The Best Places to Go Antiquing Across the Country

Most people have probably never heard of Walnut, Iowa; Wiscasset, Maine; or Millerton, New York. They probably don't know of Hazel, Kentucky; Clinton, Tennessee; Adamstown, Pennsylvania; or Galena, Illinois, either. But if you're into vintage shopping, these are all places where you may very well uncover your next great collectible find. "What makes these towns stand apart is their surprisingly high concentration of antique shops," says Nicolas Martin, developer of fleamapket, an app that offers a directory of antique stores and flea markets worldwide.

Take the town of Hazel, for example. At last count, this southern hamlet of 407 citizens had 14 antique shops, the majority of which are within throwing distance of each other on Main Street (there's no getting lost while looking for antiques in a small town—just head to Main Street and you'll be on the right path). Like its fellow antique shop towns, Hazel offers friendly service, a vast selection of goods from furniture to jewelry and prices that will make you keep going back for more. And while better-known and more prestigious cities like San Francisco, Charlotte in South Carolina, and Palm Beach in Florida, offer a wealth of antique stores too, they're scattered over a vast area and don't come close to having the charm and coziness of their counterparts in small-town America. In the towns outlined here, you'll also find equally charming restaurants, hotels, and inns to turn your visit into a relaxing vacation.

Whether you go antiquing every weekend or you're new to the world of unearthing treasures, it's worth checking out the following towns.