Charmed by Chester

One of my favorite things about traveling to all of the fairs and festivals is getting to discover (or rediscover) some of the lovely locales around New Jersey.

A few weeks ago we were at the Chester Wine & Food Festival in Chester, NJ. When I was telling my mother how delightful I thought the town was, she reminded me that we used to go there fairly frequently. There were some restaurants  that my parents liked and we would go, walk around town, and then go to dinner. Keep in mind, this was a very, very long time ago (maybe even very, very, VERY). I had totally forgotten about that, so I got to discover Chester all over again.

It's the kind of town I love. There are many small shops filled with interesting and unusual treasures. The main street fits the bill for a movie or TV show about small town America. And it's all in the backyard of our very crowded but lovable state.

Not far from our booth at the wine fest was the Black River Candy Shoppe. Oh my goodness! What a treasure trove of sweet delights. They had Jelly Bellys packed in plastic bags - all the same flavor in a bag! And those wonderful fruit slices I love. They also had Bonamo Taffy Bites that are covered in chocolate. The store is packed in every corner. The staff was friendly, charming, and helpful.

Another place I must stop on my return visit is The Stained Glass Boutique on Main Street. It was a brightly sunny day and the whole place sparkled. Thank heavens I didn't bring my credit card in or my whole house would be sparkling, too. There were ornaments and sun catchers, boxes and bottles, and all types of beautiful, colorful glass bobbery.

The downtown area of Chester isn't huge, but there's plenty to see and do. I didn't have too much time to wander around since I had to get back to our booth. It was Cindy's turn to go explore. I could have easily gotten lost in Midnight Owl. I couldn't manage to look at everything that was packed into this charming small shop.  Clothes, accessories, handmade items, garden art, jewelry and so much more. I could have spent hours (and a small fortune) in there. 

Of course all that walking and shopping will stir up your appetite. There are many places to try. Looking to keep it on the healthy side? Try The Robin's Nest. Excellent pannini's there, and an energizing juice bar. Maria's had some wonderful chai tea, perfect for a chilly afternoon. Most folks in the shop were getting coffee, but I'm a tea girl. For an even broader tea selection, try Sally Lunn's Tea Shop. For dinner, I enjoy The Publick House. Good, solid, yummy food.

I intend to head back to Chester soon, just to go shopping and soak it all in. Small shops filled with unique items. Small businesses that gather or make things that they love to share with us. Can't wait to discover the further charms of Chester.