Things to do / Travel Guide
From Bluegrass bric-a-brac to vintage vinyls, from collectible quilts to wranglers' relics - the Central Kentucky and Tennessee region is known for its unique antiques, farmers and flea markets, and interesting shopping districts. So have your wallet loaded (with plastic) and ready for a shopping showdown.
Antique Shopping in Central Kentucky and Tennessee
When it comes to antiques, the Central Kentucky and Tennessee region never gets old. Nearly every urban and rural community features top-notch antiquing for everything from Bluegrass collectibles to Shaker furniture, old Kentucky cabinetry, quilts, and Depression glass - so perhaps it's time you renovated your collection with a couple of old Southern specimens. There are nearly 200 shops both in and around Lexington, Kentucky; great shops are clustered around Main Street (during the weekend don't miss the Saturday Sunday Market) and Clay Avenue (off East Main Street). One of the region's best collections of Bluegrass antique shops is in the tiny town of Nonesuch, the quaint community's antique shops are usually open Tuesday-Saturday. Danville, Versailles, and Louisville, Kentucky (Bardstown Road and Frankfurt Avenue, in particular) also have highly-regarded antique malls and shopping districts.
In Tennessee, Nashville, Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Gallatin have sizeable antique dealerships and districts. Lebanon's shops are clustered around Public Square and U.S. Highway 231, and in Chattanooga, also home to a host of antique shops, several very good options are located along U.S. Highway 100.
Farmers' Markets in Central Kentucky and Tennessee
Many Central Kentucky and Tennessee communities host farmers' markets including Lexington and Louisville in Kentucky, and Nashville, Gallatin, Lebanon, Livingston, and Chattanooga in Tennessee, among many others. These markets sell everything from fruits and vegetables to jams and jellies, as well as regional specialties like bourbon candies and local honey. Farmers' markets are usually open from April-October and admission is generally free.
Flea Markets in Central Kentucky and Tennessee
You can get just about everything except fleas at Central Kentucky and Tennessee flea markets. If you are looking for regional collectibles, artwork, handicrafts, or handy hardware, head for the flea markets in Kentucky communities such as Cambelsville, Corbin, London, and Louisville, or Tennessee towns like Chattanooga, Lebanon, and Nashville.
Bric-a-Brac Shopping in Central Kentucky
Unique shopping areas and districts are scattered throughout the region. The areas around Bardstown Road and Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, have a wide range of art galleries, specialty shops, and boutiques. For a glimpse of the long tradition of local crafts, stop at the Kentucky Artisan Center and to shop for a wide selection of locally-made woven goods, don't miss the Churchill Weavers; both are in Berea. Over the years, Berea has become a bastion of beautiful craftsmanship and can easily be considered one of the most unique handicrafts centers in the state. More than 50 artists have opened studies in Berea primarily in three areas: Old Town, Chestnut Street, and College Square, where you can find jewelry, hand-beaded adornments, handmade furniture, photography, watercolor and acrylic paintings, quilts, hand-woven baskets, hand-blown glass, and other bric-a-brac. If it's handmade and unique, Berea more than likely has it. In Lexington, try Chevy Chase Village, near the University of Kentucky, for an eclectic mix of shops. If you've come all this way for a Civil War memento (or haven't yet gotten your fill of Kentucky handicrafts), try the gift shop at the Jefferson Davis State Historic Site, east of Hopkinsville.
Bric-a-Brac Shopping in Central Tennessee
The District (comprised of Second Avenue, Broadway, and Printer's Alley) in Nashville has a nice collection of shops, with Broadway Avenue boasting Nashville's best shopping. You can find cool vintage vinyls (not just country music), Gruhn Guitars sells music history collectibles (like Jerry Garcia's 1966 guitar), and Manuel Exclusive Clothier can have you decked out in cowboy class; they dressed Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash! Nashville's Hillsboro Village has been called the Southern version of Harvard Square with quaint used bookshops and family-owned boutiques. In Chattanooga, the Bluff View Art District is a European-style enclave with a nice collection of art galleries, and on the north side of the Chattanooga River you'll find everything including woodcarvings, pottery, art galleries, contemporary crafts, and New Age knick-knacks.
Shopping Malls in Nashville, Louisville and Lexington in Central Kentucky and Tennessee
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