In this last week, everyone’s lives have changed. I don’t know a single person whose vacations, retreat, work-trip, honeymoon, or wedding is not canceled or on hold. Everyone is inside whatever four walls they call home for a while now. It’s an easy sacrifice to make for the health of everyone – sit on your couch. But for our generation which has embraced travel, and exploring the world like no other before us – it will prove a bit of challenge for us to bottle our wanderlust and to stay in.

Growing up in Ohio, I never left the country before I was 18. I traveled through the pages of books, and scenes of movies. I watched the sights, and adventures foldout on pages and in films and decided I needed to go have my own. It is what inspired me to travel, and in the way that I travel – which is not to chase down instagrammable spots, but to go find authenticity.

So here’s a list of my personal favorite transportive titles: books and movies that will take you someplace else for a while if you find yourself getting a little stir-crazy at home.

My Favorite Movies to Transport You

#1: Funny Face
If you need a trip to Paris, this movie will give it to you. This musical starring the one and only Audrey Hepburn, opposite dancer-extraordinaire Fred Astaire is my favorite movie of all time. Audrey plays an intelluctual book -seller who turns into a fashion model is goes to Paris with a magazine team to do a photoshoot. This movie is a love -letter to the city with scenes shot all over the most iconic places.

Lost in Translation – Tokyo
Midnight in Paris – ParisFunny Face – Paris
Slumdog Millionaire – India
Eat, Pray, Love – India, Bali, Italy
Under the Tuscan Sun – Italy
Gladiator – Rome
Braveheart – Scotland
Notting Hill – London
The King & I – Thailand
7 Years in Tibet – Tibet
A Good Year – France
Vicky Christina Barcelona – Spain
The Darjeeling Limited – India
The Talented Mr. Ripley – Amalfi
The Motorcycle Diaries – Peru
Roman Holiday – Rome
Lion – India
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – Jaipur
Lawrence of Arabia – Jordan
Out of Africa – Africa
Before Sunrise – Vienna
Woman in Gold – Vienna
LaLa Land – LA
Breakfast at Tiffanys – New York
Into the Wild – Alaska
Mutiny on the Bounty – French Polynesia

Favorite Books to Transport You

#1 Me Talk Pretty One Day, David Sedaris
My absolute favorite writer, David Sedaris is a genius at absurdist humor and societal observations. This book is partially set in Normandy, where he settles in a home with his partner, Hugh. His words perfectly transport you to life in a little, French village and will leave you in tear of laughter.

Down and Out in London and Paris, ‎George Orwell – Paris and London

Notes from A Small Island, Bill Bryson  – England

Shantaram, Gregory David Roberts – India

All The Light We Cannot See, Anthony Dooer – France, Germany

Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden

Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert

The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer

Documentaries

# 1 Given
I just learned about this documentary and I thought how have I not heard of this before? It is narrated through the little boy of a young family road-tripping the most exotic places in world and is all around beautiful and inspiring. It this doesn’t transport you – nothing will.

Planet Earth

Blue Planet 

Grizzly Man – Alaska

Ken Burns: Bob Dylan – New York

The Great Barrier Reef David Attenborough – Australia

Jiro Dreams of Sushi – Japan

African Cats – Africa

Series

#1 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
If you have yet to watch this, now is the time. You will perfectly be transported to New York in the 60s, (and then Paris in the 60s in season two!) It is the clever, charming, and totally hilarious story of woman building her own life and discovering her talent post-divorce. So obviously, the main character, Midge, is my personal hero.

Game of Thrones – Iceland, Croatia, Spain

The Crown – England

No Reservations and Parts Unknown – Everywhere

Girls – New York

Downtown Abbey – England

Enjoy your trip, no passport required!

Want to transport yourself to Paris through the kitchen? I’ve been taking cooking classes in Paris, and I’m going to share my 3 favorite (simple!) recipes in my newsletter next week! Sign up now so you don’t miss it!