The Gulf Coast is an area rich in the remnants of the past. Port cities such as Mobile developed very early in our country's history, with a diverse and eclectic population bringing with them treasures from their European pasts. Mobile began as the first capital of colonial French Louisiana in 1702, and has progressed into a vital city with top notch arts, entertainment, and shopping. Peaceful, sugar-sanded beaches, world class golfing on the Robert Trent Jones golf trail, historic military  More »

The Gulf Coast is an area rich in the remnants of the past. Port cities such as Mobile developed very early in our country's history, with a diverse and eclectic population bringing with them treasures from their European pasts. Mobile began as the first capital of colonial French Louisiana in 1702, and has progressed into a vital city with top notch arts, entertainment, and shopping. Peaceful, sugar-sanded beaches, world class golfing on the Robert Trent Jones golf trail, historic military forts, seven beautiful historic homes districts, the battleship USS Alabama, the Oakleigh Historic Museum, Bellingrath Home and Gardens, and the Mobile Mardi Gras Museum are just some of the attractions that make the Gulf Coast the prefect travel destination. The antiques of Olde Mobile are of a quality and caliber that is incomparable.   « Less

The World’s Longest Yard Sale takes place every year in the U.S., during the first weekend in August, and spans across four states: Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. An incredible 450 miles long, you can access the Yard Sale via Route 127 as it meanders through the Blue Grass State, passing through Lexington and Louisville and through Harrodsburg, and then through Tennessee, Nashville and Knoxville. It next winds its way through Pall Mall, Jamestown, Allardt, Clarkrange,  More »

The World’s Longest Yard Sale takes place every year in the U.S., during the first weekend in August, and spans across four states: Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. An incredible 450 miles long, you can access the Yard Sale via Route 127 as it meanders through the Blue Grass State, passing through Lexington and Louisville and through Harrodsburg, and then through Tennessee, Nashville and Knoxville. It next winds its way through Pall Mall, Jamestown, Allardt, Clarkrange, Crossville, Pikeville, Dunlap and Whitewell, then continues its way through Chattanooga: here, briefly, the Sale follow Route 27 and the Lookout Mountain Parkway, then enters northwest Georgia, where it joins Highways 189 and 136 for a brief stint before joining 157, which leads to 48 and eventually, Alabama. Once you hit Alabama, 48 changes its name to Route 117, and continues to Mentone, where it makes a left onto 89 and passes through DeSoto State Park, Fort Payne, and Dogtown, finally picking up Highway 176. Don’t worry about memorizing this route; there are plenty of signs marking sales all along the way. Created over 20 years ago, The Yard Sale was the brainchild of a county executive, who wanted to lure travelers from interstates to less-traveled roads. And lure them it does. An estimated 300 mini yard sales can be found along this route, including lots of parks, historic sites, music, arts and crafts venues, and breathtaking scenery. And by the end of this route you may very well find yourself returning home with interesting items such as vintage items, antiques, shabby chic pieces, ironwork and quilts, to give you just a taste of what you’ll find.   « Less

For fans of country antiques and boot-kicking country tunes – few areas in the nation can compare to Nashville, Tennessee. And even fewer shows can rival the Heart of Country Antiques Show. Created over 25 years ago, the show is held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, and offers a complete immersion experience, consisting of live country music performances, country barbecue and country antiques. The show takes place on the fourth weekend in February, and attracts more than 200 dealers from  More »

For fans of country antiques and boot-kicking country tunes – few areas in the nation can compare to Nashville, Tennessee. And even fewer shows can rival the Heart of Country Antiques Show. Created over 25 years ago, the show is held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, and offers a complete immersion experience, consisting of live country music performances, country barbecue and country antiques. The show takes place on the fourth weekend in February, and attracts more than 200 dealers from all parts of the U.S. Highlights of what’s on the table are vintage quilts, case clocks, weather vanes, tavern signs, chests, bandboxes, Windsor chairs and farmhouse tables. If you haven’t gotten your fill from this show alone, Nashville has about 70 antique shops and malls, most of them situated on Eighth Avenue South. Along this street you’ll find vintage items, furniture, and a wide variety of interesting collectibles. Nashville’s weekend flea market is also worth noting, held at the end of each month, except December. Nashville is, of course, more associated with country music than any other town in the U.S., and for good reason. Since the 1930s, country artists have been coming here to make a name for themselves – and you can see their journeys chronicled at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, which includes oral history, music, photography, video, recordings, artifacts and rare interviews. Nashville also has six historic districts you can stroll through. Some of its landmarks include an 1897 replica of the Greek Parthenon and the Downtown Presbyterian Church, one of the nation’s finest Egyptian Revival buildings.   « Less

