(Budget Travel) -- Some of my greatest travel memories are about exploring the local markets -- digging through the goods, chatting with vendors, feeling my way through the nuances of a spirited negotiation. Each time, I walk away with an earful of native lore and insider info -- on top of armfuls of awesome finds.





The Springfield Antique Show and Flea Market in Ohio takes place one weekend each month, excluding February and July.





Once, I picked up a pair of swingy silver earrings at a market in Uruguay and simultaneously bagged a tip for the best spot to dance to candombe music, something the seller insisted I do while wearing my new purchase. It was just the kind of authentic encounter I'd never have found in a shop on the main drag. Each of these American markets will leave you with that same richness of experience -- as well as heaps of quality souvenirs. Who needs another plastic snow globe, anyway?





BRIMFIELD ANTIQUE & FLEA MARKET SHOWS





Where & when: Brimfield, Massachusetts; six consecutive days each in mid-May, July and September.





What: A local auctioneer, Gordon Reid, started this outdoor market, now the country's largest, on a somewhat humbler stage back in 1959: his own backyard. Now, more than 1 million visitors flood in every year to shop the peerless selection of affordable New England collectibles (weather vanes, decoys and Nantucket baskets) and maritime accoutrements (brass lamps and ships' wheels) spread across more than 20 "fields" on either side of the town's main road, each containing hundreds of vendors. Budget Travel: 20 great flea markets around the world





Three of the best fields are Dealer's Choice, known for its quality rustic furniture; Heart-O-The Mart, favored for hobnail glassware and intact grain sacks; and J&J Auction Acres, flush with high-end items like colonial cherrywood chests and convex mirrors. Even the food has a regional bent: Try the generously sized $10 lobster rolls, the fresh-popped kettle corn, and the Pilgrim Sandwich, a supersoft roll layered with roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo. brimfield.com.





Best shot at a bargain: The slower July and September markets may yield better deals than the crowded May outing, which serves as the region's antiquing-season opener.





Gigi's find: A portable radio. "I love how [it] is part gadget, part accessory: It swings closed into a ring shape you can carry around like a purse as it plays. I got it years ago at Brimfield for $15." Budget Travel gallery: See these cool flea markets





SPRINGFIELD ANTIQUE SHOW & FLEA MARKET





Where & when: Springfield, Ohio; one weekend each month, excluding February and July.





What: Over the course of its quarter-century run, this busy market held on a county fairground has won a reputation as the heartland's go-to source for all things folky and primitive, such as old metal pails, Shaker boxes, cross-stitched samplers, and calico quilts. Farmhouse antiques, like blanket chests, milk-paint cupboards, and sturdy rocking chairs also figure prominently, as do well-preserved dishware and tabletop items. Budget Travel: How to shop every market like a pro





During each year's three supersize Extravaganzas -- in May, June, and September -- the number of vendors swells to more than 2,500, some operating out of cattle barns and poultry houses. Visit the market's online discussion forum to connect with sellers, preview goods, and even post wish lists. springfieldantiqueshow.com.





Best shot at a bargain: Go in September, when dealers are trying to liquidate their stock for the winter.





BROOKLYN FLEA





Where & when: Brooklyn, New York; Saturdays from mid-April through Thanksgiving.





What: In less than two years, this sale in a Brooklyn schoolyard has attracted a large enough following to justify a second location and seasonal spin-off events. Shoppers come for the mix of vintage clothing and jewelry, architectural salvage, and decorative objects like modernist table lamps and metal
Which town has an antique and flea market the first Sunday of each month? When is the next Brimfield market in Massachusetts? what state is Brimfield market held in? When is the next Brimfield market? Where can you find second hand goods?
Springfield six consecutive days each in mid-May, July and September. Massachusetts; six consecutive days each in mid-May, July and September. The Springfield Antique Show and Flea Market in Ohio
question: Which town has an antique and flea market the first Sunday of each month?, answer: Springfield | question: When is the next Brimfield market in Massachusetts?, answer: six consecutive days each in mid-May, July and September. | question: what state is Brimfield market held in?, answer: Massachusetts; | question: When is the next Brimfield market?, answer: six consecutive days each in mid-May, July and September. | question: Where can you find second hand goods?, answer: The Springfield Antique Show and Flea Market in Ohio