As rural as Delaware County is, it's not exactly a shopper's mecca. However, a number of tourist-oriented shops are in old barns, which makes it fun. Besides the shops of Healing Waters Farm in Walton, described above, Pakatakan Farmer's Market is held Saturday from May to October in a fantastic 1899 Round Barn, one of the oldest such structures, on Route 30 in Halcottsville. In season you'll see dozens of farms selling produce across the region.
If you must shop for man-made things, Margaretville is your place. The Margaretville Antique Center, Main Street (tel. 845/586-2424), has several dealers under one room, while The Commons in Margaretville, Main Street, has antiques, clothing, kitchenware, flowers, and Internet hookups. Walton's Country Emporium, 134 Delaware St. (tel. 607/865-8440; www.countryemporiumltd.com), is a marketplace in a historic building with lots of gourmet foods, antiques, and crafts. A funky flea market is held Saturday and Sunday in summer, along Route 28 in Arkville. Andes has an impressive new contemporary art gallery (which also features jewelry designs) called Blink, 454 Lower Main St. (tel. 845/676-3900), and a couple of interesting antiques shops on Main Street. In Fleischmanns, Robert's Auction House, Main Street, holds court every Saturday night from 7:30pm to midnight, providing entertainment and shopping excuses to locals and visitors to the area. It's low-rent but a lot of fun, like a yard sale, except with an auctioneer at the helm. The folding chairs have locals' names on them.
