My 10 Favorite Travel Books/Memoirs

I love traveling and going on vacation. When I can't get away though I also enjoy reading books about travel. My favorites are those that feel like 1/2 memoir and 1/2 story. 



1.  A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson: This funny account of one author's attempt to hike the Appalachian trail had me reading parts of the story out loud to my family.  It did not however, make me want to attempt this hike. (If you aren't a big reader this book was turned into a movie)


2-4. Dear Bob & Sue by Matt & Karen Smith: I read the first book in what is now a three book series a couple of years ago and just loved it! So much so that I went back and downloaded the second two books to my Kindle to read this past month. Matt and Karen made it a goal to visit all the National parks in the United States and while most of their stories are short and funny (and formatted like letters/emails home to their best friends Bob and Sue), it made me want to try and see most of the National parks too. Then the second book they branch out to other nature preserves and state parks and things along with camping and adding in some stories of trips they've taken with friends. It's just a real fun series that make getting outdoors and hiking and seem like a good time. 




5.  Leave only Footprints: My Acadia- to- Zion Journey Through Every National Park by Connor Knighton: Once I got the idea in my head to visit the National Parks I happened to spy this book on another bloggers' list and thought it would make great reading. Connor Knighton made it a goal to visit all the national parks in one year; both informative and entertaining I really enjoyed it.


6. In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson: Knowing how much I loved Bill Bryson's earlier book I decided to read about his adventures in Australia too. Another fun and informative book.


7. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed-- Up until the book (and then the movie made from this book) I was unaware of the Pacific Crest Trail.  It's basically the west coast version of the Appalachian trail and Cheryl hiked the whole thing, alone, with no training or experience while wrestling with some pretty big demons. It was a powerful read. 



8. Open Road: A Midlife Memoir of Travel Through the National Parks by TW Neal-- While I could not get into her first book Freckled, I really enjoyed Open Road where TW and her husband decided to travel to various national parks. This road trip sparked her new writing career.


 

9. On Assignment: Memoir of a National Geographic Filmmaker by James R. Larison-- I always thought it would be such a fun job to be a National Geographic (or DisneyNature) filmmaker but after reading James Larison's account I'm not so sure fun is the word I'd use. While he had some pretty amazing experiences he also had some close brushes with death. 



10. Subpar Parks: America's Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors by Amber Share -- I actually downloaded this book and read in in less than 24 hours last week just so I could round out my list with a 10th book. It was fun and funny. Amber came up with some artwork based on one star reviews people have left about the National parks and she's turned both into a fun and funny book about the National parks. I have to agree with her that some of these reviews are just nuts! 



Do you have any recommendations for me?

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Comments

  1. HollyMay 31, 2024 at 6:19 AM

    Oh thanks for sharing and Happy Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maria RineerMay 31, 2024 at 6:35 AM

    The one about the guy who went to all the national parks sounds really good as does the Subpar book. I could not finish Wild. Something about it was not sitting well with me. Talk about reviews! I had to go to some review sites to see if anyone else thought something was off in it, despite it being a bestseller and heralded by so many. I won´t go into all of the negatives here but one thing I feel compelled to say about it is that one entire paragraphed was plagiarized! Completely lifted from another source, without quotes or any attribution to the actual author. The author came clean and apologized but only after a fairly large outcry from many about it. Just an FYI...

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  3. crackercrumblifeMay 31, 2024 at 8:27 AM

    I have read quite a few of these and loved them!! I am adding the others since apparently I have a similar taste in travel books!

    Visiting from The Weekend Traffic Jam
    Erin @ Cracker Crumb Life

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMay 31, 2024 at 9:04 AM

    I watched the movie ‘A Walk in the Woods’. The Appalachian trail looks tough!
    Ruth@playworkeatrepeat

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    Replies
    1. Joanne May 31, 2024 at 4:32 PM

      We have friends that have hiked it a few times and it sounds really rough. I am not a roughing it kind of gal; I definitely need a nice shower, bed, and meal to come home to each night after hiking.

      Delete
  5. oliviaMay 31, 2024 at 9:08 AM

    It sounds odd as I’m an avid reader, but I never really considered reading books on travel. You’ve given me a new genre to consider. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lindsay's Sweet WorldMay 31, 2024 at 9:20 AM

    I read a lot, but I've never read any books about travel! I might have to add a couple of these to my list for some variety!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne May 31, 2024 at 4:33 PM

      I never had either until some of our friends suggested A Walk in the Woods to me and I really enjoyed it so I started Googling books like A Walk in the Woods and found my way to these others.

      Delete
  7. AnonymousMay 31, 2024 at 10:46 AM

    Great books.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kim CarberryMay 31, 2024 at 11:05 AM

    This is not a genre that I would usually go for but I love the sound of these books.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Tanya May 31, 2024 at 11:25 AM

    I'm adding some of these to my tbr list! I love national parks, so I bet I would like these. Hope you have a good weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne May 31, 2024 at 4:34 PM

      Thank you! I am feeling pretty good that we're all set and the weather is looking downright perfect!

      Delete
  10. JodieMay 31, 2024 at 2:00 PM

    I read Wild a long time ago and really enjoyed it. I thought it was supposed to be a movie someday?
    XOOX
    Jodie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne May 31, 2024 at 4:35 PM

      Yes, it has been made into a movie with Reece Witherspoon.

