Antique Lovers will DELIGHT over these DeKalb County Antique Shops

Whether you are passing through for the day or spending the weekend, you will want to take time to visit these great antique shops. Make sure to add in a stop for food at one of our fabulous restaurants or our award-winning wineries to make your visit complete.

Auburn

Gallery 326 Antique and Auction Gallery

I’ve been in a lot of large antique shops and what I love about Gallery 326 is that it is one of the cleanest, well-displayed places I’ve ever seen. They have a great mix of automobile industry items, vintage toys, militaria and all of the estate items that we’ve grown to love. Head all of the way to the back for some very interesting exotic taxidermy mounts, including a giraffe. Make sure you get on their mailing list for auctions. The shop is located right off the highway so it’s a convenient stop if you are just passing through. Facebook Page

Antiques on Fifth -109 E Fifth Street, Ste E, Auburn

Located in Downtown Auburn, Antiques on Fifth is exactly what you are hoping for when you visit an antique mall – plenty of glass wares, home decor, tools, collectibles etc. and lots to look through. Head to the back and down the hall to find multiple rooms filled with antique goodies. This place was bustling with activity on the day of my visit so be sure to grab your favorites before they’re gone. Facebook Page

Cranberry Cottage – 214 W. 6th St., Auburn

This is another gem located on Sixth Street in downtown Auburn. What’s not to love about an adorable old church that houses a cozy cafe, ice cream parlor and fabulous gift shop? Stop for lunch and finish up with a stroll through antiques, home decor, clothing and accessories. (opens April) Make sure you don’t leave without trying one of her mouth-watering desserts! Sit outside on the patio during the warmer months. Facebook Page

The Blue Fruit Jar – 123 W. 8th St., Auburn

The owners tell guests that the shop is like an English muffin – lots of nooks and crannies. I would say that is an honest depiction of what you find at the Blue Fruit Jar. You’ll find a little bit of everything here from estate jewelry and antique glassware to art, vintage linens, toys and decor. Don’t be afraid to do a little digging as some of the best treasures might be hidden. I walked out with a Chinese waving cat which now sits proudly on my desk at work. Make sure you venture downstairs for plenty more merchandise. Facebook Page

Country Lane General Store – 221 N. Main St., Auburn

The General Store has a great mix of old and new treasures for your home. Over 65 vendors join together with everything from antiques and vintage items to home decor, handcrafted items, furniture and culinary items. Check out their website for a more inclusive list or better yet, just stop in and see for yourself. This shop really has a little bit of everything and it was fun to take it all in. Our favorite part was the nostalgic candies and we loaded up with plenty of taffy and hard candies. Website

Ten By Two Collectibles – 5832 CR 427, Auburn

This place is jammed full of great antiques! Located in a shop on their property just south of town, the Hissong’s have been collecting vintage toys, antiques, diner items, etc. for several years before opening up their shop. They have by far the largest selection of antique doll houses in the area. If you are looking for specific items, they have plenty more that haven’t made it to the shelves yet – just ask. They typically open on weekends and if the “open” flag is by the road you simply owe it to yourself to stop and come on in.  Facebook page

Garrett

Miss Vicki’s Antiques and Unique Vintage – 1308 S. Randolph St., Garrett

I love this shop! It’s a great blend of antiques and vintage items on the south end of charming Garrett. It’s located in a quaint little strip mall right on 327. The shop also features a selection of boutique clothing, home decor and handcrafted items. Head up town afterwards and have lunch at one of their great downtown eateries including my favorite, Chef Peng’s Chinese Restaurant. Facebook Page 

St. Joe

2nd Time Around Antiques – 98 Washington St. (St. Rd. 1), St. Joe

Wind through downtown St. Joe on St. Rd. 1 and just as you are heading out of town, you’ll find 2nd Time Around Antiques. This barn is filled with collectibles, antiques, vintage toys and second-hand items for your home. There’s a little bit of everything. While you are in town, stop downtown for some pizza or pulled pork at Pizza, Subs and BBQ. Facebook Page 

5 Ideas for Family Fun in DeKalb County (Spring Break Edition)

Spring is right around the corner which means spring break planning is underway for most people. If the warm sandy beaches of Florida are not on your list, here’s a list of 4 things you and your family can do right here in DeKalb County.

