Blog / Local Area

3 Can't-Miss Bookstores in Kansas City, KS

Bookstores in Kansas City, KS - Cable Dahmer of Topeka

Reading is a great way to continue to learn throughout your life, as well as escape into another world. Finding new reading material is both fun and enlightening, especially when you shop at a local bookstore that allows you to immerse yourself in your favorite genres and authors. Check out some of the best bookstores in Kansas, City, KS, that are worth visiting for your next shopping spree.

Rainy Day Books

Rainy Day Books is an independent bookstore that has been in business for more than four decades. This full-service shop carries an array of carefully curated and selected books for all ages and interests. The staff members are welcoming and friendly, and they're always willing to make suggestions and chat with customers about their interests. Along with the books, the shop carries a large selection of boxed and individual greeting cards to help you stay in touch with loved ones.

Rainy Day Books also hosts hundreds of author events each year, welcoming a diverse array of successful authors across all genres. You can join the customer loyalty program to save 10 percent on most books available in stock. It's free to join and remains in effect as long as you make at least one purchase every six months. With the selection of books to browse, it's easy to buy new reading material often at this location.

Prospero's Books & Media

Prospero's Books & Media is a three-level book and media shop located in the Bohemian neighborhood of Kansas City. The store is housed in a structure dating back to the 1890s, and the unique vibe inside the shop fits with the area's historic feel. You can browse more than 50,000 new and used books, CDs, films, and vinyl records to find what you're looking for, or maybe something you didn't know you were interested in experiencing. Customers can also trade in their used books for store credit or cash.

Along with offering an extensive selection of books and media, this location has hosted over 2,000 events since it opened in 1997. Head up to the third floor to enjoy a live experience, whether that involves listening to your favorite author read from their latest book or engaging in a discussion about your current reading material. The team at Prospero's invites a diverse array of civic leaders, authors, poets, and artists to share their talents and knowledge.

Afterword Tavern & Shelves

Afterword Tavern & Shelves is both a bookstore and a restaurant/bar, appealing to the inquisitive—and thirsty—residents of and visitors to Kansas City. This unique location offers a wide selection of books across many genres, while the connected bar serves wine, beer, and cocktails. Patrons can also reserve the bar for a private book club meeting or social gathering.

No matter what type of reading material you enjoy, you can find new books to delve into at these Kansas City bookstores. Each offers its own unique vibe and a wide selection of options to appeal to readers of all ages and interest levels.

Image via Pixabay

Posted in:

Related Posts

Explore These 3 State Parks Near Topeka, KS

The state parks near Topeka, KS are great destinations for outdoor fun seekers. Read through our blog to see which fantastic natural areas are worth checking out in your new or used vehicle! more Clinton State Park The 1,500-acre Clinton State Park at 798 North 1415 Road in Lawrence stretches out along the north shore of the Clinton Reservoir, known for its sparkling clear water, lovely swimming beach, and excellent bass, bluegill, channel catfish, walleye, and crappie fishing. The reservoir is ideal for paddling and boating, and the Clinton Lake Marina, with its floating restaurant, has all the supplies and equipment rentals you need. Miles of scenic multi-use nature trails wind through the park and the adjacent 9,200-acre wildlife area where you can encounter white-tailed deer, waterfowl, wild turkey, and a variety of songbirds. The campground has nearly 500 campsites with water and electricity near restrooms with showers. Your four-legged friends are welcome to experience the park with you. Perry State Park The 1,250-acre Perry State Park at 5441 West Lake Road in Ozawkie spans over forested hills along the shores of the 12,500-acre Perry Reservoir. The reservoir is popular with anglers who come here to catch channel and flathead catfish, largemouth bass, green sunfish, saugeye, bluegill, crappie, sauger, and walleye. The extensive wetlands and marshes attract vast numbers of waterfowl in the fall and mallards, ducks, and wild turkeys. It’s an excellent spot to explore the Kansas wilderness and catch glimpses of white-tailed deer, coyotes, and raccoons on miles of intertwining hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails. The park offers a choice of four campgrounds with electricity and water hookups and 350 scenic primitive campsites close to restrooms with showers. The Hobie Cove campground has sites on the water’s edge with spectacular. Pomona State Park Pomona State Park is a small 490-acre natural area at 22900 South Highway 368 in Vassar on the shores of the calm and tranquil 4,000-acre Pomona Lake. The lake boasts the full-service Lighthouse Bay Marina with four boat ramps and is a popular destination for boating, paddling, and skiing and the best crappie and catfish angling in Kansas. Here you can relax on the swimming beach, play volleyball, horseshoe, and disc golf on the nine-hole course, and enjoy scenic picnics on the banks of the lake. The campground has 140 campsites with water and electricity and over 200 primitive sites. It’s a favorite in the region because of the shaded campsites and cozy atmosphere. Before you hit the road to enjoy all the exciting activities in these great parks, drop by Cable Dahmer of Topeka in Topeka, KS to get your automotive needs taken care of by our expert GM dealership team!

