Forget the hotel pool for a minute. Would you book a vacation just because the hotel had an amazing library?
Apparently, plenty of travelers would! Reading hotels are having a moment, with properties turning books into part of the experience through libraries, reading gardens, curated collections and even ‘Book Butlers.’
I’ve picked five across the U.S. that I think are worth adding to your family travel list, especially if you’re hoping for a little more reading and a little less scrolling.
📚 Library Hotel, New York City
The ultimate stay for book lovers! The hotel has more than 6,000 books, with floors inspired by the Dewey Decimal System and rooms featuring their own book collections.
There’s also a 24-hour Reading Room, and the magnificent New York Public Library is just a short walk away.
Kid idea: Let your child choose which subject they’d most like to sleep surrounded by.
🏛️ The Jefferson, Washington, D.C.
Hidden inside The Jefferson is The Book Room, a cozy library inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s love of reading. It includes kid-friendly books too, making it a lovely place to unwind after exploring Washington’s museums.
📖 Perry Lane Hotel, Savannah, Georgia
Savannah already feels like a storybook with its historic houses, leafy squares and enormous oak trees. Perry Lane adds to the atmosphere with an in-house book collection curated with a local independent bookseller.
🌴 The Ben, West Palm Beach, Florida
This hotel has a particularly fun idea: a Book Butler. Guests can choose from a curated collection and have a book delivered to them. It’s basically room service for readers!
🍺 Hotel Emma, San Antonio, Texas
Located inside a former brewery, Hotel Emma has an atmospheric library built in what was once the brewery’s fermentation room. Families can browse its collection between adventures around San Antonio.
🌳 Grand Bohemian Lodge, Greenville, South Carolina
This lodge sits beside beautiful Falls Park on the Reedy and has its own vintage-style library, making it easy to combine outdoor adventures with a quiet afternoon of reading.
🔐 Mystery Unlocked: A Bookish Stay in Every State 📚
I’ve gone looking across all 50 states for a hotel, inn or unusual stay with a bookish connection. Some have proper libraries and reading rooms, others have literary history, book-themed rooms or cozy spaces where disappearing into a novel feels completely acceptable.
So, find your state and start planning your next chapter…
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