We are currently in the Pacific Northwest!

 Unfortunately, this week we do not have many stories to share as we have spent the majority of our time indoors. The air quality in the region is terrible due to forest fires and the sky is black with a thick layer of smoke. 

Since we cannot do much until the smoke clears (we are told it should be on its way out within a day or two) we have turned our attention to books to keep us occupied.

Even in my current state of vagabondness, I am constantly looking for books that excite me, pique my interest, and fill me with wanderlust. My search has been fruitful and has taken me on several wild adventures from the safety of my home (or van). 

With the current state of things, I think everyone is due for a little break from reality and adventure – and a good book can do just that!

So, without further ado, here are (in no specific order) my top 5 favorite books to inspire wanderlust!

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

This autobiographical novel follows Cheryl Strayed, a twenty-six-year-old woman who is quite literally at the end of her rope.

Freshly divorced, broke, and teetering on the edge of a heroin addiction following the death of her mother, Cheryl decides to take drastic measures to reclaim her life. Her solution: Hike the Pacific Crest Trail from Southern California to Washington State, a 1,100-mile route that will take her several months to complete. 

This story focuses on Cheryl’s experience and gives special attention to the people she meets and the places she visits. The best part of the book though is how she highlights the internal struggles that she faces each day on the trail and gives the reader insight to her growth process. 

Ultimately this book tells the story of a life unraveled and the step by step journey to piece it back together. 

Wild has received accolade after accolade and was brought to life on the silver screen – and after finally reading it, I can understand why. 

I could not put this book down from the second I picked it up. It is humorous, thought provoking, maddening, and an absolute page turner from cover to cover.

The Year of Living Danishly

Ok, so I am currently reading this one- so if you have read it, please no spoilers. If you have not read it, please go to the bookstore and pick up a copy pronto – you will not regret it!

In this autobiographical novel, Hellen Russell outlines her experience living in Denmark for a year after her husband, who is known throughout the book as “Legoman,” takes a position working with LEGO. 

A journalist by trade who is overworked and always stressed, Russell finds herself intrigued by the fact the Denmark is considered to be the happiest country in the world. This prompts her to spend the year in Denmark researching what makes the Danes so dang happy. She then takes what she learns and applies it to her life to find out if there is something she is missing. 

Russell expertly weaves wit throughout this book as she discusses all aspects of her relocation to a country that is far different than her native England. This book left me in stitches as I imagined her adventures (and misadventures) in language school, nearly starting a war with her neighbors, and working to uncover the Danish secret to happiness. I also loved that Russell’s journalistic integrity showed throughout the book. As Russell chases different rabbit trails that she believes could contribute to the Danes’ happiness she interviews professionals, and shares studies and data with enough detail that the reader can easily find the information to fact check her.

So, what is the secret to the Danes’ happiness? Is it the grass as green on the Danish side of the fence as it seems to be? Can any of Danish culture be replicated to boost our own happiness?

You will have to read this book to find out!

On the Road by Jack Kerouac 

On the Road is probably the quintessential books of the Beat Generation. In this novel, Kerouac draws upon his own experiences traveling the United States to tell this story.

The book follows the protagonist, Sal, through several cross-country adventures. Special focus is given to the unique characters that Sal meets along the way and how they contribute to his shedding of the “American Dream” and tradition to forge his own path and understanding in the world. 

In typical Beat style, this book portrays a life of excess – most social scenes in the book revolve around drinking, partying, and sexual escapades. Ultimately though, this book does serve as a warning to the dangers of this type of lifestyle while simultaneously excavating deeper universal truths surrounding the pursuit of happiness and the seeking of life’s big questions.

This book resonated deeply with me though as the ideals and values of the Beat Generation have reincarnated themselves into both my generation (the millennials) and Gen-Z and I see evidence of that every day that we are on the road. From personal experience, it doesn’t seem to me as though my generation is as indulgent as the Beat Generation, but we share the same non-conventional expedition for happiness, establishing a new normal, stepping out of routine, and forging our own paths. 

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Held in high esteem by many, especially travelers is The Alchemist. This book is one of my favorites and has been for as long as I remember. It is one of those books that I find myself coming back to again and again. 

This is a quick and easy read that is oddly reminiscent of The Chronicles of Narnia series both in style and in depth. This book follows the adventure of a young shepherd named Santiago who feels as though there is more to life than tending to his sheep. After having a reoccurring dream, Santiago seeks the advice of a fortune teller who interprets the dream to mean that Santiago will find treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. In response to this, Santiago sells his sheep, boards a boat and leaves everything behind to travel.

Through his telling of this tale, Coelho takes the reader on an incredible journey of mystery, excitement, and mysticism. 

Keep in mind that this is a children’s book, but it uncovers many truths that apply to people of all ages and provides a commentary on what it means to follow your dreams, seek your destiny, and find fulfillment.  

Jupiter’s Travels by Ted Simon  

This book came on my radar several years ago when I met a traveler in New Orleans who was on a year long adventure around the globe. We were staying in the same hostel and after talking for a bit, he showed me this book promising that it would change my life. 

This book tells the story of Ted Simon, a British journalist who decides to quit his job and circumnavigate the globe on a motorcycle. The only problem, Simon doesn’t know how to ride a motorcycle… 

Unperturbed Simon buys a bike, loads it to the brim with everything he could possibly need and takes off. 

His route takes him south through Europe, across a straight to Africa, down to South Africa where he takes a ship to South America and onwards to through the Americas. From the Northwestern USA, he travels to Australia then Southeast Asia and ultimately back to Western Europe. The entire trip took Simon approximately 4 years to complete. 

As a traveler who is constantly dreaming of the road, this book was (and is) everything to me. Simon highlights struggles like overpacking, crossing borders, traveling through war-torn nations, sickness, loneliness, and much much more. Another thing to note, Simon’s trip occurred in the 1970’s, long before a homogenization, globalization, and westernization of many travel locations. Therefore, this book shows incredible cultural and social diversity that has since been lost.  

So there you have it! 5 books that will guarantee to make you ready to pack your bags for your next adventure!

Do you know of any good books that should be on the list? If so please let us know by leaving us a comment or sending us a message/email.