The Armchair Traveler

Posted by Cheryl Pon, Google Books Online Team

[Please note, some images in this post may not be available in full view to users outside of the United States.]

Now that it’s early September and we’re officially in the dog days of summer, what better way to spend this hot, sultry period than to take a refresher and travel to exotic lands afar? Even if you’re working through the summer or are more of a staycationer, you can take a trip around the world by exploring different countries through Google Books!

Courtesy of books scanned via our library project, anyone can stroll through China, experience ninety days' worth of Europe or get to know South America. And if you’re feeling a little fantastical, you can leave Kansas behind and head off with Dorothy to explore the land of Oz.

With the plethora of travel-related books available in full view on Google Books, you can explore the world and be visually enlightened with sights from afar from the comfort of your couch and a frosty glass of lemonade!

Check out the beautiful Flower Pagoda in Canton, China:


Swing by the Uffizi Gallery in Florence to admire the Birth of Venice in Italy and the Italians by Edward Hutton:


See London through Herbert Fry’s eighteen bird's-eye views of the principal streets, or be a Wanderer in Paris experiencing the lovely cafés, museums and walks down rue de l'hôtel de ville:


And while you're there, why not visit the Arc De Triomphe De l’Etoile?


If you’re more of a nature-lover, hitch up your wagon of books via My Library on Google Books and set off on the Oregon Trail and imagine wildflowers, horseback riding, and gorgeous sunsets on plains via first-hand experiences penned by Francis Parkman, or if you’re feeling really adventurous, literally "book" yourself an around-the-world experience by traveling alongside Jules Verne for Five Weeks in a Balloon. For an intellectual dose of scientific observations, you can travel from Chile to Argentina and back again with Charles Darwin's Voyage of the Beagle.

After you return from your incredible journeys, you can easily show other readers your virtual trip by sharing images you found interesting. Blog interesting images using our Share This Clip feature in Google Books, and share your bookshelf with family, friends, or the world!