Some page-turning venues to book
COURTESY TYLER WALSH / ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WINNIPEG
A statue of Lt. Harry Colebourn and Winnie the Bear is located inside the Nature Playground at Assiniboine Park near the Pavilion Gallery Museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
A good book can transport us to magical places and encourage exploration. Here five examples that may inspire your travels.
1. The stories of Jack London
Glen Ellen, Calif.
Channel the adventuresome spirit of one of the planet’s most inspired writers as you explore more than 26 miles of hiking, horseback and cycling trails across 1,400 acres in the stunning Sonoma Valley. Visit the stone barn and the home where London wrote his page-turners. The author of “Call of the Wild” and “White Fang” was laid to rest on this landscape that nurtured his creativity and drive. It is now a National Historic Landmark.
Contact: JackLondonPark.com
2. Zane Grey’s America
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Best-selling novelist and avid angler Zane Grey created robust stories detailing the life and culture of the American West. Through titles like “Call of the Canyon,” “Riders of the Purple Sage” and “The Thundering Herd,” Grey’s tales of frontier character and romance inspired many to explore new country. His books involve every state west of the Missouri River except North Dakota. Visit his birthplace in Zanesville, Ohio, a town founded by his mother’s ancestors. You can also visit a replica of his Arizona cabin (the original burned in a 1990 wildfire), which served as his home base while exploring and writing.
Contact: RimCountryMuseum.org, nps.gov/upde/historyculture/zanegrey.htm
3. Louisa May Alcott
Concord, Mass.
Today we can visit the home of this novelist who crafted a compelling story around the relationships within her own family. You’ll take a guided tour and get a glimpse into how the Marche family lived in the home known as Orchard House. Many of the family’s treasures remain in the well-preserved structure, including family china and photographs. You’ll find out why the Alcott’s kept daily diaries and visit Louisa’s bedroom where the shelf desk, upon which she wrote “Little Women,” still remains.
Contact: LouisaMayAlcott.org
4. A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh
Winnipeg, Manitoba
A century ago, a Canadian soldier launched a literary legacy when he adopted a black bear cub and named it after his hometown of Winnipeg. The soldier took the cub across the pond and eventually donated it to the London Zoo, where Winnie became the inspiration for the well-loved character. Today, Winnipeg’s Pavilion Gallery Museum houses a permanent collection of Winnie the Pooh artifacts and memorabilia, including a painting by the book’s original illustrator.
Contact: TourismWinnipeg.com
5. “Where the Wild Things Are”
Why not use this popular and creative tome as the centerpiece of a wild and wonderful weekend with the kids? Read Maurice Sendak’s book, then visit your local zoo or wildlife park, or walk through a nearby forest and discuss the adventures of young Max, the main character. Top off the weekend by streaming the Spike Jonze movie of the same name from Amazon Prime Video. The whole family will enjoy the mix of real actors, computer animation and live puppeteering, the combination of which brings the story to life. Let the wild rumpus begin!
Contact: Amazon.com
