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| Shopping Getaways | Published Nov/Dec 2004 | ||||||
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Whatever your penchant for holiday shopping might be, consider these Midwestern getaways where you can find unique gifts and savor the season.
By Kathie Sutin |
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| There’s no avoiding it–the holidays are just around the corner. If the thought of shopping has you down and you dread the same old gift ideas at the local malls, consider something different this year. Take a break from the drudge of holiday shopping with a pre-holiday trip to a great Midwest city where can put the “fun” back in shopping–and find truly unique gifts. An added plus: you can kick back, relax, enjoy a show or two and take in the sparkling holiday lights. For a getaway to help you recharge your batteries and make holiday shopping a breeze, consider what the following cities have to offer. Branson, Mo. Branson’s craftspeople produce one-of-a-kind items daily. Shoppers will find some of these treasures at Silver Dollar City theme park and Engler Block, a collection of 27 individually owned and operated shops selling items that exude Ozark craftsmanship. But Branson means more than handcrafts. The area’s three factory outlet malls–Factory Merchants Branson, Tanger Outlet Center and the Shoppes at Branson Meadows–offer more than 200 outlet stores where shoppers can save up to 65 percent on name brand merchandise. AAA members enjoy additional savings at Tanger. Don’t miss these other shopping areas: • Historic Downtown Branson with more than 100 independently owned shops and businesses. Be aware that downtown’s lakeside is under development with Branson Landing, a $300-million shopping, retail and Convention Center project set to partially open in 2006 on Lake Taneycomo’s waterfront. • The Grand Village on Branson’s strip offering a large selection of unusual and hard-to-find gift items. Chicago, Ill. The shopping possibilities are endless in the Windy City. From upscale Michigan Avenue shops to outlets, every shopper will find something here. The Magnificent Mile, eight blocks along Michigan Avenue, is the gold standard of world-class shopping, with 460 stores from which to choose. Beyond the Magnificent Mile, you’ll find: • State Street, Chicago’s landmark historic retail district; • Oak Street, offering 70 exclusive, glamorous boutiques against a stunning backdrop of Lake Michigan and the city’s distinctive skyline; • Old Town, Lincoln Park and Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhoods with locally owned boutiques; • River North, a neighborhood on the north bank of the Chicago River that's now a mecca of art, design and fashion. Don’t miss the Merchandise Mart, an 80-store wholesale showroom complex. The public can enjoy LuxeHome, a luxury boutique for home building and renovation. In addition, the annual One of a Kind Show and Sale® Chicago will be at the mart Dec. 3–5. It is also open to the public and features works by established and up-and-coming artists. • Christkindlmarket, Chicago’s largest open-air Christmas festival between Dearborn and State streets on Washington, where visitors can shop for unique German gifts Nov. 25–Dec. 22; • Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora offers deals on designer labels such as Giorgio Armani, Polo Ralph Lauren and Coach. Indianapolis, Ind. Shoppers seeking unusual gifts will find them on Massachusetts Avenue, an emerging cultural district with galleries and artisan shops. Look for Red Dot Glass Gallery with works of more than 70 artists from all over the country, Boca Loca Beads with beads from every place in the world, and Kuaba featuring African art, sculptures and paintings. Unique gifts can also be found in the shops at museums including the Children’s Museum, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indiana State Museum. Shopping areas include: • Circle Centre, a downtown mall with 95 stores including the state’s only Nordstrom; • Fountain Square Cultural District, a historic commercial district with more than 200 antique dealers, specialty stores and art galleries; • Zionsville Village, a quaint village with brick streets and Victorian atmosphere; • Broad Ripple Village offering shops, art galleries and eclectic boutiques; • Shop Prime Outlets in Edinburgh, Ind., offering 70 shops. Kansas City, Mo. For many, shopping at Country Club Plaza is a holiday tradition. The 14-block shopping and entertainment district becomes a twinkling wonderland of light and color. And shoppers will enjoy the 180 stores. New this year is the Kansas City World Holiday Market, which will be held Dec. 2–5 and 10–12 at the City Market. For more shopping, consider: • Crown Center, home to Hallmark Cards, with three levels of shops, including Halls, a Kansas City favorite; • Brookside and Crestwood, nearby neighborhoods that are full of quaint, unique shops and cafés; • Crossroads Arts District where once-vacant buildings now house residences, galleries, eclectic shops and restaurants; • Zona Rosa shopping district in Platte County, Kansas City’s newest shopping experience, with outdoor shopping and dining in a town-like atmosphere; • Weston and Parkville, charming towns offering shopping, dining and antiquing in historic settings. Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. Many travelers know Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri as a great summer vacation playground, but the lake is also a year-round shopping destination. Shoppers will also find boutiques, galleries, antique shops and one-of-a-kind specialty shops sprinkled throughout the area. Popular shopping venues in the area include: • Osage Beach Premium Outlets, a 13-building, 61-acre shopping complex with more than 110 stores showcasing top designers and name brands; • The Landing on Main Street, a quaint Victorian-themed shopping area with handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, candles and home décor; • Laurie Terrace Mall and Stone Crest Mall; • Eldon’s historic Maple Street with antique shops, a jewelry store and an old-fashioned drug store where shoppers can enjoy a treat at the store’s soda fountain. Minneapolis, Minn. Mall of America, the country’s largest mall, may be all you need for your holiday shopping. With more than 500 stores including IKEA, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom and Macy’s, plus scores of specialty stores, Mall of America is in a class of its own. For entertainment, there’s a seven-acre amusement park, a walk-through aquarium, a level of restaurants and a 15-screen movie theater. Put these areas on your list, too: • Nicollet Mall, a downtown pedestrian thoroughfare with Gaviidae Common and City Center; • Nearby Edina Southdale Center, with more than 200 stores; • Galleria, home to local shops and specialty stores; • Ridgedale, Rosedale and Brookdale malls, most with recent renovations. St. Louis St. Louis has been a great place for shopping since fur traders rendezvoused there more than 200 years ago. Today, large malls and exciting neighborhoods make St. Louis a fun stop for holiday shopping. The newest addition is St. Louis Mills with 200 retail and outlet stores and entertainment for the whole family. Other exciting shopping destinations: • The Galleria recently expanded with many stores; • Plaza Frontenac, an upscale shopping experience with St. Louis’ only Saks Fifth Avenue and Missouri’s only Nieman Marcus; • Central West End, a chic neighborhood that is part European, part New York; • The Loop in University City, filled with boutiques and unique shops; • Cherokee Antique Row in the south part of St. Louis, where more than 30 shops offer collectibles and affordable antiques. Malls leave you cold? Then shop at the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, the St. Louis Zoo or the St. Louis Science Center for unusual gifts. Kathie Sutin is a contributor from St. Louis, Mo. |
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