Until about five years ago, I didn’t know that we had one of the BEST antique/vintage/home decor meccas just an hour away in Atlanta. Even if you aren’t big into shopping or antiquing, everyone should visit Scott’s at least once. So what is it?

The second weekend of every month - Thursday through Sunday* - dealers from all over the country come to the Atlanta Expo Center which is near the Atlanta airport. I have gotten everything from dressers to African baskets to windows to vintage Gucci boots. Rarely does a visit go by without me buying a chair and some art. The space is HUGE - two massive warehouses plus an outside area. Plan on a full day and the potential of needing to rent a uhual to head home with all your treasures.

You can find some incredible deals - $25 for a leather seated wooden back chair for example - but it isn’t just about the deal. There are real antiques and items that you will never see anywhere else. I love French antiques and have gotten a mid-century bar cart, some hutches and some factory windows that we put in our guest cottage. None of them were bargains but they were way less at Scott’s than any antique store I might have found them in (if I could have even found them). Each time I go, my favorite buy is always something I didn’t even know existed before I got to Scott’s.

A big part of the experience though is the people. There seems to be a real camaraderie among the dealers. At Christmas time you will see them potlucking a celebratory meal together. Make time to talk with those who have a style you appreciate. Most are more than happy to share their knowledge and expertise even if you aren’t buying. And if you are buying, don’t be afraid to ask what the best price they can do on something you want. Negotiating is part of the experience.

Here are 3 tips on the best way to experience Scott’s:

• Go early. Thursday is my favorite day to go and then Friday. I try to make it as soon as they open (10:30am on Thursday and 9:30am on Friday).

• Have a plan. It can be pretty overwhelming. See How To Plan Your Visit to Scott Antiques Market for ideas on how to navigate.

• Pace yourself. I can see almost every single booth in one day but only if I quickly skim some of them. Some I don’t love the style or wares (I don’t tend to stop at the booths that only sell antique linens for instance), but I also don’t spend a lot of time if I ask a price on something and it’s five times what I would ever pay.

To get a visual on all of this, here are some photos from a recent trip to Scott’s with Latetia and a friend.

*There is very little left to browse through on Sundays so I don’t recommend going that day.