With a rich heritage of logging, milling and fishing, Washington’s Puget Sound not only boasts a bevy of scenic attractions but numerous antiques shops and special events. Tacoma and nearby Lakewood have about 45 shops, and the city’s antiquing events include an outdoor Antique & Craft Fair and an Antiques Show and Sale. And on the Kitsap Peninsula, nearly every small town has at least one antique store. In Seattle, there are more than 120 antiques shops offering American,  More »

With a rich heritage of logging, milling and fishing, Washington’s Puget Sound not only boasts a bevy of scenic attractions but numerous antiques shops and special events. Tacoma and nearby Lakewood have about 45 shops, and the city’s antiquing events include an outdoor Antique & Craft Fair and an Antiques Show and Sale. And on the Kitsap Peninsula, nearly every small town has at least one antique store. In Seattle, there are more than 120 antiques shops offering American, English, Continental, and Asian furniture, decorative arts, fine art and Native American art and artifacts. If you still want more antiques, Snohomish, 15 miles northeast of Seattle, is “the antiques capital of the Northwest.” Founded in 1859, its downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a community that includes several malls, and 24 individual dealer locations. Fifty miles north of Snohomish is La Conner, a waterfront town that has several antiques shops. And when it comes to museums, there are plenty in the vicinity to choose from as well. Highlights include the Quilt Museum, the historic Gaches Mansion, the Museum of Northwestern Art, along with the spring poetry and tulip festivals.   « Less

There’s no sales tax here, but that’s just one of many reasons to visit. Both of these towns have plenty of antiques stores, as well as Northwest’s largest antiques show. Portland’s Antiques Row is a 12-block radius that contains some 50 shops, which feature items ranging from shabby chic to collectibles to more upscale items. In mid-July and again at the end of October, Portland’s Expo Center features the Northwest’s largest antiques show. Called  More »

There’s no sales tax here, but that’s just one of many reasons to visit. Both of these towns have plenty of antiques stores, as well as Northwest’s largest antiques show. Portland’s Antiques Row is a 12-block radius that contains some 50 shops, which feature items ranging from shabby chic to collectibles to more upscale items. In mid-July and again at the end of October, Portland’s Expo Center features the Northwest’s largest antiques show. Called America’s Largest Antique and Collectible Sale, it presents everything from vintage advertising, toys, china, Western and Native American items, textiles, jewelry, kitchenware, tools and memorabilia. For side trips, you can head south to Aurora, only 25 miles away. Founded in 1857 by a Protestant German sect, it contains numerous antiques stores well-worth exploring. Most are located on Main Street, along Highway 99E, and showcase items such as English and American lighting, oil lamps and Mission furniture. Beyond the antiquing opportunities, Portland is a wonderful city – spread over gentle hills along the Willamette River. Voted one of the most livable cities in the U.S., here you can do everything from shopping to cycling to trekking to fine dining. On the arts front, Portland also boasts numerous art museums, crafts events and vintage hotels.   « Less