The Michigan road trip made for book lovers

From libraries to literary-themed cafes and eateries to the best bookstores in the state, this Michigan road trip was made for book lovers! 

It may come as no surprise to anyone reading this, but as a writer, I’m a bit of a book lover. As a child, I was known as the girl who always had her nose in a book and I definitely spent an entire summer reading encyclopedias from cover to cover for fun. Libraries have always been my happy place, and as an adult, I am proud to say I have passed my love of books on to my children. 

Books have shaped the very fabric of society and the communities that we all live in, whether we realize it or not. What better way to pay homage to all that the literary world has brought us than planning a Michigan road trip to visit all the best book-themed destinations our state has to offer? From a four-story factory that’s home to one million books to literary cafes to historic libraries, here are some stops to add on your literary road trip through Michigan, perfect for any of my fellow book lovers!  

Spend an afternoon at the Bay County Library

500 Center Ave, Bay City, MI

If you love libraries, the Bay City library is a must-visit. I was fortunate enough to live just down the road from this library during college, and it was my home away from home. The building itself dates back to 1884 and is a fascinating three-story adventure. There are endless aisles to browse and many comfy chairs to get lost in for an afternoon of reading. Plus, the library has so many valuable services, from a local history and genealogy room and reference section to a library of “things” you can check out to a memory lab that lets you digitize old media and memories. 

Check out the Michigan Chillers’ headquarters at Chillermania

651 S. Straits Highway, Indian River, MI

Fans of the “Michigan Chillers” series by Michigan author Jonathan Rand will want to include a stop at the Michigan Chillers headquarters store based in Indian River. Fans can purchase everything from autographed books to merchandise and if they’re lucky, even catch a glimpse of Rand himself, who is known to stop in from the store from time to time with his trust sidekicks, Brody and Jellybean. 

“He’s there a lot and will sign books for the kids,” comments Lapeer District Library children’s assistant librarian Shelby Saelens. “He loves talking to the kids and getting ideas for new books for them and their hometowns. Plus, it’s so odd and quirky.” 

Photo courtesy of Chillermania.

Tuck in for a cozy night at Horizon Books

243 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 

Whenever I am in Traverse City, I make a point to stop at Horizon Books. This gorgeous downtown independent bookstore has been family-owned and operated since 1961 and focuses on community and coziness. My favorite time to visit is during the winter, when the downtown is lit up with holiday lights and the store stays open late at night, inviting visitors to come in, get a coffee or hot chocolate from the in-store cafe, and curl up with a good book, game, or puzzle. 

They also have a wide selection of Michigan authors and titles and even have their own Michigan publishing imprint. The store specializes in hosting Michigan authors and many other community events, like chess club and game night, so be sure to browse its events page for upcoming events. 

Photo courtesy of Horizon Books.

Bring home a gently-used book at the Raven Cafe

932 Military St. Port Huron, MI

As if visiting a posh cafe tucked away in a restored Civil War-era building wasn’t enough, the Raven Cafe also features two of our other favorite things: delicious coffee and craft cocktails. You’ll find everything from live music to “Nevermore” books you can adopt for a small fee in this Edgar Allen Poe-inspired cafe shop. 

The Raven boasts an impressive collection of over 5,000 books on its shelves, along with coffee table books and other treasures. They even invite visitors to purchase a 25-cent bookmark and mark their page to come back within 30 days to continue their reading in-store. 

Photo courtesy of the Raven Cafe.

Learn about a local author legend at the Marguerite deAngeli Branch Library

921 W Nepessing St, Lapeer, MI

Not only is the Marguerite deAngeli Branch Library in Lapeer a beautiful and historic building that first opened in 1923, but the branch is named after a historical literary figure as well. The library’s namesake, Marguerite de Angeli, is an author and illustrator from Lapeer, Mich. She was the winner of the Newbery Medal in 1949 for “The Door in the Wall” and a member of the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame. She also penned an autobiography called “Butter at the Old Price” that details her life in Michigan. Many of de Angeli’s original artworks are on display at the branch. 

