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Portland, OR - With the enormous (and enormously famous) Powell’s bookstore, countless cool coffeehouses, and the annual Wordstock book festival, Portland is an excellent destination for bibliophiles.

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Powell's City of Books, Portland, OR - Powell’s City of Books is undeniably the big attraction here, with more than two million books, five floors, and a claim that it’s the largest used and new bookstore in the world.

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Heathman Hotel, Portland, OR - Where to stay? Heathman Hotel, of course! The historic accommodation has its own library on the second floor with thousands of autographed books.

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Boston, MA - Home to a number of universities, it makes sense that Boston leans towards the literary. It has its own designated Literary District, complete with bookstores and historic homes that once housed authors like Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, and Kahlil Gibran.

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Brattle Book Store, Boston, MA - According to SmartAsset’s study, the city has more bookstores per resident than any other city examined in the study, including the Brattle Book Store, which dates back to 1825 and sells an array of amazing used and rare antique books.

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Grolier Poetry Book Shop, Boston, MA -

Poetry lovers will want to make a stop at the Grolier Poetry Book Shop, which was established in 1927 and is the nation’s oldest continuously operating poetry book shop. It hosts a slew of intimate readings, as do many locations in the city.

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Boston Public Library, Boston, MA - The Boston Public Library in Copley Square is a historic landmark, founded in the 1850s. It has a gorgeous building complete with statues of lions guarding the books and a map room, not to mention millions of items available for borrowing.

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Boston Book Festival, Boston, MA -

The city also hosts the Boston Book Festival every year, which draws authors like Salman Rushdie and Joyce Carol Oates.

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San Francisco, CA - The hilly West Coast city is ideal for book lovers who want to learn more about the Beat Generation.

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City Lights Books, San Francisco, CA - Your first stop should be City Lights Books, the legendary bookstore and Beat publisher founded by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti. It still acts as a place to find politically progressive books and discuss them. Nearby, you can drink coffee or something a little stronger in old Beat haunts.

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The Beat Museum, San Francisco, CA - To learn more about the Beats, check out the Beat Museum, which explores the effect of the movement on literature, clothing, and music.

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Litquake, San Francisco, CA -

If you can make it to the city during October, definitely go to Litquake, San Francisco’s incredible nine-day literary festival complete with readings, discussions, and other book-themed events.

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New Orleans, LA - Bookworms, get yourselves to Louisiana! Like authors William Faulkner and Anne Rice, the unique Southern city is sure to cast a spell on you.

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Faulkner House Books, New Orleans, LA -

Peruse New Orleans’ many enticing old bookstores, but make a special point to stop at Faulkner House Books. The shop is a national literary landmark, as well as the location where Faulkner once rented rooms. It’s also full of unique finds.

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Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans, LA -

Whether you stay in a suite or sip a Sazerac at the bar, you’ll definitely want to check out Hotel Monteleone. The classic hotel, located in the historic French Quarter, was once frequented by the likes of Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Ernest Hemingway, and Eudora Welty.

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Literary Festivals, New Orleans, LA -

Finally, the city hosts a number of literary festivals each year, so try to time your visit! This includes the Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival, which honors Williams’ memory. 

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Washington, D.C. - From the Library of Congress to national book events, the nation’s capital is an obvious choice for a book lover’s travel itinerary.

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Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. - Ah, the Library of Congress, aka a bibliophile’s ultimate dream. The place is the largest library in the world and has a collection of over 160 million items on about 838 mi of bookshelves. Plus, the architecture is stunning.

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Politics and Prose, Washington, D.C. -

You’ll want to check out the city’s independent bookstores, including the beloved Politics and Prose, which has frequent author visits and book signings.

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National Book Festival, Washington, D.C. -

D.C. is also home to the annual National Book Festival, which features book signings, events, author talks, and more.

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Austin, TX - Chock full of independent bookstores and literary events, Austin is a great place for book lovers to love books.

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BookPeople, Austin, TX -

You’ll want to check out BookPeople, one of the largest independent bookstores in Texas. The two-floor shop is a beloved gem.

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The Harry Ransom Center, Austin, TX -

The Harry Ransom Center in Austin features many rotating literary exhibits from its large collection. It’s definitely worth checking out.

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Texas Book Festival, Austin, TX -

Austin hosts the Texas Book Festival, which is a great event for book lovers to browse, commune, and see some of their favorite authors.

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Iowa City, IA - Iowa City is a UNESCO City of Literature, making it the only one in the US.

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Iowa Writers' Workshop, Iowa City, IA - Iowa City is a great place for great literature, and it owes that in part to the fact that Iowa City is home to the famed Iowa Writers' Workshop.

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University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA - Iowa City is where you’ll find the University of Iowa and its renowned writing program. Graduates and faculty have earned multiple Pulitzer Prizes in literature.

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Prairie Lights, Iowa City, IA -

Impressive bookstores in Iowa City include Prairie Lights, which is multi-story and beloved.

See also: Visit these destinations from history books

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