Weekend Getaway | Antique Capital of the United States

When you’re itching for a getaway but don’t want to hop a plane or invest in a long drive, look to the nearby Antique Capital of the United States! It’s in our own backyard, only about 1.5 hours away, and is an all-season destination! Our “Ladies Cards” group packed our weekenders and hit the road for a treasure hunt and an overnight sleepover party in the direction of Adamstown, PA.

There are many spots to hit in Lancaster County. Family-friendly places like Dutch Wonderland and Strasburg Rail Road to name a few. It also happens to be the mecca of antiquing! Head to Lancaster County and you’ll find tons of Antique malls, shops, and dealers along 7 miles of Route 272. Follow along using the Ladies Cards itinerary or make your own! 

First Stop

We had no idea what we were in for so we dropped a pin at Uncle Funky’s Thrift to start. A vintage shop dreams are made of, exactly like the ones we frequented back in the 80s and 90s. Racks filled with clothing from the 40s and up. Linens, toys, hats, shoes, gloves, the works! Prices that made sense and didn’t break the bank. We all walked away with treats for our closets! 

Across from Uncle Funky’s the sign for Vintage Kitchen & Antiques was calling our name. There was a collective gasp when we walked in. Color-coded glassware and Pyrex sets for days. It was a kitchen collectors paradise. Imagine our surprise when we realized there were mini rooms filled to the brim with items and another big room lined with vintage glasses and complete dish sets. 

Discovering the Malls 

If you haven’t ever been to a vintage mall, you are in for a treat. You’ll find tons of Antique malls, shops, and dealers along 7 miles of Route 272. Once inside, the front areas often have big cases. Small trinkets, jewelry, and figurines line the shelves. Wander further back and it's an endless maze of open booths and rooms that are peppered with all sorts of vintage collectibles. You’ll find everything from glasses with all the Hanna Barbara characters to vintage beer trays. Even if you don’t buy anything, simply taking a trip through time via old advertisements, inventions and tchotchkes is worth it. 

Break Time

Every good treasure hunter needs to take a break. We found a cute Mexican restaurant, Castañeda’s minutes away in Denver, PA. The weather was beautiful, we parked it on a bench outside and ordered up some chips, salsa, and massive burritos. 

We heard through a co-worker that there was an apartment development modeled after a German village. We had to take a peek! Stoudtburg Village was created in 1996, designed to incorporate winding accessible paths, and allow homeowners to also be shop owners in the “village”. We arrived while a 70th birthday party was being celebrated in the town square and we will agree it all felt very European. While strolling the carless streets we admired the colorful homes and shopfronts, and most of all the gardens! 

Where we stayed 

There are more romantic places to pick from, cozy bed and breakfasts like Amythest Inn Bed & Breakfast or Smithtown Inn but this gal group wanted a bit more of a night on the town. The Waynebrook Inn checked all the boxes. Nice clean rooms, friendly service, and a bar open until 1 am just downstairs. They often host live bands, stand-up comedy, or DJs. We lucked out with Karaoke night, and you know we got up on that stage (multiple times)! 

Sunday Morning 

After a quick continental breakfast, we went out hunting again. We planned to grab some fresh produce on the way home. Hot Tip: Don’t wait until Sunday to hit up the produce stands as they are all closed. Sadly no local fresh fruits and veggies for us. We were able to score some amazing hibiscus plants for $10 from an honor system roadside stand which made up for our loss. 

After checking out a few more antique malls we decided to head back to the big city. We chattered the whole way home, planning our next visit, noting a cozy winter trip may be in order. Hopefully, the bar glasses set we passed on will still be there!