By Lynn O’Rourke Hayes, FamilyTravel.com (TNS)
Here are five ideas from the literary world that may help shape your next adventure.
Anne Frank’s story of her Jewish family’s ordeal during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands became an international bestseller and an iconic example of the bravery exhibited by many during a horrific time. The book was later translated into more than 70 languages and adapted for stage and screen. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, the only surviving member of his family, hoped that readers of the diary would become aware of the dangers of discrimination, racism and hatred of Jews. Today, visitors to Amsterdam can visit the Secret Annex where Anne hid for two years, writing about the experience in her diary, before being discovered and sent to a concentration camp. The Anne Frank House museum shares the powerful story through quotes, photos, videos and original items. Tickets for a specific time and date are required. Plan in advance.
For more: www.annefrank.org
The mission of this Midwestern museum, located in the Ozarks region, is to inspire curiosity and foster learning about the American pioneer experience through the life and literature of the famous author. Guests visiting the Rocky Ridge Farm will discover the chapters of Laura’s life that honed her writing skills and inspired her Little House book series. The museum exhibits include artifacts that illustrate the pioneer life described by Wilder. Expect to see Pa’s fiddle, handwritten manuscripts from the Little House books, keepsakes of the Ingalls and Wilder families, needlework crafted by Laura and other items familiar to her readers. Make time to explore the peaceful walking paths where the Wilder family wandered.
For more: www.lauraingallswilderhome.com
Published in 1908, the novel Anne of Green Gables has played a major role in drawing tourists to Canada’s smallest province, located off the eastern coast of Canada in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Fans of the best-selling book are eager to relish the wide-open spaces, scenic trails, vistas and beautiful beaches the author made famous.
Eager visitors will want to explore the sites portrayed in the book and to learn more about its author, Lucy Maud Montgomery. (It’s estimated that more than 50 million copies have been sold worldwide.) Visit the old farmhouse, where much of the famous novel was set, and take part in activities at the Green Gables Heritage Place that include ice-cream making demonstrations, safe races, hiking on nature trails, carriage rides and tours offered by rangers dressed as characters from the book.
For more: www.tourismpei.com
If your kids are among the millions who came under the magic spell of J.K Rowling’s smash book series, then you’ll want to plan a trip to the U.K. to dive in to the detail. In London’s Harry Potter World, you’ll discover a wizard’s chamber and Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross Station before stopping at the Harry Potter Shop. Perhaps you’ll want to sample some butterbeer during a Warner Brothers Studio Tour. In Scotland, you can join a Potter Trail walking tour and so much more. You won’t want to miss a ride on the Hogwarts Express, also known as the Jacobite Steam Train, for an 84-mile round trip journey through a landscape that will be familiar to Potter fans.
For more: westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/; www.visitscotland.com
It can be fun to research the literary history of your own community. Are there famous writers who grew up or are currently living nearby? Research readings that may be happening in your local bookstores or libraries. Take advantage of free programs for kids including story hours and the opportunity to curl up in comfy chairs with a great book. If you have an independent bookstore near your home, consider supporting this literary gem of a resource.
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