Today’s Travel Advice – Read Outlander!

Sharing is caring!

What is Outlander?

Allow me to introduce you to my #1 FAVORITE book of all time!!! Outlander is the first of an 8-book (so far) series of novels written by the brilliant Diana Gabaldon. From this point forward, when I refer to Outlander, I am referring to the entire series. It is part romance, part historical fiction & part sci-fi. The story begins in Scotland and covers the Jacobite rising of 1745 and continues for many years. Now, I know you might be thinking…”um…I was looking for travel advice and you’re telling me to read a book?” Yes. Yes, I am. Please allow me to explain.

My Outlander Obsession

Okay, full disclosure here: Not only am I travel obsessed, I am also obsessed with all things Outlander. I could literally talk about it all day long and why I think it is so incredible. I tell anyone who will listen about this book and I have gotten many of my friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances to read it. This series spurred my love of reading and my love of travel which led me here, so THANK YOU DIANA (in my mind, she’s my friend, so I’ll just call her Diana). Keeping this post to a readable length won’t be easy, but I promise to try and to make it worth your while.

How I Was Introduced

Several years ago, a friend of mine couldn’t stop talking about this book. She kept telling me…”you HAVE to read this book.” Did I mention I did not read anything…ever? I'm serious. I was not a reader at all and never had been. When I had to write a book report, I was the kid reading the intro to a book, then skimming a couple of pages. Aside from reading that I had to do in college, I can honestly tell you that I had read 2 other books for pleasure (in elementary school).

Of course, my friend knew this, but wouldn’t give up. After spending a weekend with her, I received the book in the mail. I took one look, laughed and called to tell her this was not just a book, it was a HUGE book and there was no way I was going to read it.

The Obsession Begins

Fast forward to about a month later. While out of town, my husband and I just happened to stumble onto the Outlander tv show (yes, there is a show based on the novels on Starz…it’s also awesome BTW). I watched 2 episodes and I was hooked! As soon as I returned home, I immediately began reading the book and called to have Starz added to my cable package.

It is impossible to describe how into this book I was from the very first page. I was shocked that it kept my attention through the entire series! This was and still is mind-blowing to me. Not only have I read these books, but I’ve read all of the spin off books as well. It is so very well written. I love the characters and their relationships with each other (well, most of them anyway).

How Does This Relate To Travel Again?

One of the things that I love most about Diana’s writing is how descriptive she is. She describes the scenery in Scotland to perfection, the smells, the feel…it’s like you are there…almost. The historical part of the story was so interesting. I knew nothing about it previously. The history of Scotland came alive and I learned so much. I fell in love with it while reading and I knew I had to go. It was my first big trip and I became travel obsessed instantly. To this day, it is still my favorite trip. I know that is, in large part, due to the fact that I felt so connected to the place after reading the books.

I read all of the Outlander books and planned my trip to Scotland, but I didn’t stop there. Before we left, I made sure I read several other books about Scottish history. One I highly recommend if you’re planning a trip there is Queen of Scots: The True Life Of Mary Stuart, by John Guy. It reads more like a history book, but follows her life, which was fascinating! I enjoyed and appreciated the things we saw and did so much more since I had the back story on some of the major historical figures, places and events.

We also fit in a couple of the filming locations from the Outlander show. We went to Lallybroch (Midhope Castle), the Liar’s Spring (Finnish Gorge) and Culloden Battlefield. The book made a huge difference when visiting Culloden. Had I visited without reading the books, it would have been just an old battlefield with some old guns and stuff to see. Thanks to the story though, I really felt an emotional connection with the place and the people who fought and died there.

Read Outlander And Go To Scotland

I cannot overstate how much I love these books and how much I love Scotland. So, this is your assignment: Read the books & go! Then come back and tell me how much you loved it! Not a reader? Get it on Audible and listen on your way to work or running errands (but not with the kids in the car…there is some pretty steamy romance after all). You should watch the show too, but I would definitely read each book before watching the season that coincides. Here is a complete list of every single location in Scotland mentioned in all of the books (so far), along with exactly where you can find them in the books.

Honestly, I can’t imagine you reading book one and stopping, so I HIGHLY recommend just going ahead and getting the whole set, but, I’ll let you decide:

Even if Outlander is not your thing, try out another book set in a different location. Historical fiction’s work great as travel inspiration, but biography's work well too. I think you will be surprised at how much more interesting your trip will be!

Already a fan? Comment below and tell me about your Outlander obsession.

If you liked this one…you HAVE to check out these:

• 3 Can’t Miss Places To Visit In Scotland
• The Perfect Scotland Road Trip
• 17 Fun Facts About Scotland You Never Knew

Until next time…

Until next time…

About The Author

My mission is to inspire and empower families to prioritize travel now, creating unforgettable memories and deeper connections with their loved ones.

I provide guidance and practical solutions to help busy parents integrate travel into their lives, fostering joy, fulfillment, and stress-free adventures. Don’t wait until it’s too late; the time to travel is now.
Learn more about me & My Travel Obsession here.

My Favorite Travel Booking Apps & Websites

---

⭐MY TRAVEL OBSESSION:

• Products & Services – My Travel Obsession's travel planning products, services, and freebies!
• What To Pack – See all of my personal favorite travel items.
• Travel Resources – Resources that I use most when planning, booking & traveling.

🏡FOR FINDING GREAT PLACES TO STAY:

• VRBO – My #1 recommendation for family-friendly lodging options.
• Expedia – My favorite for hotel bookings.

🚗FOR CAR & RV RENTALS:

• Discover Cars & Sixt – My favorite sites for rental cars worldwide.
• Turo.com – Rent a car from an individual owner – It's like VRBO for cars!
• RVShare – Rent an RV for your next family road trip!

🚁FOR ACTIVITIES, EXCURSIONS, & TOURS:

• Viator & Get Your Guide – The best sites to find and book activities & excursions.
• Gypsy Guide – An AWESOME audio tour app. ALWAYS check to see if they have a tour available.

🩺FOR TRAVEL INSURANCE:

• SafetyWing – The lowest-cost travel insurance out there. Several options starting as low as $42 for 4 weeks of coverage.

✈FOR FINDING GREAT FLIGHT DEALS:

• Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights) – My #1 recommendation for saving big $$$ on flights. Sign up for a free 14-day trial.

🥾FOR HIKING:

• AllTrails – THE APP for hikers. I recommend paying for the pro version so you can use the navigation feature while hiking.

---

Once you're done here, head to the homepage to explore or jump to one of these categories: Texas Travel ~ US Travel ~ International Travel ~ Travel Tips & Tricks ~ Travel Gear & Gadgets ~ What To Pack ~ Travel Planning ~ Shop