3888 Best Places to Shop in USA

Campus bookstores are usually rip-offs to be endured only by students clutching syllabi, but the University of Washington's store is a big exception to that rule. This enormous resource has a well-stocked general book department in addition to the requisite textbooks. Author events are scheduled all year long. Check out the bargain-book tables and the basement crammed with every art supply imaginable. They also carry a good selection of UW Husky gear if you need a souvenir and plenty of local gifts.

The beating burnt-orange heart of Longhorn Nation is on display at this emporium of UT paraphernalia, located in the middle of the Drag on campus. You can find Longhorn-logoed everything at this three-level department store founded in 1896 after a similar co-op at Harvard, from Crocs and floral dresses to $350 pairs of burnt-orange Lucchese cowboy boots. Even if you have no direct (or indirect) connection to UT, stop in if you're in the neighborhood to snag your own UT memento.

Catering to the needs of BYU students, this mall also has everything from fashion retailers like Dillard's and H&M to footwear and furniture—more than 150 shops and restaurants in all. The mall is open Monday through Saturday 10--9. 

Make a beeline here for fabulous upscale shopping and good restaurants in a pretty, outdoor, tree- and fountain-laden shopping village. You can have your fill of chains like Williams-Sonoma, Banana Republic, L'Occitane, Crate & Barrel, Sephora, Aveda, Warby Parker, H&M, Madewell, Apple, Anthropologie, and Kiehl's. If you get enough of that at home, however, there are a few unique gems among the batch, including the excellent Village Maternity Store, candy wonderland The Confectionery, and local artsy chain Fireworks. Note that parking here can be tough, especially in the holiday season, and the atmosphere is slightly snobby. If you're in the mood to walk a bit farther, go immediately to one of the free parking garages.

Pick up your copy of A People's History of the United States or anything by Noam Chomsky at this three-decade-old diminutive bookshop, which also peddles novels and non-overtly political nonfiction. Or just stop by to discuss what Bernie Sanders has been up to.

One of the remaining antiques stores along Charles Street (there used to be dozens!), Upstairs Downstairs is just that—antique, vintage, reproduction, and new products across two floors. Browse furniture, home decor, knickknacks, ceramics, and lamps in a variety of styles from Federal and Asian to art deco and mid-century modern. You'll also find handcrafted items by local artists.

Visit more than 40 (mostly) one-of-a-kind, hip urban shops in Uptown with a smaller shopping center on Calhoun Square.

While visiting the historic district, stop at the Uptown Butte Farmers' Market for fresh garden produce, fruit, flowers, baked goods, and local crafts. It's open Saturday in summer from 8 to 1.

This charming European-style outdoor shopping center gladly accepts plastic (and you'll need plenty of it) at its cafés, upscale restaurants, designer-clothing boutiques, fine jewelry shops, and day spas.

Locally owned boutiques, galleries, antique shops, and a cupcake bakery are among the attractions of this five-block shopping district just a few blocks north of downtown.

This store's superb collection of furniture, lighting, and decorative accessories from the 1940s to the '70s emphasizes industrial and mid-century modern designs at fair prices.

This expansive space at The Gateway is the retail arm of the nonprofit Utah Arts Alliance, which supports both emerging and established Utah artisans working in a wide range of disciplines, from painting and sculpture to T-shirts and jewelry. You'll find everything from $5 keepsakes to larger works costing several hundred dollars. It's a great place to find a memorable gift while supporting artists from a wide range of cultural and economic backgrounds.

Featuring an array of modern furniture circa the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, this home-furnishings store has everything from bright yellow couches to old Coke machines, as well as funky lamps, random statuary, and giant slabs of wood. The store is full of kitschy charm, but the items are actually things you'd want to have; they also make custom tables from those giant slabs of wood. It's a fun place to go, whether or not you intend to buy anything.

Founder Audrey Woollen brings her long experience as a leader in the stationery industry to her store, bringing in beloved brands and designs, many unique to Urbanic. You'll find cute cards and stationery to send those wish-you-were-here wishes as well as gifts and office and home decor. The store also holds occasional crafty special events; check online if you'll be in the area for a while. 

Run by a collective of outdoor enthusiasts, the Usal Outdoor Research Center is a flagship store and hub with select clothing, books, and goods. The space also hosts weekly workshops, classes, meetups, and events to learn and be inspired by the outdoors.

Blueberry popcorn, anyone? On Fridays from May through October, 9 am to 2 pm, you can pick up fresh fruits, vegetables, bread, and other baked goods (and that flavored popcorn) across from the Smithsonian Metro station. Appropriately, the market is in the parking lot of the U.S. Department of Agriculture building.

This sporting-goods store sells and rents a variety of backcountry gear and also carries outdoor clothing and guidebooks.

Originally opened by Virginia and John Duncan in 1983, V&J Duncan was purchased by new owners and relocated to picturesque Madison Square in 2022. The shop specializes in antique maps and prints and carries a vast collection of engravings, photographs, and lithographs. There are also rare books on Southern culture and signed editions of John Berendt's famous Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The shop's hours aren't strictly observed, so call ahead to make sure they're open. With so much to see, plan to spend some time here.

The two designing women/co-owners of Vagabond pioneered a formula—selling vintage wares alongside new, edgy labels and featuring under-the-radar brands like their own (Stellapop and City of Brotherly Love). It's been imitated plenty ever since, but this boutique still does it best.

One of Gaslight Alley's best shops is Valley Bookstore. It ranks among the top bookstores in the region, with a big selection of local history, guidebooks on flora and fauna, and fiction by Wyoming and area authors. Knowledgeable staff can answer any question.

Three stores in one, Valley Variety sells beautiful and useful things for the kitchen and garden, as well as for entertaining and travel. There's also a rotating art gallery and a display kitchen where owner Chuck Rosenthal plans to host chef demos and dinners.

French jewelry, watches, and perfumes find a home at this boutique founded in 1896. Even royalty turn to this jewelry maker: Prince Rainier of Monaco gave Grace Kelly a Van Cleef & Arpels pearl and diamond necklace and earrings. There also are locations in The Forum Shops, Bellagio, and Wynn.

Jen Rogers and Kerri Stephens's gallery specializes in thought-provoking works such as those by San Francisco–based artist Brian Goggin, known for his public art piece Defenestration. Ransom & Mitchell, two other noteworthy locals the gallery represents, blend photography and set design to create a truly surreal visual experience.

This high-ceilinged, multidealer emporium is a standout in a city known for its vintage boutiques. Walk your wardrobe back in time with colorful finds, from mid-century designer dresses to throwback Patriots merch and rock concert tees.

The trendier set head toward for jeans from Chip & Pepper, and cute hoodies and tees from Volcom and Obey.

Venue is the chic version of the Made In Washington stores: it stocks only goods made by local artists (some of whom have their studios in the sleek bilevel space), but you won't find any tacky souvenirs here. Watch the designers at work, chat with the staff (most are artists taking shifts), or just browse through artisanal chocolates, custom handbags, handmade soaps, baby wear, and colorful prints and mosaics.

All the jewelry here is handmade in New York City, and none of it is typical. Design motifs include wrenches, Big Macs, and seahorses. Tilda Swinton is a fan.

If you're hunting for a gift that makes you look thoughtful, this is the place to go—here you'll find jewelry, scarves, and handbags with a handcrafted look. This is also the home of Marcie Blaine Artisanal Chocolates, which offers delicious custom chocolates, caramels, and barks with unique flavor combinations.