Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, organised by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is a fun one, because I love dreaming about places I might be able to visit one day. Hubby and I did a bit of travelling prior to having children (including lots of singing tours with a choir we were in), but the last overseas trip we went on included a three-year-old and twin one-year-olds and took us to the opposite side of the planet. In other words, a complete reversal of time zones. You know that travelling tip about just staying awake until it’s bedtime in the new time zone? Doesn’t work with kids who are still having one or two naps a day. It took us a WEEK to get them into the new time zone. Ugh! And then there’s all the paraphernalia you have to take with you when you go out. So, yeah. We decided that would be the last overseas trip for a while.
But that said, the main reason we went on that trip was because there was a HUGE family reunion (my husband’s grandfather is the eldest of 14!) and it was sooooo much fun. Plus there were enough babysitters that we got to sneak out together once or twice for a little hands-free sightseeing.
But enough about me. Let’s get on with that list, shall we?
AN IRISH CASTLE
Castle on the Rise (Kristy Cambron)
The castle in this book is fictional, but it’s awakened my desire to go and visit a real one! In fact, this book will make you want to go and book a flight to Ireland in general.
EARLY 20th CENTURY APPALACHIA
My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge (Pepper Basham)
Okay, this one would involve a bit of time travel, but I would love to visit the little community Pepper Basham has portrayed in this novel. Read any of this authors novels set in her home of the Blue Ridge and you’ll be left with a strong desire to see the beautiful scenery for yourself.
INSIDE BIG BEN
An House Unspent (Roseanna M. White)
Wouldn’t it be awesome to see inside Big Ben? One of my boys is very mechanically minded so for his birthday one year we bought him a mechanical clock that he could build himself. Best. Gift. Ever. He’s built it over and over. Clock mechanics are intricate and fascinating and make me marvel at human ingenuity.
THE MUSIKVEREIN
Vienna Prelude (Bodie Thoene)
I was originally going to list Rachel McMillan’s gorgeous novella Rose in Three Quarter Time here, but I know Rachel would be very quick to agree to giving Elisa Lindheim the spotlight here. Love, love, love this series, and as a longtime classical music lover, I would love to go to a live concert at Vienna’s Musikverein.
WELMSLEY HALL
Miss Serena’s Secret (Carolyn Miller)
This is another fictional place, but I believe it’s inspired by a real one, so I’m including it. There is a gorgeous description of the panorama from a stone-flagged terrace at Welmsley Hall in this book, and since I’m hopeless at visualising things like that, I really need to go and see the real thing, or something like it.
YOSAMITE NATIONAL PARK
Where the Fire Falls (Karen Barnett)
I’d love to visit all of Yosamite National Park, but I’ve picked this National Park in particular because I would love to see the firefall. What a phenomenon!
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
The Red Door Inn (Liz Johnson)
Okay, in all honesty, Anne of Green Gables is responsible for first inspiring my love of Prince Edward Island, but this series by Liz Johnson certainly doesn’t hurt it!
HOBBITON
Close to You (Kara Isaac)
I’m not as big a fan of the movies as I am of the books, but I’d still love to go and see Hobbiton and all the other LOTR/Hobbit sites in New Zealand. Not so sure I’d go on a tour where people dress in full costume, like they do in this book, but if I did, I’m pretty sure I’d go as an elf.
THE EIFFEL TOWER
The Heart Between Us (Lindsay Harrel)
This one brings a confession. I spent three days in Paris and didn’t go up the Eiffel Tower. I walked under it, and I got to see it, but I didn’t actually go up it. I was too busy cramming the small amount of time I had there with art galleries and singing and a trip to Versailles. But then I kind of felt like I missed out on an iconic Paris experience, so I’d like to go back and try again.
CORFU
This Rough Magic (Mary Stewert)
I’m not a fan of this cover at all (my paperback version has a much nicer one) but I love the atmosphere Mary Stewart creates in this romantic suspense novel. The beautiful Mediterranean weather, the sparkling sea (including a swim with a dolphin)—are you beginning to see why I’m not a fan of this cover? But the book? Definitely a fan!
Great post 😁
I wonder if there are any tours that would take you inside Big Ben? What a cool place to see.
My Top Ten Tuesday post.
I hope you get to visit Yosemite one day! It’s a beautiful place!
Here’s my Top Ten Tuesday post
I’d love to visit Australia and New Zealand. Putting them on my bucket list.
I’ve been to Yosemite National Park, it’s gorgeous!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2019/02/26/top-ten-tuesday-200/
I’d like to visit the castle in The Lost Castle, Kristy has posted some videos as it has just been opened to the public and it looks amazing. Also any other castle mentioned in any book lol. I have actually been to a few of the castles and villages that Julie Klassen has used as inspiration for her books.
There’s something about castles, isn’t there? I’ve been to Caerphilly Castle in Wales and Warwick Castle in England, but I’d love to see more!
I was just talking with Miss E today about how much I’d like to return to the UK and visit Ireland and Scotland, which we didn’t do first time around. I had fun with this TTT 🙂
Yes! Definitely one to put on the bucket list. Along with the rest of Europe. Lol!
Great list! I’ve been to the Eiffel Tower and Appalachia, but would love to visit more places on your list, especially Ireland and NZ.