I'm a fan of B&N. I would rather come here than Borders any day of the week simply because it is organized much better. The staff is friendly and they have an easy check out system. The B&N rewards program really does save you a lot of money, so sign up.
I take my son in with me and although he is too young to really know what he wants, they have a great selection and he rifles through the books too.
The cookbook selection is incredible, with many from around the world so you are not pigeonholed into simply Food Network cookbooks. They also have a nice selection of raw food and gluten free cookbooks as well.
If you like wine and want to learn more, there is a great section for that here too.
The cafe is nice, but I don't spend much time there. The magazine selection is off the hook. More than anywhere else that I have been. You're sure to find something you like here.