A Fairhope Treasure

In the charming coastal town of Fairhope, Alabama there’s no shortage of places to shop. The boutiques are brimming; the toy store is stocked; the shelves of the local wine shop is lined with labels sure to delight even the most delicate of palates. But my favorite destination of all is the family-owned bookstore Page & Pallet, a Fairhope landmark that’s happily situated on the corner of Section and De La Mare Avenue.

It’s a booklover’s dream, y’all – Southern authors, local authors, best-selling authors. You name it! It’s unlikely there’s a published title that hasn’t lined their shelves at one point or another during the shop’s storied 40-year history.

My favorite part of frequenting Page & Pallet, however, is to grab a glass of wine from the Book Cellar bar, snag a chair, and listen to visiting authors speak about their latest work as well as the beauty and angst of the writing process.

They’ve hosted a plethora of notable names including several of my all-time favorite bestsellers: Patti Callahan Henry, Lauren K. Denton, and Kristin Hannah, just to name a few. And did I mention the in-house coffee shop, Latte Da, that serves locally roasted coffee and amazing scones? Add in the healthy dose of live music that the store hosts throughout the year, and Page & Pallet becomes retail perfection in my book.

So this year, after the hustle and bustle of back-to-school shopping has taken its toll, you’ll know where to find me, tucked inside a corner of Page & Pallet, otherwise known as my Fairhope happy place.