Along the sparkling Delaware River lies the beautiful counties of Bucks County, Pennsylvania and Hunterdon County, New Jersey, both of which offer a rich oasis of antique shops. The epicenter of antiquing in these counties sits directly opposite each other on the Delaware in the towns of New Hope and Lambertville. With a long history in farming and waterpower and transportation, each town has about 40 shops, along with restaurants, Inns and 18th-and 19th-century buildings, making the towns intimate.
In New Hope, there’s a cluster of antique stores on Bridge, Ferry and Main streets. In Lambertville, they are on Union Street and the streets around it. In New Hope, you’ll find a flea market at Rice’s Market. Elsewhere in both counties there are many more quality-shops, as well as antique malls and multi-dealer locations. In these shops you’ll find antiques ranging from formal American and European furniture to Victorian and architectural items.
These areas also have a full roster of shows. On the first Saturday, the Heart of Bucks Winter Show Antique Show in Newton, PA draws 45 dealers. In late February, the Heritage Conservancy Annual Antiques Show, held in Jamison, PA features 50 dealers specializing in Americana. The first Sunday in June, the Tinicum County Outdoor Antiques Show features 100 dealers. In June on Father’s Day weekend, and again in mid-October, the Prallsville Mills Antiques Show in Stockton, New Jersey showcases 35 dealers. If you dream of antiquing in an area filled with history museums, manors, festivals, farmer markets, wineries, and microbreweries, spend the weekend cruising through the towns along the Delaware River.
Best antiqueing in New Hope/Lamb area...Golden Nugget, Rice's Market, Brown Bros Auction and more. Thanks to Innkeeper Nadine at Wedgwood Inn (New Hope) for making the stay as plaesant as the surroundings!
Currently spending Mother's Day weekend 2010 in New Hope. This is a wonderful town and has a unique feel to it, as though you're completely cutoff from the outside world. We spent the day walking around yesterday, looking, shopping, eating and found lots of good stuff.
We ate at the Landing last night and had a swordfish with garlic mash. Very good. Later we had drinks at a this little bar tucked away in a sort of alley, but not really an alley, called Zubo's. We caught glimpses of several dishes coming out of the kitchen, which looked and smelled wonderful.
Yesterday afternoon we had oysters at Marsha Brown's, which is located in an old stone church right on Main street. (Main street runs along the Delaware River.) The oysters were from New England and we're called "Tallamonk" or something close to that. They were very expensive but well worth the money.
New Hope has a picturesque canal that you can walk along, an antique train that offers site seeing tours several times per day and a flea market called Rice's, which operates Tuesdays and Saturdays.
You have to try New Hope. You won't be disappointed.
