Golden Turtle

The Golden Turtle is a full-service chocolate shop with a wide variety of caramels, creams, and nuts enrobed in light or dark chocolate, as well as such novelties as chocolate cigars, Valentine’s hearts, and teddy bears. It is best known for two very special products: almond toffee and the Texas tortoise. The toffee is as buttery as can be, with a shattering crunch that instantly transforms from hard to melting-sweet on the tongue; each piece is covered in crushed roasted almonds and chocolate. The tortoises are cousins of your basic candy-store turtle, except these are made of big, crunchy fancy pecan halves from Texas, covered in caramel and chocolate. If you are a turtle fancier, you will swoon over these sweet critters.

A fun store in the intriguing town of Lebanon (home of seven separate antiques malls), the Golden Turtle radiates chocolate aroma yards out onto Broadway, making it impossible for anyone with chocoholic tendencies to walk past.

Note that the Golden Turtle Chocolate Factory is set up to mail order any of its products throughout the year, except during the first two weeks of January, when the store is closed. Also, it is closed some Mondays.