Bookstores make for a great stop on any trip – a way to stop and relax, maybe pick up a read for the rest of your journey. The problem is that the bookstores with great personality are usually only found in the city, and the well-stocked ones are usually box stores found in shopping malls. That’s why the Green Valley Book Fair is such a treasure. Not only is it family-owned, with tons of personality, and located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley – it’s also home to over half a million books, collectibles, toys, and gifts.
The other great thing about the Green Valley Book Fair is its discounted prices. There are thousands of brand new books, kids’ toys and gifts heavily discounted up to 90% off of retail. What you would spend on one book at a chain store can easily get you 3 or 4 books at the Book Fair, which makes it an excellent way to grab that novel you’ve been wanting to pick up.
And the selection of topics is as vast as the space itself, with all kinds of special interest titles, best sellers, fiction and non-fiction, and a lot for kids and young adults, too. The Book Fair keeps its selection fresh by frequently re-stocking. It’s open for several weeks at a time throughout the year and uses the downtime to bring new items to the floor.
The Green Valley Book Fair (near Mount Crawford and just off of Interstate 81) has been a local tradition since 1971 and has been a destination for book lovers in the mid-Atlantic area ever since (check out this Washington Post article on the Book Fair here). As a family-owned business, they are very conscious of their role in the community and have many free programs for families: like free community events (such as Safety Day and Ag Day), regular Story Times, and contests for students and adults to design the Book Fair’s annual bookmark.
The Book Fair is open six times a year, so check out GoBookFair.com to see if they’re open when you’re making plans (especially if you can make one of their special events). With all the hiking, attractions, and enjoyable small towns nearby, the Green Valley Book Fair is the perfect place to stop with your friends and family during your trip to the Shenandoah Valley!
