Travel and Vacation Ideas from Books

You’ve read the entire Outlander series and streamed all the seasons. But what if you could actually ride a horse through the Scottish Highlands and experience Claire and Jamie’s journey.

Or how about hiking the same trails that Arthur Conan Doyle did as he was inspired to write Hound of the Baskervilles? Start planning your next trip with this list of 12 travel ideas inspired by books.

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

This was one of my favorite books as a child and introduced readers to Pony Penning on Chincoteague and Assatague Islands. The book was inspired by the feral horses that live at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island which spans Virginia and Maryland. 

The annual Pony Swim occurs every July and the public is able to watch as the herd swims from Assatague Island to Chincoteague.

The Pony Swim provides a chance for veterinarians to check the health of the horses and for the public to purchase ponies at the auction which helps to manage the herd size. After the auction, the remaining horses swim back to Assatague Island where they will live on their own in the wild.

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

There are countless locations throughout London and around the world where Sherlock Holmes fans can see the actual places where the fictional Sherlock Holmes solved mysteries. One good way to see the London sites written about by Doyle is with a walking tour. If you want to set off on your own, try this self-guided tour. There are several companies which provide guided tours including  London Walks, and Viator. Go with London Walking Tours and you’ll have a chance to solve a mystery using clues from one of Dr. Holmes’ own stories.

If you are looking for a little more adventure, head to Devon where you can explore the hills of Dartmoor which was the setting of The Hound of the Baskervilles. Doyle was captivated by the beauty of Dartmoor and made several visits exploring the rolling moor and jagged hills.

• Grimspound is the site of a Bronze Age hut circle which is likely the setting where Dr. Holmes sits to observe the comings and goings of characters. 
• Fox Tor Mire is said to be the inspiration for Grimpen Mire and Bellevor Tor is a probable setting for Lafter Hall. 
• These sites are not well-marked and the terrain can be intimidating, especially in bad weather, so unless you are well-prepared, you might be better off following a mapped trail or taking a guided walk. 

For a full-day immersion into the people, places and legends which inspired Doyle’s most famous adventure, join Unique Devon Tours. 

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

This is an obvious one. Hike the Pacific Coast Trail. Covering 2650 miles from Mexico to Canada, the trail winds through desert, forest and mountainous terrain. Whether you hike the entire route or just a portion, you’re likely to learn a little something about yourself and  a lot about the beauty of the Western United States.

Ulysses by James Joyce

 Immerse yourself into the world of Leopold Bloom and the other characters brought to life by Joyce at the annual Bloomsday Festival in Dublin. Trace Bloom’s journey through Dublin, meet characters from the novel, and eat the foods that Joyce’s characters ate including nutty gizzards, liver slices fried with crustcrumbs, and grilled mutton kidneys. If you ignore the tourists taking photos with their cell phones, you just might think you have been transported back to 1904.

Take a drive to Howth and hike the Cliff Path Trail to Howth Head where Molly Bloom recalls Leopold’s proposal.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Gabaldon’s tale of a time traveling nurse and her 18th Century Highland Scotsman has pushed Scotland to the top of many a traveler’s bucket list. In response, tours of Outlander sites are plentiful. Here are a few of the more popular tour companies but a quick search will reveal countless options. 

• The Jamie and Claire Tour
• Rob Roy Tours
• Celtic Journeys

If spending your days in a mini-bus isn’t your thing, how about riding a horse through the Scottish Highlands. You’ll ride through Fraser and Mackenzie lands and visit many filming locations. 

If you aren’t the type to join a tour group, here are some other ways to experience the beauty of Outlander inspired Scotland.

Self-Drive Tour.  Visit Scotland and GeoTourist have teamed up to offer a self-driving guide to your favorite Outlander scenes. 

VisitScotland has created a map of Outlander Film locations searchable by the season they were filmed. 

Stone Circles: Craigh na Dun is the name of the ancient stone circle in the Scottish Highlands through which Claire time travels to 18th Century Scotland. While this particular stone circle is fictitious, there are several other sites to experience these awe-inspiring forms. 

• Kinnoch Rannoch.  You won’t find any stone circles here but this is the place where the Craigh na Dun scenes were filmed. 
• Ring of Brodgar
• Clava Cairns   
• Kilmartin Glen
• Calanais Standing Stones

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer 

Gather with other Twilighters at the annual Forever Twilight in Forks Festival in Forks, Washington, the setting for the novels. 

