Biggest Yard Sale Ever: The Route 127 Corridor
Bargains from Covington, KY to Gaston, AL
Family Travel Forum Staff
Load up the car and head across Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama for a first look at the thousands of objects for sale in America's longest yard sale.
Summer offers many top-value vacation ideas that need little advance planning, including nearby festivals and events providing ripe opportunities to see and try something new. The Route 127 Yard Sale though Kentucky, Tennesee and Alabama is one example of wallet-friendly, unexpected fun.
It may be hard to picture a yard sale extending 450 miles, but that's exactly what Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama organized in the 1980's to lure tourists off Interstate 40.
Hundreds of counties, thousands of homes, churches, schools, and antique vendors come together one weekend in mid-August to peddle their wares. 2005 marks the 18th annual Route 127 Corridor Sale, which will take place Aug. 6-14. The Sale route runs from Covington, Kentucky to Gaston, Alabama.
If you begin your hunt for the perfect bargain outside Cleveland, Ohio then Lexington, Kentucky makes a good overnight stop. You'll find bargain-priced, family-size rooms at the Best Western Regency Lexington (
859/293-2202) and bright rooms plus an indoor pool at the Radisson Plaza Lexington ( 859/231-9000).
If your kids have the stamina to put in a long, long day of searching for old Hot Wheels models, tin toys, ball caps, used skates, Fiestaware, and you-name-its, continue south to Chattanooga. The Sheraton Read House( 423/266-4121) offers an outdoor pool, as does the Chattanooga ChooChoo Holiday Inn (423/266-5000).
As you drive, teach the kids about quality by having them keep their eyes open for potential bargains. Serious shoppers watch for the antique barns, town or church-sponsored antique shows, and the large yard/parking lot vendors. It's a real slice of Appalachia, with pretty scenery, down-home folk and great bargains to be had.
For more information, contact the tourism offices for Kentucky( 800/225-8747), Tennessee ( 615/741-2159), and Alabama ( 800/ALABAMA).
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