What’s more uniquely American than super-sizing and yard sales?
Combine the two and you get the so-called World’s Longest Yard Sale, a real-life phenomenon which started 22 years ago in the heartland of America.
This year, the event, also known as the Highway 127 yard sale or 127 Corridor Sale, began Thursday August 6, and ends on Sunday August 9.
For the unacquainted, here’s the deal: The sale consists of hundreds of mom-and-pop (and professional) vendors who set up makeshift stalls, tents and shacks along a 654-mile stretch of America between Gadsden, Alabama, and West Unity, Ohio.
Bargain hunters and flea-market aficionados from all over the country head to the area to pick out treasures along the route, which roughly corresponds with the north-south path of Highway 127.
Shoppers can find wares ranging from collectibles and antiques to used clothing, furniture, crafts and original works of art.
The four-day event is a boon to not only sellers but other local merchants such as hotels, restaurants and gas stations, who see a big spike in business. Some hotels even report that rooms sell out a year in advance of the sale.
Many people plan their vacations around the sale, and split their time between shopping and exploring the surrounding regions. There are literally dozens of areas along the route which offer prime opportunities for sightseeing, hiking, dining and more.
For example, not far from the start of the yard sale in Gadsden, Alabama is the 250-acre Noccalula Park. In addition to botanic gardens and ancient caves, the park also features the 90-foot Noccalula Falls. Visitors can hike along the Noccalula Falls Historic Gorge Trail which takes you past an old pioneer village containing log cabins, a country store, and an impressive covered bridge dating back to 1899.
In Jamestown, Tennessee you’ll be near the 17,372-acre Pickett State Park and the 120,000-acre Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Outdoorsy types will love the sandstone arches and the abundant opportunities for camping, hiking, biking, paddling, fishing, that can be found in both adjacent areas. Around Jamestown you’ll also find wineries, a sizeable Mennonite community, and the restored Victorian village of Rugby.
In Frankfort, Kentucky you’ll find plenty of spots where you can sample the famous local spirit, bourbon. Start at the award-winning Buffalo Trace Distillery which offers free tours and tasting of the aging warehouse and bottling hall.
Over on West Broadway, the great Italian food at Serafini restaurant can be paired with any of the 90 bourbons they have in stock.
And Capital Cellars, next door to Serafini, has a café and retail store which offers rare varieties of bourbon for the connoisseur.
Nearer to the north end of the sale, a few miles off highway 127, is the town of Defiance, Ohio. Voted one of the top 100 small towns in America, Defiance sits at the junction of the Maumee, Tiffin and Auglaize Rivers. Many of the best local restaurants are right on the rivers, such as Scotty’s Club 111, which serves great barbecued ribs.
The family-owned Kissner’s Restaurant is another favorite, partly because of its setting in a beautiful historic building with an antique bar.
If you do plan to hit the yard sale this weekend, here are some tips and advice that will serve you well, no matter what state you’re in:
- Don’t count on getting a hotel or motel room at this point. While it’s possible that a few rooms will be available, most sell out weeks before the event. Better to take a day trip, an RV, or stay with friends or relatives.
- Drive a large car. You never know what oversize treasures you might unexpectedly find, and shipping services won’t be easily accessible.
- Bring items such as sunscreen, sunglasses, mosquito repellant, water, and comfortable shoes to protect from bugs, heat and blisters. It’s hot and humid in this part of the country, and chances are you’ll be doing a lot of walking.
- Considering that you’ll be driving through some very rural zones and may not pass a restaurant or rest stop for miles, pack plenty of food and drinks.
- Many mom-and-pop vendors don’t take credit cards or checks, and there aren’t a whole lot of ATMs, so bring a wad of cash.
- Get out there early! Though there are hundreds of vendors who sell all day long from sunup to past sundown, you’ll be competing with thousands of other shoppers. And as with any yard sale, the good stuff goes quickly.
By Karen Elowitt for PeterGreenberg.com
Related Links:
Official site of World’s Longest Yard Sale
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