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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Literary Vacations

Summer is almost over. School starts for my teenagers in about three weeks, and we didn’t go on a vacation this year (unless you call filling up a plastic storage bin with water, and telling my 2-year-old that it's a waterpark a "vacation").

If we do go somewhere in the future, I think we might need to take a “literary vacation.” After reading about possibilites on Salon.com, I have more than a few ideas.

Have you ever planned a vacation based on a book? You could visit:

Heidiland in Maienfeld, Switzerland-The Swiss Alps area that inspired the classic Heidi.


Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, England-A medieval castle rumored to be that of the legendary King Arthur.


Jack London’s Beauty Ranch in Glen Ellen, CA still has displays of his manuscripts with scribbled edits and plenty of rejection letters from early in his career.


Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts where the author of such beloved books as The Very Hungry Caterpillar is honored.





Washington Irving’s home of Sleepy Hollow, New York where Irving may have pondered the plot of Sleepy Hollow while carving a pumpkin on his front porch.



The Birthplace of Hogwarts in Edinburgh, Scotland- Be sure to visit The Elephant Café, where JK Rowling completed her early novels.







Click below for a slideshow from Salon.com that highlights literary spots that would make an excellent trip for both adults and kids! Scroll down completely to see up to three pages of locales.

Slide Show of Literary Places

Have you visited any literary places?

29 comments:

  1. I haven't but I really want to. I have visited a location after I chose it for my book. I was glad I did because being there showed me some things that I needed to change in the story to make it accurate.

    I would love to visit Prince Edward Island and also Guernsey after reading "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society."

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  2. I'd love to have the money to take a nice vacation.

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  3. I haven't, but now I want to!

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  4. This was a really clever post! I soooo wish I could go to Scotland, but it isn't in the cards for me. Universal Studios' Harry Potter/Hogwarts experience is the closest I will come, and even that won't happen this summer.

    I hope you're enjoying your summer!

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  5. I'd love to visit all of those places. Especially Tintagel.

    Sigh.

    Shelley

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  6. ah. I've never been to a literary place like this, but thanks for the trip! And I love your water park!

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  7. I've never tried a literary vacay... sounds like fun! Might have to try it out sometim ( :

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  8. Now isn't this the coolest post. I think if I had the opportunity I'd just travel with you! You have such an imagination I think we'd have a ton of fun!!!

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  9. Love this! I've been to the Balzac house in Paris, and visited Shakespeare's house in Stratford-upon-Avon. I think that's it.

    -Vicki

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  10. What fun! I've been a few literary places, though of course I can't think which ones right now!

    Oh, and I love your idea of filling up a tub with water. Sounds like a fun thing to do with a toddler, especially when you don't have a baby pool (which we don't).

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  11. I'll take Tintagel Castle - that sounds dreamy :)

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  12. Tintagel Castle sounds great to me, too!

    I've been to the Elephant Cafe, not to mention Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross station. One of the highlights of my childhood was going to Louisa May Alcott's house in Massachusetts. I loved her books!

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  13. What a great idea when planning a vacation! Would love to go to Scotland!

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  14. What a cool idea. I've never taken a literary vacation. Maybe someday. Your "water park" vacation is a hoot, and I bet your two-year-old loved it!

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  15. Hi Jess ~ I've lurked here a few times and thought it's about time I leave a comment. I've never taken a literary vacation either, but it sounds like a great idea! I loved your idea for a waterpark vacation - what 2-year-old wouldn't love that?

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  16. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to go to Sleepy Hollow. Sounds like my ideal literary vacation:)

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  17. vbtemper & Beth-I'm so jealous! You world travelers you!

    Everyone~ thanks for the comments. I agree~ some of these places just make me salivate. I'd say Tintagel and Sleepy Hollow are my top two...I might have to do another bit on Sleepy Hollow around Halloween :)

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  18. I've driven through Sleepy Hollow - I'm so sad we didn't stop. It would have been awesome! I did go to Stratford-on-Avon. Shakespeare's childhood home actually inspired a small piece in my novel.

    Tintagel Castle would be amazing, Edinburgh, too. And I echo Donna's suggestion of Prince Edward Island, but it's Anne of Green Gables that inspires that for me.

    Great idea, Jess! I'm off to check out more locales ~ :)

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  19. Literary vacations - wow - I may have to check that site out. I took the ultimate literary vacation - I moved to the locale of my favorite book, Green Grass of Wyoming !!!!

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  20. When you book the charter for all of us to hit those cool places, please count me in. I have been to Sleepy Hollow - at dusk no less. It was deliciously creepy.

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  21. I've heard Scotland is beautiful and friendly. Now that I realize JK Rowling was inspired and wrote there, I definitely want to go!

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  22. What a wonderful idea! My problem is I'd like to be able to travel back in time. :)

    I’m delighted to be a new follower and have left a response to your comment on Bird’s-eye View at http://michellefayard.blogspot.com/2011/07/getting-blog-comments-to-work-for-you.html.

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  23. Wow, lots of you have been to Sleepy Hollow~ I'm very jealous! I've really got to get over there :)

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  24. I once went to one of Laura Ingalls Wilder's homes - though I forget where!

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