Whether you’re dreaming of a weekend getaway or a year spent abroad, these books will help channel those adventurous vibes and help take you on a trip even if just through your imagination. These books are vastly different, but all about travel and exploration in new places. Reading them encouraged me to get out of my own comfort zone and go new places to try new things, and hopefully they will do the same for you!

Today’s flight of four: worldwide wanderlust

To Shake the Sleeping Self: A Journey from Oregon to Patagonia, and a Quest for a Life with No Regret by Jedidiah Jenkins // I’m such a big fan of Jed. His heart of gold, his wild and pure sense of adventure, his openness and honesty, his authentic desire for connection and exploration, his beautifully poetic style of writing... he is just one of a kind and I’m so glad he finally wrote this book. His Oregon to Patagonia adventure was incredible, the way he tells the stories is engaging, and I didn’t want to put this one down. I loved the way he fictionalized and characterized his companion on the journey — it played as a perfect balance to his personal reflections and experiences. I wanted a bit more depth to his reflections and realizations and felt like he left a lot unsaid that would have been really powerful to read. Parts felt unresolved in the end too, but overall, this one is worth a read!

If you like the idea of a brand new adventure through uncharted territory, this one is for you.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed // I read this one back in 2014, when I reviewed books very differently… so my thoughts here won’t be as thorough! … This is one woman's compelling, honest, beautiful story of her adventure "from lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail." You won't want to put it down, you'll feel like you were there every step of the way, and you'll fall in love with Cheryl page by page. …I remember finding this engaging, raw, exciting, and poignant.

If you want a story of a strong, single woman doing the damn thing, this is the one for you.

At Home in the World: Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe by Tsh Oxenreider // I have long loved Tsh's writing and her way of living, and it was a treat to read of the year's journey her family took around the world! I'm such a by believer in travel and exploration and found myself wanting to be along for the ride as she shared of their adventures.

If you have any wanderlust in you at all and dream of traveling extensively around the world, especially with a family.

The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country by Helen Russell // Anyone else a HUGE fan of the concept of hygge? I definitely am. This book was such a great (and thorough!) look at real life in Denmark, as Helen and her husband moved there for a year and immersed themselves fully in the culture. I found it fascinating, really honest and transparent (which some books about hygge really aren’t), and I loved her relatable writing style.