1. Skeet and Trap Shooting at the St. Joe Valley Conservation Club.

Who knew that nestled on 150 in St. Joe, Indiana is one of the Midwest’s largest shotgun shooting facilities? Here they offer 9 Trap Fields, 12 Skeet Fields and 4 lighted fields. There’s even a clubhouse to relax in along with 30 RV sites for those of you planning an RV trip. This is a place where the whole family can be involved and have fun. It’s definitely a must-try.

The St. Joe Valley Conservation Club located at 5871  County Rd. 60 St. Joe, IN

2. Grab the bowling bags and go bowling at one of the 3 bowling alleys in DeKalb County. There’s the Auburn Bowl which offers 18 lanes of high quality bowling and a bar with drinks and snacks.

The Auburn Bowl located at 1815 Sprott St. Auburn, IN

 

The Garrett Bowl has been around for over 50 years and offers multiple lanes along with a bar and grill. Every Friday and Saturday they have “Cosmic Bowling” which for $10 gets you all you can bowl.

The Garrett Bowl located at 110 W. Keyser St. Garrett, IN

The Butler Bowl and Recreation Center has been around since 1961 and they offer 12 lanes with a full restaurant and snack bar. This place is another great option for the whole family to have some fun.

The Butler Bowl & Recreation Center located at 634 E Main St Butler, IN

3. Go to the NCG Cinema located in Auburn, IN and watch one of the several new movies being released this month. NCG offers this pretty cool deal where you can purchase a “Dinner and a Movie” package which includes two movie passes and a gift certificate to your choice of six restaurants in Auburn. You can be entertained and fed for a reasonable price-not a bad deal.

 

NCG Cinemas located at 1111 Smaltz Way, Auburn, IN

4. Participate in one of the Spring Break events that the Auburn Parks and Recreation is putting on. There will be a bird house building project where kids will build houses for the Eastern Blue Bird.  On another day there will be a hands-on presentation with animals ranging from large toads to tortoises where kids will be able to interact with these cool critters.  Then the last event is the “Spring Break Skate” at the Skatin’ Station where admission is free and the only thing you will have to pay for is your skate rental.

The Skatin’ Station located at 544 North St. Auburn, IN

5. Visit the National Automotive and Truck Museum located in Auburn. This is definitely a world-class museum with over 100,000 square feet of displays featuring over 100 trucks, prototypes and multiple brand collections. Jay Leno has even made a visit back in 2016.

The National Automotive and Truck Museum located at 1000 Gordon M Buehrig Pl, Auburn, IN

 

 

 

 

Or you can Visit one of our 9 museums-yes we have 9 in DeKalb County! So essentially you could go and visit a museum every day of the week. Don’t forget when you go to your first museum to ask the front desk for your Museum Passport which gets you a discount at each of the museums.

 

March is when travel dreams distract us most but even if you’re only traveling to or around DeKalb County we have plenty of activities to satisfy your Spring Break fever. Visit our website to see ALL of the cool things you can do here. #VisitDekalb

4 Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas (Other than flowers or Chocolate)

Valentine’s Day is this Wednesday and are you ready? If not, here’s four quick gift ideas you can grab at the last minute.

 

1. Grab a gift bag from Byler Lane Winery which includes gift cards from a few local shops; have a wine tasting at Byler Lane Winery with a $20 gift card. Enjoy a relaxing massage with a $20 gift card to Auburn Massage & Wellness Centre. Have a romantic dinner at the Italian Grille with $20 gift card. Then get an early start on spring by buying some flowers with a $20 gift card to the Sprinkling Can. It’s essentially an all-in-one gift bag that covers all your bases this Valentine’s Day.

 

2. For the coffee lovers in your life, get them a cute thermal travel mug from Paper Gourmet. They will be sipping in style with these chic travel mugs from Kate Spade-an on the go essential and a great gift idea. As an added bonus, the Paper Gourmet also has these super cute hand-crafted bath bombs that smell wonderful and look good enough to eat.

 

3. The Sprinkling Can is offering alternative gifts for those who aren’t into receiving flowers or chocolates. They have these heart shaped air gardens where you can hang a mini garden from a ceiling (great for brown-thumbs since they require little water) or these neat plant amps where you can enjoy your music in an alternative way. The Sprinkling Can also has all kinds of neat little clocks or knick-knacks that are a perfect alternative from the traditional Valentine’s Day gifts. Plenty of options here.

