Literary travelers follow the footsteps of famous authors from around the world

Baltimore honors Edgar Allan Poe’s legacy

Baltimore offers one of the most atmospheric literary experiences in the United States through its deep connection to Edgar Allan Poe. Visitors can tour the modest brick rowhouse where Poe lived and began his writing career at the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum, a site that traces the early years of the writer whose work helped define American Gothic literature.

Nearby at Westminster Hall, Poe’s gravesite has become a pilgrimage stop for fans of his work. The city celebrates that legacy each October during the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards, which includes dramatic readings, cemetery tours and theatrical performances.

Louisville’s Seelbach Hotel channels ‘The Great Gatsby’

Louisville offers literary travelers a chance to experience a setting tied to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.” Fitzgerald spent time in the city while stationed nearby in 1918 and frequented the historic Seelbach Hotel, whose grand interiors are widely believed to have helped inspire scenes in the novel.

Visitors can stay in the hotel’s Gatsby Suite, designed with Jazz Age details and references to Fitzgerald’s characters. Historic tours feature areas linked to the author’s visits, making the hotel a stop for travelers interested in the novel’s real-world connections.

Sonoma Valley tells the story of Jack London

In Glen Ellen, California, Jack London State Historic Park offers a closer look at the life and work of the American writer. Docent-led tours connect London’s writing to the Sonoma Valley landscape, where he spent much of his later life.

Visitors can explore the Wolf House ruins, tour the cottage where London and his wife, Charmian, lived and visit the author’s gravesite. Private guided tours are also available for groups seeking a more in-depth experience.

Nearby accommodations allow travelers to turn the visit into a longer getaway. Gaige House offers a quiet, design-focused retreat near the park, while Beltane Ranch provides vineyard views and historic ranch cottages. Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa features mineral pools and spa programs, and Kenwood Inn & Spa offers a boutique stay with a European feel.

The region also hosts the Sonoma Valley Authors Festival, which brings contemporary writers and readers together each year.

Prince Edward Island blends classic stories with modern fiction

You can’t discuss literary travel without talking about Prince Edward Island. This Canadian island province has long drawn literary travelers through its ties to L.M. Montgomery’s “Anne of Green Gables,” where visitors can explore Green Gables Heritage Place, Montgomery’s birthplace and other locations connected to the author’s life.

The island celebrates its literary roots through theater productions such as “Anne of Green Gables - The Musical” and “Anne & Gilbert,” along with the Cavendish Literary Festival, which hosts readings and workshops focused on storytelling.

More recently, the island has attracted readers of contemporary fiction as well. Carley Fortune’s novel “This Summer Will Be Different” features several Prince Edward Island locations, including oyster bars, coastal drives and beaches in PEI National Park.

Travelers inspired by the book can visit sites such as Malpeque Oyster Barn, Basin Head Provincial Park and Charlottetown’s waterfront restaurants. Literary-themed accommodations include Dalvay by the Sea, Montgomery Inn at Ingleside and the Inn at Bay Fortune.

Spokane connects literature and historic hotels

In Spokane, Washington, literary history intersects with one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. The historic Davenport Hotel hosted American poet Vachel Lindsay, who lived and wrote in Room 1129 from 1924 to 1929. The room remains available for visitors today.

The hotel also appears in Dashiell Hammett’s 1929 novel “The Maltese Falcon,” linking the property to literary fiction as well.

Spokane continues to support literary culture through the annual Get Lit! Festival, which brings authors, poets and readers together for discussions, readings and workshops. Local author Jess Walter, known for “Beautiful Ruins” and “The Cold Millions,” often features Spokane landmarks in his work.

The city also has ties to writer Sherman Alexie, who wrote early novels while living there. More recently, Spokane served as a filming location for the movie “Train Dreams,” based on a Denis Johnson story.

Lake Atitlán inspired the imagination behind ‘The Little Prince’

In Guatemala, the dramatic landscape around Lake Atitlán has long inspired writers and artists. French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry spent time there recovering from injuries sustained in a plane crash, and the scenery helped influence elements of his book “The Little Prince.” One landmark tied to the story is Cerro de Oro, a hill near the lake that resembles the famous illustration of a snake after swallowing an elephant.

Travelers interested in the literary connection can stay at Casa Palopó, a boutique hotel overlooking the lake with views of the surrounding volcanoes. The property includes a lending library and screen-free spaces designed for reading and reflection.

Wyoming traces Ernest Hemingway’s western travels

The rugged landscapes of the American West also influenced Ernest Hemingway’s writing life. While visiting Cody, Wyo., near the Bighorn Mountains and Yellowstone National Park, Hemingway stayed at the Chamberlin Inn while finishing his manuscript for “Death in the Afternoon.”

Visitors can still see his signature in the inn’s guest register. The property now offers a Hemingway Suite and serves a Death in the Afternoon cocktail in its lounge. Travelers interested in the writer’s time in the region can explore the Hemingway Highways audio tour, which includes locations connected to his travels in northwestern Wyoming.

When books lead travelers to the real settings behind the stories

For many travelers, visiting places tied to writers adds another dimension to a trip beyond traditional sightseeing. A hotel room where a novelist once stayed, a preserved writing cottage or a landscape described in a story can give readers a new perspective on books they already know.

As destinations continue to build experiences around literary connections, these journeys allow travelers to move beyond the page and into the settings that shaped the stories. From Poe’s Baltimore to Fitzgerald’s Louisville and Hemingway’s Wyoming, the places behind famous books continue to draw readers off the page and onto the road.

Jennifer Allen is a retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and nationally syndicated journalist; she’s also a co-founder of Food Drink Life, where she shares expert travel tips, cruise insights and luxury destination guides. A recognized cruise expert with a deep passion for high-end experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations, Jennifer explores the world with curiosity, depth and a storyteller’s perspective. Her articles are regularly featured on the Associated Press Wire, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and more.