New York City and 5th Ave. -- If you've never walked 5th Ave. and just browsed you are missing out. Admittedly most of the high fashion fall out of the average person's price range, but it sure is fun to look. When you actually see a mannequin in the window display of somewhere like Barney's or Sak's 5th Avenue, it will hit you -- you are actually viewing a true work of art. Couture fashions up close and personal are artwork. We're not talking mass produced clothes. Most of these fashions are handmade or made with high-quality materials and fabrics. Same goes for the shoes and accessories. You will find some pretty unusual stores along 5th Ave. too. My favorite -- Smart Has the Brains and Stupid has the Balls. No idea what they sell, but that was just so funny to see. You will every now and again, find some great bargains, so don't despair if you truly want to shop. Many boutiques offer affordable goods and fashions too. Walking 5th Ave., though, is just a fun experience.
Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto -- This is a little nook shopping area located in Palo Alto. Shopping is mostly upper-class boutiques and expensive department stores such as Nordstrom's and Sak's 5th Avenue. The entire Standford area is beautiful and feels much like a bedroom community, with streets lined with trees and a more woodsy feel. The area is so beautiful, you may just want to shop to escape the typical crowded suburban shopping malls. Make it a day event, catch lunch, and browse the stores. Most of it is outdoor shopping, so do wear proper apparel if you intend to walk around.
Capitola by the Sea -- This four-block radius of boutiques and restaurants is just relaxing and fun to visit. You can eat lunch out on the ocean, browse the numerous shops (mostly swimwear and outdoor shops), view the art in the galleries, or just get an ice cream and hit the beach. The boutiques offer quality fashions at medium to high prices. They sell numerous swimsuits, and most of the time, the suits' prices are competitive to what you would find in Macy's department store. Don't forget to catch some dessert at Gayle's Bakery just up the road from the village. They have premiere desserts and gourmet coffee to die for.
South Beach, Miami -- This shopping area is super eclectic littered with lower-end and often trashy fashions mixed in with some higher-class stories. As noted in an early blog, you need to be careful where you shop with children. On the northern side, most of restaurants are located and right along South Beach the clubs. South Beach in general has an interesting array of tourist stores loaded with souvenirs. Their fashion stores were very affordable and fun to browse.
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