4 Favorite Ice Cream Shops in Driving Distance of Topeka, KS

Topeka, KS is a charming town filled with a variety of fun places to check out. During those hot days when you’re craving a treat to help you cool off, make a drive to one of the delicious ice cream shops located nearby! more KaleidoScoops KaleidoScoops has the mission of providing an enjoyable experience to the community by serving up scoops that represent the different flavors of life. The shop is open daily, and its menu includes scoops, sundaes, shakes, freezes, smoothies, floats, and more. Scoops can either be served in a sugar cone, a cake cone, or a cup, and available flavors include birthday cake, black walnut, blueberry waffle cone, chocolate chip cookie dough, and Mississippi mud. Betty Rae’s Betty Rae’s is open daily and has an expansive menu that includes mainstay scoops, dairy-free scoops, rotating flavors, sandwiches, and flights. Some of the shop’s unique mainstay scoop flavors include jasmine green tea, mint and chocolate flakes, brown butter and toasted pecans, and goat cheese, apricots, and candied walnuts. If you’re in the mood for a sweet sandwich, consider trying Betty Rae’s cereal chiller sammie or its chocolate-covered strawberry sammie. The Sweet Tee The Sweet Tee is connected to 8 Iron Therapy golf facility and serves homemade scoops. All of the flavors cost the same price, with some of the available flavors including mint chocolate chip, butter pecan, strawberry, Oreo, and Reese’s. Available toppings include butter pecan flavoring, strawberry preserves, pecan pieces, chocolate chips, and peanut butter. For those who are vegan, the shop also offers vegan Oreo, vegan vanilla, and vegan butter pecan. Foggi Foggi is your neighborhood sweet spot that aims to bring the community together while using only uses the finest quality ingredients in its treats. The shop is open daily and its menu includes coffee, boba tea, classic scoop flavors, and specialty scoop flavors. Available specialty scoop flavors include gummy worm and dirt, original cheesecake, Reese’s peanut butter and chocolate, and Thai tea. If you’re in the mood for coffee, consider trying Foggi’s coconut iced coffee. Now that you’ve cooled off and satisfied your sweet tooth, it’s a great time to go and search for the new car you’ve been wanting. Stop by Cable Dahmer of Topeka today to view our lineup of new and used cars for sale. We are a GM dealership that prides itself on its honesty and integrity and we do what we can to support local community members and organizations throughout Topeka, KS! Image by Summer Malik from Pixabay

Three Great Hotels for Visiting Topeka, KS

If you plan on traveling to Topeka, KS in the near future or live in the area and want to schedule a staycation, you’re going to need a hotel. Luckily, there are plenty of hotels in both of these cities, so whether you’re looking for something affordable or a luxury option, you can find the perfect place to stay while you’re in the area. more Great Wolf Lodge Water Park Great Wolf Lodge Water Park, located at 10401 Cabela Drive in Kansas City, is the perfect family getaway hotel to make your stay fun and enjoyable. This hotel features an impressive indoor waterpark and some outdoor slides and pools, so unless you plan on going outside, you won’t need to worry about applying sunscreen. They have slides and water rides for all ages, so everyone in your group will enjoy this waterpark, from infants to adults. The hotel features different themed rooms geared toward families and has family-friendly activities planned throughout the day. There are plenty of entertainment and dining options as well, so you won’t have to leave the hotel to eat unless you want to. Great Wolf Lodge is the perfect family getaway for families visiting the area or those who want to do something different and plan a staycation. The Fontaine The Fontaine is a modern and chic upscale four-star hotel located at 901 West 48th Place that overlooks downtown Kansas City. It features a rooftop pool, beautifully decorated rooms with modern accents, spa bathrooms, and a cocktail lounge. This hotel has suites and guest rooms based on your needs and different dining options, meeting spaces, and event areas. There’s complimentary WIFI throughout the hotel, as well as pet-friendly accommodations for those traveling with their pets. They also have a fitness center that’s open 24/7, an Espresso Bar and Igloo Bar, and the option of valet parking or self-parking. Senate Luxury Suites Hotel The Senate Luxury Suites Hotel is the perfect hotel for those who want to stay in a unique location with historical background. Located in the Downtown Topeka Historic District, the hotel sits inside a renovated 1928 building that looks like something from a storybook, complete with beautiful grounds and castle-like decor. This three-star hotel offers extended stay options for those who want to stay in the area for more than just a few days and has plenty of meeting space, comfortable and clean rooms, and a fitness center with a hot tub. Plus, if you’re planning a road trip to Topeka, KS, and its surrounding areas, you’ll be able to fit everything you need for your vacation in your GM vehicle and park it easily in the hotel lot. Road trips of any kind require reliable vehicles, so if you need something that will get great gas mileage, keep you and your passengers safe, and give you a comfortable ride, we can help. Visit us today at Cable Dahmer of Topeka in Topeka, KS to test drive one of our affordable and quality new or used vehicles that will make all of your road trips and commutes that much better! Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay