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Vacations for Book Lovers

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Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries.” – Anne Herbert

I didn’t discover a true, burning desire to read until I was out of my teens. I picked up ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’ after I watched the movie and felt a kinship with the quirky character. The book became a Bible for me and I still have my tattered paperback copy to this day. My mother insisted I read these young adult books about a boy discovering he was a wizard. Harry Potter became a shared adoration and glue that held us together at the dinner table for long chats about the books. During my upcoming park review of Universal Studios Orlando’ Diagon Alley expansion, I will have to constantly remind myself I am a working professional as I know I will get lost in the wonder of seeing my favorite book come to life.

Books and the amazing adventures inside each one are like tiny vacations in themselves, but these experiences will have your inner nerd rejoicing.

Libraries

It seems obvious, but not many people think to stop and enjoy the library while on vacation. They a free resource filled with experiences. You don’t have to be a member to enjoy the offerings. The Los Angeles Public Library has loads of the city’s history in newspaper archives and photos. The public library in Manhattan is often filled with art and free public classes, programs, and exhibitions. The Fort Wayne Public library is home to an amazing source for genealogy.

Library Hotel – New York

If you want a weekend where you will never have to leave your hotel room, The Library Hotel in New York is for you. Each of the 10 guestroom floors is dedicated to one of the 10 categories of the Dewey Decimal System. Sixty rooms are filled with books and decor that corresponds with its respective category. For example, the eighth floor is dedicated to all things in the literature category. Around 6,000 titles await you. Guests are also treated to a complimentary continental breakfast buffet and an evening reception offering wines, imported and domestic cheeses, fresh bread, crackers, and crudités.

The Nines Hotel – Portland, Oregon

Portland is a great place for foodies, but book lovers are catered to at The Nines Hotel. The hotel boasts a floor-to-ceiling collection of books which is curated by Powell’s Books. It is also located within walking distance of the store that contains four floors, stretching over an entire block, and over a million new, used, and out-of-print titles.

Middle-earth Experience

My fervor for Harry Potter barely eclipses my adoration for Tolkien. If you are for a visit to The Shire, you can experience the real Hobbiton movie set from ‘The Lord of the Rings‘ and ‘The Hobbit‘ film trilogies. Tours are available that let guests see Hobbit Holes, The Green Dragon Inn, The Mill, the double arched bridge and other structures and gardens built for the films. Stop by The Green Dragon for some nosh. All guests receive one complimentary refreshment from our exclusively crafted Southfarthing range.

Author Adventure

Western Massachusetts is home to several amazing authors. You can head to the Berkshires and visit Edith Wharton’s gorgeous estate, a replica of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s cottage, stop by Herman Melville’s house, and poke around W.E.B. Dubois’ home-site. Google your favorite author and check out their hometown. You will see the world around them that inspired their work.