Hidden Treasures

My husband knows me well. When he suggested we take a short break before our busy spring schedule, he knew exactly where I wanted to go—Hay-on-Wye, the booktown of Wales. Just 45 minutes from our home, this quaint village houses over twenty bookshops, each one more enchanting than the last.

From the outside, these shops appear modest—simple storefronts with basic displays. But step inside, and you'll discover a bibliophile's paradise. What begins as a single room lined with books transforms into a labyrinth of literary wonder. Through doorways and up staircases, around corners and down narrow corridors, each shop reveals hidden chamber after hidden chamber, each filled with countless volumes waiting to be discovered.

Jason, Tess, and I spent three days exploring these magical spaces. Between browsing sessions, we sampled local treats (the donuts were divine!) and took long walks around the town and on local trails.