Explore the real-world places that appear in People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Indianapolis, Indiana, Gulf Shores, Alabama, Denver, Colorado, New Orleans, Louisiana, Key West, Florida and 9 more.
Poppy & Alex's Hometown — Where it all began
Indianapolis is the anchoring city of Poppy and Alex's complicated relationship. They meet here in their late teens and spend years living in the same city before their big falling out. The city represents their shared past, their first jobs, and all the ordinary moments that built their connection before the vacations began. Poppy's family home and their college years unfold against Indianapolis's backdrop.
Indianapolis, founded in 1821, became Indiana's capital and grew into a major industrial and manufacturing hub. The city hosted the Indianapolis 500 motor race beginning in 1911, becoming synonymous with American motorsports and innovation.
Indianapolis is a vibrant Midwestern city with a thriving downtown, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway museum, and cultural attractions including the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The city continues to be a center for sports, business, and Midwestern charm.
Visit: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (landmark)
Emerald Waters & Beach Houses — Summer romance destination
Gulf Shores is where Poppy and Alex take their pivotal summer vacation after reuniting. They rent a beach house and spend sun-soaked days swimming, walking the shoreline, and rediscovering each other. This Gulf Coast destination represents the sensual, romantic side of their relationship—the place where they test whether they can recapture the spark they lost during their years apart.
Gulf Shores developed as a tourist destination in the mid-20th century, transforming from a quiet fishing village into a popular Alabama beach resort. The area became especially developed after the 1970s with the construction of high-rise condos and beach houses.
Gulf Shores is one of Alabama's premier beach destinations, featuring pristine white-sand beaches, resort hotels, restaurants, and water sports. The Audubon Bird Sanctuary and Gulf State Park offer natural attractions alongside the commercial tourism infrastructure.
Visit: Gulf Shores Public Beach (park)
High altitude city in the Rocky Mountain foothills
Denver is the setting for one of Poppy and Alex's mountain vacations, where they explore the Colorado Rockies and experience outdoor adventures together. The city serves as a base for hiking, exploring mountain towns, and pushing themselves physically and emotionally. Denver represents the couple's willingness to try new experiences and challenge themselves outside of their comfort zones.
Denver was founded during the 1858 gold rush and became a major mining hub and railroad center. The city's elevation of exactly one mile above sea level earned it the nickname 'The Mile High City.' It transformed into a modern metropolis in the 20th century.
Denver is a thriving metropolitan area known for outdoor recreation, craft breweries, tech industry growth, and mountain culture. The city features world-class museums, a vibrant downtown area, and serves as a gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park and other outdoor destinations.
Visit: Rocky Mountain National Park Visitor Center (park)
French Quarter — A romantic getaway destination
Poppy and Alex take a romantic vacation to New Orleans where they explore the historic French Quarter, enjoy the city's famous food and music scene, and navigate their complicated emotions. The city's lush atmosphere and storied past mirror the layers of history in their own relationship. They walk winding streets, visit jazz clubs, and grapple with vulnerability and truth during this transformative trip.
New Orleans was founded in 1718 as a French colonial settlement and became one of America's most important ports. The French Quarter, the oldest neighborhood, developed in the 18th century with a distinct architectural style influenced by French, Spanish, and African cultures.
The French Quarter remains the cultural heart of New Orleans, featuring historic buildings, wrought-iron balconies, world-famous restaurants like Café Du Monde, live jazz venues, and galleries. The area draws millions of tourists annually while maintaining its historic character.
Visit: French Quarter Historic District (historic site)
Southernmost point of continental US — Tropical escape
Poppy and Alex travel to the tropical paradise of Key West for a sun-soaked vacation where they swim in turquoise waters, explore Hemingway's legacy, and confront deeper questions about their future together. The laid-back island atmosphere provides a dreamy backdrop for their intimate conversations. Key West represents freedom, reinvention, and the possibility of starting fresh.
