Maryland Fare

A dose of local history comes along with lots of local goodies at Pusey’s Country Store, the red barn-like building over the drawbridge. Dan Pusey or his sister Cyndy Cunningham show you around the family business, now in its thirty-sixth year. It’s the spot in town for Maryland (and other) wines, microbrews, and Maryland-based McCutcheon’s jams, jellies, and other delicacies, in addition to the seasonal flowers; local crafts—baskets and watercolors—round out the offerings. Dan, who also sells real estate and knows the region well, has even added a special collectible for tourists: a special line of Pusey’s “private label” wine, sporting the town logo. 5313 Snow Hill Rd. 410-632-1992.

A Whole Lotta Country

If it’s tin stars you want, or any other type of patriotic selections, Suzanne Timmons’ Lost in the Country delivers. Besides the flurry of tin lanterns, candles, and berry garlands, this quaint gift shop is full of home accessories: a hand-carved wooden welcome sign with curly lambs and pineapple; a cranberry-vine- strewn iron chandelier. And Timmons always finds unique seasonal gift items, like the mini-Easter baskets I picked up for family gifts. 301 N. Washington St. 410-632-4114.

Big On Antiques

Artiques stocks an eclectic mix of antique furnishings and contemporary artworks: an ornate Henry II oak mantelpiece, a circa-1900 working pump organ, a forty-nine-piece set of thirties Limoges china. Owner Susan Curtis also features works by local and nationally known painters (Janet Broussard, Patrick Henry) as well as Turner sculptures. And you can even buy one of those ornate, custom-forged iron Castle doors for your own castle. 310 N. Washington St. 410-632-3885 or http://www.artiquescollection.com.

Just Ask Alice

Even if it’s not books you crave, you have to stop in on Alice and her friendly shop de plume for unique cards, thinking kids’ and adults’ gifts, and newspapers, from the New York Times to the local rag. But there are books aplenty, with special sections, from Maryland authors to New Age tomes. 310 N. Washington St. 410-632-4050.

Gourmet Hot Spot

Everybody knows your name in the simple yet sophisticated eatery, The Palette, and owner Raye Gillette-Whaley greets all. Snow Hill might be a small town, but this is fine food in a stylish setting. (Raye’s also a photographer—her art pieces line the lavender walls.) Updated classics, like the BLT with avocado (delicious!) and blackened tuna steak sandwich and local fish of the day, join more exotic choices like an Asian chicken salad pita. 104 West Green St. 410-632-0055 or http://www.thepaletterestaurant.com.

Take Stock in Art

Women rule in Snow Hill (there’s a male mayor, but females run most of the retail), and Ann Coates leads the charge. Her Bishop’s Stock gallery, without fail the best-looking space in town, is always a first stop. In addition to orchestrating local art events, including the plein air event Paint Snow Hill, Coates seeks (and finds) the best local talent to exhibit in her store, which offers monthly shows (Jess Cross and Josh Davis through July). Paintings of all sizes line the walls of this expansive space, filled with whimsical sculptures, like the large but tasteful iron pig. Stan Sperlak’s bold landscapes in acrylic are haunting but several more reasonably priced items are also tempting: colorful ceramic mosaic sandpiper wall-hanging by Alane Ortega ($75), and unique silver Lotus rings with interchangeable cat’s eye marbles. 202 W. Green St. 410-632-3555 or http://www.bishopsstock.com.

A Shop with Sparkle

Kathy Gordon and daughter Tammy Simpson originally opened up TK’s Attic to sell antiques after cleaning out Kathy’s top floor. Now they have more fun selling Tammy’s custom-made jewelry, sequined and floral purses, colorful Indian-inspired slides for kids, and jewel-encrusted suede sandals. It’s the closest thing Snow Hill has to a fashion boutique. Gifts of other types cry out from every chockful corner of the eclectic shop: La Lavende French hand-milled soaps, Paige Meadows lotions, Limoges crabs, and chai mixes. 106 West Green St. 410-632-1123 or http://www.tksattic.com.

Farmhand Chic

John Deere T-shirts are the latest must-haves with college girls, and the longstanding, family-owned Western Auto is right there with the “country-chic” trend. Owner Becky Payne Laws is carrying on the generations-old business (her seventy-nine-year-old dad, Gus, who founded the store, works the register) with some fun additions: plants, a full set of tools with floral handles, and old-fashioned die-cast metal toys. There’s also a wide array of farm-inspired gift items from Massey, Deere, and International Harvester, from coasters to rubber boots to clocks. But it’s the three-foot-tall John Deere metal windmill that doubles as a sprinkler that they can’t keep in stock. 114 W. Green St. 410-632-1334.