Last Updated on: 13th January 2023, 02:10 pm
Have you ever wondered how it would feel to actually visit the magical places described in some of your favorite books?
Try to imagine catching a train through London, or enjoying dinner in an enchanting restaurant in Washington.
All these places described by authors in various books are real and can be a ticket away from that magical experience you’ve always had in mind. This article will explore some of these places. Whether you have read some of these books or not, you will enjoy a day in these cities.
Port Angels, Washington – From the book Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, the main couple in the book have their first date at the Bella Italia restaurant.
The hotel described in the scene is located in Port Angeles, in Washington. The setting is described on pages 165, 167, and 169. The restaurant serves a classic Italian menu, and you can actually order the same mushroom ravioli that Bella orders in the book.
Other attractions worth having a look at while you are in Port Angeles include taking a ride to see Hurricane Ridge at the Olympic National Park. The coastal landscape offers a scenic view of the Olympic Discovery Trail. You can take a bicycle ride here to take it all in.
Cartagena, Colombia – From the Book Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Gabriel describes a little park – Plaza Fernandez de Madrid – or what he calls in the book Park of the Evangels. Gabriel doesn’t name Cartagena as the city, but this park and other settings give us the apparent clues we need. But is there anything of worth in Cartagena to actually visit and see?
Well, there is. Cartagena boasts some of the best tourist attractions loved by many. For starters, you can visit the San Felipe Castle, a 16th-century Spanish castle that overlooks the city. The site is a maze of tunnels and turrets that makes it a top tourist attraction. You can also visit Torre del Reloj, a clock tower located at the entrance of the city and take photos for your social media.
Portland Oregon – From the Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy by E.L James
Anastacia Steele suggests this location when her dad jokes, “I could murder a doughnut Annie.” The Voodoo Doughnut is a local staple and a lovely attraction.
You can actually buy all kinds of doughnuts, including Bacon Maple Bar and Dirty Snowballs. But there are other attractions that could excite you before you exit the city. For instance, you could visit Portland’s Washington Park, which also has many tourist attractions, including Rose Test Garden, museums, and a zoo.
The park is located west of the city center. You will need at least two days to tour the whole place. If the Rose Test Garden doesn’t do it for you, you could take the Columbia River Gorge tour and enjoy the scenic ambiance.
New York – From the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
If you are a student and enjoy reading plays and fictional books that take your breath away, then you have to find a database of essays about popular plays and search for this book.
The location described in the book is Tannen’s Magic Shop, where Sammy Klayman buys the “Ultimate Demon Wonder Box for his son as a present for his birthday. The shop is one of the oldest magic stores in New York City.
You can head there and get your own magic box. Perhaps you could also take a tour through New York and see many sites that millions have been awed by. You could visit the Statue of Liberty or go down to Central Park and later take a look at the majestic Empire State Building.
The Hague, Netherlands – From The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Mauritshuis is the museum that houses the famous painting in the Goldfinch. Even though Donna Tartt doesn’t mention the museum, it’s a place worth visiting.
You can go on an adventure to find the painting, or you could visit the Hague and learn so many things from the famous city. Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when you hear about the Hague in the Netherlands is the ICC (International Criminal Court).
However, unless you are a lawyer or have a case to answer, you can visit the Binnenhof, where the chambers of parliament are located. While there you could see the Ridderzaal or “Knights’ Hall” and also visit the First and Second Chambers.
Chicago, Illinois – From the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Forget about Manhattan and Long Island for a moment and follow the origins of Tom Gatsby, Daisy, Jordan, and Nick Carraway. They all hail from Chicago and have fond memories of the Union Station.
You can visit the Union Station to familiarize yourself with the characters’ origins before visiting the Art Institute of Chicago, where you can explore thousands of artworks. You can also walk through Millenium Park or stroll around the Navy Pier.
London, England – From the Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling
Last but not least, remember King’s Cross Station from the Harry Potter series? Platform 9 3/4 comes to mind.
This is a significant location to Rowling but even more important to Harry Potter fans worldwide. You can visit the platform and see the series come to life.
While in London you can see Buckingham Palace and the changing guard, visit Tower Bridge, and explore the British Museum.
Conclusion
There are some iconic cities described in some of the best literary works by famous artists. Images come to mind when you read about these places, but unless you actually set foot there, you may never truly live the author’s mind. These are only a few of the cities from a few books that you can visit.
Good to Know: Connie Elser is a digital journalist with a passion for scriptwriting. She enjoys reading books and taking lessons from the movies she watches. When she’s not writing or reading, she enjoys traveling and playing tennis.