5 Great American Shopping Cities

DALLAS, TEXAS
Dallas has plenty of shopping for both the trendy and the thrifty.  Galleria Dallas is a great place to stock up on labels from designers, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Brahmin.  Open-air Highland Park Village is home to Christian Louboutin, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen.  On the City's ever-so-trendy McKinney Avenue, Forty Five Ten is the height of chic.  Two blocks west sits Grange Hall, a renowned home décor shop, with an exterior as classy as the unique treasures found inside.  Take home unusual home accents, offbeat jewellery and luxurious apothecary items.  The Knox/Henderson area, east of the Central Expressway, is known for its one-of-a-kind boutiques and excellent dining. Looking for designer names at a bargain? At Allen Premium Outlets and The Shops at Park Lane, Savvy shoppers will save big on their favourite brands.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Atlanta is a culturally rich collection of neighbourhoods, each with its own vibe. In Midtown, explore the Westside Provisions District, a distinctive retail destination (Kayce Hughes sells vintage-inspired clothing and accessories).  You won't find chain stores in little Five Points, a bohemian community where inside businesses draw locals and visitors alike (just the name Junkman's).  For high-end shopping, head straight to Buckhead.  Two prestigious malls - Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza, display the latest fashions from Giorgio Armani, Céline, Versace and more.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA
After visiting the theme parks, go bargain hunting in Orlando.  You will find plenty of opportunities to save big at the city's numerous outlet malls, including Orlando Premium Outlets and Lake Buena Vista Outlets.  The Mall at Millenia and International Drive are both hubs of activity - channel your inner hunter/fisherman at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World or be a beach bum at Ron Jon Surf Shop.  Enjoy a leisurely stroll along Winter Park's Park.  Avenue, a 10-block-long stretch where national retailers Restoration Hardware and Ann Taylor share sidewalks with locally owned boutiques and cafés.

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO
The desert landscape and strong ties to Native American cultures influence the shopping in Santa Fe. Find pottery jewellery. Fibre arts and hand-blown glass at the weekly Railyard Artisan Market.  The International Folk Art Market offers goods directly from artisans from nearly 60 countries.  Art galleries are sprinkled around downtown, and Canyon Road is a famous artists' thoroughfare.  Visit the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, then shop at the museum store for items inspired by the former resident's artwork. Find a large concentration of Native American crafts for sale beneath the portal of Palace of the Governors.  Once you have had your fills of shopping, follow the Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail to taverns and drive-ins around the state.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
San Diego's neighbourhoods feature local boutiques, antiques shops and home goods stores, as well as locally owned restaurants, wine bars and craft beer pubs.  Spend a day wandering through Mission Hills, the Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town or Encinites, and take home some of San Diego's distinctive style.  Seaport Village, in the Marina District, is a Waterfront complex with shops and Cafés set among meandering cobblestone pathways.  In the coastal village of La Jolla, find designer boutiques and art galleries along Prospect Avenue, near some of California's favourite beaches.  Outdoor shopping centres, such as Del Mar Highlands Town Center and Flower Hill Promenade, take full advantage of the area's spectacular weather in Old Town, enjoy regional specialties at Fiesta de Reyes after shopping for custom jewellery and other authentic souvenirs.

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