Bookstores on Lake Superior
When you crack open the spine of a book and embrace that ‘old book smell’ waft toward you while your fingers feel the edges of pages, that themselves have made a long journey to your book-loving hands, you’re magically transported to a whole new world.
Each book unfolds its own deep story with layers, beloved (or despised) characters, plot twists, and more! Just as each book is guaranteed to have its own unique adventure, the same can be said for the many fantastical bookstores on Lake Superior. Although book stores have the common thread that they house and sell books, each one contains its own origin story, theme, and bookish heart of why the store exists and what keeps it going.
And what makes these bookstores on Lake Superior extra special, you might be wondering? Well, what establishment near gorgeous Lake Superior isn’t enhanced by the beautiful white caps out in the distance and the lake life vibe you simply can’t get anywhere else? These bookstores on and around Lake Superior are worth your bookworm attention, and who knows, you may even find your new favorite book while you’re poking about the shelves.
Stories About Bookstores on Lake Superior
Isn’t it neat that we can have stories of our own about a particular book store, which is the very house of thousands of stories? But that’s one of the timeless things about stories; you can never have too many of them!
There are truly so many incredible bookstores on Lake Superior, and when I reach into my memory bank of bookstores on my Lake Superior adventures, one immediately comes to mind.
It was in the Winter of 2021, and my (now husband) and I took a winter wonderland weekend trip Up North. In our dawdling ways, we hopped around a few different towns around the Lake Superior area. We walked along the frozen marina and waved to ferry passengers on their way to Madeline Island in Bayfield, hiked the gorgeous snowy trails of Copper Falls, and took a delightful stop in Washburn, where we came upon Chequamegon Books.
Chequamegon Books has a rich history behind not only the building itself but also how the bookstore came to be (you can read all about it here!), and you can see that clearly from its empowering and bookishly alluring exterior. Upon walking inside, my husband and I were not expecting how incredibly large it was and the unfathomable amount of organized books waiting on the shelves.
Being the bookworms we are, we excitedly went down our respected aisles and began browsing in our own little worlds. (I’m a Literary Fiction gal who can occasionally be caught in the poetry aisle, and his natural bookish habitat is the non-fiction section—it works out perfectly!)
What I loved so much about Chequamegon Books and what pulls me to come back is the vibration of thousands upon thousands of possibilities of books that could be the perfect fit for you. The atmosphere allows you to truly be in your own zone and embrace the experience of looking through the spines of books until one catches your eye. If you ever have a question at Chequamegon Books, you know that you’ll get an expert answer from their remarkably well-read and knowledgeable owners, Richard and Carol Avol.
This is just one story about bookstores on Lake Superior, keep reading along and explore our Bookstores on Lake Superior page to get your bookish sparks flying!
List of Book Stores on Lake Superior
2024 Holiday Gift Guide for Lake Superior Gifts
Chequamegon Books | A Timeless, Bookish Experience
Little Free Libraries On Lake Superior
Spinster Books | Passion, Books, & Legos
Honest Dog Books | A Story For Everyone
Some of our Favorite Bookstores on Lake Superior
A bookstore I often think about and love to stroll into is Honest Dog Books, located on the picturesque streets of Bayfield. There’s something undeniably cozy and welcoming about this continuously growing bookstore and its sweet family owners.
From its carefully curated collection to its wonderful community involvement, this is most certainly a bookstore that you need to mark down on your book stores on Lake Superior bucket list.
When you walk inside, you’re greeted with an aesthetically pleasing environment that makes you feel like you’re in a cozy, colorful, bookish cabin. It goes without saying that the vibe of Honest Dog Books is a welcoming one that encourages you to take a gander and discover a new book to escape through and get enthralled in.
With aisles dedicated to local authors, niche topics, and a magical children’s section, Honest Dog Books has a book for everyone to bundle up with and enjoy.
If you’d like to learn more about Honest Dog Books and read a fantastic conversation with its owner, please check it out here!
There are so many sweet bookstores on Lake Superior waiting for you to go out and explore them. Amongst those houses of many books, there is also a large array of Little Free Libraries and Libraries themselves that also deserve your bookish attention.
One of my favorite bookish activities, aside from curling up in a blanket and reading in a comfy chair, is spotting a Little Free Library while you’re out and about. You never know what kind of literary treasure you’ll find! I also love that once you’re done enjoying a book, you can also place it in a Little Free Library to let its bookish life continue and sparkle in the eyes of a new reader down the line.
Depending on many circumstances, books can be on the expensive side for some. But that doesn’t mean that those bookworms don’t deserve a fun book experience. That’s why I love that Little Free Libraries exist, and when you can’t afford to shop locally, you can always afford to take a walk and peek into the Little Free Libraries you come across.
In Bookish Conclusion
We’re a bunch of bookworms at heart here at On Lake Superior, and sharing the bookish hype and love of these local gems that keep the pulse of books alive makes our book-loving hearts sing.
Remember, if someone tells you, “You have books at home” or “You have too many books,” a more serious conversation about book freedom needs to be had. All jokes aside, thank you for tagging along and reading about these fabulous bookstores on Lake Superior.
Say, here’s an idea! You can plan a trip by yourself or a fellow bookworm and create a day of bookstore hopping around Lake Superior! And while you’re in different towns, why not stop by a few local coffee shops and read a few pages of the books you got?
Be sure to share your own bookstore stories and favorite bookstores on Lake Superior with us on our Facebook page; we hope to see you there!
