Top Ten Tuesday: Top Five Bookish Places I've Visited and Five I Still Want to Visit

I'm a little late to the TTT party this week, but I didn't want to miss the prompt du jour, especially since I'm the one who suggested it! Ha ha. I love visiting bookish places—libraries, bookstores, historical sites, etc.—so I want to know all about the Top Ten Bookish Places You've Visited (or want to visit). Personally, I'm going to do five of each. I can't wait to see everyone's lists. 

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Five Bookish Places I've Visited and Five I Still Want to Visit

- in no particular order -

Bookish Places I've Been:

Margaret Mitchell House and Museum (Atlanta, Georgia, USA)—Besides bookstores and libraries, this is the first bookish place I remember visiting. The building housed the apartment the author lived in in the early 1900s. It's now a museum where you can learn all about Margaret Mitchell, who penned the Southern classic Gone With the Wind.

Whitby, North Yorkshire, England—Whitby is a lovely seaside town and port. My husband and I both reminsce fondly about the happy day we spent exploring it a couple years ago. One of the highlights was walking up the famous 199 steps to see the 7th Century monastic ruins at the top of the cliff. An ancient church, St. Mary's, sits next door surrounded by a picturesque cemetery. Dracula by Bram Stoker was set in Whitby. My husband and I got a good laugh out of this sign that hangs in St. Mary's:

(Photos by my husband, Eric Jensen)

The Library of Congress (Washington, D.C., USA)—I've never been inside a library as gorgeous as this one. It's stunning.

Robert Burns Birthplace Museum (Alloway, Ayr, Scotland)—I knew very little about Scotland's national poet Robert Burns before visiting this site that was suggested by a Scottish friend. Even if you're not familiar with the writer, his humble childhood home and surrounding museum offer a fascinating look at his life and work.

Photo by mana5280 on Unsplash

Shakespeare and Company (Paris, France)—This is iconic bookshop actually works for both of these lists. I visited Paris for the first and only time in 2021 when there were still strict COVID rules in place. Only a small amount of people were being allowed into the store at a time, resulting in long, long lines. My traveling companions didn't want to wait and, since I didn't want to hold us all up, I walked by the store without ever going inside. Bummer. 

Bookish Places I Still Need to Visit:

Photo by Jaime Bishara on Unsplash

Prince Edward Island (Canada)—I think this gorgeous area is on every Anne of Green Gables fan's travel bucket list.

Photo by Frugal Flyer on Unsplash

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida)—My daughter and I are going to check this one off sometime around the new year. Can't wait!

Photo by Carrie Borden on Unsplash

Admont Abbey Library (Admont, Austria)—Friends keep asking my husband and I where we're planning to go for our next international trip. Germany and Austria have long been on my bucket list. (Technically, we've been to Austria since we spent the night in Vienna 9 months ago, but that was just a quick layover so it doesn't really count.) This breathtakingly beautiful library is one site I really want to see. 

Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House (Concord, Massachusetts, USA)—This historical home was the long-time residence of the Alcott family. Louisa May lived here when she penned her classic Little Women. It's now a museum dedicated to the author's life and work. 

Photo by Teresita Biafore on Unsplash

Anne Frank House (Amsterdam, Netherlands)—Reading The Diary of Anne Frank made a huge impression on me as a young reader. I'd love to visit this historical site and learn more about her.

Have you visited any of these sights? Which was your favorite? What bookish spots have you been to? Which are you dying to see? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.