 

 

 

4. Essentials and Frosting always has something unique to get that for that special someone. Between candles and clutches to paintings and purses-they have plenty of great gift ideas.  For a list of ton of other places to shop in DeKalb County, visit our website.

Valentine’s Celebrations You’ll Both LOVE!

Instead of spending money on cards and trinkets this Valentine’s Day, why not spend some quality time together doing things you will both enjoy. We’ve got the perfect set of experiences that will give you plenty of time for hand holding and gazing into each other’s eyes.

Let the HAND holding begin

Start your romantic adventure touring one of our many museums. DeKalb County is home to some seriously cool museums that are enjoyed by both men and women. From world-class car museums housed in gorgeous national historic landmarks to collections of antique carriages (including a royal carriage) and one-of-a-kind vehicles and a downtown art museum, you can spend hours of one-on-one time together finding your favorites. Ask about the Passport at your first stop and save money on your next stop.

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum is a great place to spend time together. The automobiles showcased display not only the luxurious automobiles of the Auburn Automobile Company but also show an amazing history of automotive history. Absolutely fascinating for men and women of all ages.

What’s not to LOVE about wine

Spend some time together on our wine tasting trail that includes three local wineries. Sample wines at each location or carve out some time to share a bottle and relax. Check their schedules ahead of time for special Valentine’s deals, live music and other romantic activities. (Country Heritage, Byler Lane and Hartland)

Sit back with your honey and relax over a bottle of wine at one of our three wineries.  Or grab a bottle and enjoy a romantic evening at home.

 

 Did someone say Jacuzzi

Sometimes a night away is just what the doctor ordered and what better way to relax with the one you love than in a jacuzzi suite or indoor pool at one of our local hotels. Plan ahead of time and have your favorite local florist deliver flowers right to your room.

Give your Valentine a romantic getaway where you can relax. Several of our local hotels, including the Baymont pictured here, have jacuzzi suites or indoor pools.

Sweets for your SWEETS

Make a date for dessert. Take a break from calorie counting and indulge your love’s sweet tooth. Make your own sundae at Bowl’s or head over to the Cranberry Cottage  or the Riverbend for one of their fabulous desserts. Special order a treat from one of our many bakeries or stop by Jeremiah’s Coffee for his special Friday evening dessert specials. Or head to Great Lakes Coffee & Chocolates and let your Valentine pick out his or her favorites.

 

 

 

 

 

5 Things to do in the Winter in DeKalb County

 

 

The winter months can be tough. The harsh cold, the lack of outdoor activities.  So here’s 5 things you can do in DeKalb County to ward off those winter blues because after all, wintertime should also be playtime.

 

1. Dust off the bowling bag and go bowling at the Auburn Bowling Alley. They offer 18 lanes of high quality bowling, a bar with drinks and snacks or join a bowling league. This year they are having their “Pizza, Pins, and Suds League” starting on February 1^st. Grab a 3 person team and bowl once a week for 8 weeks or just come any other day of the week to bowl for fun!

 

 

2. Relieve some stress by going to one of the largest shotgun shooting facilities in the Midwest. Located in St. Joe, Indiana, the St. Joe Valley Conservation Club offers 9 Trap Fields, 12 Skeet Fields and 4 lighted fields. The sprawling 150 acre facility offers many different opportunities for new and experienced shooters.

 

 

 

3. Grab some friends and go to one of the 3 wineries in DeKalb County. Country Heritage in Laotto, IN, has “Friday Night Wine Down” which features live music and lots of wine. Hartland Winery located in Ashley, IN, has live music booked every Saturday up until springtime. And Byler Lane Winery located in Auburn, IN, has food trucks and live music on Fridays and Saturdays. Every day of the weekend there is something planned at one of the wineries so pick one or go to all three to make it a winter weekend filled with wine!
   

   Hubie Ashcraft performing at Country Heritage Winery

 

Mike Conley performing at Hartland Winery

 

4. Calling all those who love to bake! Take a baking class from the Cookie Nook located at the corner of 6^th and Jackson in Downtown Auburn. Learn how to do everything from decorating cute cupcakes to  making a cookie bouquet. Space is limited so check their website for the class schedule.
   

   

 

5. Go to the Kruse Museums and Expo Center located at 5634 Co RD 11 in Auburn, IN, and check out the original Bat Mobile and memorabilia from the “Batman Returns” movie. There’s the sleek Bat Mobile that Batman himself drove in the movies and the original Penguin’s Duck Mobile. How cool is is that we have these famous movie props right here in DeKalb County?!

