The community is invited to an unusual shopping, food and fun adventure featuring 37 off-the-beaten path businesses, hand-picked for their uniqueness. Set up like a home or garden tour, you will travel place to place, in your own vehicle, enjoying all the special free things (refreshments, games, gifts, demos, workshop tours, make & take projects and more) the businesses have planned for you.
Your ticket is valid the entire time… Do what you can in a day or take 16 days, it is up to you. Collect tickets to play the “shop & win” game and enter to win more than $1,000 in gift cards. Enter to win a $200 shopping spree (no purchase necessary to enter any tour raffles or drawings, ask a sales associate for details). Plus, each place has given you a valuable coupon.
Although we won’t tell you the names of the businesses ahead of time (that’s part of the fun secret), we will tell you the types of places you’ll visit: unusual home, garden and gift stores housed in restored factories; barns and historic homes; an alpaca farm where you can interact with the animals; garden centers blooming with beauty; farmer’s markets and sweet treat shops with plentiful samples for tasting; a craft show set up specifically for the tour; two wineries; consignment boutiques; two historic sites; an upscale furniture store; a jewelry store; art and artisan galleries; a textile and yarn shop; a few specialty shops; a brand new cafe; and stores of antique, vintage, up-cycled items and more. There really is something for everyone! The stores are located throughout Berks County, but if you follow our path you will never travel more than 11 miles between places and most are closer together.
This is a fun way to find the best kept secrets of Berks County. A portion of ticket sales is also donated to Family Promise – helping homeless families. The first 2,000 people to purchase tickets will also receive a free goody bag containing promotional items or small treats from the businesses.
Every ticket contains a tour guide that lists the name, address and description of each business, a map to get you around, the calendar of extra events and coupons from each business. Tour stops (excluding cafes, restaurants and wineries) are open at least Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 717-721-9409 or e-mail melissa@bestkeptsecretstour.com for tickets. Visit www.bestkeptsecretstour.com for further information.
