In the footsteps of Giants…the Literary Kind

I just touched down in Colorado after an amazing tour of New England, where I visited dozens of bookstores and libraries from Boston, Massachusetts to Bar Harbor, Maine. One thing that jumped out as I traveled was the region’s deep appreciation of books. New Englanders love to read! Nearly every town, no matter how small, has a bookstore. Some of these little towns have two or three bookstores. In some cases, on the same street. And the best part: Every bookstore I visited was busy. The public libraries were also beautiful and alive with readers of all ages.We open Travels with Gannon & Wyatt Botswana with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Since reading “Self-Reliance” in college, I have been a huge fan of Mr. Emerson. In fact, I still reread this famous essay annually, at least. When I learned that he was buried in Concord, Massachusetts, which also happens to be the setting of Henry David Thoreau’s famous book “Walden,” I couldn’t resist a visit. We hiked to the site of Thoreau’s cabin, my daughters swam in the blue waters of Walden Pond, and we paid a visit to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson are all buried on a hilltop known as “Author’s Ridge.” How inspiring it was to tour the town so many literary luminaries called home. For all those literary history buffs out there, Concord, Massachusetts is a must.While in New England, I visited all of the bookstores and libraries listed below and introduced lots of people to our adventure series along the way. These are all wonderful stores and libraries run by people who are very passionate about books. If you happen to live in any of these areas, or find yourself passing through, make sure to stop in, say hello, and grab a book. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!The Children’s Bookstore, Brookline, MAWellesley Bookstore, Wellesley, MAWellesley Free Library, Wellesley, MAConcord Bookshop, Concord, MAConcord Free Library, Concord, MAAndover Bookstore, Andover, MAAndover Memorial Library, Andover, MASpirit of ’76, Marblehead, MAThe Harvard Coop, Cambridge, MAHarvard Bookshop, Cambridge, MABook Garden, Montpelier, VTRivendell Books, Montpelier, VTBear Pond Books, Montpelier, VTBookstore Plus, Lake Placid, NYYankee Bookshop, Woodstock, VTNorman Williams Public Library, Woodstock, VTSherman’s Bookstore, Camden, MESherman’s Bookstore, Bar Harbor, MEOwl & Turtle, Camden, MECamden Public Library, Camden, ME