Fodor's Expert Review Grove Arcade

Just before its opening in 1929, the Grove Arcade, which covers an entire city block, was trumpeted as "the most elegant building in America" by its builder, W. E. Grove, the man also responsible for the Grove Park Inn. He envisioned a new kind of retail, office, and residential complex. Grove died before completing the project, and a planned 14-story tower was never built. Still, the building is an architectural wonder, with gargoyles galore. Now it's a public market with about 40 locally owned shops and restaurants, along with apartments and office space. The south end of the Arcade has an outdoor market with about a dozen stalls selling local crafts and farm products. A self-guided architectural tour (download a map from the website) takes about 45 minutes.