By Victor Block
For some people travel offers opportunities to ski, sample local cuisine or sunbathe on soft sand beaches. Others prefer to partake in another "S" word: shopping. That can include purchasing gifts for family and friends, stocking up for the holidays, buying souvenirs or bargain-hunting. Whatever the reason, going on a buying binge can add fun, interest and satisfaction to a vacation or business trip.
Opportunities abound to save money, find items that aren't available near home and return with things to wear, eat, drink or simply place on a shelf and enjoy. The choices range from practical to peculiar, depending upon one's taste.
Not surprisingly, outlet malls are a favorite target of those seeking to stretch their dollars, and they're easy to find. They are located near both large cities and smaller towns.
For example, the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, located between Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island, claim distinction as the largest outdoor outlet shopping destination in New England. Stores here offer luxury brands such as Gucci, Prada and Jimmy Choo along with family friendly shops that promise sizable savings. The mall is owned by the Simon Property Group, the largest shopping mall proprietor in the country.
Visitors to Boston don't have to leave town to find shopping savings. Newbury Street in Back Bay, Harvard Square in Cambridge and Charles Street in Beacon Hill are among enclaves that offer variety and often good value. A bonus is that Massachusetts is one of several states that exempt clothing from their sales tax. The levy in the Bay State is 6.25%, but clothing that costs less than $175 is exempt.
New Englanders have a reputation for frugality, and visitors to the region soon learn that can translate their purchases into shopping spree savings. New Hampshire does not levy a state sales tax, and that fact, combined with its extensive outlet offerings, means great bargains on many items. Among the more popular discount outlet complexes are Settlers Green in North Conway, Tanger Outlets in Tilton and Merrimack Premium Outlets in Merrimack.
Mention high fashion, and New York City comes to mind. Since the early 1800s, the Big Apple has been the epicenter of the nation's clothing industry. The focus of that activity is a tiny enclave, less than 1 square mile in size, in midtown Manhattan, variously known as the Fashion District, Fashion Center and Garment District. This concentration of design, production and wholesale establishments is famous around the world, and its showrooms attract buyers seeking the latest styles in designer clothes and well-known labels.
Those searching for knock-off wearables at knock-down prices also are in luck. Thrift shops and consignment stores are stocked with wearables, sometimes including the likes of Armani and Dior designer clothes passed along by well-to-do patrons. Flea markets in Chelsea, Brooklyn and other neighborhoods offer prices like $10-$35 for blouses originally costing $90-$150 and $80 reduced from $220 for trousers.
New Jersey is another state where sales of clothing are generally tax-exempt, which prompts many New York residents to drive over a bridge or through a tunnel beneath the Hudson River. Paramus often is their goal because of its concentration of stores and malls. As a result, it's one of the most popular shopping destinations in the United States.
Heading south to Virginia, we find an Artisan Trail Network of 17 routes that lead to handicraft workers, juried craftspeople, art-related shops and similar establishments where the focus is on quality. Wares available along the Lonesome Pine Trail include handmade pottery and wooden bowls, beeswax candles and musical instruments. The focus of the Rivers to Ridges Trail is products of the southern Appalachian culture such as quilts and carvings.
Farther south, in Florida's panhandle, 30 Avenue at Inlet Beach is a self-proclaimed destination "where shopping, food and fun meet work and play." Stone-paved sidewalks, palm trees and water fountains serve as the backdrop for a mixture of locally owned boutiques, art galleries and other inviting shops. Jewelry, sculptures and furniture share space with photography and tie-dye art.
On the other side of the country, Portland, Oregon, attracts shoppers to its Hawthorne District. That neighborhood stretches some 50 blocks, many of which are lined by clothing stores, restaurants and pubs. In contrast with that ambience is Pioneer Place, an upscale urban mall that stretches over four blocks. In one recent year it ranked as the third highest-selling shopping center in the United States.
Those who are more into funky than fashion also have a choice of inviting alternatives. In North Aurora, Illinois, that means heading for Scott's Vintage Antiques. The "Oddities" sign outside says it all. Intermingled with art, dolls and statues are skulls, skeletons and merchandise that is difficult to identify.
Memento Mori is Latin for "remember that you (have to) die," so it's no wonder that the shop of that name in Loveland, Ohio, offers some macabre merchandise for sale. If mortician's tools or a mummified creature isn't to your liking, how about human bones or a coffee table fashioned from a coffin?
Maybe such frightening finds aren't high on your shopping list or there at all. No problem! Shopping preferences are personal, and wherever you are you're likely to find places and purchases that you'll want to add to your must-do list.
WHEN YOU GO
simon.com
bostonusa.com
hereinnewhampshire.com
nycgo.com
paramusborough.org
virginia.org
thirtyavenue.com
travelportland.com
enjoyaurora.com
mementomoriohio.com
Victor Block is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
Shoppers at a Brooklyn, New York, flea market discover treasures they wouldn't encounter in stores. Photo courtesy of Littleny/Dreamstime.com.
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