Plan the Ultimate Romantic Antiquing Road Trip through the Finger Lakes
Photo by Pixabay from Pexels
Plan the Ultimate Romantic Antiquing Road Trip Through The Finger Lakes
Guest blog post by Melissa Hart
Edited by Julie Ann Shahin, Founder | Julie Ann Rachelle Interiors LLC | Blended Decor Blog
This post originally appeared on the sayinsurance.com website. October 29, 2021 in travel.
Shared by request, this is not a sponsored post.
Vintage, retro, 1990s, 1980s, and counting backwards.
Nostalgia is the latest trend in recent years, especially in the world of interior design. Whether you want your living room to emulate the past, or if you just want a splash of uniqueness to an otherwise standard kitchen, an antiquing road trip may be a step (or drive) in the right direction.
Antiques, created in the past, are beloved for their beautiful and rare designs that you can’t easily find at a modern shop. It takes a bit of effort to scour and find that perfect piece to add character to your home. You may chance upon a handmade candle holder that dates back to the 1950s for your desk or custom glassware painted in another era to spruce up your living room shelves. An antiquing road trip requires thoughtful packing and planning. Start preparing with this graphic, and get ready to make your home your own with one-of-a-kind finds.
Photo by @damlaozkan: Unsplash
Be Purposeful When Packing
On your road trip, make sure you dress appropriately for flea markets, which typically take place in warmer months, with clothes that can get dirty. Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun. If you're traveling to a place that gets below 55 degrees, you'll need a lightweight base layer for warmth. If you plan to move heavy furniture, wear sturdy shoes and pack a back brace. For handling rusty or sharp-edged items, you'll want a thick pair of gloves, as well as a first-aid kit in case you get cut. If you want to ensure that a piece will fit in your vehicle, pack a tape measure. If an item is too bulky to fit into your car or truck, you can take it apart with a Phillips head or flathead screwdriver. Don't forget to pack straps, blankets, towels, tarps, newspapers, and bubble wrap, as well as twine and scissors. Water and snacks are essentials. Despite the fact that antique hunting is a hard work, you will stay energetic and hydrated with the right provisions.People don't carry cash anymore, according to some naysayers, but they obviously don't antique. Some boutiques or flea market vendors are cash only. You may also be able to haggle better if you have cash on hand. It's the art of haggling that makes antiquing so exciting. Typically, sellers mark their prices higher anticipating a lively bargaining session with buyers who know what they are doing.
Bring a tape measure to ensure the item will fit in your doorways, stairways, elevators, and transport vehicle; as well as your interior space
Bring a Philips head or flathead screwdriver to disassemble an item to fit into your vehicle
Bring straps, blankets, towels, tarps, newspapers, bubble wrap, twine, scissors
Bring shopping bag that can be stowed in your purse
Pack water and snacks for energy.
Dress with sturdy shoes
Wear a back brace for moving heavy furniture
Dress in clothes that can get dust and dirt on them
Dress appropriately for the weather
Sunny: Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses
Below 55 degrees: lightweight base layer
Photo by Dominika Roseclay from Pexels
Tips for Planning an Antiquing Trip Route
Think about the types of venues you want to visit. Antique Store Finder allows you to search through 6,600 shops across the country, while The Thrift Shopper lets you search 12,500 thrift stores by city. You can wander through antique boutiques and thrift stores any time, but if you have your heart set on exploring various flea markets, you’ll want to plan your journey for the warmer months depending on location. Want to download a map of the flea markets you’d like to visit? Visit fleamapket.com.
You can plan your route with an app such as Roadtrippers. Note that if you plan to purchase large or bulky items in several locations, you may want to stake out the locations of temporary storage facilities along your chosen path. Before you leave your driveway, make sure you have enough cargo space in your vehicle for your purchases. Alternatively, you can rent a larger vehicle or trailer or research the best ways to ship items to your home.
