Must Visit Bookish Places in Massachusetts

Massachusetts was called home to some of the most influential authors of all time. To name a few, Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, Edgar Allen Poe, Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Ralph Waldo Emerson were just a few of the authors who resided in the state.

It is no wonder booklovers are dying to go and visit not only the homes of some of these incredible writers, but also to visit the independent bookstores that flood their shelves with Dickinson, Poe, Hawthorne, and Alcott.

Here is a map of 3 places based on famous authors, as well as my personal favorite bookstore to go to in Salem.

Place 1: Emily Dickinson’s Homestead (Purple)

The first place that is a must for any aspiring author is The Emily Dickinson Museum. This museum is in Amherst, MA, which is about an hour drive from Boston, MA.

The museum itself is within Dickinson's homestead, which she lived in while she wrote some of her best poetry. Any young poet or author ought to visit this museum and sit outside Dickinson's estate pondering over their next line.

Place 2: Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House (Green)

CALLING ALL MY LITTLE WOMEN GIRLS AND GUYS!!

This is a MUST visit spot for any Little Women fans or just lovers of literature. Alcott's house was formally called The Orchard House. Not only was this the house Alcott lived in when she wrote Little Women, but it is also the house she based the book off of!

If you want to live your Jo or Amy fantasy, you must make a day trip to Alcott's estate which is located in Concord, MA.

Place 3: The Wayside (Yellow)

The Wayside was the home to many authors. Writers such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Margaret Sidney (who was also known as Harriet Lothrop).

This house has a rich history and culture surrounding it. Not to mention the neighboring estates were home to Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Talk about an influential neighborhood... Where can I sign a lease?

Place 4: Wicked Good Books (Orange/ Red)

If you have made it to Massachusetts, you have to go to Salem, and if you are in Salem, you MUST go to the best bookstore in the state.

Wicked Good Books is an independent bookstore, that features new releases as well as famous works by the authors who lived in MA. This was my favorite place in all of Massachusetts when I visited a couple of summers ago.

Here are some of the pictures I took of the outside as well as my Hawthorne related purchase!!

If anything, go for the cute bookmarks you get free with any purchase.

Those are my top four places that any booklover must visit in the state of great American authors. Make sure to add these when planning for your next trip!