Kentucky offers shoppers a little bit of everything depending on where they venture in the state. The Appalachian region is famous for its crafts and folk art, while the central cities boast outlet malls and lively downtown districts with all kinds of independent shops. Kentucky is also a great state to hunt for antiques, both in the many flea markets and brick and mortar shops in historic towns.
In Covington, the Main Strasse Village offers a unique German environment with loads of stalls selling homemade goods, local art, and other unusual mementoes. Another superb destination for Kentucky shopping is the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, around 40 miles south of Lexington and the hub for Appalachian folk art. This center is a marvelous space that is part museum, part demonstration workshop, and part gift shop selling amazing creations.
Antiques
Hunting for antiques is one of the most fun shopping experiences in Kentucky. Items don’t have to be rare or expensive, just irresistible to you. There are hundreds of boutiques and flea markets across the state, making it easy to incorporate a hunt into any day’s agenda. From little towns like Hazel to the big cities of Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky has some really interesting second-hand stores.
The state is also a major center for swap meets. There seems to be a bazaar in nearly every town of note, or at least in every single county in Kentucky. From the Shelby County Flea Market in Simpsonville to the Derby Park Traders Circle Flea Market in Louisville, you’ll have your hands full just trying to fit them all in. Most are only open on weekends, but they typically stay open all year round and allow for haggling so you can get a great deal. These are no little garage sales, though; the Shelby County Flea Market has between 250 and 300 vendors on any given weekend.