3843 Best Places to Shop in USA

The educational gadgets sold here are so clever and engaging that kids won't know they're learning while playing. Space- and dinosaur-related games and toys are popular, as are robots, creative maker kits, and optical illusion gifts.

Located in a Victorian house, this independent store stocks more than 20,000 books in its multiple rooms and is especially strong in politics, travel, and literature.

This long-running shop, in a new location across the street from its original home, has the feel of a folk art museum, its shelves stocked with vibrant handmade textiles and garments, Day of the Dead art, instruments, carvings, masks, jewelry, and decorative pieces sourced from all over Mexico and South America. Across the street, the former space, now home to the expanded space of Jim's Steaks, is adorned with the mosaic murals of Philadelphia artist Isaiah Zagar; he and his wife, Julia Zagar, a fellow artist, founded Eye’s in 1968, directly shaping the artsy, bohemian reputation that’s long been associated with South Street.

In addition to scarves, jewelry, and other crafts from around the world, this decorative-arts store carries brightly colored glass and ceramic works by local and international artisans, plus beautiful votive candles.

Owned by the same family for four generations, F. M. Light and Sons caters to the cowpoke in all of us. If you're lucky you'll find a bargain on Western wear here.

In nearby Boiceville, owner Steve Heller does incredible things with trees—some already fallen, others oddly shaped. Inside his one-of-a-kind store and workshop, you'll find custom-made tables and other furnishings, as well as unique sculptures fashioned from metal and restored and fanciful classic cars.

The Fadden family, who have been making maple syrup for several generations, operates this inviting general store, sugarhouse, and maple museum that dates to 1896. Come in to buy syrup, souvenirs, and gourmet treats, or for a self-guided tour of the operations.

Don't leave town without a browse through the legendary shop. Although it's not really a clothing store, you'll find an astonishing array of fantasy wear and outlandish costumes (check out the pirate section), as well as other "adult" toys. (Some of the products may make you blush.)

This complex of five buildings, one of which is the original Faneuil Hall, is both huge and hugely popular (drawing 18 million people a year), but not necessarily unique—most of its independent shops have given way to Banana Republic, Uniqlo, Urban Outfitters, and other chains. Founded in 1742 as a market for crops and livestock, the place has plenty of history and offers one of the area's great à la carte casual dining experiences within Quincy Market. Pushcarts sell everything from apparel to jewelry to candy to Boston souvenirs, while larger name-brand stores are in the North and South Markets. Live bands set up gigs throughout the weekend days, while buskers perform crowd-pleasing feats such as break dancing and juggling routines. Have your dollar bills ready for when the hat gets passed around.

Right there in the window, resting in splendor on several marble-topped tables, are huge blocks of fudge just calling your name—enough fudge to put every citizen of the town into a coma—not to mention hand-dipped chocolates, caramel corn, and so on. Indeed, if you hang out at one of the tables in front, you'll see just about every kind of person imaginable pause by the door, sigh, and give in to temptation. Fast, friendly service is a hallmark of this family-owned confectionery, which also has excellent ice cream and homemade waffle cones.

With a hippie vibe, the kid- and couple–friendly Fantastic Umbrella Factory contains a handful of rustic shops built around a wild garden and bamboo forest. Unusual flowers, succulents, and other plants are for sale, along with interesting clothing and jewelry, CBD products, soy candles, creative pottery, Native American handcrafts, quirky gifts, and incense. For a few bucks you can buy a bag full of feed to attract the fenced-in emus and roaming chickens. 

One of the nation's oldest gourmet supply stores offers amateur and pro cooks alike an impressive selection of kitchen tools and equipment. Family-owned since 1906, Fante's is famous for oddball kitchen gadgets such as truffle shavers and pineapple peelers; restaurants and bakeries all over the country and overseas order from the store. It's in the Italian Market, so you can conveniently combine a visit here with shopping for ingredients.

Famed toy retailer FAO Schwarz lives on in full, fun swing at 30 Rock, occupying 20,000 square feet of prime Midtown real estate. Explore the Build-a-Bear Workshop, play with cars on a racetrack, make your own bracelet, and tickle the oversize keys of the walk-on piano keyboard—featured in the 1988 Tom Hanks movie smash Big. The store's iconic clock tower is here, too, along with its famous life-size toy soldiers, a zillion stuffed animals, and a rocket-ship centerpiece.

In the same building as the Far View Terrace Café, this is the largest gift shop in the park, with gifts, souvenirs, Native American art, toys, and T-shirts galore.

This welcoming grocery sells fresh produce and pork from the owner's Grasshopper Hill Farm in Rangeley as well as meat, seafood, and produce from other Maine farms and suppliers. Some offerings are organic, and the store is well stocked with specialty grocery items and cheeses, including Maine-produced foods. You can get pickles from a jar, olive oil from a barrel, and cheese from a huge wheel that greets shoppers. There's also fresh-baked pies, breads, and baked goods—cinnamon rolls on Sundays! Look for pumpkins out front come fall; in summer, get an ice cream cone from the seasonal stand by the picnic area.

If you schedule your visit to Winter Park for a Saturday morning, you can begin your day at the weekly farmers' market, which takes place from 7 am to 1 pm at the city's old train depot, just two blocks west of Park Avenue. It's a bustling, vibrant market with vendors selling farm-fresh produce, dazzling flowers, and prepared foods. Pick up locally harvested honey, locally made cheese, and freshly baked croissants.

This four-story mall includes such shops as Macy's, Nordstrom, the Coach Store, Swatch, babyGap, Sephora, and an Armani Exchange. In addition to a skylighted food court, there are four full-service restaurants to choose from, including the popular local pizza chain Matchbox. A handful of additional shops and restaurants surround the mall, A Ritz-Carlton hotel and the Metro station are also connected.

Kate Spade, Coach, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, J. Crew, Michael Kors, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nike, and Ann Taylor are just a handful of the more than 150 stores at the Fashion Outlets, which draws as many Canadian as American shoppers for the substantial deals.

Longtime locals run this year-round gallery, which features Alaska-made paintings, prints, ceramics, and apparel, including their own work.

Father Time bills itself as the Midwest's largest retailer of vintage timepieces. In addition to pocket watches and clocks, it carries accessories like watch holders and display cases. If your heirloom timekeeper needs repair, Father Time also has a master clockmaker and watchmaker on staff to get it back into tick-tock shape. 

This charming shop is packed with both fine and affordable wines, as well as select gourmet ciders and beers. For a $2 corkage fee, imbibers can enjoy purchases at a curtained window alcove or sidewalk bistro table. The shop provides glasses and sells fresh bread and cheese selections from Bellegarde Bakery and St. James Cheese Company. Free wine tastings are usually held on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 pm.

Since 1926 Fausto's has been the spot to catch up on the week's gossip and to chill out in summer—it has groceries, organic foods, marvelous wines, a sushi chef on duty 8 am–3 pm, and box lunches and dinners-by-the-pound to go. There are two locations you can shop at in Key West (the other is at 1105 White Street) plus an online store.

One of the most fun shops at the Pearl, Feliz Modern POP is a cool and colorful collection of things for you, your home, your friends, your family, your pets, and everyone you know. Many items have a Southwestern or Latin flair, like the Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico coloring book or a catnip-taco cat toy. Co-owners Mario and Ginger Diaz have assembled quite a collection for gifting, entertaining, and celebrating the connections in our lives with global art, accessories, and home decor.