Four Destinations for Book Lovers

1. Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Literary pairing: The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

With long stretches of beach, quiet residential roads, pine forests, and small towns that feel like they themselves have been pulled from a storybook, it’s easy to fall in love with Cape Cod. Chatham, in particular, feels close to the world of The Paper Palace. Here, spots like Oyster Pond, Schoolhouse Pond, and the trails near Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge capture the same mix of water and woods. And Chatham Lighthouse Beach—with its long stretch of sand and constantly shifting tidal flats—evokes the novel’s seaside setting.

Stay: The elegant Chatham Bars Inn sits directly above its own private beach and offers easy access to shoreline paths and nearby public beaches. Off the sand, its landscaped grounds are dotted with manicured gardens and tranquil nooks ideal for reading or relaxing al fresco. Inside, accommodations range from cozy inn rooms with private balconies or decks to sumptuous spa suites with oversized hydrotherapy tubs.

2. Newport, Rhode Island

Literary pairing: The House of Mirth & The Buccaneers by Edith Wharton

Newport is one of the rare places where the world Edith Wharton depicted still feels within reach. Walking Bellevue Avenue puts you directly in front of landmarks that mirror the social settings in The House of Mirth—The Breakers, with its gilded ceilings and marble rooms, Marble House, with its beautiful Beaux-Arts design, and Rosecliff, which once hosted the kind of elaborate parties Wharton’s characters navigated with care. These homes reflect the same tension she captured: outward opulence paired with strict social codes.

The nearby 3.5-mile Cliff Walk adds another dimension: on one side, the grandeur of the Gilded Age; on the other, the rugged Atlantic. That contrast mirrors the emotional divide in Wharton’s novels between public performance and private feeling. Even wandering along bustling shop- and restaurant-lined Thames Street or the quieter neighborhoods around Kay Street gives you a sense of the layered, old-meets-new world her characters inhabited.

Stay: Wayfinder Newport is a short drive from both Bellevue Avenue and the Cliff Walk. Its atmosphere is a stark contrast to the formality of those estates, leaning instead toward a relaxed, design-forward vibe with local art and casual gathering spaces. The on-site restaurant, Little Clam, serves contemporary New England dishes in an Instagram-worthy setting, while the café is the place to pick up java, pastries, and breakfast staples in a laid-back setting. Like the city it calls home, rooms seamlessly combine old and new, with antique knickknacks paired with contemporary furnishings and clean, modern layouts.

3. Manchester, Vermont

Literary pairing: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott; A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Manchester blends two very different kinds of literary settings: the cozy, close-knit world of Little Women and the curious, good-natured exploration in A Walk in the Woods. And while Little Women is set in Concord, Massachusetts—not Vermont—the broader New England feel still applies: historic homes, church steeples, and village centers where daily life moves at a laid-back, unhurried pace. For example, the beloved Northshire Bookstore genuinely feels like the kind of place Jo March would have ducked into for an afternoon.

Just outside town, the landscape shifts in a way that suits Bill Bryson’s style. In A Walk in the Woods, he mixes wry observations with an appreciation for the small things you notice on a trail. The Equinox Preservation paths offer a similar pace: well-marked routes that wind through wooded hills, with steady climbs, footbridges, and the occasional overlook.

Stay: The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa sits close to both Manchester’s village center and the trailheads of the Equinox Preservation Trust, offering guests the best of both worlds and making it easy to alternate between town and trail. Cozy lounges and crackling fireplaces are well-suited to reading or unwinding indoors; back outside, the sweeping mountain views and nearby trails suit the slow, reflective pace that ties these books together.

4. Woodinville, Washington

Literary pairing: Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Although Wild follows Cheryl Strayed’s long trek along the Pacific Crest Trail, the landscapes around Woodinville offer an easy entry point into the same Pacific Northwest atmosphere—towering evergreens, cool mornings, and trails that invite wandering rather than endurance. The Sammamish River Trail cuts right through town, while nearby spots like the Tolt MacDonald Park suspension bridge, Redmond Watershed Preserve, and the quieter pockets of Saint Edward State Park offer an added sense of seclusion.

A day trip east on Highway 2—toward the Skykomish River or the trailheads around Index—offers even more of the expansive mountain scenery associated with Strayed’s experience, without requiring a backpacking commitment. That said, you don’t have to go far from town to feel it; the mix of forest, water, and quiet pockets around Woodinville offers plenty of space for the kind of personal recalibration that anchors Wild.

Stay: Set along the Sammamish River Trail, Willows Lodge offers rooms with private patios or balconies, many featuring gas fireplaces and views of landscaped gardens or the surrounding greenery. The lodge’s peaceful grounds extend toward the riverside trail, providing a quiet setting for reading or relaxing after time outdoors.

Explore more destinations across the Benchmark Resorts & Hotels portfolio, a collection of distinct, independent properties by Pyramid Global Hospitality. Located in diverse destinations across the globe, Benchmark’s resorts and hotels reimagine immersive travel, inspiring guests to create memories born from meaningful exploration, authentic moments, and innovative experiences – no matter the occasion. Benchmark guests can earn complimentary gift cards, on-property perks, and destination experiences through the collection’s signature Mosaic Rewards program.