2. Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon
Powell’s is the world’s largest independent new and used bookstore–it occupies an entire city block in the Pearl District of downtown Portland and boasts more than 68,000 square feet of space on three glorious floors. Each of the vast rooms is the size of a lesser bookstore. To help visitors from getting lost, color-coded maps help navigate the million strong inventory, which includes rare books, fiction, nonfiction and an outstanding children’s section.