So Long, Mackinac Island – Hello, U.P.!

It was time to say goodbye to our friends at the Seabiscuit Café on Mackinac Island.

We purchased a bottle of their delicious private label wine (“Seabiscuit Ranch Superfecta Meritage”) and had John Nash sign it for us!

Then we boarded the ferry and headed back to the mainland, where we picked up our car and drove it across the beautiful Mackinac Bridge toward the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Crossing the Mackinac Island Bridge

The U.P. (or Upper Peninsula) is bordered on three sides by Great Lakes – Superior, Michigan and Huron.   It has gorgeous remote beaches and forests, along with quaint small towns.  The place has a flavor all its own — Although not as isolated as in the days before the great bridge linked the two pieces of Michigan and made travel between them easier, it still has an appealing remote northern feel to it and a strong regional identity.

Along the coast of Lake Michigan (Michigan – U.P.)

And once again, here is proof that you can find used books nearly everywhere you go…

 

 

Honest Injun’s Tourist Trap – Somewhere along Rte. 2 – Upper Peninsula of Michigan

 

And here are a couple of the books that we purchased there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here is another book shop we found on the upper peninsula near

Moran, Michigan called First Edition, Too…

First Edition, Too – a used and rare book shop in Moran, Michigan (U.P.)

It looked like the kind of place we just love.  Unfortunately, it was closed and we couldn’t get an answer at the adjoining house.   From information garnered on-line, the owner has been a bookseller for 35 years.  The shop specializes in Michigan and Great Lakes history but also carries a full line of general stock.

Definitely our kind of place!  Sorry we missed out, but there will be another trip up this way in our future.

 

Book Scouting in Tennessee and Kentucky

Our travels took us northward again on I-75 into Tennessee.  Our first book shop stop was  The Book Company in Chattanooga.  This is a family-owned used book store which carries both reading quality and collectible books.

The Book Company, 3205 Old Ringgold Rd., Chattanooga, TN

The store offers a large selection of both hardcover and softcover books in all genres.  The staff was friendly and helpful! They have been in business for 35 years, 5 years at their present location. They have easy access free parking.

Interior view of The Book Company – Chattanooga, TN

We purchased a decorated cloth binding and several Modern Library Editions here.  They did have a very nice fore edge painting book!  Most of their collectible stock is offered only online.

Checking out at The Book Company, Chattanooga, TN

Our second stop in Chattanooga was downtown at All Books. We found on-street parking right near the store.

All Books, Inc., 410 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN

All Books is a huge one-floor store that is now in the process of conversion to a yarn store (!)  The store has been open since 1989 and is owned by Polly Henry.  There is an inventory of about 50,000 books (mostly hardcover) in varying conditions, and many are of collectible quality.  I think there may be some collectible quality yarn there too!!

Interior of All Books, Inc. – Chattanooga, TN

Here we purchased an 18th century cookbook, some decorated bindings, and a few Modern Library Editions.

Me and Polly packing up our treasures

After we loaded our booty in the car, Polly was nice enough to come out and tell us about another downtown area book store.  Unfortunately, time was up for us in Chattanooga — we were already behind schedule in our northward travel.

Our next stop will be in Lexington, Kentucky!