Let’s face it, sometimes it is just easier to log in to Netflix. Who knew there could be that many good shows? It is a bottomless pit of entertainment with truly no end in sight. I for one, get every penny (if they still made pennies) out of my monthly subscription. However, I am also a traditionalist. I prefer Romeo and Juliet without Leo, I refuse to see Grease 2, and chicken on my pizza is as far as I’m willing to go. We do not need to re-invent every wheel.

You can never replace the joy that good old-fashioned reading brings. To this day, whenever I walk into a bookstore or library, I feel the same way I did as a kid – excited to find out what will ‘speak’ to me, both energized and calmed by simply being in the presence of books, and impatient to get home to start devouring the words and feeling the pages between my fingers.

This is why I created FLY Reads. In this age of infinite digital accessibility, we must keep picking up books. There is a cornucopia of travel books out there, written by real people sharing real stories. You simply cannot make this stuff up. Their honesty, courage, fortitude and (often) good humour are the only ingredients necessary to spark our own dreams, propelling us out of our comfort zones and into planning our next adventure, whatever that may look like.

The books that have impacted me most can be found on FLY Reads. I have also included some guidebooks that may prove valuable should that geographic region be of interest. In some cases, I have had the good fortune to interview the author. Links have been provided for you to hear our discussion. Should you have a book recommendation for FLY, please be sure to contact me!

Happy reading!

Note: A couple of these books are not necessarily travel and adventure books, but are important books to read and are highly recommended.