A literary road trip through Alabama is a must for book lovers and really anyone seeking a deeper appreciation of the history and culture of the South. The state is full of special bookstores, libraries, and other landmarks significant to literature nationally and globally.

Here's a recommended 7-hour trek to see the highlights from the top of the state to the bottom (or whichever direction you're headed!). There's even a perfect spot to stop and stay midway. You can access the Google Maps directions here.

1. Helen Keller Public Library, Tuscumbia

You may already know that Tuscumbia, Alabama, is home to Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller. With the inspiration and wise guidance of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, Keller overcame the challenges of being deaf and blind to make a remarkable impact worldwide. A lesser-known story is how Keller inspired the city’s library, the state’s oldest chartered library in continuous service. As a young woman pursuing studies in Boston, Keller wrote home to urge citizens of her hometown to establish a library like those she experienced at school. Her inquiry prompted the formation of the Helen Keller Library and Literary Association. In 1893, they founded what residents know today as the Helen Keller Public Library.

2. Linn-Henley Research Library, Birmingham

While a visit to this beauty requires a booking, its architecture and murals make it a must-see for literature and art lovers. The structure, built in the neoclassical style with Indiana limestone, served as the city’s main library from 1927 to 1987, when the city’s current central branch library opened across the street. Celebrated and internationally trained muralist Ezra Winter created spectacular murals for the library’s reading room, inspired by 16 famous literary works worldwide. Now the Linn-Henley Research Library, this structure houses a huge collection of historical documents and photography and is a lovely place to spend a quiet afternoon doing research or reading a book of choice. Call the main library to schedule your visit at (205) 226-3600.

3. The Alabama Booksmith, Birmingham

This Magic City bookstore is extra special in that it specializes in signed first editions—most sold at the regular publisher’s price! You can check the shop’s online calendar for what’s available and see when the next author signing event is coming up. If you’re less of a planner and prefer to see what story unfolds when you get there, pop in anytime and peruse the shelves to see what treasures you discover.

4. The Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald Museum, Montgomery

Plan an overnight stay at the former home of F. Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald, which now serves as the only museum dedicated to their lives and legacies. While the couple only lived in the home from 1931 to the spring of 1932, Zelda grew up in the surrounding community before she met and married her husband in 1920. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and allows visitors to examine the Fitzgeralds' impact on literature and culture through a selection of photographs, letters, books, newspaper clippings, and more. You can make reservations through Airbnb to reserve the Zelda Suite or the Scott Suite.

5. Monroeville

This road trip would not be complete without a visit to Monroeville, named the “Literary Capital of Alabama” in 1997 for being home to many renowned writers, including Harper Lee, Truman Capote, Cynthia Tucker, Rheta Grimsley-Johnson, Mark Childress, and more. Must-visit stops include the Old Courthouse Museum, which served as the model for the fictional trial in Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird,” and now houses a museum. Follow the Literary Capital Sculpture Trail through downtown to see 14 bronze sculptures, each honoring the many writers who gave Monroeville its status.

6. Page & Palette, Fairhope

The beauty and charm of the Mobile Bay community of Fairhope are enough to inspire adoring prose, as does the long-loved Page & Palette, a fourth-generation-run bookstore founded in 1968. Located in the heart of the city’s French Quarter, Besides a wide selection of titles from local and regional authors, the store hosts many community events and even offers live music and a full bar downstairs in The Book Cellar. While you’re there, make time to explore beyond Fairhope to other parts of Mobile Bay, which has inspired many writers and poets throughout time. Just one example: This area is where the late Winston Groom grew up and returned in his early 40s to pen the book "Forrest Gump," in 1986.

Do you agree these are the best stops for a literary road trip through Alabama? We'd love to hear your thoughts if you've had the chance to experience any of these destinations.