6 Inspiring Reads for Women Who Travel
I don't know about you, but I've found myself with quite a bit of extra time as of late. I downloaded TikTok, reassessed my career path, upped my yoga game, and increased my wine consumption while repeating my new favorite mantra: "I'm fine, it's fine, we're all going to be fine," (in no specific order).
The best way to escape the chaos and head back into nature? With a few rad and inspiring reads by women after my own heart. Here are my favorite women-forward adventure novels, magazines, and coffee table books to keep your travel stoke alive!
Table of Contents
1. Four Corners: A Journey into the Heart of Papua New Guinea
I don't think I've read a book faster than I read Four Corners. In this gripping real-life adventure, 24-year-old Kira takes off on a solo, three-month trip through Papua New Guinea's (PNG) most remote corners where she meets tribes who still practice cannibalism, is taken in by the leader of the OPM guerrilla movement, and nearly faces death on an impromptu hike through PNG's unforgiving jungle. She becomes the first Western woman to have traversed the country. I'm not sure whether or not I actually want to visit PNG after reading her first-hand experiences, but it's easily one of the best travel books I've ever read.
Highly recommend.
2. The Adventure Journal
If you love great imagery, bad ass stories, and minimalistic design, you'll love the Adventure Journal. (They also look great on a coffee table.) They're available by the issue (back issues included) or by bundle, depending on your price point and wanderlust needs.
3. In the Company of Women
"I love a proud woman, a gal who refuses to put herself last or minimize her achievements."
– Cameron Esposito, comedian and actor from Los Angeles, CA.
Okay, so it's not so much an adventure read, but this coffee table book is incredibly empowering and inspirational – it's part of what encourages me to keep at my creative career goals. If they can do it, I can too, right? These are real women who accomplished their dreams, complete with inspirational quotes and gorgeous photography. There will always be a spot on my table for In the Company of Women.
4. Almost Somewhere: Twenty-Eight Days on the John Muir Trail
Three post-graduate women – one with backpacking experience, one without, and one with no hiking knowledge whatsoever – take off on the 211-mile trail through the Sierra Nevadas. Almost Somewhere follows Zaza's firsthand accounts with trail names, bears, mountain passes, food shortages, injuries, and questionable men, letting John Muir's written discoveries lead the way. Her words are hilarious and real, bringing you in to her adventure as if there was a fourth to their trio of inspiring women.
5. She Explores
These 40 women do it all: hiking, van lifeing, campfire cooking, backpacking, road tripping, and more. And interspersed throughout this coffee table book of exciting women-led adventures are tips for solo travel, cooking on the go, planning ahead, and how to tell your story, along with pages upon pages of stunning imagery. Try reading this book without planning your next adventure. I dare you.
6. Next Up: Elsewhere
I can't wait to dive into Rosita's nine trips to some of the world's most remote regions upon Elsewhere's May 30 release. From a life-threatening bus ride in Pakistan to Antarctica's subzero ice caps, I have a feeling that this young female traveler doesn't often say no to an epic adventure. Tick tock, Amazon. This book can't arrive any sooner!