Summer is the perfect time to grab a beverage and kick back and enjoy a good book. Dollar for dollar, reading is an inexpensive form of entertainment. And, in this case, a frugal way to vicariously travel. Now get going! You have lots of adventures ahead in these 16 Summer Reads To Explore New Places.
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A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle. A wonderfully detailed account of the author and his wife’s “adventures” renovating a farmhouse in the rural French countryside. He is a master at transporting you to the scene.
All The Wild That Remains: Edward Abbey, Wallace Stegner, and the American West by David Gessner. This acclaimed nature writer takes you on a trip back in time to explore the lives of two writer-environmentalists and their impacts the American West.
Born to Run : A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen by Christopher McDougall. Come along with the author as he travels to Mexico’s Copper Canyons to explore the amazing skills of Tarahumara Indians who can run for hundreds of miles without resting or getting injured. Get an inside look at this group of extraordinary ultra-marathoners.
Hawaii by James Michener. This comprehensive history of the Hawaiian Islands brought to life in story will thrill readers who love “detailed, take you right there” writing.
Into Thick Air: Biking to the Bellybutton of Six Continents by Jim Malusa. Go along on a truly unconventional journey by bicycle to the lowest points on 6 continents.
Midnight in Siberia : A Train Journey Into the Heart of Russia by David Greene. Follow the author’s 6000 mile journey on the Trans-Siberian Railroad and learn about the citizens that he encounters along the way. A glimpse into modern Russia will be had.
Skyfaring: A Journey with a Pilot by Mark Vanhoenacker. Travel along with this 747 pilot and get a new perspective on this complex, breathtaking, and confusing world that we live in.
The Spice Necklace: My Adventures in Caribbean Cooking, Eating, and Island Life by Ann Vanderhoof. Vicariously join in this sailing journey of cultural and edible discovery in the Caribbean.
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner. The title pretty much sums it up and the happiest places on Earth are pretty fascinating.
The Happy Isles of Oceania : Paddling the Pacific by Paul Theroux. This seasoned traveler explores fifty-one islands of the South Pacific by collapsible kayak. A fitting summer read for sure.
The Last Train to Zona Verde : My Ultimate African Safari by Paul Theroux. A real, raw look at the author’s journey overland from Cairo to Cape Town.
The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain by Bill Bryson. This prolific travel writer recreates his travels through Britain from twenty years earlier to see what has changed and what hasn’t. A look at places off the well-traveled path is front and center.
River Town : Two Years on the Yangtze
by Peter Hessler. Check out what life as a Peace Corps volunteer is like in China’s remote Yangtze riverside town of Fuling as it grows and changes.
Under the Tuscan Sun : At Home in Italy by Frances Mayes. As Peter Mayle does for his renovation adventure in France, so does France Mayle for Italy. This book has also been made into a major motion picture starring Diane Lane.
Walking the Amazon : 860 Days. One Step at a Time by Ed Stafford. Come along with the first man to walk the whole length of the Amazon. Take this wild, unpredictable journey with him.
Why Geography Matters: More Than Ever by Harm de Blij. Not a light read, but an eye-opening look at how the geographical features of our world shape so much that happens on the planet.
For more Summer Fun:
41+ Cheap, Free Summer Activities for Kids and Families
117 Popsicle Recipes: The Huge Collection
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