“That's the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.”
― Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake 

Want to take a vacation, but are stuck at home, work, or elsewhere? Here are ten books that will allow you to travel the country and the world wherever you are. 

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The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain by Bill Bryson

Famous travel writer Bill Bryson goes back to where it all started. Twenty years ago, he traveled through the United Kingdom and wrote his now famous Notes From A Small Island.  He has revisited these spots to see what has changed and what hasn't in the past two decades. 

 

 

 

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman 

During a scuba diving excursion while on their dream honeymoon in Bora Bora, Erin and Mark discover something in the water. What they do with this discovery changes their lives forever. Would you have made the same choice?

 

 

 

 

Real Queer America: LGTB Stories from the Red States by Samantha Allen 

Transgender journalist Samantha Allen takes a road trip from her hometown in Utah to the Bible Belt and the Deep South connecting to LGTBQ people and communities in the most conservative parts of the United States. 

 

 

 

 

The Floating Feldmans by Elyssa Friedland

Annette Feldman is turning 70! What better way to celebrate than booking a fun-filled cruise with her children and grandchildren? Except the Feldman family isn't exactly close. Will this adventure on the seas change that or cement their differences forever?

 

 

 

 

The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner

Eric Weiner, journalist and self-proclaimed grump, decides to find out what makes people around the world happy. Traveling to Iceland, Qatar, Switzerland, Thailand, and more Eric tries to find out the secrets to happiness. Along the way, he learns a lot more.

 

 

 

 

Descent by Tim Johnston

The Courtland family decide to take a vacation to the Rocky Mountains before their daughter, Caitlin leaves for college. When Caitlin and her brother go out for a run and only her brother returns, the family must figure out what happened.

 

 

 

 

Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wiwa

Growing up in England, Noo Saro-Wiwa dreaded her summer trips to her father's home in Nigeria, where he worked as an activist. After he was killed, she avoided the country for years. Finally deciding to confront her feelings about Nigeria, she decides to travel there and explore the country and its culture. 

 

 

 

 

Less by Andrew Sean Greer

Arthur Less is an author who is about to turn 50. He receives several invitations to literary events around the world and, much to his dismay, an invitation to his ex-boyfriend's wedding.  Arthur decides to accept all of the invitations and begins a life changing adventure around the globe.

 

 

 

 

The Lost Girls by Jennifer Baggett

As Jen, Holly and Amanda approach their 30th birthdays, they feel pressured to have their lives together. They decide to leave their fast paced NYC lifestyles to travel around the world for a year. Follow along as they travel across four continents finding new adventures and learning the true value of friendship.

 

 

 

 

Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand

Four siblings all end up in different places for the first time during the wild summer of 1969.  Blair is  in Boston, pregnant and unable to travel.  Kirby takes a job in Martha's Vineyard.  Tiger, the only boy, gets deployed to Vietnam. This leaves the youngest, Jessie to spend the summer with her mother and grandmother in Nantucket.  

 

 

 

 

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Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!