Photo by Arthur Edelmans on Unsplash
Don't forget to bring a first-aid kit in case you accidentally nick your hands handling rusty or sharp-edged items. Make sure you wear thick gloves to protect your hands when handling rusty or sharp objects. If you would like to know whether a piece will fit in your vehicle before you attempt to load it, pack a tape measure. You can take apart bulky items that are too big for your car or truck using a Phillips head and a flathead screwdriver. Take along old blankets and towels, a tarp or two, old newspaper or bubble wrap, twine, scissors, and straps. Water and snacks are essentials. If you're antique hunting, you'll need the right supplies to stay hydrated and energetic.
Many naysayers claim that cash is dead, but have they been antiquing? Depending on the boutique or flea market vendor, cash is the only form of payment. Plus, if you decide to haggle, cash might help your case. As a matter of fact, antiquing is all about haggling. In anticipation of a lively bargaining session with savvy buyers, most sellers mark up their prices.
Ready, Set, Antique!
Here are some of our favorite antiquing destinations to help you plan a unique road trip and return home with gorgeous finds.
Bloomfield, NY
In the Finger Lake Region of western New York, Bloomfield is flourishing as an antique mecca: we have an abundance of quality shops lining the old Seneca Trail (now known as Routes 5 & 20). The village of Bloomfield, which dates back to the mid-1800s, is bursting with colonial architecture, fun places to eat, shop, and visit. Several attractions and events in the region are nearby, including Finger Lakes Race Track, Sonnenberg Gardens, Bristol Mountain, and Naples Wine Festival.
2. Otsego County
“Whether you are looking for an accent piece, a dresser, a rug, or shoes, you are bound to find what you are looking for while antiquing in Otsego County! From Richfield Springs in the North to Oneonta in the South, follow our trail and see what treasures you will uncover!”
3. Route 90
Route 90 – 50 Mile Garage Sale, in New York’s Finger Lakes region, combines beautiful wine trails with yard sales. Along Route 90, a New York State Scenic Byway, vineyards create an idyllic setting for this highway yard sale. Annually, the festival spans from Montezuma to Homer on the last full weekend in July.
Take advantage of favored finds by being the first in line. Rain or shine, the sale will be open from 9 am to 5 pm every day. This event has been running since 1987, making it one of the longest-running organized highway yard sales in the country.
Legend has it that a Cayuga County resident started the sale by selling everything displayed on his front lawn. His barn was also barged into by passersby as they shopped the yard. There was a flurry of purchases of old farm equipment and hand tools among eager observers. And that's how the New York rummage sale got it's start.
4. Click here for a map of some of our favorite antique stops in the Finger Lakes!
Get the map for antique favorites from Ithaca, NY to Rochester, NY! These include the stores Found In Ithaca Antiques, Crooked Lake Antiques, Opera House Antiques, WIld Goose Chase Antiques, Route 54 Antiques, Geneva Antique Co-Op, Penny Lakes Antique Mall, Ontario Mall Antiques Corporation, and The Shops on West Ridge. For the scenic route through Watkins Glens, click on “Avoid Highways” in Options.
What to Buy
Here’s a list of things to look for as a home decorator. (Collectors need to connect with an appraiser for a list of what’s trending today.)
Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash
Corningware - made locally
Wooden Kitchen Utensils
Crocks
Vintage Advertising Signing
Architectural Salvage
Baskets
Brass Candlesticks
Mid-Century Modern
Art Nouveau
Art Decor
Crates
Vintage Books - style that bookcase for your Zoom meetings!
Brass Candlesticks
Lamps/Lighting
Glass jars
Linens
Furniture
You May Also Enjoy: Which Etsy Shops Sell French Country Vintage Items?
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Guest Author: Melissa Hart for Say Insurance
Melissa Hart is a consultant for Say Insurance. She's the author of Better with Books: 500 Diverse Novels to Ignite Empathy and Encourage Self-Acceptance in Tweens and Teens and the award-winning middle grade novel Avenging the Owl. She's contributing editor at The Writer Magazine and a Creative Writing instructor for the MFA in Creative Writing program at Southern New Hampshire University.