5 Books that Make You Want to Travel

Every now and then, I come across a wonderful book that inspires me to want to get out there and see this fascinating world of ours. When I do, I want to read some of the books' passages over and over again and imagine what it would be like to visit that place or somewhere like it. Below are 5 inspiring books that made me yearn to get on the road or an airplane for my next big adventure. Check out these travel books and then get ready to roll.

1. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is, to me, the ultimate memoir that inspired me to travel. Her descriptions of quirky characters, awe-inspiring countrysides and cityscapes, and intimate disclosures of feelings combine to tell a poignant story. Her travels to Italy, India, and Indonesia and how she described her journey sticks with me to this day. If you have not read this book, you simply must do so. The wanderlust will no doubt strike you, too.

2. Tokyo by Lonely Planet is such a concise, compelling read. Can anyone read this book without going to Tokyo? I could almost smell the spicy Japanese dishes wafting throughout the narrow back streets of the city. I practically felt the touch of the lovely Japanese silks against my skin. I learned the city's ins and outs, simply by reading this book. Tokyo, I will never forget you.

3. Sarum: The Novel of England by Edward Rutherfurd is a rich and appealing saga of Britain's beginnings. Pirates, nobility, street merchants-they are all present to tell the story of this fascinating country's birth. Not a fan of historical novels, you say? Trust me, you will be after reading the unfolding drama that is Sarum. When you are seeking novels about travel, don't forget this one.

4. T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton is just one of many of Grafton's alphabet novels set in the fictitious town of Santa Teresa, California that is based on the real town of Santa Rosa, California. Every time I read one of her alphabet novels, I want to get on a plane and fly to Santa Rosa, just to see what the town is really like. Does it really have narrow, winding roads and a breath-takingly beautiful sandy beach? Seen through the eyes of Grafton's heroine, Kinsey Millhone, Santa Rosa sounds like a happening place to be. I hope someday I'll get there.

5. The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner is published by Grand Central Publishing. Weiner, a journalist who typically travels into war-torn countries, decided to take a year off and instead, try to find some of the happiest places to visit. Talk about happy, you will find yourself experiencing cycles of chortling and thinking deeply as you read this incredible book. Need a motivation to travel? Written in an extremely witty, readable style, Bliss will make you dig out your backpack and make a list of travel supplies. Exploring where and how we can find our best lives and inner happiness, Weiner travels to Iceland, Moldova, and Qatar, to name a few. Moving from the frustrating to the sublime, Weiner shows us why we all love to travel and what we might find there. Three words: read this book.