Reading can motivate young and old to explore new places and expand the imagination. Celebrate National Young Reader's Week (Nov. 9-13) by making books and the places that inspire them a part of your week.
1. Hannibal, Mo.
In "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," Tom and his friend Becky Thatcher get lost in a cave. Read aloud the first two pages of Chapter 29 in this famed novel in conjunction with a visit to Missouri's first show cave. Take a 55-minute tour of the cave depicted in the novel, and learn about the history of the dark spaces, the creatures who live there and how Samuel Clemens, who used the pen name Mark Twain, came to tell the story.
Contact: 573-221-1656; www.marktwaincave.com/Main.html
2. Harry Potter's world.
Fans of Harry Potter as well as the character's friends and foes can visit the locations and learn more about the magic and legends that made this series so popular. Take tours in England and the U.S. where the film was made. Join other enthusiasts for a ride in the train carriages that were used as the Hogwarts Express.
Contact: 1-800-487-1136; www.hpfantrips.com
3. Where things are wild.
Make it a wild weekend at home or away. Read "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. Then take a walk in a nearby park or forest and use your imagination to talk about the adventures of young Max, the main character in this beloved children's book. Top off the weekend by seeing the movie of the same name, now in theaters. The entire family will enjoy the mix of real actors, computer animation and live puppeteering that brings the story to life.
Contact: www.moviefone.com
4. Zane Grey's America.
Best-selling novelist and avid angler Zane Grey created exciting stories of the life, culture and landscape of the American West. Through titles such as "Call of the Canyon," "Riders of the Purple Sage" and "The Vanishing American," Grey's stories of frontier character and romance inspired many to explore new country. His books involve every state west of the Missouri River except North Dakota. Visit his birthplace, Zanesville, Ohio, a town founded by his mother's ancestors, and the locations that inspired his novels.
Contact: www.zgws.org; www.nps.gov/upde/historyculture/zanegrey.htm
5. Shakespeare in Ashland, Ore.
William Shakespeare's work will come alive for the family with a visit to this charming Oregon town where festival activities devoted to the English poet and playwright begin in February and continue through October each year. Reread your favorite plays or poems before a visit to this, the nation's largest repertory theater, where 75 actors play two or three roles in three venues.
Contact: 541-482-3486; www.ashlandchamber.com
Resource: www.bookitprogram.com
Lynn O'Rourke Hayes is editor of FamilyTravel.com: lohayes@familytravel.com
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