 

 

For more things to do in DeKalb County, check out our website or visit Facebook.

 

 

You MUST DO these 10 things in DeKalb County in 2018!

It’s going to be a great year in DeKalb County and you aren’t going to want to miss out! We are famous for our classic automobiles but with our award-winning wineries, chic boutiques, unique festivals and fantastic food options you don’t have to like cars to LOVE DEKALB COUNTY.

We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite and best things to do that you will definitely want to do in the coming months. Make your plans now!

1. Attend the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Classic Car Show & Festival and Fall R.M. Southeby’s Auction. – Okay, people, this is seriously one spectacularly fun weekend in DeKalb County. There’s the excitement of the auction coupled with a blend of classic car shows, parades, concerts and plenty of fun in between. Labor Day Weekend IS the best time to come to DeKalb County!
2. Visit our Three Wineries. (Country Heritage Winery & Vineyard, Byler Lane Winery, Hartland Winery) Either add one of our great wineries to your trip or make plans to visit all 3. What’s not to love about a day of sampling wines and enjoying the day? Make sure you check their schedules for live music and no visit is complete without a wine slushy!
   

   Sechler’s Pickle Factory Store

3. Add the Pickles! Head to the small town of St. Joe, Indiana, where pickles reign supreme. Take a tour of the Sechler’s Pickle Factory that was featured on Cooking Channel’s Unwrapped and then stock up on all your favorites in their onsite shop. (seasonal April – Oct)
4. Cruise the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. Head to where the tradition all started, the headquarters of the Auburn Automotive Company is now a world-class museum showcasing the glamorous and gorgeous automobiles that were once built in this city.
5. See One-of-a-Kind Treasures in the National Automotive and Truck Museum. You’ll want to spend hours checking out the truck that has the land speed record, the GM Futurliner, the General Lee from the Opening Footage of the Show and so many other unique and classic vehicles. Whether you enjoy cars or a good history lesson, this is a must-see on any DeKalb County visit, along with our many other museums showcasing history, art and transportation displays.
   

   DeKalb County Free Fall Fair

6. Grab a Donut at One of the Largest Street Fairs in the State. The DeKalb County Free Fall Fair is one of the most popular street fairs in NE Indiana and features free concerts, games, rides, industrial tent and 4-H Fair activities. Oh, and did we mention the famous fair donuts? Always begins on the 4th Monday of each September. Mark your calendar now.
7. Get Shopping. Need a new outfit? Something new for you house? We have a growing list of boutiques and shops filled with clothing, jewelry, home decor, original art pieces and more. Downtown Auburn is growing quickly but don’t miss our other great shops around the county. Don’t worry, you can find them all listed on our website.
8. Come see the transformation of the Early Ford V8 Foundation Museum. Make plans to visit this year as they unveil their epic expansion which triples their size and will feature a spectacular replica of the famous Ford Rotunda. The museum is open during expansion so don’t be shy…come on in.
9. Have the Crab Cake Topped Filet at Shorty’s Steakhouse. DeKalb County has a
   

   Shorty’s Steakhouse in Garrett

   growing list of amazing restaurants that you MUST try out. Have a steak at Shorty’s. Indulge yourself with lasagna at Sandra D’s or a calzone from the Italian Grille. Or try out another one of our fantastic eateries listed here.

10. Hunt for Treasures in our Antique Shops.  The best part about collecting antiques is finding and exploring new antique shops! From our 25,000 sq. foot Gallery 326 Antiques off the interstate to Miss Vicky’s in Garrett, you are just scratching the surface on all our great shops. Carve out a day for antiquing fun. For a full list of all our shops, click here.

It’s Crunch Time:10 Last Minute Gift Ideas

It’s crunch time for holiday shopping so here’s 10 last minute gift ideas that you can purchase right here in DeKalb County! #Shoplocal

Accessories from Sixteen:Thirteen Boutique located at 102 N. Main St., Auburn, IN

Umbrellas from All About You Boutique located at 202 S Jackson St, Auburn, IN

Bracelets from Betsey’s Boutique Shop located at 1343 S Jackson St, Auburn,IN

Unique little knick-knacks from the Country Lane General Store located at 221 N Main St, Auburn, IN

These cute pillows especially this Tibetan Lamb Pillow from Essentials and Frosting located at 106 W. 6th St in the Auburn Atrium MarketingPlace

Unique pieces from Expressions Gallery located at 106 W 6th St in the Auburn Atrium MarketPlace

Chocolate from Great Lakes Chocolate & Coffee Co. located at 1106 W. 7th St Auburn, IN

Music magnets and bottle openers from Kim’s Korner Music & More located at 211 N Jackson St, Auburn, IN. Perfect for the music lover in your life.

