Crimson Leaves & Cozy Reads in Hillsborough, North Carolina

Plots and Prose Reading Adventure

  • November 6 - 8, 2026

    Check in on Friday, November 6, between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. Make your way from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to the boutique hotel where our tour guides will be waiting in the lobby to welcome you, check you in, and help you get settled before the adventure begins!

    Itinerary Sneak Peak

  • Single or Double Occupancy

    Your own cozy reading haven. Stretch out on a king bed, savor peaceful mornings with your book, and enjoy the privacy of an en-suite bathroom after a full day of literary adventures.

    Our shared double rooms feature two queen beds and all the connection, conversation, and bookish fun that make these weekends unforgettable.

    Room Options

  • Designed for Book Lovers

    Connect with fellow book lovers as you tour locally owned bookshops, discover vibrant community art, and savor local flavors. Between stops, stroll through charming small town, relax in tree filled parks, and join in on a fun white-elephant book swap. You won’t want to miss this!

    Amenities
Colorful Hillsbourgh North Carolina street mural showcasing local art and neighborhood culture explored during a Stay By The Book reading retreat.
Warm apple cobbler and ice cream from a beloved Hillsbourgh North Carolina café enjoyed during a Stay By The Book book lover getaway.
Interior of a bookstore with shelves filled with books, some displays, and hanging orange and yellow pendant lights.
A metal tray with potato chips, pickle spear, and sandwich with a toothpick, along with a red bowl of mixed salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and yellow bell peppers.
A landscaped yard with green grass, a stone pathway, and a large tree with dark green leaves, pink flowering bushes, small garden lights, and parked cars visible in the background under a clear blue sky.
A black chalkboard sign with colorful flower and coffee cup illustrations, with the words 'Welcome to M' written on it, situated on a wooden shelf near some potted plants.
A white brick building with a colorful mural of a butterfly and orange flowers painted on the side. The building has black windows and a metal staircase with red railings leading up to the entrance. The sky is clear and blue.
A person walking on a wooden bridge in a forest during fall with trees showing colorful autumn leaves, under a cloudy sky.
Bookshelf filled with various poetry books and literary works against a brick wall, with a black sign labeled 'Poetry' at the top.
A large mosaic wall with numerous colorful heart designs, symbols, and images in a parking garage.
A woman with sunglasses and a striped shirt sitting on a rock near a small stream in a lush green garden, reading a book.
Two plates of food, one with a golden-brown fried chicken cutlet, and the other with a slice of pizza topped with cheese, spinach, and an egg.
A peaceful, narrow, paved country road lined with trees showing autumn leaves. Fallen leaves scatter on the ground. A fence and utility poles are visible on the right.
The storefront of Purple Crow Books with large glass windows, a purple door with a black border, and a purple sign with black letters. There are potted plants outside, and a chalkboard sign near the entrance that says "Purple Crow." Inside the window
A small blue wooden free library box with glass windows and a wire mesh door, mounted on a wooden post against a beige brick wall. The library has a decorative image of a child's face on the side.

The Summary

For our fall 2026 retreat, we are partnering with Alex, @Plots.and.Prose, to bring you this legendary (see what I did there?) itinerary! Get swept up in the charming, storybook allure of Hillsborough, North Carolina, where historic streets, shady river walks, and a thriving creative spirit invite you to slow down and savor every page of the adventure. Hillsborough is a hub of artists and writers. The people are some of the nicest you’ll encounter, giving your time in Hillsborough a dreamy feel. Our Hillsborough itinerary captures the town’s rich literary and artistic heritage, independent shops, cozy cafés, and hidden reading nooks tucked among centuries-old buildings and scenic trails along the Eno River.

With each trip Stay by the Book presents, we invite our travelers to read a novel set in (or inspired by) the region we are exploring before attending. On our first night together, we will gather for an informal book discussion, and your hosts will weave in meaningful connections from the stories as we explore Hillsborough’s layered past and vibrant present. On this trip, we will be visiting Chapel Hill, NC for an afternoon of bookish fun, complete with party-bus transportation to and from Hillsborough!

Featured Read

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

  • UNC-Chapel Hill has a secret, and it’s dripping in blood and ancient magic. When seventeen-year-old Bree Matthews witnesses a demonic attack on campus, she accidentally unlocks her own dormant powers—and a flood of memories that suggest her mother’s fatal car accident was no accident at all. To find the truth, Bree must infiltrate the Legendborn, a secret society descended from the Round Table. But as she gets pulled deeper into their war, she finds herself torn between a handsome, duty-bound King and a dangerous, silver-tongued Mage—all while trying to survive a magical trial that could cost her everything.

  • Get ready to step off the page and into the magic, because this trip transforms the dark academia world of Legendborn into your actual reality! We will explore the stunning, historic campus of UNC-Chapel Hill to walk in Bree’s footsteps, visiting the real-life landmarks that inspired Tracy Deonn's urban fantasy. From exploring the campus gates to grabbing a bite on bustling Franklin Street where the characters fuel up between demon hunts, this trip turns a gorgeous North Carolina retreat into the ultimate literary adventure. Grab your copy of the book, pack your bags, and secure your spot on the tour today!