In the Western part of the United States is a college town called Bozeman, Montana. Although it’s small, it packs a lot of culture between its city walls.
It has Barnes and Noble, which is always somewhere I love to stop for books and coffee, but it also has some amazing local bookstores that are worth a look.
I visited The Country Bookshelf first. I was so excited to find this old shop. It had the feel of an old, worn country house with an impressive selection of books, journals, and fun goodies.
Country Bookshelf
Vargo’s Jazzcity & Books
My second stop was to Vargo’s Jazzcity & Books, which was a completely different experience from the first. This unique shop sells a wide selection of new and used books, vinyl, and greeting cards. It specializes in music but has a large selection of fiction and non-fiction. Because of their strict anti-photography rule, I wasn’t able to snap many pics. But I did take some…is that illegal? Am I going to jail?
These are just two bookstores in Bozeman, other than Barnes and Noble. I didn’t get a chance to visit them all.
I love bookstores of any kind, even if they are chains. Books make me feel at home wherever I go, but sometimes I get in a rut and visit the same place over and over, forgetting about all the other wonderful shops that exist. I have to remind myself to look a bit harder.
I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and explore. Find the little bookshops hidden in the nooks and crannies of cities, go to that old theater that only plays black and white films, do a little research and discover something with local flavor and authenticity. You never know when you might meet your next love.