Explore More: Read your way to adventure

Wanderlust is a constant condition for many of us, but we can’t always get away. I don’t know about you but I have a job, a house, and kids . . . a life outside of my suitcase and passport. Which is where my love of books has always rescued me.

A well-written adventure, a lyrical guidebook, or even a stunning cookbook can be the temporary escape you need until that next stamp in your passport. Here are a few of my favorites to get you through:

This easy read is what I dream of doing one day – packing my bags for an extended trip around the world. Cheryl and Bill Jamison have written many cookbooks and definitely know their way around the culinary world so it is a nice mix of foodie adventure and cultural experiences. I love that they keep it real and include all the bumps and hassles of international travel. After reading Cheryl and Bill’s humorous and real stories trekking through ten countries, you will feel like you’ve been around the world too.

Be prepared to get in the kitchen with this read. Mina Holland mixes great storytelling, history and delicious recipes in balanced amounts to create a book that you will go back to time and time again. Read it cover to cover, skip to different parts of the world, or use it as a pre-trip primer on culinary history and flavors.

This list wouldn’t be complete without one of the most famous culinary road warriors. Anthony Bourdain’s journey was by no means the first of its kind, but his unabashed style kept it real in a way few other writers can accomplish. Eat your way across the globe and meet the colorful characters and real situations that make international travel magical and life-changing.

This colorful book is packed with inspiration – top ten lists, recipes to make at home, practical travel information for your next adventure, and so much more. Just flipping through it makes you feel like you’ve hopped a plane to a whole new place.

Food is a thread that connects us all and when traveling breaking bread is the perfect way to meet new people and connect to a culture. This collection includes stores from icons of the food and travel worlds and will take you through a 38-course feast across the globe.

This book will change the WAY you travel. In our busy lives, we often don’t fully enjoy the experience of travel. We rush from place to place and follow our itinerary without really taking in the pure joy of exploring the world. After reading this book you will take pleasure in the journey in a whole new way.

If you know anything about Italian culture you know that food is one of the centers of life there. This book is for anyone who loves Italian food, history, or just a well-written story. How did the Italian table become so delicious? Find out how pasta became tied to Italian cuisine, how exotic spices made their way across the country, and how Italy grew along with its culinary prowess.

Happy reading!