Here are seven must-visit places for those who love reading and travelling

Millions of readers participate in World Book Day which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The popularity of this reading initiative is down to the appeal of books which magically transport you to faraway places simply as you turn the pages. If your hobbies are travelling and reading, then get ready to mark your map with these must-visit places.

Where I Was From – Joan Didion, California Sun yourself under the California sunshine, feel a warm breeze off the Pacific Coast and cradle a glass of chilled wine from the vineyards of Napa Valley as you read this very special book. If you want to visit the Golden State and can’t get there in person, read Where I Was From by California native Joan Didion.

In this thoughtful and well-researched novel Joan studies her home state, exploring the past and present.

She covers topics including robber barons and water crises, sharing thoughts on individualism versus incarceration. Her craft shines throughout the text, and her passion for this beautiful and complex place draws a reader in. Havenfall – Sarah Holland, Colorado

One of Bloomsbury Publishing’s biggest books of 2020 is, Havenfall. This massively popular fantasy fiction novel is written by New York Times best-selling author Sara Holland.

The book follows young Maddie Marrow and her experiences at Havenfall, a fictional town and the gateway to other realms, which is nestled deep within Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. The Rocky Mountains provide an ethereal backdrop as Maddie embarks on a journey to discover the shocking truths about the dangers lurking beneath Havenfall.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower in Pittsburgh Set in the 1990s, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is centred around the heart-warming friendship between three teenagers. It is very loosely based on the author Stephen Chbosky’s younger years growing up in Pittsburgh.

Some of the most memorable moments are the tunnel scenes at Fort Pitt Tunnel and Fort Pitt Bridge, where one of the main characters, Sam, rides in the back of a pick-up truck.

Schenley Park and the Hollywood Theatre in Dormont also both serve as notable backdrops in the novel. www.visitpittsburgh.com Delve into Dr Seuss territory by visiting San Diego One of the world’s most iconic children’s authors and illustrators, Dr Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geise), lived in La Jolla, San Diego from 1948 until his death in 1991.

His early years in San Diego were where he honed his now legendary writing skills and wrote many of his most loved books including Horton Hears a Who, The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Travellers visiting San Diego can visit the Geisel Library in downtown San Diego, which houses more than 15,000 Dr Seuss drawings, manuscript drafts, photographs and memorabilia. True Dr Seuss fans can also visit Legends Gallery in La Jolla, close to his home, where there is artwork on display and limited edition reproductions available to purchase.

The Yosemite by John Muir The ‘Father of National Parks’ John Muir wrote ‘the clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness’. There is no greater wilderness in the US than Yosemite – one of the country’s greatest national parks.

Visit the park through the eyes of Muir, the Scottish-born American naturalist who helped save Yosemite valley and the wilderness in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. From the comfort of the page, explore the soaring peaks and lush Tuolumne meadows that inspired Muir to petition the government until they established Yosemite Park in 1890.

So You Want to Talk About Race – Ijeoma Oluo, Seattle Residing in Seattle, Ijeoma Oluo is the author of the number one bestseller So You Want to Talk About Race.

The non-fiction masterpiece tackles the subject of race in the US, highlighting police brutality, Black Lives Matter and white privilege in detail. Oluo’s work on race has been featured in The Guardian, The New York Times and The Washington Post, among many other publications. visitseattle.org A scenic road trip through Japan via the written word

There’s no better time to read renowned Japanese writer Haruki Murakiam’s Drive My Car. The film, inspired by the short story, is the first Japanese film nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, and received a total of four Academy Awards at this year’s ceremony, including Best Director.

Adapted from a 2014 short story by Haruki Murakami called Men Without Women, Drive My Car follows the story of a theatre director who is working on a new production whilst mourning the sudden death of his screenwriter wife. Much of the story takes place in the car with Japan as a backdrop, making it the perfect book to inspire travel to Japan.

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