Vintage Hot Spots – On Location with Guest Reporter Gina Smith Saluda, N.C

Just
off I-26 in the mountains of western North Carolina, just north of the South
Carolina border is a charming town that beckons for much more than just a
highway break. Vintage lovers will find the downtown of Saluda, N.C. calling
them to stay for a weekend or more to explore the colorful shops, whether at
the peak of autumn color or in the first blush of spring.

Summer
and winter are equally pleasant here, too, depending on your interests, but I
favor “walking-around” weather, so you can get a little workout while exploring
this neat-as-a-pin and thriving town. The steepest standard gauge mainline
railway grade in the US crests here, having opened in 1878. It runs right
through downtown, but alongside, not across, so you can walk up and down the
shop-lined streets without interruption.

Besides
the well-maintained buildings themselves, possibly the best homage to vintage
is found in M.A. Pace General Store. Set up just as it was nearly 100 years
ago, this is a “general” store in the truest sense of the word. The necessities
of daily life are crowded in with hardware sundries, garden implements, paint
supplies and more-and the owner here will be glad to have you “sit a spell” and
chat.

There
are a fair number of antiques shops and gift stores, but the most pleasant
surprise for me was Random Arts and proprietress Jane Powell. Random Arts has
already received a fair share of publicity, having been featured in Cloth Paper
Scissors magazine, (Sept.-Oct. 2007), and it was this which made me choose exit
59 off of I-26 rather than your run-of-the-mill rest stop.

A
couple of hours and a couple of bags later, surprisingly, even my husband was
pleased with our “delay.” Random Arts is a treasure trove for the altered
artist, but in being so, it contains plenty of vintage finds, such as old
books, postcards and stamps as well as beautiful vintage wood bobbins of all
shapes and sizes, full of colorful ribbons.

More
vintage goodness can be found in pieces of old folding wooden rulers, metal
bins and rusty locker baskets, rusty “things,” and just general eye candy and
inspiration for any creative soul.

Some
of the names of other shops will conjure up more beckoning images. Try out A
Gardener’s Cottage, The Brass Latch, Biddie’s Antiques, Duck Alley, Salamander,
Somewhere in Time or The Frozen Clock.

Saluda
also has a hip, modern vibe which can be found especially in their eateries,
such as Saluda Grade Café, The Whistle Stop Café, Wildflour Bakery and our
lunch stop of choice, The Purple Onion.

Beside
exquisite soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts, The Purple Onion has a full
dinner menu and a notable wine list as well as original artwork hung gallery
style within the high-ceiling, historic interior.

Saluda
boasts actual art galleries as well, with Saluda Fine Arts and Your Art’s
Desire as well as a day spa and 10 or more lodges, B&Bs and inns. The third
Saturday in May is the Saluda Arts Festival, while the first Saturday after
July 4 is Corn Dog Day. Learn more about this delightful town at www.saluda.com.

– Guest Reporter, Gina Smith

{All contributed content Gina Smith © Lilly*s of London*ish}