In between New Hampshire and Massachusetts lies a scenic area not only rich in American history but full of antique stores. How to find them: follow Routes 133 and 1A and then Route 1 from New Hampshire up into Maine. Known as the “antiques capital” on Cape Ann, Essex has 20 shops to visit with items ranging from Continental furniture to country-painted ladder-back’s to New England redware and inlaid chairs. Next door, Newburyport has ten shops, all of who specialize in high-quality early American furniture. In Rowley, Todd Farm Antique Shops holds a flea market every Sunday featuring over 240 vendors from New England and New York. And at Topsfield Fairgrounds, there’s a weekend indoor/outdoor show that happens on the last weekend in June and usually draws about 200 dealers with antique and vintage furniture, including primitives, old advertising posters, and jewelry.

In coastal New Hampshire, there are shops in Hampton, Hampton Bays, and North Hampton that offer an interesting mix of items, such as vintage linens and milk glass. In the café-filled historic district of Portsmouth, you’ll find numerous shops with high-quality American antiques. And when you need a rest from antique shopping, there are numerous other things to do in the area, including dining on fresh seafood, museums, musical halls and tours of historic houses. Whether you visit the area for a long weekend or a long day, you’ll come back a more relaxed person for it.