5 Authors Share Their Dream Writing Destinations
Whether or not you’re a writer, these destinations prove to be the perfect place for creative inspiration.
Destination: Cambria, California W Writer: Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Ask Him Why
"I guess I'm lucky regarding my dream location for writing a book, because it's the same place I've written every one of my 31-and-counting novels: my home. I live on the Central Coast of California, in the tiny town of Cambria, and I can see the Pacific Ocean from my windows. I travel a lot and I've seen many amazing places, but when I get home to Cambria I always know I want to be here more than anyplace I've seen. There’s no place like home."
See why Cambria made Sunset magazine's list of the best places to live.
Destination: Bar Harbor, Maine Writer: Barbara Solomon Josselsohn, author of The Last Dreamer
"My all-time dream writing destination is the rocky coast of Maine—anywhere from as far south as Kittery to Bar Harbor and further northward. The spiky coastline and pounding waves are unpredictable, frightening, and gorgeous, all at once. I love that the water is icy cold, even in the middle of summer, and that the sky is often full of drama, with vast clouds that combine the brightest of whites with shades of purplish-gray. In my novel The Last Dreamer, one of the main characters, Jeff Downs, relocates to Maine to separate from his past, and to reboot before moving on with his future. Like that character, I go to coastal Maine when I need to withdraw from day-to-day life and be reminded that the universe is way beyond our control."
Want to visit the coast of Maine? This bike tour might be just the trip you're looking for.
Destination: Emerald Cove, Catalina Island Writer: Leslie Johansen Nack, author of Fourteen: A Daughter’s Memoir of Adventure, Sailing, and Survival
"My dream location to write is aboard our sailboat anchored in any little beautiful cove. But if I could transport our boat to the Greek Islands it truly would be a dream come true. Currently, I'm working on my next book and will soon be working on it while moored in beautiful Emerald Cove and Avalon Harbor, Catalina Island. Writing is ideal in Catalina because even though I'm only 26 miles off the coast of California, it feels like I’m a world away from the hustle and bustle of my regular life. During the off-season, Catalina is very quiet. When I need a break from writing, I love to hike and swim in the crystal clear water."
See why Catalina Island is often called "America's Capri."
Destination: Amalfi Coast, Italy Writer: Steena Holmes, author of The Word Game
"There’s something about the Amalfi Coast that calls out to me. If I could lose myself in a tiny hotel nestled in the cliffs just outside of Sorrento or Positano, walk along the beach, sit on a stone wall, and plot my story while gazing out at the crystal blue Aegean Sea, I would be in my own little heaven."
See why the Amalfi Coast is also an ideal spot for learning to cook.
Destination: Abaco Islands, Bahamas Writer: Susie Orman Schnall, author of The Balance Project
"My favorite places to write are on the beaches of the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Whenever I'm there I feel a million miles away from the daily push/pull of my normal life back home, so my mind is free to wander and imagine. And a long walk on the beach, staring at the brilliant turquoise sea is a perfect cure for writer’s block. Works every time!"
Looking for a place to stay? At Abaco Beach Resort you can fish for your own dinner.
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