Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is the top 10 places we want to visit because of books. And luckily for me, fictional places count too!
Without further ado, my 10 top book-related destinations:
1) The Scottish Highlands, thanks to the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.
2) Paris, because of SO many books — most recently Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins. (I’ve actually spent time in Paris, but I’d go again in a heartbeat!)
3) Amsterdam, thanks to The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
4) Japan, thanks to Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
5) Botswana, thanks to The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
6) Australia, thanks to The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
7) Italian Riviera, thanks to Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter.
8) New Orleans, because of every Anne Rice book I’ve ever read.
Honestly, there are so many real-world places I’d love to visit, and every time I read a book with a new or different setting, the list just gets longer and longer. I’d happily travel the world, books in hand, for the rest of my life!
To round out my top 10, I’ll just add in a couple of the fantasy worlds I wish I could get to… but alas, they only exist in fiction.
9 & 10 & beyond — the many lands of Middle-Earth:
Someone please figure out how I can get to Hobbiton (I’m short enough to fit comfortably):
Gondor:
and Lothlorien:
And that’s not even mentioning Narnia, Fillory, Westeros (well, no, too dangerous), and so many other favorite fantasy worlds.
Where will your bookish travel bug take you?
Share your links, and I’ll come check out your top 10!
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Bookshelf Fantasies 
Totally with you on so many of these. Esp New Orleans!
I just read another really entertaining horror novel set there as well… between books and The Originals on TV, New Orleans is really calling to me!
Maybe it’s a sign!
There are some great choices here! 🙂
I only managed 8. It’s so difficult to think of every book you’ve ever read!
I agree! I always find myself standing in front of my bookshelves looking for inspiration when it comes to my TTT posts. 🙂
Yes to Middle-earth! It’s definitely my #1 travel destination as well.
Honestly, all these pictures are enticing enough to make me want to travel there, though, especially the Italian Riviera. So beautiful!
If only I had more time and unlimited funds, I’d spend my time going from one to another! Thanks for visiting! 🙂
Lothlorien made my list too!! 🙂 You can sort of visit Hobbiton in New Zealand… I doubt it’s the same though. Love your list!
Here are my Top Ten!
Ha, thanks! But if I ever do get to Hobbiton, I want to see Samwise Gamgee there, not just a movie set! 🙂
Oh my gosh, I should have totally included Botswana. I would love to go there!
I also would love to go to the Scottish Highlands, but I listed it for different books. I’ve never read Outlander. It seems like a beautiful place though.
Oh, Scotland is absolutely one of my dream destinations! It looks so beautiful.
I love that you’ve put so many real places on your list. There are loads of beautiful ‘real’ places to be explored!
If only I didn’t have to work for a living, I’d spend my days traveling from one amazing destination to another! 🙂
Scotland is so amazingly beautiful and it’s incredible how you can picture so much of Outlander out in the Highlands. It has, of course, changed over the centuries, but to an American eye, it still felt so untouched by the modern world that it felt like stepping into the setting of the book. Still can’t believe I was so lucky to be able to go once & would love to go again 🙂 The show has had me itching for sure! At least I have my re-read to keep my company!
When did you go to Scotland? How wonderful! It’s really a trip that I’m dreaming of, and I hope to be able to make it happen within the next few years. I hear you about re-reading! That’ll keep us all busy until April. 🙂
It was about two years ago & I went with a fellow Outlander fan — best trip ever! We did Edinburgh, Inverness, & the Highlands which was a really nice mix of things to do and see. I really hope you get the chance to go, I think you will love it 🙂
Wow, sounds amazing.Lucky you!
Prince Edward Island!! Oh, the moment when I and my three best friends realized that it’s on all our bucket lists.
Oh, I’d love to go there too! I came close once, on a trip to Nova Scotia, but didn’t have the time to go all the way to PEI.
It is not easy to get to!! (I’ve looked…)
I love your list! You’ve chosen such beautiful images for each selection. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could visit Lothlorien? *sigh* And yes I agree, as much as I love A Song of Ice and Fire, Westeros would never make my list. I know what goes on there.
Ha ha, exactly! I don’t think I’d survive a trip to Westeros… but Lothlorien (or Rivendell) would be heavenly.