Southern Author Literary Sites to Visit on Your Next Vacation

With deep history, stunning landscapes, unique people and stories, the Southern states have inspired writers for centuries. If book-based travel destinations are your cup of tea, consider visiting some of the following southern author literary sites on your next vacation. 

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Southern Author Literary Sites in The Carolinas

Both North and South Carolina are literary hotspots for Southern author literary sites; in fact, if you’re planning a trip to the Carolinas, you may want to allocate extra time in your itinerary. The state of North Carolina publishes three curated regional guidebooks detailing its rich literary history. Visitors can check out the Literary Trails website for an in-depth account of what’s included in these mapped tours and site visit suggestions.

From the Western North Carolina Mountains to the Piedmont and Eastern North Carolina, visitors to the Tar Heel state can expect to learn more about Maya Angelou, Thomas Wolfe, and Carl Sandburg. In fact, the Carl Sandburg National Historic Site is a literary travel destination in itself. 

Carl Sandburg National Historic Site

Sandburg spent the last twenty-two years of his life living in Flat Rock, North Carolina, on Connemara Farms, where his wife raised goats and he completed several of his well-known works. Today, visitors can tour the Sandburg home and peruse the farms where dairy goats descended from the same goats Lilian Sandburg raised roam freely. The site offers over 5 miles of walking tours, picnic areas, and plenty to explore.

If you enjoy books that have been made into movies, or have a love of the lowcountry, you likely have Pat Conroy on your Southern author literary sites list. If so, the Pat Conroy Literary Center in Beaufort, South Carolina, should be your first stop. 

The literary center’s site recommends taking a short drive to The Penn Center.  This was the former school for enslaved Africans where Conroy met with Martin Luther King, Jr. Visitors to Beaufort can also visit Daufuskie Island, depicted in The Water is Wide, or consider a golf cart tour to experience the sights of Beaufort. 

Author Sites to Explore in Georgia 

Just a short drive from Beaufort, SC, is the childhood home of Flannery O’Connor. Now a popular site for visitors, the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home and Museum, located in Savannah, Georgia, is open for tours, features a gift shop, and hosts events for writers and authors.  Known for her short stories, O’Connor spent her childhood in Savannah, but later moved 2.5 hours Northwest to Andalusia Farm in Milledgeville; another Southern author literary site visitors may want to add to a Georgia road trip adventure. 

Further north, just under two hours from Millidgeville, the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta is worth a stop. The Midtown home closed during the pandemic and then underwent a four-year renovation. Visitors can tour Mitchell’s apartment, explore exhibits related to Gone With the Wind, and take in the unadulterated history of the Civil War era.  Another option is a private 3-hour tour exploring the sites and items related to the film and the authors’ experiences writing the novel. 

Literary Sites to Explore in Virginia 

The author of Misty of Chincoteague had a penchant for writing about animals. Marguerite Henry was inspired by the pony, Misty, on her visit to Chincoteague in the 1940s. Her works called attention to the tradition of the annual Pony Swim and made the island a literary and tourist landmark. Visit Miss Molly’s Inn Bed & Breakfast, where Henry wrote Misty of Chincoteague. There’s also a Misty statue on Main Street downtown, which visitors will not want to miss. The local Chamber of Commerce publishes a trail map that highlights all of the sites and locations related to the book.

The Poe Museum in Richmond is home to Edgar Allan Poe manuscripts, first editions, beautiful grounds, and gardens.  Richmond is also home to the Ellen Glasgow House, the childhood residence of Pulitzer Prize-winning author of In This Our Life. The 11,000 square foot mansion will soon be transformed into a 12-room boutique hotel.  

Southern Author Literary Sites in Alabama

While the movie wasn’t filmed in Monroeville, the city is home to several exhibits and sites that pay homage to Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Most notably, the Monroe County Heritage Museum, exhibit features early interviews, photos, and memorabilia that highlight Harper Lee’s childhood. It also showcases her hometown’s influence on To Kill a Mockingbird. While in Monroeville, visitors can check out a variety of statues that pay tribute to the novel. One of these is the Atticus Finch Memorial near the city courthouse. 

The Monroe County Heritage Museum also pays tribute to another area author, Truman Capote. This exhibit chronicles his early life through photos, memorabilia, and interviews. For those visiting in February, the city is home to the Monroeville Literary Festival. This is a must-visit for those who wish to celebrate Southern authors.  

Bookish Road Trip in Tennessee

The Tennessee Author Adventures Trail takes visitors through some of the state’s most important literary landmarks. One key stop, in Henning, TN, highlights the birthplace of Alex Haley. The Alex Haley House and Museum includes a self-guided walk-through exhibit, a tour of the Roots’ authors’ childhood home, and an 18-minute film that covers the making of the movie. The trail explores Tennessee’s literary and cultural heritage. It’s the perfect way to kick off a Southern author literary sites road trip.  Retrace the steps of your favorite writer and visit one of these important literary sites in the South. Don’t forget to bring along your favorite book!