The Sale on the Trail is something we look forward to every year. Bland Lake Hideaway, the best place to stay in San Augustine, is conveniently located just 5 miles north of “The Trail.” The first Friday and Saturday of May is a big time in the Lake Country!
100 Miles of Fun
The drive from Nacogdoches, the oldest city in Texas, to Natchitoches, the home of the film “Steel Magnolias,” is a beautiful drive that everyone should experience. What better way to enjoy this 100 mile trip than to experience “The Sale on the Trail.”
There are so many things to see and do on this drive! This special time of the year though is all about finding deals on “The Trail.” It is like a 100-mile-long yard sale! Because, every town, city, and community along The El Camino Real works hard to promote and get vendors out and make their part of The Sale on the Trail the best day possible. It is fun to watch people from so many different areas work hard to make the day great!
Five Local Communities
Three Texas counties and two Louisiana parishes are part of The Sale on the Trail. This route is a national historic trail that every person should experience. I own and operate Hardware on the Square in downtown San Augustine. The Sale on the Trail is one of our favorite days of the year. We get so many new visitors that drive through town just to experience The Trail.
My Great Find| The Sale on the Trail
Once I was looking for a feed cart for my hardware store. I wanted an old looking one that would fit my style at Hardware on the Square. After almost a year of searching, I had almost given up! I had been to flea markets and antique stores all over the area.
Then, during The Sale on the Trail, a vendor pulled up and began to unload his wares for sale. He had antiques that he had repurposed to yard art for flower beds. There amongst his things with a flower pot sitting on it was the cart of my dreams! So, I ran over to his stand and began negotiations. After some haggling and bargaining, we came to a mutual agreement, and I paid the man and came back across the street with my cart! I have used this cart every day for the last seven years, and I hope to use it for many years to come.
My Favorites | The Sale on The Trail
Of course there are so many good places to stop along The Trail! So, here is a list of my favorites, and I hope that this list continues to grow year after year! Therefore, let’s start in Natchitoches and work our way west to Nacogdoches in this list!
- Lasyone’s Fried Meat Pie Restaurant
- Kaffie-Fredick General Mercantile
- Melrose on the Cane
- Nichols Store – Many, LA
- Nuziebells Flea Market & Storage
- El Camino Park in Milam
- Martin’s Corner
- Nell’s Kitchen & Flea Market
- El Potosino
- San Augustine Drug
- HOT Grill
- Texas Star
- Hardware on the Square
- Tasha’s Country Kitchen
- The Mission
- Dolli’s Diner
- Butcher Boys
- Millard’s Crossing
I am sure there are many other places along The Trail that you are going to find and experience all on your own, and that is what is fun about the 100-mile trip! Enjoy good friends and good food and find good deals at the Sale on the Trail.
Hard-Working Partners
There are some people who have worked very hard to make sure that The Sale on the Trail is a great success which is what makes this event so special!
The Natchitoches Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
Toledo Bend Lake Country Sabine Parish
San Augustine County Chamber of Commerce
Because of all of this, plan ahead for every year and stay at Bland Lake Hideaway, the best place to Stay in San Augustine!