553 Best Places to Shop in USA

The largest surf-gear source in town is Huntington Surf and Sport, right across from Huntington Pier. Surfboard rentals are $15 an hour or $50 a day for hard boards, while soft-top boards are $10 per hour or $30 a day.

For more than a half-century a de rigueur stop between the Bay Area and Lake Tahoe, Ikeda's started as a produce stand selling fruit harvested from its Japanese-American owners' orchard and the freshly baked pies brimming with that fruit. A café known for a dozen-plus burgers, fries, shakes, and pie slices came later.

The largest toy shop in northwest Montana, Imagination Station has myriad fun, educational, and creative toys and gifts in all price ranges. It also has shops in Kalispell and Missoula.

At this colofrul local favorite, you'll find soaps and lotions; a small collection of 14-karat-gold chains, rings, earrings, and bracelets; and a jumble of Hawaiian quilts, pillows, souvenirs, books, and postcards. Aloha wear, muumuu, T-shirts, and beach togs are also available if you're clothes shopping.

Children love this open-air shop for the dolls, plush princess toys, and dress-up costumes. You can drop a small fortune on glass (plastic) slippers and a magical light-up wand—or splash out fully with the coveted Ariel mermaid costume gown. If this location is closed, as it often is during the off-season, head to Mickey's of Hollywood.

In addition to carrying traditional and out-of-the-ordinary kites, this shop carries an imaginative selection of unique toys and quirky gifts.

Books about Block Island history are a specialty of this shop, which also has a good selection of fiction and nonfiction for rainy day or beach reading on vacation. There are also art supplies and classes for adults.

Before crossing the cribstone bridge to Bailey Island, stop at this sweet little cottage—complete with a picket-fenced flower garden—for some old-fashioned confections. The brittle, bark, buttercreams, truffles, dipped candied fruit, and fudge that fill the glass cases are all made in the candy kitchen just behind the counter. There's ice cream, too!

The rambling emporium inside the entrance/exit of IOA is the largest store in the park. It's filled with a little something of everything from everywhere, even some items from the attractions of Universal Studios. Here you'll find Kong, Spider-Man, superheroes, and puh-lenty of Potter themes plastered on sandals, frames, mugs, cups, caps, and clothing. It's perhaps the park's best one-stop shopping experience.

Jam-packed with classic toys and modern fun, J. W. Allen & Sons rescues parents who forgot to pack toys for their kids on family vacation. Scary dinosaurs, giant stuffed bears, dolls, sleds, scooters, and kites are as irresistible as the candy.

For many, Jacques Torres sets the bar for New York City chocolatiers, and this glass-walled café and shop is the perfect spot to sip richly spiced cocoa and nibble on a chocolate chip cookie or Java Junkie bar. Of course there are delicate chocolates, chocolate bark, and packaged hot chocolate to choose from, too.

In addition to cookbooks and books on Jewish history and culture, the well-stocked shop carries beautiful items for Jewish holidays, such as seder plates for Passover, Hanukkah menorahs, groggers for Purim,  jewelry, home decor, gifts, and children's items. The shop is closed Tuesday and Wednesday as is the museum. It's also closed on Saturdays, though the museum is open.

This indoor mall has more than 100 stores and restaurants, with a mix of national retailers and not-to-be-missed, homegrown boutiques, clothing stores, and galleries. You can also browse local foods and products at Whole Foods. For post-shopping entertainment, see what movies are playing at the Consolidated Kahala Theatres, where you'll also find a full kitchen and bar.

Fudge, chocolate, caramel corn, ice cream, and taffy are some of the sweet reasons to visit this family-run shop, open all year (no ice cream in winter). The front of the store is devoted to display cases of fine chocolates and old-fashioned "penny" candy. Some of the chocolates (caramels, fudge, filled chocolates) and all of the saltwater taffy and ice cream are made in-house. In the back are gifts galore: sea glass ornaments, Cape-made soap, lobster-printed onesies, and other items with a beach vacation theme. Take a selfie out front with Bert, the big stuffed bear, propped on a bench. 

