When you think of a weekend getaway, you think about jumping in the car and going somewhere close to where you live.
In any area, there are hidden gems just waiting to be explored. My husband and I have adventures. Anytime we go anywhere or do anything, we see it as an adventure because everything is what you make of it. Whether we go to the grocery store, go to Roswell to have dinner and a quick shopping trip, or drive across the country, we always make it an adventure.
When we travel, I spend time before our trip to research the area we are visiting and the places we will see along the way. When you go on a weekend getaway, books can help you plan. Travel guides and books on the history and culture of your destination can lead to some of the best places to visit to maximize your time. Often, planning getaways can be as much fun as the trip itself.
As great as it is to be able to take a quick weekend trip, sometimes you just don’t have the resources. Sometimes childcare isn’t available, or there isn’t someone to care for pets. You may be on call and have to stay close to work. One main reason to stay home is that those household chores never seem to do themselves. The laundry, the dishes, and the vacuuming always need attention. There are ways to travel without ever leaving the house.
Books can take you anywhere, let you be anyone, or let you do anything.
When I was in the seventh grade, we were assigned an essay on why we love to read. The winners got to read their essays on the radio. I was selected as one of the winners. I no longer have that essay, but I do remember the gist of it. I stated that I loved to read because reading allowed me to go anywhere and be anyone in my mind. I continue to believe in the power of reading. Throughout the history of literature, there have been thousands of books written about people from all walks of life, facing all types of adventures.
When you read, your brain absorbs the words. Whether you are reading a paper book, a magazine, an e-book, or listening to an audiobook, words can transform you. Words allow the reader to create characters and worlds in your own experience and imagination. There can be adventure in learning a new skill. You find that knowledge in books. Learning a new language can be an adventure, and that language can be found in a book.
If you ask the internet, you will be given a slew of articles that have lists of books where the characters go on adventures. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy often tops the lists. But adventure is what you make of it. Some adventures include going somewhere and encountering obstacles along the way while other adventures are about getting out of your comfort zone and opening yourself up to new life experiences. Everyone has a different idea of what an adventure is to them.
Inside the pages of a book, you can party in the 1920s with Jay Gatsby and friends, ride the river with Huck and Jim, explore the universe with Arthur Dent, sail aboard the Pequod with Ishmael, solve mysteries on the Orient Express, have tea with the Mad Hatter, see the world in 80 days with Phileas Fogg, travel with Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin away from the Shire and eventually to Mordor, go through the wardrobe with Susan, Lucy, and Edmund, or fly on a broomstick with Harry Potter. Books and literature are a gateway to any adventure you want to find. Whether you are traveling or staying home, everything is available at your local library. All you need is a library card to access the adventure of a lifetime in your imagination. So, the next time you feel the need to get away, remember: you can go anywhere and be anything inside the pages of a book.
Wendy Kilpatrick
I am the Adult Services Librarian for the Artesia Public Library. I have been with the Library for 12 years and I love my job and all things library related. I live in Artesia with my husband and our German Shepherd Dog, Izzy. In my spare time (what’s that?) I read everything I can get my hands on. I love to craft. My husband and I love to visit the beach every chance we get.