Glass pieces from Lamm Glass Engraving located at 127 W 8th St. Auburn, IN

Cute little Hoosier gifts for those Indiana fans from Paper Gourmet located at 106 W.  6th St. in the Auburn Atrium MarketPlace Auburn, IN

Check out our website for a list of more places to shop in DeKalb County!

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When it comes to shopping, there’s no shortage of it in downtown Auburn. Turning off of 7th street and turning onto 6th street, you see a line of shops filled with all kinds of things to buy. If you’re into … Continue reading →

A Day of Shopping in Downtown Auburn

I recently spent the day shopping in Downtown Auburn and when I turned into the downtown my eyes were met with buildings both old and new ; with shops that were filled with everything from boutique clothing to locally brewed beer. What’s convenient about shopping in Downtown Auburn, is that the shops are close together making it easy to park and navigate.

If you’re into cooking or just enjoy anything culinary then “The Olive Twist” should be the first place you visit. Inside this culinary boutique they have everything from specialty spices to first-pressed extra virgin olive oil to flavor fused balsamic vinegar from around the world.

Olive oil tasting bar.

You can try their olive oils or balsamic vinegar from their tastings bar before you purchase.

Vinegar and olive oil tasting bar.

They also try to keep their inventory local by selling items such as honey from Waterloo, IN or Bubble Bath Beans from Albion, IN.

 

 

Bee Happy Honey from 4516 CR 28 Waterloo,, IN

Bubble Bath Beans from Albion, IN

Located in the building on 6^th and Main is a cute little shop called “Hidden Key Boutique”. The shop opened up five months ago in a space formerly occupied by a shop called Peeker’s.

 

 

The owner decided to keep the Peeker’s merchandise which is comprised of specialty kitchen gear and the famous Melissa & Doug Toys. They also sell women’s clothing items such as boutique tops and athleisure wear.

Cross the street again and you see another boutique called “Sixteen: Thirteen Boutique” located at 102 N. Main St. Here there is another fabulous collection of women’s clothing and accessories. They have wide selection of purses, tops, dresses, hats and much more.

Here there is another fabulous collection of women’s clothing and accessories. They have wide selection of purses, tops, dresses, hats and much more.

 

 

 

On the same street you can stop at Mad Anthony’s Auburn Tap Room to grab a bite to eat for lunch. I had their famous Greek Unwrap and my friend had the Asparagus Salad with Balsamic. Or can grab a mid-day brew from their selection of locally brewed beer.

 

 

Greek Unwrap and an Asparagus Salad

Good Karma IPA

 

You would definitely need more than one day to explore all the shops and restaurants in Downtown Auburn to get the full experience. It’s amazing what hidden gems are located in a small town; all you need to do is explore and see for yourself. For a list of the other shops in Downtown Auburn, visit our website.

The Amazing Fall Fun Corn Maze

This past weekend I went to the Amazing Fall Fun Corn Maze in Waterloo, IN and it was an absolute blast. There were three different mazes you could try out depending on the amount of time you wanted to spend on each one.

 

Phase 1 lasted about 20 minutes, Phase 2 was the longest lasting around 40 minutes, and the “Fairytale Trail” was for families with small children.

The Fairytale Trail had the story of “Jack and the Beanstalk” as the theme with a story board on each corner explaining the tale.

I recommend devoting several hours to visit so that you can have enough time to enjoy everything. And I also recommend wearing proper outdoor footwear because it can get pretty muddy at times.

Besides the different mazes there was plenty of activities for families to enjoy.

 

There was “Farmer Foosball”, straw mountains, tires slides, a petting zoo, a hayride and plenty of other family fall fun activities.

The Amazing Fall Fun Corn Maze was a great example of Hoosier Agritourism and I highly recommend going and checking out “Northeast Indiana’s Largest Corn Maze”!