Best Bookstores in California and the West

Best Bookstores is the essential guide for booklovers seeking independent bookstores in the western United States. Chosen by Alta Journal's editors and contributors, these beloved shops are worth the trip for locals and visitors alike. Inside you'll find:

• An outdoor bookseller that's open year-round
• The world's largest independent bookstore, with three floors of titles
• A delicious spot devoted entirely to cookbooks
• Kids' bookstores for discerning young readers
• An out-of-this-world sci-fi shop in the desert
• And more