I’m a longtime bookworm. I recall reading literature in English class years ago as a student, and feeling the words were so immersive that it was as if I’d traveled somewhere completely different.
Now, as an adult, I love planning trips around literary landmarks and grand bookshops that further indulge my passion. Thankfully, many of my English class favorites were born and raised in the United States, and it’s possible to plan a totally book-focused vacation across the country without complicated journeys.
My go-to stops range from fascinating museums to the preserved homes of great American writers, all with tons of archival documents and explorations of what made these writers so impactful, well past their lifetimes.
From innovative poets to masters of the great American novel, these literary stops are both educational and beautiful. Just make sure you have enough space in your bag for a few new books.
In this article
- Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, MA
- Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, CT
- Rowan Oak, William Faulkner’s Home in Oxford, MS
- Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, FL
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum in Mansfield, MO
- Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen, CA
- Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House in Concord, MA
- The Shortcut
Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, MA
Emily Dickinson spent the majority of her life in her family home in Amherst, which meant she wrote all her poetry in the space. The museum honoring her work comprises two houses: The Homestead (where Emily lived with her family) and the Evergreens (where Emily’s brother lived with his wife and children).
The curators have arranged the homes as they existed back in the 19th century, filled with over 8,000 objects associated with the Dickinson families. Take your time going through as many as possible, and you’ll leave with a greater understanding of Emily’s life and the conditions of her poetry-writing.
In further tribute to Dickinson’s amazing work, the museum hosts many open mic nights and poetry festivals—check their events page for more.
Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, CT
Mark Twain was the pseudonym of Sam Clemens, born in 1835. As one of the United States’ most prominent humorists, his impact is still felt today in satire about American life.
He moved his growing family to Hartford in 1871, and that’s where you can find this museum celebrating his work and documenting his history.
Under the name Mark Twain, he wrote his most famous books in this house: “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” “The Prince and the Pauper,” and more. The museum’s permanent exhibitions focus on Twain’s history and the context of the time he was writing about.
Rotating exhibitions feature artwork inspired by Twain, and the experts who lead the guided tours of the house are enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Save time for the gardens, which are excellent to stroll through as well.
Rowan Oak, William Faulkner’s Home in Oxford, MS
In 1930, William Faulkner bought and moved into an abandoned house and dubbed it Rowan Oak. At that point, he had already published one of his masterworks, “The Sound and the Fury” (in 1929), and then “As I Lay Dying” in 1930. In 1972, a decade after his death, his daughter Jill Faulkner Summers sold the house to the University of Mississippi to turn it into a museum.
The house is preserved as closely as possible to its historical state from the mid-20th century. It only costs $10, but keep in mind that the museum only takes cash.
The grounds include a sunken patio, an English knot garden, and multiple other historic structures. Fans of Faulkner’s experimental, thorny prose get a deep view into the multiple interests and inspirations that drove his writing.
Finally, try taking the Bailey Woods Trail from the house to the University Museum for even more Faulkner ephemera.
Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, FL
Although many of us know Hemingway best from his expatriate years in Paris, he and his wife Pauline purchased a home and started to reside in Key West in 1931. When he married Martha Gellhorn in 1940 and relocated to Cuba, he continued to visit the Key West home. The house needed a ton of restoration work to maintain the Spanish colonial architecture, and Hemingway also chose to install a pool.
All of the time and energy spent on the house has paid off for tourists: the home is now available to tour as a museum, sticks to its architectural roots, and is full of European furniture and souvenirs from their world travels.
Guests can also book the Writing Experience for $15, which is a guided tour followed by access to the house, grounds, and writing studio. Finally, cat lovers rejoice: the estate is home to multiple roaming polydactyl (six-toed) cats.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum in Mansfield, MO
After a reread or a rewatch of “Little House on the Prairie,” visiting Rocky Ridge Farm is the next step to immerse yourself in the writing genius.
She was a pillar of the local community of Mansfield, and they’re all still proud to maintain her legacy at her historic home and museum.
On the property, you’ll be able to tour the multiple homes they lived in throughout the years, starting with a small log cabin to a larger family home. The homes and the museum are like stepping back in time with furniture pieces from her life in the late 1800s that have been lovingly preserved.
To enjoy the natural world Laura loved so much even more, take a stroll down the Wilder Family Walking Trail.
Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen, CA
There are few writers who are able to communicate the beauty of nature like Jack London. In a fitting tribute to his work, his namesake state park covers more than 1,400 acres.
Since it’s a California state park, you have to pay attention to certain restrictions about walking paths and where you can bring your dog or ride a bicycle, but there’s plenty to explore within the beautiful Sonoma landscape of Beauty Ranch (aptly titled).
The park entrance fee ($10) grants you entrance to the London family cottage, where Jack wrote his short stories, and the Happy Walls Museum, which is full of his writing and relevant ephemera.
If you’d like to make a longer trip out of the experience and embrace the call of the wild, campgrounds are available at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House in Concord, MA
The small home where Louisa May Alcott wrote and set her overarching classic “Little Women” feels just as charming as the novel, and you can visit The Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts.
Not only does the home present the belongings of the Alcotts, but you may also take a tour to learn about their family’s commitment to social good. Some Thursday evenings, Orchard House stays open late to host 19th century crafting workshops or meet-and-greets with Concord’s Revolutionary War Minute Men re-enactors.
Before you go, watch PBS Passport’s documentary about the enduring power of Orchard House as a literary tourist attraction. It will make the experience even more immersive. You should also book a timed entry ahead of time to avoid disappointment; only some walk-ins are allowed.
The Shortcut
Bring cash to Rowan Oak. Faulkner's house is $10, and it doesn't take cards.
Book Orchard House before you drive to Concord. Walk-in spots are limited, and some Thursday nights bring the minutemen reenactors.
In Key West, spring for the $15 Writing Experience. It gets you into Hemingway's studio, not just the house. Then say hi to the cats.
A single $10 fee at Jack London's ranch covers both the cottage where he wrote and the museum.
Dickinson and Alcott are about 90 minutes apart, so Massachusetts gives you two houses in one weekend.
