Travel Books to Help Inspire World Travel

Filed in archive Misc. on October 21, 2007

I love to read. I probably devour two to three books a month. When I lived in New York, I read a book every two to three days.

I read books from all genres, depending on my mood. But, a few years ago, I read Jack Kerouac "On the Road." It was in those pages and Kerouac's words that for my love for travel grew from an armchair traveler to an actual world traveler.

What about you? Are you a world traveler or an armchair traveler? What books have you read to inspire you to hit the road?

For those in need of inspiration, here are a few books to help you on your journey.

"Sacred Earth: Places of Peace and Power," by Martin Gray (Sterling, $35) is filled with images and descriptions of awesome spots - many connected to ancient worship traditions - including the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Tibet's Potala Palace, Mauna Kea in Hawaii and Teotihuacan in Mexico.

National Geographic's "Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips" ($40) is divided into chapters describing trips you can take by water, road, rail, or on foot, or in search of culture, food or adventure. There is also a chapter called "Up and Away," showcasing "flights, skyways and bird's-eye views" including balloon adventures, flightseeing tours and a list of top 10 funiculars and cable cars. A final section called "In Their Footsteps" lays out a Jack Kerouac "On the Road" trip, a journey along the fabled Silk Road, a tour themed on ansel adams' photographic explorations of Yosemite, and many other pilgrimages.

"Make the Most of Your Time on Earth: A Rough Guide to the World" ($29.99) lists "1,000 Ultimate Travel Experiences," from "haggling in the souks" of Morocco to tracing civil rights history in Montgomery, Ala., to trekking to the source of the Ganges in India.