If you visit, don’t forget to ask the librarian for your clues to partake in the downtown scavenger hunt, which takes visitors on a tour through historic Lapeer as they learn about literary and nature-inspired characters. 

Photo courtesy of Lapeer District Library.

Enjoy a delicious dinner at The Ravens Club

207 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI

Not to be confused with the Raven Cafe, the Ravens Club is another literary-themed eatery in Michigan. My husband and I dined there for our anniversary over five years ago, and I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that I think about my meal (I had the roasted chicken) all of the time. It honestly was one of the top three meals of my life. 

The farm-to-table restaurant specializes in local and seasonal cuisine and Michigan craft beer and is locally owned by Chris Pawliciki, whose family operates another Ann Arbor staple, The Old Town Tavern. 

Check these Michigan literary landmarks off your list

From novelists to poets to supporters of the literary arts, you can visit these designated literary landmarks, all located in Michigan: 

• Verna Aardema at the Hackley Public Library 
• James Oliver Curwood at the Curwood Castle in Owosso
• Theodore Roethke at the Theodore Roethke House in Saginaw
• Dudley Randall at the McNichols Campus Library at the University of Detroit Mercy

Photo courtesy of Curwood Castle Owosso Historical Society.

Discover Detroit’s many different libraries

5201 Woodward Ave. Detroit, MI

Did you know that Detroit is home to 22 different library branches and a mobile bookmobile library? Yes, really! It can be hard to choose just one to visit, but if we had to pick, we’d recommend starting at the historic main branch on Woodward Ave. Built in 1921, the building recently celebrated its centennial birthday and remains in use to this today. 

The Woodward branch was designed by architect Cass Gilbert in an Italian Renaissance style that led it to be dubbed the “most beautiful building in Detroit,” according to the DPL’s website. 

Explore four floors of books at Michigan’s largest bookstore, John K King Books

901 W. Lafayette Blvd. Detroit, MI

While you’re in Detroit, be sure to pop on over to the famous John K King Bookstore, which is Michigan’s largest bookstore, home to over one million books. The store is the passion of John K King, who started his bookstore right out of graduation after a school counselor encouraged him to pursue his passion for rare books. He purchased a glove factory building in 1938 and quickly got to work filling all four floors of the place with books. 

Today, the store features a rare book room, where you can view first-edition books and other rare items like maps and book bindings, and is still chocked full of all four floors of books. Visitors recommend bringing a large bag for shopping and dedicating a full afternoon to exploring everything in the store. 

Earn money for your next great read at Eras Bookstore

1470 S. Lapeer Rd., Oxford, MI

Eras Bookstore in lovely downtown Oxford describes itself as the destination for “all things book-related,” and I’d have to say that about sums it up. The picturesque cafe and bookshop is home to a vast collection of books for sale, as well as fun book-themed merchandise, stickers, bags, cups, and more. You can even sell your gently used books at the store or drop books off to have staff review them to make a few extra bucks. 

Some of my favorite gifts you can purchase at the store include “Blind Date with a Book,” candles, Kindle covers, and book journals. The cafe is also expanding to host community events like their popular book bingo, so be sure to subscribe to their email list to get updated about events near you. 

Find Michigan books and goodies at Fenton’s Open Book

105 W. Shiawassee Ave. Fenton, MI  

This fully independent bookstore in downtown Fenton, Mich. is a delight to visit. Every time I’m in Fenton, I can’t help but pop in, even if I have absolutely nothing I’m shopping for. The store sells everything from best-selling books to local reads to Michigan products like pasties and puzzles. Plus, they sell my absolute favorite Michigan product of all time—Ned’s Pretzels.

Bike, hike, or drive Michigan’s Author Adventures Trail

All throughout Michigan

Clicking the link above will populate a Google Map courtesy of Michigan Author Adventures with 7 different notable literary stops throughout both the lower and upper peninsula of Michigan. The trip includes famous figures like Sojourner Truth, Ernest Hemmingway, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow with information about their connections to Michigan. The trail will take you all the way from southern Michigan through to Petoskey and all the way up through to Mackinaw and Pictured Rocks. Road-tripping through Michigan with a side of books—what could be better?

Image courtesy of Google Maps.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.