Must Read Books for Young Women Who Travel

Whether you are lying on a beach somewhere, traversing the globe, or relaxing at home, a good book is a must have for these long summer days.

“In books I have traveled, not only to other worlds, but into my own.”
― Anna Quindlen, How Reading Changed My Life 

Even my puppy loves a good read!
Traveling or not, these books are sure to inspire wanderlust in you.

1. Wild by Cheryl Strayed  — The perfect read for solo travelers! Cheryl Strayed’s Wild is overflowing with visceral emotions. It is easy to feel the pain and difficulty of her experiences through her writing as she traverses the Pacific Crest Trail. Though she feels lost, many events allow her to find her way to, then ultimately stay on, the trail. Cheryl’s story shows readers that ten thousand things can change someone’s life course in an instant, but by meeting challenges with determination, will, and the strength to confront adversity, we can forge our own path through life. Cheryl Strayed’s story is one of transformation; going from “lost” to “found.” Not only does she push her body to its absolute limits, she finds the strength within herself to face her emotional issues head-on and come out a better, healthier person because of it.
2. The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant — For lovers of art, history, coming of age novels, and Italy! The wonderful imagery transports you straight to the Florentine Renaissance. ‘The Birth of Venus is a tour de force, the first historical novel from one of Britain’s most innovative writers of literary suspense. It brings alive the history of Florence at its most dramatic period, telling a compulsively absorbing story of love, art, religion, and power through the passionate voice of Alessandra, a heroine with the same vibrancy of spirit as her beloved city’ – (synopsis).
3. She Walks in Beauty: A Woman’s Journey Through Poems by Caroline Kennedy  — The ultimate poetry anthology. Great for any time, any place. This heavenly collection includes a section for every occasion in a woman’s life: love, loss, and everything in between. This book is a perfect one to bring along as it is made to fit any occasion. Having a solo travel crises? Heartbroken? Lost? There’s a poem for that, and it’s in this book.
4. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell  — A Young Adult classic, O’Dell paints a beautiful picture of the Island of the Blue Dolphins and its inhabitants through the introspective protagonist Karana. Though this novel is written for young girls, its a story that you’ll never really be too old for if you still have your adventurous spirit. A story of a young girl alone on an island is a story every solo girl traveler could relate to. If you read this book as a child, you will most definitely get more out of it the second read.
5. Almost Somewhere: Twenty-Eight Days on the John Muir Trail by Suzanne Roberts  — Her story of a month in the backcountry—confronting bears, snowy passes, broken equipment, injuries, and strange men—is as much about finding a woman’s way into outdoor experience as it is about the natural world she so eloquently describes. Candid and funny and, finally, wise, Almost Somewhere is not just the whimsical coming-of-age story of a young woman ill-prepared for a month in the mountains but also the reflection of a distinctly feminine view of nature. (Goodreads)

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
― Augustine of Hippo