Salem, MA
The House of the Seven Gables by ISBN: 9781467775526Publication Date: 2014-08-01
Turn your spooky Salem trip into an eerie literary excursion by making a stop at the House of the Seven Gables, the setting of Nathaniel Hawthorne's famous 1851 novel.
Hartford, CT
Mark Twain's home in Hartford, CT is shown by guided tour. The museum also has a gift shop and cafe.
The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center’s mission is to encourage social justice and literary activism by exploring the legacy of Harriet Beecher Stowe. The Stowe Center offers interactive tours of the house and galleries to immerse and inspire you.
Concord, MA
Transcendental Concord
“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” - Henry David Thoreau, Walden
"Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success.” - Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
- Stop 1) Walden PondVisit the site that inspired Thoreau's famous work Walden. Take a walk in nature around the pond, visit a replica of Thoreau's cabin, or lounge on the beach. This is a great spot to bring a picnic and take Thoreau's advice to breathe, relax, and experience the earth.
- Stop 2) The Wayside: Home of AuthorsThe Wayside was home to both Louisa May Alcott and Nathaniel Hawthorne in the mid-1800s. This is the home where Little Women was set! The history of The Wayside also includes a Minute Man solider, a stop on the underground railroad, and other authors who helped shape the American literary identity.
- Stop 3) Old ManseBuilt by the Emerson family, the Old Manse was home to both Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne during the 19th century. The grounds are free to walk, but a tour of the home requires tickets, so be sure to plan ahead if you want to see where Emerson wrote the famed Transcendentalist essay Nature.
- Stop 4) Sleepy Hollow CemetaryAfter exploring the spots that Concord's literary giants lived and worked, visit their graves at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
Cap your day off by heading to downtown Concord and visit their local bookstore and then get an ice cream or some artisanal cheese!
Pioneer Valley, MA
Picture Books and Poetry in the Pioneer Valley
- Stop 1) Emily Dickinson MuseumComprised of The Homestead and The Evergreens, the Emily Dickinson museum offers several different tour options to learn about Emily Dickinson's life and work. Look out for annual poetry events!
- Stop 2) Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book ArtDo you love "The Very Hungry Caterpillar?" Visit the Eric Carle museum on the Hampshire College Campus. Enter a world of whimsy and childhood delight as you enter the museum and wander the rooms of picture book art.
- Stop 3) Montague BookmillA local favorite to spend a day browsing books, drinking tea, and relaxing, this used bookstore located in an old gristmill is worth the trip!
- Stop 4) The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss MuseumLocated in Springfield, MA, the Dr. Seuss Museum is a world of nostalgic, colorful fun. While many of the interactive exhibits are intended for children, why not let your inner child revel in remembered favorites like Who-ville?
Western Massachusetts
Bookish in the Berkshires
- Stop 1) The MountVisit Edith Wharton's home in Lenox, Massachusetts. Wharton is known for her prolific novels including "The House of Mirth" and "The Age of Innocence." Over the summer, The Mount hosts a sculpture exhibition. In the winter, they have an immersive lights experience at night!
- Stop 2) Herman Melville's ArrowheadTake a tour of the Pittsfield farm where Herman Melville, the author of Moby Dick wrote some of his most famous works. While he had to sell the farm to his brother to pay off debts, the home stayed in the Melville family for decades before becoming a historical landmark.
- Stop 3) The Bear & Bee BookshopTo round out your trip to the Berkshires, check out this adorable new and used bookshop.
