Our Community Shares: Books & Documentaries That Inspired Travel
Our community is as passionate about books and films about travel as they are about travel itself! We recently asked our Facebook group to share a book or documentary that inspired them to visit a particular destination. That question garnered over 800 responses! Read on for a few highlights.
1. “Carnegie's Maid got me to Pittsburg. One of the best adventures I have been on with Road Scholar. Best Group Leader EVER.” — Kathy R.
2. “The film The Way inspired me to walk the last 100 miles of the Camino de Santiago for my 65th birthday. Loved it.” — Nancy T.
3. “Arizona and the Grand Canyon — my first Road Scholar experience at age 60 — was inspired by Willa Cather novels featuring the American Southwest, the desert and ancient cliff dwellings.” — Christine L.
4. “Books that made a recent trip to South Africa more meaningful were Alan Paton’s Cry the Beloved Country and Ah, But Your Land is Beautiful and Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom.” — Gary A.
5. “Misty of Chincoteague when I was a kid. Finally got to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge last week!” — Beth S.
6. “Henning Mankel’s Wallander series inspired me to learn Swedish AND visit there this year. What a wonderful country!” — Hope F.
7. “I read about Shetland in college in the 70s and how knitting is a strong part of their traditions. Have wanted to go ever since. The PBS series Shetland made it real for me, and I made it happen twice.” — Diane P.
8. “Watched a documentary about Australia and riding on the Ghan train to Alice Springs and driving on to the Ayers Rock/Uluru. It was an amazing trip!” — Joan O.
9. “The Statues That Walked: Unraveling the Mystery of Easter Island by Terry Hunt & Carl Lipo. This book led me to Machu Picchu and Easter Island with Road Scholar. It was the best traveling experience of my life!!!!!!” — Mary L.
10. “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea by Daniel Dennett and Galápagos by Kurt Vonnegut inspired my visit to the Galápagos Islands.” — Carl S.
11. “The film Out of Africa led to safari in Tanzania and staying at a coffee plantation there. Stunning beyond words.” — Amy S.
12. “I was inspired by Robert Harris’s historic novel, Pompeii, to go on my first Road Scholar program, Beyond the View: Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, the end of last year.” — Steve H.
Curious about these books? We’ve collected them in a reading list here. Have more to add? Join the conversation — and the community — on Facebook.