We lovers of literature would relish the chance to visit some of our favorite literary worlds; alas, reality precludes us from visiting most fictional places with our very nonfictional bodies.
But these 10 places: they're real, and you can visit any of them at your leisure. In no particular order, here are our . . . Top 10 Literary Locations that Actually Exist.
Hobbiton: New Zealand
Sure, you can watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey or The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring to see Hobbiton, but experiencing the place in real life would be far more thrilling. The remnants of Peter Jackson’s movie set have been turned into a literary lover’s hot destination location, complete with Hobbit holes, the mill, the Green Dragon Inn, and more. Take a tour through the green hills of the Shire and see Tolkien’s vision come to life!
Anne Frank’s House: Amsterdam, Netherlands
The historic site of the Frank family’s hidden annex has been turned into a museum for generations of world travelers to learn about both Anne Frank and the Holocaust. Hosting over a million guests in 2013 alone, the museum has been expanded over the years to include a café, bookstore, exhibition spaces, the reconstructed offices of Otto Frank and his associates as they were in the 1940s, and the secret annex.
The Stanley Hotel: Estes Park, CO
Are you a fan of Stephen King and his horrifying novel, The Shining? Then visit the place that sparked the twisted story of the Overlook Hotel when King bunked in room 217 in 1973.
Fun Fact: The Stanley Hotel continuously plays Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining on Channel 42 of their guest TV network.
Walden Pond: Concord, MA
For those who would like the first-hand experience of exploring the place where Henry David Thoreau lived and developed his social experiment, you can visit Walden Pond. Be one with nature, think deep thoughts, and check out the Concord Museum, which houses Thoreau’s bed, chair, and desk from his cabin.
The Globe Theatre: London, England
If you’re looking to visit the original Globe Theatre where Shakespeare put on some of his most famous plays, you'll have to get in a time machine and go back to 1643 — it was demolished in 1644. However, if you’re satisfied with looking at a modern reconstruction that’s built about 750 feet from the site of the original structure, then Shakespeare’s Globe is for you!
Fun Fact: Other models and interpretations of the old Globe Theatre have been built around the world, including six in the United States.
The House of the Dead; Dublin, Ireland
Fans of James Joyce can rejoice at the fact that Dublin hosts several sites of importance to the author and his works. Specifically, for those fond of “The Dead,” you can relive the night of the Morkan sisters’ fictional dinner party at the famous 15 Usher’s Island. The House of the Dead offers tours and allows guests to rent the house for private events.
Green Gables: Prince Edward Island, Canada
Did you grow up reading Anne of Green Gables? Would you like to see the family farm that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery to create the beloved character? Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, is home to the historic Green Gables farmhouse, which contains artifacts of the late Victorian Period, as well as rooms named according to the Anne of Green Gables story.
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery/ Old Dutch Church: Sleepy Hollow, NY
Literary enthusiasts will appreciate that some of America’s most distinguished writers, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Louisa May Alcott are buried at the historic Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
Additionally, visitors can find Washington Irving’s final resting place among the tombstones, as well as the notorious Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow made famous by Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” While the two sites are separate, the Old Dutch Church is located adjacent to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, making it an easy hop for visitors.
West Egg: Great Neck, NY
While West Egg may be a fictional place, F. Scott Fitzgerald modeled the home of Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway around his own Great Neck, New York. Fitzgerald, who lived at 6 Gateway Drive in Great Neck Estates during the 1920s, modeled the lavish lifestyles of West Egg partygoers after the Great Neck atmosphere. Visitors may not be able to see Jay Gatsby’s mansion, but rest assured, there are plenty of other mammoth homes to gander at as you explore the area.
Central Park Carousel: New York, NY
If you ever find yourself wandering around New York City, there are plenty of places to visit on the Catcher in the Rye site tour. However, for those who would rather not be submerged in the melancholy nature of Holden Caulfield, there is the option of visiting the Central Park Carousel. As the location of a rare glimpse at a happy Holden, visitors can enjoy a day at the park while also reminiscing about the classic novel. For only three dollars a ride, you too can pretend to be Phoebe as you ride one of America’s largest merry-go-rounds.