I love going to farmers markets, there is just no denying it. I enjoy the Rome farmers market because its small size means I can get to know the farmers and vendors and its Ridge Ferry Park location is very convenient. I enjoy finding out about the vendors’ enterprises, learning about their vegetables and products, and I especially enjoy leaving the market with lots of fresh vegetables, baked goods, canned items and flowers to enjoy for the week.

Unfortunately our Rome market will be winding down soon (the last day is Oct. 2), but do try and visit them on either Wednesday mornings or Saturday mornings, from 7- 10AM. It’s a great way to support local vendors, meet some new folks, and enjoy some great fresh food and flowers.

I recently had great fun exploring some other farmers markets in the region. Any of these (or all!) would make great entries to your bucket list of fun things to do within a short drive of Rome:

The Chattanooga Market is on Sundays from 11AM – 4PM in the Tennessee Pavilion, and it is a great place for the whole family. We were there in late August and the produce was amazing – peaches, heirloom tomatoes, weird peppers, organic lettuces and greens, and lots of other great vegetables were in huge and delicious supply. (I bet they have a great selection of apples now!). There were also 2 cheese vendors, selling their freshly made and yummy cheeses, and The King of Pops from Atlanta was there with his cart of unusually flavored frozen pop treats (not the typical red, purple or orange pops – these have cardamom, cilantro, lavender, ginger, iced tea, or banana pudding in them!). But in addition to produce, the Chattanooga Market has crafts, furniture, jewelry, clothing, face painting, a rock climbing wall, live music, a food court, and someone making all sorts of balloon animals for kids. It is really a fun place! The pavilion is an incredible structure with some of the biggest ceiling fans I have ever seen (there are 3 of them, each with about 15 blades that are at least 12 feet long!). it is a great place to look around, sit and enjoy live music, grab some food and look for crafty treasures. They have holiday markets on the schedule so you can visit them all the way to December.

The DeKalb Farmers Market, known as Your DeKalb Farmers Market, was an amazing experience for me last week. Oh my gosh, they have so much stuff, a lot of which I had never seen before! Their grains were incredible, the varieties of rice were astonishing, the sauces and jellies very diverse, the cheeses were from every corner of the globe, the produce amazing, and the meat and seafood outstanding. I was in there for at least 2 hours and probably only saw about half the things in there. It is truly a destination and a place you want to have plenty of time to visit, along with a cooler, and be sure to enjoy lots of their free samples! In addition to all that I mentioned, Your DeKalb Farmers Market also has a restaurant, bakery, coffee market, and they sell some cool kitchen gadgets and tools. They are open 9AM – 9PM every day of the week, closed on major holidays.

The Atlanta State Farmers Market is in Forest Park, south of Atlanta, open weekdays 6AM – 5PM, Saturdays 6AM to noon, and closed on Sunday. This is the big boy of markets, with 150 acres of exhibit space that was first opened in 1958. It is considered one of the largest markets in the country, and has daily deliveries of truckloads of produce that is then distributed throughout the South and the rest of the US. They also sell baked goods, have a garden center, a restaurant, and they feature special exhibits on a regular basis. This is a crazy but fun place to visit with great selections and lots of price haggling going on!

The Marietta Square Market is open Saturdays from 9AM – noon, through November 20th. The market has a nice selection of produce, flowers, handmade soaps and lotions, crafts, breads, honey, baked goods for pups, beef jerky, cured meats, herbs, and cheeses. It is usually well-attended, so get there early! And the King of Pops can usually be found at the market on hot days.

The Acworth Farmers Market runs Fridays from 7 – 11AM on the upper parking lot on Main Street. The market features produce, baked goods, herbs, locally grown and butchered meats, and natural skin care products.

So whether you want to pick up a few fresh veggies for the week, or find an exotic international find, there are lots of great options for farmers markets within a 2 hour drive. Be sure to allow plenty of time for browsing – and questions!