Shopping in the Mountains
Downtown Blue Ridge is a mecca for shoppers. There’s the Antique Mall, Fieldstone Village, Cold Creek Trading Company, Unicoi Outfitters, ice cream stores, fudge stores and Huck’s General Store. There are also art galleries and jewelry stores. All are wonderful and you can browse for days.
I just want to mention a few of my personal favorites. As for downtown Blue Ridge, I always try to visit Shiny Baubles. It’s a tiny little store, packed full of the latest fashion finds in purses, jewelry and unique clothing. I never walk out empty-handed. The ladies that own the place have a knack for buying just what the public wants. And they’re always busy. Two doors down is a store named Glitzy Chix. It’s much larger, with a fine selection of costume jewelry (grouped by colors), purses and knickknacks.
Now, if you’re willing to travel out into the middle of nowhere for the most unique shopping experience ever—go to Alexander’s General Store. It’s in Blairsville at 4966 Town Creek School Road. The ride takes you through some beautiful countryside, but when you get there you may wonder why you drove so far for such a small store. You’ll understand once you go inside. It’s huge and they sell literally everything. There’s something for everyone—men’s clothing & shoes; women’s clothing, shoes & accessories; appliances & electronics; sporting goods of all kinds; furniture; home décor; toys; food, etc. You’ll walk from one room to the next, upstairs, downstairs & all around. The store has been in the family for years and they just kept adding on to the original General Store. The merchandise changes regularly, so you never know what will be there. You can get some terrific bargains on name brands. I bought a $179.00 Chaus pantsuit for under $30.00. At any rate, I’m sure you will enjoy this store & want to return. We usually stop by the nearby Crane Creek Vineyards afterwards to celebrate our great buys. It makes a fun day trip.
Moose Hollow Trading Company in downtown Murphy, NC, is another wonderful place to shop. It is stocked with everything you’d ever need for your mountain cabin. Along with upscale handmade rustic furniture, you’ll find unique gifts, hardware, artwork, lamps and rugs. I just love their pine scented Moose Hollow candle. You can meander around their 8,000 square feet for hours dreaming. The store is located at 66 Tennessee Street, next to Herb’s tasty Pit Bar B Q. Visit their website at www.moosehollow.net or call (828) 837-4940 for directions.
If you’re coming up to the mountains from Atlanta, there are two things you need to watch out for in Jasper. The main thing is their speed traps. They’re very serious about the 55 mph speed limit. (I have a ticket to prove it!) The other thing to look for is the big red Bargain Barn. It will be on your left and you can’t miss it. They have all kinds of sporting gear—from boats to guns to clothing. My friends swear the prices are fantastic. I’m not sure about that, but it is fun to look. Men love it.
The last place I’ll mention is a wonderful little store in Morganton called Enchanted Trout & Gourmet Meats. We wandered in there a few years ago & were very impressed. Butcher Tom’s is the best place for fresh trout, all natural steaks, pork and chicken. He also carries all kinds of seafood—shrimp, salmon, even crabcakes. He has some fresh produce and gourmet appetizers. You can pick up anything you might need for your dinner. We dropped by for lunch and he had the best bar-b-q sandwiches. There are always daily lunch specials you can take away for a picnic. Tom will take good care of you. Call him at (706) 374-5971 to check his hours & days of operation.