Key West was settled in the 19th century and became a major shipping hub and center of the wrecking industry (salvaging shipwrecks). It gained fame as a haven for writers like Ernest Hemingway and became a destination for artists and bohemians in the 20th century.
Key West is a popular tourist destination known for its beaches, water sports, nightlife, and literary heritage. Ernest Hemingway's house is a major attraction, as are the Duval Street bars, coral reef diving, and the Southernmost Point marker at the tip of the island.
Visit: Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum (museum)
High Desert art capital — Artistic exploration
Poppy and Alex explore Santa Fe's artistic landscape and encounter the beauty and complexity of the American Southwest. The city's galleries, adobe architecture, and vibrant cultural scene inspire conversations about creativity, identity, and what they each truly desire. Santa Fe becomes a place where they begin to see each other more clearly and honestly.
Santa Fe was founded in 1610 by Spanish colonists and is the second-oldest capital city in the continental United States. It developed as a major cultural center in the 20th century, attracting artists, writers, and spiritual seekers drawn to the region's natural beauty and artistic traditions.
Santa Fe is renowned as an arts and culture destination with hundreds of galleries, studios, and museums. The historic plaza is surrounded by galleries and shops, and the city is home to prestigious institutions like the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and Santa Fe Opera.
Visit: Georgia O'Keeffe Museum (museum)
Rose City — Quirky Pacific Northwest adventure
Portland serves as a backdrop for one of Poppy and Alex's vacations where they experience the city's quirky, progressive culture and explore bookstores, coffee shops, and neighborhoods. The city's laid-back vibe and emphasis on authenticity challenge both of them to confront what they really want from life and from each other. Portland represents possibility and the chance to be different versions of themselves.
Portland was founded in 1844 and developed as a major timber port and transportation hub. It became known for its environmental consciousness and progressive politics in the late 20th century, developing a distinctive counterculture identity.
Portland is famous for its coffee culture, bookstores like Powell's Books, bridges spanning the Willamette River, parks including Forest Park, and a thriving music and arts scene. The city maintains a reputation for quirky, indie culture and environmental activism.
Visit: Powell's City of Books (landmark)
Barrier Islands & Beaches — Nostalgic coastal getaway
The Outer Banks represent a coastal escape where Poppy and Alex return to recapture the sense of wonder and possibility from their early relationship. The long stretches of beach, lighthouses, and small beach towns evoke nostalgia and vulnerability. They walk the shoreline and discuss their future, and the ocean becomes a metaphor for the depths of emotion they must explore.
The Outer Banks have been inhabited for thousands of years and became famous as the site of the Wright Brothers' first airplane flight in 1903. The chain of barrier islands developed as a fishing community and tourism destination in the 20th century.
The Outer Banks are a major North Carolina vacation destination featuring beaches, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, wild horses, water sports, and small towns. The area balances tourism with efforts to preserve its natural environment and maritime heritage.
Visit: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (historic site)
River Walk — Urban romantic escape
San Antonio's River Walk provides a romantic urban setting where Poppy and Alex stroll along the scenic waterway, dine at riverside restaurants, and share vulnerable moments. The beauty of the illuminated walk at night mirrors the romance and complexity between them. This setting allows for both playfulness and serious conversation as they navigate their relationship.
The San Antonio River Walk was developed in the 1930s as a WPA project following devastating floods. Originally designed for flood control and water management, it evolved into an urban cultural landmark with restaurants, shops, and galleries along the winding river.
The River Walk is San Antonio's premier tourist attraction, featuring scenic pathways, restaurants, bars, shops, and museums along a winding river through downtown. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains one of Texas's most visited destinations.
Visit: San Antonio River Walk (landmark)
Alpine lake — Mountain adventure and reflection
Lake Tahoe represents a destination where Poppy and Alex engage in outdoor activities like hiking and swimming while confronting their deepest fears and desires. The pristine alpine environment forces a kind of emotional clarity. They share a moment of profound connection on the lake, and the natural beauty mirrors the clarity they begin to find within themselves.
