Heading for Western NC...Any Bookstores You Care to Recommend?

We're going to take a long weekend next week, and will be spending time in Boone, Blowing Rock, Lenoir and other areas of western NC.

I'm mainly looking for independent (used or new) bookstores in these areas. Any stores along I-40 from Raleigh to Boone would also be considered.

Well? What can you recommend? :)

Unfortunately most of the used bookstores and independents in this area have tanked. The public library in Blowing Rock has an ongoing friends of the library sale. Due to the summer population you can sometimes find interesting things. There was Black Bear books in Boone. Also Ram's Rack thrift store in King Street in Boone has some great donations from the student and faculty. Also check out the college bookstore at Appalachian State. If you make it as far as Hickory check out the Book Exchange.

If you are going up I40 to Boone, you could stop off in Winston-Salem at Edward Mckay Used Bookstore on Stradford Road just off Business I40. They have lots of good stuff. They have a good website also, that lets you know what they sale. All kinds of stuff, not just books. They have some great prices too. Hope this helps, you could go to their website and get the actual street address and then just GPS the address. It will be right on your way to Boone and Blowing Rock. I have been to Black Bear Books in Boone, but, not sure if it is still open. You will just love the blowing rock area. We went up there a couple weekends ago and had lunch at Canyons restaurant in Blowing Rock. Great food, jazz band brunch on Sundays with an absolutely great view. Good luck and have fun; at least it is cooler up there.

Thank you, both. I am going to makes notes based upon your information.

In Greenville we used to have three independent book stores, but we're down to one used book store, which I do frequent: David's Used Books (http://bookstoregreenvillenc.com).

>2 varielle: >3 JaneAustenNut: good news, Black Bear Books is still open, located to a kiosk in the mall, as per their website. :)

If you wander down the Parkway to Little Switzerland there is a fantastic used bookstore there. Two floors of books, one floor of antiques and coffee!

>6 varielle: coffee and books!!! Great combination. :)

>fuzzi: if you are already on your way to Blowing Rock/Boone; have a nice trip and good luck looking for new books. By the way, Amazon has several books on the literary trails in NC. There is one for the mountains, one for the piedmont and one for the eastern part of the state. The Literary Trails of NC mountains might be helpful in locating some of the places of authors in the area. Have fun!

>8 JaneAustenNut: we're heading out in the morning, thank you!

If you make it to Asheville, it's a book town.

>8 JaneAustenNut: By the way, Amazon has several books on the literary trails in NC. There is one for the mountains, one for the piedmont and one for the eastern part of the state.

The trails include a number of bookstores. Not Amazon though. :)

>3 JaneAustenNut: we missed stopping in Winston-Salem as I left the info at home. :(

>6 varielle: there's a coffee/doughnut shop we're going to check out in the morning. Then we'll look for books...

I'm jealous, I wish we were going on a literary trail in search of many new interesting bookish spots. Good luck, hope you find some amazing places and report back on your new finds.

Well, the search for bookstores was a dismal failure: I'd written down all the suggestions but left the paper at home.

>2 varielle: I looked for the thrift store, could not find it. A LOT of businesses in Boone were closed. Permanently. :(

We just did not go to as many places as I had planned, but it's okay. We got a bit of relaxing done, and the dog had a blast playing in the small stream that was next to our cabin.

We did stop at the Goodwill, and I was not impressed, but I did buy an old copy of That Quail Robert. I came home to find Frightful's Daughter in my mail from Friday, and Three's A Pack arrived today.

I'll be in Charlotte NC the last week of August on business. Will only be able to get out of the conference rooms in the evening, and will not have access to a car for anything but very local travel.

Staying at the Hilton Charlotte University Place. Any bookish or cultural recommendations for me?

>15 2wonderY:
You'll be in my neighborhood!

Here are some suggestions -

The Last Word – great used bookstore!
http://thelastwordcharlotte.com/

Hilton to Last Word - 2 min or less drive, only .6 mi away.
http://www.mapquest.com/?q2=290176549+type:mqid#ff41954c34e167c1697acaf7

Pho Real – Vietnamese restaurant (close to the bookstore)
http://www.phorealcharlotte.com/

UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens
https://gardens.uncc.edu/visiting-the-gardens/

If you feel like catching a cab downtown you might like Book Buyers at 1306 The Plaza or Park Road Books at 4139 Park Rd.

Thank you both! Taking note.

Reporting.

I didn't feel confident enough to drive to Book Buyers, but I managed to get to The Last Word, and gathered up a few treasures.

100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden
Mary: Images of the Virgin in Art
and THREE (count 'em) hardback Vorkosigan novels by Lois McMaster Bujold

>19 2wonderY: we're headed to Charlotte in three weeks, and have The Last Word on our agenda!

What about the location of Book Buyers prevented you from going?

Charlotte is spread out and everything looks the same. I had a hard time just staying oriented to my hotel.

The Plaza's not hard to find. Use GPS if you have it. Have fun.