Antiquing in the Finger Lakes Region of New York

If your home is filled with things that require authentication before purchase, or if you're ready to forsake your Ikea furniture for things that are a bit older, you will love antiquing in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Tucked away in the mountains, valleys and lakesides of this beautiful area, you'll find hundreds of tiny shops and larger malls just waiting to be explored.

The Cheshire Union in Canandaigua, New York, for example, is one of the largest and most adored antique shops in the Finger Lakes region. Housed in a renovated schoolhouse that is nearly a century old itself, the Cheshire Union is filled with furniture, lamps, silverware, paintings and decorations displayed in neatly-organized cubbies throughout the house. They have an antique show every year in August, as well as an art gallery that is separate from the antiquing wing.

Also impressive is the Antique Revival, which is located in Big Flats, New York. This section of the Finger Lakes region provides tourists with plenty of hotels, motels, B&Bs and other lodgings, and is considered an antiquing paradise. The Antique Revival specializes in artsy antiques, from beautiful oil paintings to fine Victorian accessories. They also sell vintage lamps, art glass, silver, porcelain and restored furniture at perfectly reasonable prices.

Finally, New Hope Antiques is a family-owned antique shop in the town of the same name in the Finger Lakes region of New York, situated in an 1820s farm house and barn on a beautiful crystal-clear lake. Rich woods and hand painted ceramics are the bread and butter of this little shop, and antiquing enthusiasts will really enjoy their selection of oil paintings. They're open May through October from 10am to 5pm each day, and they welcome their guests with the warmth and appreciation of long-lost family members.