Lake Tahoe, formed by glacial activity during the ice age, is the deepest alpine lake in North America. Indigenous Washoe and Paiute tribes inhabited the region for thousands of years. The area developed as a resort destination in the late 19th and 20th centuries.
Lake Tahoe is a major destination for skiing, hiking, swimming, and mountain recreation. The lake is surrounded by national forests, ski resorts, small towns, and pristine beaches. The region emphasizes environmental preservation while accommodating tourism.
Visit: Lake Tahoe National Forest (park)
Iconic waterfall — Classic American destination
Poppy and Alex visit Niagara Falls, one of America's most iconic destinations, where they are both awed and amused by the spectacle. The thunderous power of the falls mirrors the overwhelming intensity of their emotions. They share a moment of pure joy and laughter, reminding them of why they love each other, even as they grapple with complex feelings about their future.
Niagara Falls formed during the last ice age and has been a natural wonder since European contact. It became a major tourism destination in the 19th century and remains one of North America's most visited natural attractions.
Niagara Falls draws millions of tourists annually who visit for the natural wonder, hotel casinos, restaurants, and observation tours. The area includes state parks, museums, and the famous Hornblower boat tours that take visitors near the base of the falls.
Visit: Niagara Falls State Park (park)
Historic waterfront city — Southern charm and history
Charleston's historic charm and romantic atmosphere provide a backdrop for Poppy and Alex's exploration of Southern history, culture, and each other. They walk through historic streets, visit plantations, and grapple with the region's complicated past. Charleston forces them to confront serious questions about legacy, responsibility, and what they value in life and in their relationship.
Charleston was founded in 1670 and became one of America's most important colonial ports and centers of the enslaved-labor economy. The city was devastated during the Civil War but rebuilt, maintaining its historic architecture and cultural significance.
Charleston is a major historic and cultural destination featuring preserved colonial and antebellum architecture, restaurants, museums, galleries, and waterfront attractions. Fort Sumter National Monument and plantations offer historical education, though many work to address the region's enslaved-labor history.
Visit: Historic District of Charleston (historic site)
Mayan ruins & Caribbean beach — International romance
Poppy and Alex travel to the Yucatan Peninsula where they explore Mayan ruins and tropical beaches. The ancient grandeur and timelessness of the ruins provide a perspective on their relationship—how small their conflicts seem against the sweep of history. They swim in cenotes, witness sunset from the clifftop ruins, and reconnect with a sense of adventure and magic.
Tulum was a major Mayan trading city built in the 13th century and flourished until the Spanish conquest. The ruins sit on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean and represent one of the most picturesque archaeological sites in Mexico.
Tulum is one of Mexico's most visited archaeological sites, featuring well-preserved Mayan structures perched above turquoise waters. The nearby beach town has developed into a popular tourist destination with hotels, restaurants, and diving opportunities.
Visit: Tulum Archaeological Site (historic site)
Mountain town & Grand Tetons — Wild West adventure
Jackson serves as a gateway to mountain adventure where Poppy and Alex experience hiking, wildlife viewing, and the grandeur of the Tetons. The town's Western heritage and frontier spirit appeal to both of them. In the dramatic mountain landscape, they find space for honesty and vulnerability, realizing they can build something real together if they're willing to be authentically themselves.
Jackson was established in the early 20th century as a frontier town and trading post. The nearby Grand Teton National Park was established in 1929, and the town developed into a mountain resort community for wealthy tourists.
Jackson is an upscale mountain town serving as the gateway to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone. The town features art galleries, restaurants, shops, and Western heritage attractions including the National Museum of Wildlife Art.
Visit: Grand Teton National Park (park)
More by Emily Henry: Happy Place locations map · Book Lovers locations map · Beach Read locations map · All Emily Henry books
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