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I spent most of last week at the family vacation house in Virginia's Northern Neck. First of all some of you may be wondering "what in the world is a neck?" A penninsula is a landform that protrudes into one body of water, and is surrounded by it on three sides. A neck of land, and "neck" is a term used 400 years ago by the first English settlers, is surrounded by three different bodies of water and is much larger in size than a penninsula. The Northern Neck bordered by the Potomac River to the north, the Chesapeake Bay to the east, and the Rappahannock River to the south. There, now isn't that clear as muck ;)
Well, the Northern Neck is a mostly rural area with very little traffic and things are far apart, including the thrift and antique shops. You will put some mileage on your car, but the results are well worth it. Let's start in Heathsville at St. Stephen's Thrift Shop. I always find something great here!
Down the road, Route 360, about 12 miles in Fleeton is St. Mark's thrift shop which used to be a gas station:
Kilmarnock, Virginia, off of Route 3 and Irvington Road, boasts two wonderful thrift shops:
Seconds Unlimited is run by the Rappahannock Hospital Auxillary ladies. I always find something cool in here!
Across the street is this cute shop:
This is run by the Lancaster (Va.) County animal shelter. They pack a lot of goodies into this tiny shop!
Down the road from Kilmarnock is White Stone (where you'll find the FARM shop, in the previous post) and this new shop on Route 3:
This is run by the Methodist church there. A little sparse but once in a while you get lucky! It's always worth a look.
All of this driving around is making me hungry! Time for my favorite thrifting snacks:
Lance Golden Cheese crackers and Choco-Lunch cookies. Wash them down with pink lemonade! Of if you are really hungry, stop by this place:
Newsome's is located between Burgess and Glebe Point on Route 200. They have the BEST food! Also free Wi-Fi if you are so inclined. Crab cake sandwiches are chunky and delicious and a bargain at $6 each! Also they have a cool birdhouse out in back:
If you are in the mood for seafood on the water, may I suggest the Fairport Marina near Fleeton which is owned and operated by Roy Headley:
This off-the-beaten-track place has fresh seafood in fun rustic setting, no frills just great service and excellent food. Across the river is this old piece of Northern Neck history:
Fleeton and Reedville have a long history of fish processing for oil, fertilizer, and even cat food! There is a more modern processing plant on the river, Omega, but this old smokestack is what remains of the earlier days of the fishing industry here.
Continuing on, I want to show you a wonderful antique shop in the very small burg of Wicomico Church.
Commonwealth Antiques is owned by Henry Lane and Lisa Hull. They also run the best estate sales in the area. On this sultry saturday afternoon, I met Lisa and her son taking a little break sitting outside enjoying ice cream. I popped inside and was met with a wonderful array of floor-to-ceiling delights.
Upstairs even more fun beckons:
Love this old wallpaper!~~
And I love this wallpaper in the stairwell!~~~
And I wanted to show you one more of my favorite thrift shops. This one is across the street from Commonwealth Antiques and is run by the Wiomico Church Episcopal church ladies. I took this picture from the upper floor of the antique shop:
Thanks for taking my thrifty tour of the Northern Neck! One day I hope to run into you at one of my favorite haunts! Have a great day!~~XXOO, Beth
Can I have the house across the street in the last picture? Thanks for the tour. I love seeing the eastern side of the country.
Posted by: Susan Drysdale | July 28, 2008 at 11:49 AM
I check out your little home on the web all the time, and you are listed on mine as one of the blogs that inspire me. This post is an example of why! Your beautiful pictures left me drooling. What a wonderful area to visit. Thank you for the field trip!
Posted by: Melony | July 28, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Well, that just looks like absolute Thrift Shop Heaven!
Posted by: HeidiAnn | July 28, 2008 at 01:10 PM
Yep, been to a few of those places with YOU! Love that wallpaper at Henry Lane's place. xo, suzy
Posted by: suzy | July 28, 2008 at 01:28 PM
Wow what a trip!!! I can't wait to see your goodies!! The photo of the walpaper with the swag is stunning!!! That so needs to be made into something, what a cool postcard for you or something, I love it! Thanks for sharing, kiss noises Linda Lilly Cottage.
Posted by: Linda and Laura Lilly Cottage | July 28, 2008 at 05:06 PM
What a fun virtual trip. Your area is on my list of places to visit "some day".
Posted by: Betty @ She's Sew Pretty | July 28, 2008 at 06:02 PM
You have totally cemented my desire to retire there!smile My 2 year old granddaughter is here for the week and then her Mom and Dad come Sunday for a week so it will be a couple weeks before I can follow your path. I love it when I have new haunts to explore!!!
Thank you so much for this post!!!
D
Posted by: DanaSmith | July 28, 2008 at 11:31 PM
WOW!! Sounds like great fun!!
Thanks for sharing all the pictures!
Posted by: Barbara @ Southern Lady's Vintage | July 29, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Geesh, I must not go down far enough on Route 3....I only get as far as Westmoreland Berry Farm, get my goodies from there and then head back home. They look like great places to shop.
Posted by: mary | July 29, 2008 at 11:32 PM
I know, I know....I really have to get down there. I am working on it. With pictures like these, it is like dangling that carrot in front of me. Great tour. xxoo, Susan
Posted by: susans at black eyed susans kitchen | July 30, 2008 at 10:37 AM
I've been to a few of those! Seconds unlimited is one I recognize! Lots of memories for me down in the Northern Neck! Makes me want to hop in the car and drive down there!
Posted by: Robin~Thrifty Miss Priss | July 30, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Oh my goodness! What fun that looks like! I wish I was co-pilot on this trip!
Hugs,
Robyn
Posted by: Robyn Haas | July 31, 2008 at 02:46 AM
Thanks for taking me along for the trip. I really enjoyed the crab cakes....LOL....Hugs
Posted by: Mary Issabella | July 31, 2008 at 05:11 AM
Loved your tour of the Northern Neck! I was born and raised in Mathews County. Been gone from there since seventies. Haven't been over that way (Northern Neck) in some time. My husband and I did go to White Stone some years back a few times to the Wild Life show at the old school and firestation there. Thanks for the memories.
Posted by: Elaine | July 31, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Truly beautiful photos..I love thrifting as well. Glad you had a wonderful day.
xoxo Nita
Posted by: red tin heart | August 03, 2008 at 02:40 AM
Oh, this is a lovely, lovely post! Love the pics, the stores and the corvette!, lol...
Posted by: celia | August 11, 2008 at 06:03 AM
Coming to the area for a few days of camping and kyaking; can't wait to visit these thrift stores...honey can we leave tomorrow?, Lynn Newport News
Posted by: Lynn | June 28, 2009 at 09:07 PM