Download a map of Twilight locations for a self-guided tour of filming spots. 

Hiking is a great way to experience the beautiful landscape and scenery featured in the Twilight Saga. 

• Take the Hall of Mosses trail through the Hoh Rain Forest to understand how it might have felt to roam the Pacific Northwest rainforests as a vampire or werewolf. This short, less than a mile roundrip, trail is shadowed by old growth trees shrouded in moss.  
• Third Beach has it all. A 1.3 mile hike through the forest before breaking through the trees to meet the Pacific Ocean. 
• Silver Falls State Park in Oregon is where some of the treetop shots of Bella and Edward were filmed. Enjoy coastal forests, waterfalls, and wildlife across several trails throughout the park.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

There are numerous guided tours for Harry Potter fans which can easily be found with a quick internet search. I’ve pulled together a few experiences that are a bit more adventurous.  

Hike the Glenfinnan Viaduct Trail. If you want to see the Jacobite train as it passes over the viaduct, check the timetable. The train usually crosses the viaduct 30 to 40 minutes after it leaves Ft. William.  On the return trip it should cross the viaduct around 45 minutes before it’s scheduled arrival in Ft. William. Give yourself plenty of time to find parking (which can be difficult during the busy season) and hike to a good viewing point. 

Of course, riding the Jacobite Train is high on most Potter fans list. Book early as these trips fill up fast. 

Glen Nevis was used for background scenery during Quittich games and hikers are able to immerse themselves in the misty, magical surroundings of the Scottish Highlands.

Within Glen Nevis, you’ll find Steall Falls where Harry confronted a Hungarian Horntail dragon in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.  Along the 2.25 mile trail (4.5 miles round trip) you’ll walk through woodlands, a rocky gorge and a broad meadow with Steall Falls your prize at the end. 

Want to really experience life as a student of magic? Spend three days at the College of Wizardry at Czocha Castle in Poland.

Sleep like a Wizard at the Georgian House Hotel in  London. Partake in a magical afternoon tea party including slow cooked beefwitched brisket, eye of newt scones served with curdled cream, dark arts baked chocolate and salted caramel and Bottomless Bubbles. 

Join a Quidditch team. Will you be a seeker, chaser, beater or keeper? Will your team make it to the Quidditch World Cup?

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series by Stieg Larsson

Relive the activities of Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander while on the The Millennium Tour in Stockholm, Sweden. This self-guided tour was rated the number one literary walking tour in the world by Lonely Planet!

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Experience the luxury of the Plaza Hotel in New York City as Scott and Zelda might have. Stay in the Fitzgerald Suite which was designed by Catherine Martin, who worked on the film. But you’ll pay for this luxury. The going rate is more than $2500 per night. 

Explore Sands Point Preserve, the inspiration for East Egg and Daisy Buchanan’s home. Tour two Gatsby-Style Mansions and Castle Gould. Hike through the 216 acres to get a feel of what it might have been like to live on the Gold Coast of Long Island. 

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Rent a car and drive the seven-day Don Quixote Trail through Spain. You’ll start in Alcalá de Henares, Cervante’s birthplace, and work your way through 13 towns and some of the most beautiful Spanish countryside. Along the way you’ll see the Campo de Criptana windmills which Don Quixote mistook for giants; visit Tobosa, the home of Dulcinea; and explore the cave of Montesinos.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Talk like a Pirate during Pirate Week in the Cayman Islands. This annual two-week event includes a pirate invasion, sporting competitions, traditional food and lots of pirates!

Sail like a Pirate on the Jolly Roger, an all timber-constructed 15th century Spanish galleon replica located at Grand Cayman.  Walk the plank, party with pirates and imbibe in rum punch while you sail through the high seas. 

Drink like a Pirate along Florida’s Rum Trail. Visit 13 craft rum distilleries as you drive from Northern Florida to Key West. You may not meet any pirates along the trail but you might start talking like one.

Swiss Family Robinson by Johann D. Wyss

You probably don’t want to experience the getting stranded on a deserted island part of this book, but how about the treehouse? Try one of these 14 treehouses around the world where you can spend the night. 

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What other literature-based adventures have you been on? Let me know in the comments.

Looking for more travel ideas? Get some vacation inspiration from these nine movies.