weird that feels like home, it’s truly a one-of-a-kind spot. Plus, enjoy killer merch and author events that feel like happy hour with your favorite characters.

Bookstore Main Streets and Literary Towns

This is for the ones whose dream vacation includes a bookstore stop even before you check into your hotel. Indeed, these bookish towns serve up main streets where the books outnumber the boutiques—and moreover, every indie shop feels like a local treasure hunt.

Stillwater, MN

Often called “America’s Bookstore Town,” Stillwater’s Main Street is truly a literal shelfie dream. For example, indie bookshops like Valley Bookseller and Black Letter Books are tucked between antique stores, cafés, and river views. You might walk in for one paperback, but chances are you’ll leave with a heavy tote bag filled with books—and maybe even a vintage trinket or two.

Concord, MA

This New England town reads like a required reading list. In fact, it was once home to Louisa May Alcott, Thoreau, Emerson, and Hawthorne, making it a true Transcendentalist dream. Be sure to stop by Orchard House, then take a stroll past Walden Pond, and finally, pay your respects at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery’s Authors’ Ridge.

Key West, FL

Once home to Ernest Hemingway, this sunny, rum-soaked island is full of literary lore. For example, visit the Hemingway Home, complete with six-toed cats, and while you’re there, plan your trip around Hemingway Days—the annual festival where look-alikes gather to read, fish, and generally out-Hemingway each other.

Lorain, OH

The Bluest Eye began here. In fact, visit Toni Morrison’s hometown, where the city honors her with a memorial Bench by the Road, a statue near the library, and the Toni Morrison Reading Room in the Lorain Public Library.

Monroeville, AL

Welcome to Harper Lee’s hometown – the real-life Maycomb of To Kill a Mockingbird. Indeed, the Old Courthouse Museum brings the novel to life, and every spring, the courtroom hosts a staged version of the book. Truly, it’s small-town Southern lit in its purest, most powerful form.

Oxford, MS

William Faulkner’s former home, Rowan Oak, still stands proudly under mossy oaks. Meanwhile, just a few blocks away, Square Books anchors a literary square where locals casually sip iced coffee and passionately discuss Southern storytelling like it’s a sport.

Santa Fe, NM

A literary and cultural hub shaped in part by the work of Leslie Marmon Silko, whose writing draws deeply from the land, language, and stories of the Southwest. Moreover, bookshops, festivals, and adobe reading rooms come together to make this desert city a place where Indigenous storytelling still powerfully shapes the conversation.

San Francisco, CA

As the epicenter of the Beat Generation, City Lights Bookstore, co-founded by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, remains a landmark for counterculture readers and rebel poets. Additionally, just outside, Kerouac Alley offers murals, quotes, and the lingering scent of espresso and revolution.

The Story Is Yours Now

It might be a hidden shop on a cobblestone street, a bench overlooking the Black River, or a paperback paired with a quiet morning far from home. Bookish travel opens the door to experiences that feel lifted straight from a novel. You’ll follow the road trip, wander into the story, and find yourself in places where the pages breathe. Don’t worry about coming home with too many books—there’s no such thing.

Shaylynn Marks

Shaylynn Marks has a BFA in Creative Writing, with poetry and prose published through several journals and sold internationally. She was awarded Runner-Up for Poet of the Year with Poetic Anarchy Press. When she doesn't have a pen in hand, you can find her with a guitar or paintbrush!