A recap of our first San Diego Book Crawl. What it’s like, the bookstores we visited, and why this local bookish event is worth adding to your list.
My sister and I have been on a serious bookish streak lately.
Like… back-to-back weekends of book events.
Last weekend, we were at LA Times Festival of Books – Bookchella!! and it was everything.
And then this weekend, we stayed local and did something I can’t believe we hadn’t done before: the San Diego Book Crawl.
This was our first year participating and it was fantastic!
Originally, it felt like a small type of event. But then we arrived at our first bookstore and quickly realized this is a GIANT event and it’s absolute madness – in the best way.
So here’s what our first San Diego Book Crawl was like; what we did, the bookstores we visited, and why this ended up being such a fun weekend.
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Table of Contents
- What Is the San Diego Book Crawl?
- How the San Diego Book Crawl Works
- Our Book Crawl Day 1 (La Mesa Stops)
- Our Book Crawl Day 2 (Del Mar Stop)
- What We Bought (Because Of Course We Did)
- The Vibe (This Is What Makes It Special)
- Is the San Diego Book Crawl Worth It?
What Is the San Diego Book Crawl?
The San Diego Book Crawl is an annual event that takes place over Independent Bookstore Day weekend.
In 2026, it ran from April 25–27 and marked its 9th year.
There are 15 independent bookstores across San Diego that participate, and you can visit as many as you want over the weekend.
And yes… there’s even a bus route that will take you to every stop.
Like it’s legit organized.
Oh, and the shuttle tickets sell out fast! So book early if you want to grab a seat!
How the SD Book Crawl Works
When you visit a participating bookstore, you can pick up a little passport.
For every $10 you spend, you get a stamp.
And once you hit certain stamp goals, you get prizes.
If you hit all 15 stores, you get a San Diego Book Crawl satchel bag – while supplies lasts. So be quick about it hahaha.
We did not make it to all 15 locations. But even just doing a few stops made it feel like such a fun experience.
Our Book Crawl Day 1 (La Mesa Stops)
We decided to start in La Mesa, which ended up being such a good call because the stores were close together.
The Book Place (La Mesa)
First stop: The Book Place
Before we even started, we obviously needed caffeine.
We grabbed vanilla lattes from Brew Coffee Spot right across the street and it was such a good call. They were even hosting anime trivia when we walked in, which immediately made me want to come back another day.
Then we headed into The Book Place… and it was chaos in the best way.
This store is so unique.
It’s filled with vintage mass-market paperbacks, like rows and rows and rows of them. I’ve never seen anything like it.
My sister was in heaven.
We both went in saying, “okay, just one book”
That did not happen.
I left with four books. She left with two.
Meet Cute Romance Bookshop (La Mesa)
Next, we headed to Meet Cute Romance Bookshop
And when I tell you the line was out the door… I mean it.
But honestly? I loved seeing it.
Everyone was so excited. It was busy, a little chaotic, and full of people just so into books.
This shop is adorable.
I was completely overwhelmed (in the best way) because I wanted everything.
I ended up focusing on merch instead and picked up:
- the cutest hat
- some stickers
And called it a win.
@julia.vaness Our first San Diego Book Crawl!!! It was so amazing. We only had time for two stops but it was so much fun!!! Everyone had such good bookish energy and I love to see long lines at book stores!! #sdbookcrawl #sandiegobookcrawl #meetcutebookshop #thebookplacelamesa #sandiegobookstore ♬ original sound – Julia Vaness
Our Book Crawl Day 2 (Del Mar Stop)
On Sunday, we headed to one of our favorite spots:
Camino Books (Del Mar)
Camino Books is already a go-to for us, so it felt like the perfect stop.
I went in with one book in mind: The Lamb by Lucy Rose
Sold out.
Pain.
But also… a reason to go back hahaha.
Of course, I still left with two books:
Because self-control is hard in a bookstore.
What We Bought (Because Of Course We Did)
Between the two days, we picked up:
- multiple books (more than planned hahaha)
- a sweatshirt
- artwork
- merch
There were so many things I wanted, I had to actively stop myself.
My TBR pile at home is already out of control.
And I added more to my “buy later” list:
The Vibe – SD Book Crawl
This is the part that surprised me the most.
It wasn’t just shopping.
It felt like a community event.
There were:
- families
- kids picking out books
- groups of friends
- people trading bracelets (!!)
- authors and illustrators doing signings
At one point, I was wearing my book-themed bracelets and another girl gave me one she made for the crawl.
I was SO happy.
It’s those little moments that just make it feel special.
I also loved seeing how many people were fully into it – planning their routes, hitting multiple stores, making a whole weekend out of it.
Is the San Diego Book Crawl Worth It?
Yes. 100%.
Especially if you:
- love books
- want to explore local bookstores
- enjoy community events
It’s such a fun way to discover new spots, support small businesses, and just spend a really good day (or weekend).
Final Thoughts on Our First San Diego Book Crawl
This ended up being such a fun experience.
A little busy, a little chaotic, but in the best way.
I loved that it wasn’t just about buying books, it was about the experience, the people, and the community around it.
And now that we’ve done it once?
We’ll definitely be back next year… and probably with a better strategy hahaha.
See ya around!
XOXO, Julia
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About the Author: Hey there! I’m Julia, a passionate theme park and travel writer. My love for theme parks has fueled my obsession with sharing tips and adventures for years. Join me as I uncover the magic of reading and beyond!
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