If you were asked to name two of the coolest U.S. towns, Boulder and Austin might come to mind. Small enough to feel personal and friendly, but big enough to have extensive options for nightlife, culture, and food experiences, both cities are literary destinations worth adding to your 2014 must-visit list.
BOULDER, COLORADO
Boulder is home to a bookstore with the largest selection of poetry in all of Colorado (the shop's name is taken from a Yeats poem), and features more coffee shops than you could visit in a day. Tour guide Analiese Brown has a dog named Basil (after her favorite herb), so you know her recommendations will be perfect for travelers who build vacations around the best places to eat.
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Shelby Wardlaw has called Austin home for the past 11 years. Between attending readings at the prestigious Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas, Austin, or frequenting coffee shops that moonlight as music venues and yoga studios, she's learned the best literary Austin has to offer.