Held in the parking lot at Keauhou Shopping Center, this cheerful market is the place to go on Saturday morning for live music, local produce (much of it organic), goat cheese, honey, island-raised meat, flowers, macadamia nuts, fresh-baked pastries, Kona coffee, and plenty of local color.

This shop pops with stylish clothing and accessories for adults. Disney characters are emblazoned on T-shirts and button-up-shirts, ties, and accessories, while handbags and totes sport classic Mickey Mouse artwork. Colorful scarves with hidden Mickeys and other designs are popular buys.

This independent shop is piled high with stuffed animals, building-block sets, board games, classic kids' books, and arts-and-crafts materials.

This shop's world-traveling owners offer the finest in children's apparel, accessories, and toys from just about everywhere. You'll be transported to other lands with the handcrafted designs.

Encompassing more than 40 specialty shops and restaurants, this area known as "the Triangle" attracts visitors and locals alike. In addition to the brick-and-mortar establishments, there are shaded outdoor stalls selling everything from printed or hand-painted T-shirts and sundresses to jewelry, pottery, wood carvings, fruit, and gaudily painted coconut husks—some, but not all, made by local craftspeople.

With works by local authors, a wide selection of children's books, a dozen reading groups, and a community writing series, this converted cottage is a great place to browse and a terrific literary resource.

The selection of English-language books about Japanese culture—everything from medieval history to origami instructions—is one of the finest in the country. Kinokuniya is also the city's biggest seller of Japanese-language books. Glossy Asian fashion magazines attract the young and trendy; the manga and anime books and magazines are wildly popular, too.

with its dazzling line of kites as well as banners, flags, wind socks, hammocks, sky chairs, whirligigs, and wind chimes, is more than just a store. It's symbolic of Ocean City: the kites, thriving on the ocean-side winds and flying high over the boardwalk all day long, and visible for long distances, are an iconic welcome to the beachfront.

Along a several-mile stretch of U.S. 1 in Kittery you can find just about anything—often at deep discounts. Among the stores are Crate & Barrel, Eddie Bauer, Banana Republic, Kate Spade New York, and J.Crew; spend a rainy afternoon hunting for deals, or head to the nearby Kittery Trading Post ( 301 U.S. 1), a destination for fishing, boating, camping, and other types of outdoor accoutrements.

Akin to Freeport’s L.L.Bean for camping, this destination stocks fishing, boating, camping, and other types of outdoor accoutrements. In business since 1938, the company continues to grow and offers various outdoor seminars and instruction.

If you plan to dive or snorkel a lot, you can save by buying your own top-quality gear at this friendly shop. It also carries cute clothing, sun-protection wear for adults and kids, souvenirs, lotions, sunscreens, toys, and beach gear. Snorkel rentals (mask, snorkel, fins, and defogger) are $10 per day or $35 weekly. This is the premier dive shop in this area, where you can also book your dive tour at the counter. (If you are not certified, they do that too.)

An awesome flower vendor creates custom arrangements while you wait at this touristy farmers' market near the ocean. There are more than 40 vendors with souvenirs and crafts for sale, as well as some of the best prices on fresh produce, lei, and orchids in Kona. The market is held in a parking lot at the corner of Hualalai Road and Alii Drive from 7 to 4.

With more than 10,000 titles, this bookstore also sells Hawaiiana, children's toys, and whimsical gifts. Special events, such as readings, keiki (children's) storytime and book signings, are held weekly.

In this 1928 landmark building decorated with polychrome terra-cotta tiles, about 100 artisans show and sell their crafts.

Turtle Bay Resort purchased 468 acres of prime North Shore agricultural land near the entrance to the resort and created an organic farm to supply fresh ingredients to its restaurants, as well as to support 34 sustainably farmed community garden plots. A farm stand with multiple stalls shares the bounty with locals and visitors. Pull off the highway to pick up sustainably grown pineapple, papaya, corn, and other fruits and veggies, plus locally made souvenirs. The stand is open daily 9 to 5, and farm tours (from $25) are offered Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings at 9 and 10:30.