      Delete
  11. PamelaMay 31, 2024 at 2:46 PM

    I loved Dear Bob and Sue, didn't realize there were parts 2 and 3. Have you read Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson? Hilarious!

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    Replies
    1. Joanne May 31, 2024 at 4:35 PM

      I will have to look for that one! Thanks for the recommendation.

      Delete
  12. TessaMay 31, 2024 at 2:57 PM

    I haven't traveled much in my lifetime. I have only been to a few state parks located in my state. I see no way I will ever travel again so doubt I will seen any of the famous national parks located in the USA.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne May 31, 2024 at 4:36 PM

      State parks are wonderful too though; in fact many national parks and sites have been made from what used to be state parks.

      Delete
  13. JeanieMay 31, 2024 at 4:49 PM

    You have some wonderful titles and authors here.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jo TraceyMay 31, 2024 at 5:59 PM

    Any travel title by Bill Bryson does it for me!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Kym May 31, 2024 at 9:39 PM

    I loved A Walk in the Woods! Bill Bryson makes me laugh out loud. I think I'd really like a couple of the others you mentioned here too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 2, 2024 at 7:37 AM

      He makes me laugh out loud too; try Dear Bob and Sue-- they remind me a bit of each other since they both write with lots of sarcasm and humor.

      Delete
  16. MarshaMay 31, 2024 at 11:23 PM

    I haven't read any of these books, but that last one sounds like fun! Thanks for the recommendations!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    ReplyDelete
  17. Jennifer JonesJune 1, 2024 at 12:52 AM

    I love reading travel books especially when they are about hiking. I've read both Bill Brysons books and Wild, and loved them all. My daughter wrote a book about a pilgrimage walk in Japan
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7106492-neon-pilgrim?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=gR6lLZ0eiW&rank=1

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    Replies
    1. Joanne June 2, 2024 at 7:38 AM

      I'll look into that; thank you for the recommendation!

      Delete
  18. Nancy 's Fashion StyleJune 1, 2024 at 3:01 AM

    Never read those kind a books, but if you are in the situation that you can actually visit those places it would be lovely to read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 2, 2024 at 7:43 AM

      It definitely motivated me to be more open to hiking and trying new things; though some of their stories make me realize I am not at all suited to long multi-day hiking trips.

      Delete
  19. Anne FraserJune 1, 2024 at 7:46 AM

    I like Bill Bryson as well. My daughter went to a Book signing so we have a signed copy of a walk in the woods.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wildflower AdventuresJune 1, 2024 at 10:28 AM

    All the books sound interesting especially Dear Bob & Sue. There seems to be a lot of people that have visiting all the National Parks on their bucket list. It sure would be an awesome adventure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 2, 2024 at 7:47 AM

      I don't think we'll get to all of them; some are just much to remote sounding for me but from the ones I've visited they sure are beautiful!

      Delete
  21. Tamar SBJune 2, 2024 at 6:19 AM

    Wild was so good!

    ReplyDelete
  22. JoyceJune 2, 2024 at 5:44 PM

    I love Bill Bryson's Notes From A Small Island which is about Britain's charm and a few of her quirks. So good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 3, 2024 at 5:07 AM

      I'll definitely keep my eye out for that one!

      Delete
  23. RM CarlsonJune 2, 2024 at 11:17 PM

    Loved the reviews. Really helpful. I share some of your favs!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Handmade in IsraelJune 3, 2024 at 4:58 AM

    Thank you for sharing these recommendations. I have heard of a few of these titles and will look out for them.

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousJune 3, 2024 at 5:13 AM

    I read Bill Bryson's first two books and really enjoyed them. I didn't realise that he'd written so many!

    #MMBC

    ReplyDelete
  26. CatherineJune 3, 2024 at 5:15 AM

    I enjoyed Bill Bryson's first two books. I didn't realise he'd written so many more! The Dear Bob and Sue books sound good too.

    #MMBC

    ReplyDelete
  27. thepaintedapron.comJune 3, 2024 at 8:38 AM

    I am not familiar with any of these books, but they do sound interesting~ thank you for the reviews and recommendations!
    Jenna

    ReplyDelete
  28. Dara @ Not In JerseyJune 3, 2024 at 11:50 AM

    I enjoyed Leave Only Footprints. I have always been intrigued by Dear Bob and Sue because those are my aunt and uncles names!

    ReplyDelete
  29. NY Foodie FamilyJune 3, 2024 at 9:00 PM

    I haven't read any of these! I have to read more travel books since I enjoy traveling!

    ReplyDelete
  30. KirstinJune 5, 2024 at 1:34 PM

    What a fun idea to read books about travel or surrounding travel. I think it would be fun to read a book either about the place I'm going, or takes place there, etc. These all sound awesome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 6, 2024 at 5:59 AM

      I love reading books set in the places I have or will be visiting; whether it's fiction or nonfiction.

      Delete
  31. JulieJune 7, 2024 at 12:02 AM

    I've been following "Subpar Parks" on Instagram for year. It looks like such a fun book! I've heard of "Walk in the Woods" -- I'll add that on my to-reads list.

    ReplyDelete

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