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  More »

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.   « Less

Over a 9-day period you can immerse yourself in some of the finest Americana antiques in the country. It’s called New Hampshire Antiques Week and it takes place in early August every year. Sponsored annually for the past 50 years by the New Hampshire Dealers Association, the show features approximately 65 dealers offering items such as formal furniture, decorative accessories, country primitives and folk art. Situated in Manchester and running Thursday through Saturday, this is without a  More »

Over a 9-day period you can immerse yourself in some of the finest Americana antiques in the country. It’s called New Hampshire Antiques Week and it takes place in early August every year. Sponsored annually for the past 50 years by the New Hampshire Dealers Association, the show features approximately 65 dealers offering items such as formal furniture, decorative accessories, country primitives and folk art. Situated in Manchester and running Thursday through Saturday, this is without a doubt the region’s best show. If you don’t get your fill of antiques from this one, there are a few smaller shows to check out. The weekend before New Hampshire Antiques week is the annual Manchester auction of American furniture and folk art, paintings, and decorative accessories by Ronald Bourgeault’s Northeast Auctions; based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Other shows in Manchester running during this time are the Riverside Antiques Show, with over 60 dealers showcasing 18th to early 20th centruy country and formal furniture, and the Granite State Antiquarian Book and Emphemera Fair, featuring books and paper items. Mosey your way 30 miles further to the fairgrounds in Deerfield and you’ll come across the Americana Celebration Antique Show, which draws more than 135 exhibitors with 18th and 19th century items. In Bedford, 6 miles from Manchester, you can also revel in the Start of Manchester Antiques Show, an indoor event that includes lectures, book signings and appraisals. Once you’ve made your way through the plethora of antique shows, the small city of Manchester has some local antique dealers to meet as well. Since there is no sales tax in New Hampshire, these shops are definitely worth checking out. New Hampshire also has quite a few charming bed and breakfasts and inns to relax in, so you can make antique shopping here an experience to remember.   « Less