If your ideal getaway consists of great antique shopping, zesty crawfish, zydeco music, beautiful scenery, and a vibrant culture, head yonder to Louisiana’s Cajun Country. Keeping with the area’s heritage, several dealers specialize in French furniture and decorative accessories, while the rest offer fine country items and a fair share of fine formal pieces. Acadiana’s “antiquing capital” is the small town of Washington, on Bayou Courtableau, established in 1720  More »

If your ideal getaway consists of great antique shopping, zesty crawfish, zydeco music, beautiful scenery, and a vibrant culture, head yonder to Louisiana’s Cajun Country. Keeping with the area’s heritage, several dealers specialize in French furniture and decorative accessories, while the rest offer fine country items and a fair share of fine formal pieces. Acadiana’s “antiquing capital” is the small town of Washington, on Bayou Courtableau, established in 1720 as a French trading post. This was one of the areas earliest settlements, and it features over 100 antiques dealers, an Old School Antiques Mall, as well as numerous musical festivals, including Washington’s catfish festival in March, Breaux Bridge’s crawfish festival and Lake Charles’ Contraband Days. Cajun Country is one of the culturally richest parts of the nation, its lush landscape comprised of Creole architecture in plantation houses and backwater cottages. Also part of the landscape; plenty of museums. The Arlington Plantation, Magnolia Ridge Plantation’s Garden, Starvation Point are all gems. And if you could use some more Cajun culture during your stay, some three hours from Washington is New Orleans, with Baton Rouge smack dab in the middle. Whether you stay in the heart of Washington, or take the slow Southern route from Washington to New Orleans, you’re sure to return from the experience with a spicier take on life.   « Less

Few places in the country, or the world for that matter, can rival the energy, history and attractions that this marvelous city has to offer. A blend of French, Spanish, African and English, the Big Easy is an antique-lovers dream. The number and quality of shops reflect a city who has kept its active trade industry fully intact since the 18th century. Even post-Katrina, the city’s 200 antique stores bounced back – making it still the place to visit for antiques. Located in the  More »

Few places in the country, or the world for that matter, can rival the energy, history and attractions that this marvelous city has to offer. A blend of French, Spanish, African and English, the Big Easy is an antique-lovers dream. The number and quality of shops reflect a city who has kept its active trade industry fully intact since the 18th century. Even post-Katrina, the city’s 200 antique stores bounced back – making it still the place to visit for antiques. Located in the French Quarter, are blocks upon blocks of elegant shops, many containing museum-quality furnishings and decorative arts. Several blocks also contain items ranging from china and glassware to silver jewelry to vintage war artifacts to textile and ceramics. New Orleans also has a strong literary vibe – claiming such writers as Truman Capote and William Faulkner, and several literary festivals: the Tennessee Williams, and the Saints and Sinners and Words & Music. The mother of all festivals, of course – is the Voodoo Festival at Halloween and Mardi Gras. New Orleans also possesses several impressive museums, which include the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Confederate Museum, and the Museum of African American History. New Orleans is known for its house museums with period furnishings of amazing quality: the 1858 Women’s Opera Guild Home, the Pilot House Museum, the 1826 Beauregard-Keys House, and the Creole-style Gallier townhouse. Other historic sites include the Cabildo, the Cathedral of St. Louis, and the Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre. From its historic district, haunting culture, spicy foods and lively nightlife, come to New Orleans and you’ll see for yourself why the expression the big easy, suits this town very well.   « Less