3 Best Shopping in Central and Western Virginia, Virginia

Spanning 18,000 square feet, this farmers market has homemade baked goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, plus butter churns and ceramic speckle ware made by the local Mennonites. Don't be surprised to see locals trotting by in their horse-and-buggy. It's a good place to mingle with the craftspeople, as well as with students from James Madison University in nearby Harrisonburg. It's open Thursday through Saturday from 9 to 6.

six-block brick pedestrian mall houses specialty stores, cinemas, art galleries, restaurants, and coffeehouses in restored 19th- and early-20th-century buildings.

At Sunspots Studios & Designs, near downtown, you can see artisans at work, blowing glass and melding copper. Their exquisite items for the house and garden are available for purchase. In spring the studio hosts the Virginia Hot Glass Festival, which brings together hot-glass artists from across the region.