11 Perfect Bookish Places to Visit in California’s Wine Country
You probably don’t immediately think of California’s wine country as a vibrant place for bibliophiles but both the Napa and Sonoma Valleys are rich with literary history and sites to see. There are boutique, independent bookstores to pursue and estates of iconic authors to visit. There are two state parks named after authors within the […]
Everything You Must See in Robert Louis Stevenson’s California
This post contains affiliate links Best known for favorites such as Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson had quite a life in his 44 years. A Scotsman, he was born and educated in Edinburgh and endured chronic sickness from a young age. He would experience palpable sickness […]
5 Super Spooky Literary Destinations to Visit for Halloween
This post contains affiliate links Spooky season is upon us, bibliophiles! Even for the most low key bookworm there are a plethora of spooky literary destinations to visit all over the country. Here are five of the best. 5 Super Spooky Literary Destinations to Visit for Halloween Old Dutch Church and Burial Ground Sleepy Hollow, […]
Visit the John Muir National Historic Site: The Beautiful Home of an Iconic Preservationist, Author, and Father of Our National Parks
This post contains affiliate links A visit to the John Muir National Historic Site is absolutely worth it if you’re in the Martinez area–roughly 35 miles northwest of San Francisco or just want to pay homage to the father of our National Parks System. Muir authored dozens of books, essays, magazine articles and more during […]
The Best Highlights of Dashiell Hammett’s San Francisco
This post contains affiliate links If you’re a fan of The Maltese Falcon or appreciate all things noir, and you’re curious to learn more about Dashiell Hammett’s San Francisco this is the guide for you. Samuel Dashiell Hammett grew up in Philadelphia and Baltimore. He left school at an early age and began working for […]
Explore the Best of Octavia Butler’s Pasadena
This post contains affiliate links Octavia E. Butler was born in Pasadena in 1947 to a shoeshine and a domestic worker during a time of heavy racial segregation. She often accompanied her mother to clean houses (entering through back doors) and witnessed employers treat her mother poorly. She was incredibly shy and it was difficult […]
Maya Angelou’s San Francisco and Beyond: Everything You Need to See
This post contains affiliate links Maya Angelou’s San Francisco is full of places that helped shape the identity of the beloved poet and author. It’s where she first donned the name, Maya Angelou, after all. She graduated high school in the city, got a job as one of (if not the first) Black women streetcar […]
8 Best Places to Find William Shakespeare in America
As we approach the 460th year of his birth, William Shakespeare (and the idea of him) still burns bright. And as it turns out, there are loads of places to find William Shakespeare in America from coast to coast. Dozens of theater companies and festivals dazzle fans with incredible Elizabethan performances. There are busts of […]
Tour the Inspiring M.F.K. Fisher’s Last House
This post contains affiliate links While most travelers head north of San Francisco to Glen Ellen to enjoy Sonoma wineries, visit the Jack London State Historic Park, or to eat at the Glen Ellen Star, making time to visit M.F.K. Fisher’s Last House is so worth the memorable experience. WHO WAS M.F.K. FISHER? A tour-de-force […]
All the Best Beverly Cleary Literary Sites in Portland
She was born over a century ago and yet fans still flock to a tidy, quiet northeast Portland neighborhood to catch all of the Beverly Cleary literary sites in real life. The character Henry Huggins made his debut in Beverly Cleary’s first novel nearly 75 years ago. Ramona didn’t really begin to shine until she […]
