Flea Markets
They don't exactly keep regular business hours (check their websites), but the country's best flea markets are our go-tos for top quality antiques, vintage jewelry, salvaged furniture—and maybe even the occasional funnel cake.
Renningers
An antiques market and a slightly shambolic flea split a 117-acre plot just north of Orlando. Go straight to the art deco dealers in the former and the funnel cakes at the latter. 20651 Hwy. 441, renningers.com
Melrose Trading Post
Locals head to this bustling bazaar to take advantage of the well-edited, wallet-friendly selection of vintage clothing. Keep an eye out for the booth singularly stocked with nicely distressed leather boots. 7850 Melrose Ave., melrosetradingpost.org
Austin Country Flea Market
We love this open-air flea as much for its lineup of country music bands and $2.50 frito pies as for its eclectic selection of Mexican pottery and used Western gear, like perfectly broken-in cowboy boots. 9500 Hwy. 290 E., austincountry.citymax.com
Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market
Right on the Delaware River, this market is crawling with day-tripping New Yorkers looking for bargains on big-ticket items like antiques and salvaged furniture. For more-portable finds, check out Mary Waite’s range of vintage glass and perfume bottles. 1850 River Rd., gnmarket.com
Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire
More than 800 vendors hawk a huge variety of goods at this fair, just across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco. We spotted oil paintings, a bronze chandelier, an early-American table and Persian carpets—and that was just in one of our favorite booths: Tribal Treasures. 2508 Santa Clara Ave., alamedapointantiquesfaire.com
Rose Bowl
Boasting 2,500-plus vendors, this legendary market teems with midcentury decor, oriental rugs and small collectibles—but it’s the selection of vintage clothing and costume jewelry that really drops jaws. 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., rgcshows.com
Brooklyn Flea
This two-venue flea is only a couple of years old, but it already ranks as one of the borough’s top tourist destinations. There’s a tight curation of antiques dealers, handmade goods (like Alyssa Ettinger’s textured ceramics) and an array of local food vendors—the best among them is the Red Hook Lobster Pound.
Hell's Kitchen Flea Market
Vendors can be a bit surly (we saw one of them eject a shopper for snapping photos). But there’s a huge variety of treasures here, like the feather caps at Dipo’s African Market and almost-new clothes, such as a cheetah-print cardigan by Chloë Sevigny for Opening Ceremony.
