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Whether
you are looking for the latest, the oldest or the freshest,
Florida is a shopper’s paradise. From designer stores,
specialty shops and Florida cuisine, to antiques, collectibles
and even spa treatments, you will find what you are shopping
for in the Sunshine State.
For
a one-stop shopping experience, Florida’s malls carry
everything from high fashion to specialty jewelry and designer
chocolate, all with a distinctly Florida flair. Visit the
Dolphin Mall - just five miles from the Miami International
Airport - for the best in South Florida shopping. The newly
renovated shopping center has been specifically designed
to reflect Miami’s rich multicultural heritage with
both high style street wear and casual garb for the sands
of South Beach. Even the food court is reflective, designed
as a hacienda, boasting cuisine from all over the world.
Out-of-town visitors receive special shopping discounts,
and there is an airport shuttle for those who are on a
schedule. Visit www.shopdolphinmall.com for more details.
Not
far up the coast, visit the Galleria Mall (www.galleriamall-fl.com) in Fort Lauderdale, and create
an entirely new look from the hottest fashion styles. Develop
your wardrobe at Burdines-Macy’s and Neiman Marcus,
accessorize at Saks Fifth Avenue, and finish the ensemble
with a pair of shades from Sunglass Hut If you’re
visiting Tampa, stop by the International Plaza (www.shopinternationalplaza.com)
and experience all the style of Central Florida. Keep yourself
in the height of fashion with shops like Gucci, Christian
Dior and Adrienne Vittaddini, or develop a carefree style
for the beach at Hollister or Abercrombie & Fitch.
A day of shopping can leave you famished, so before you
leave, don’t forget to indulge yourself at The Blue
Martini, a classy rooftop bar, or the decadent Cheesecake
Factory.
If
you prefer marketplaces to malls, Festival in Pompano Beach
boasts 400,000 square feet of marketplace shopping with
a Florida twist: air conditioning! With 800 shops, this
market allows its visitors a shopping experience for every
occasion. Spend all day searching for the best deal on
everything from clothes and shoes to gifts, jewelry and
home furnishings. For a more relaxing experience, indulge
in a day of total luxury at the Tango Salon and Day Spa.
Pamper yourself from head to toe, or simply replenish your
stock of salon goodies. Shoppers can search for the freshest
local produce in Festival’s farmers’ market,
world famous for its New York pickles, exotic spices, flowers,
candy and nuts. When you need to refuel, choose from a
wide array of international cuisine, as well as tasty American
dishes to give you enough energy for the next bargain hunt.
For a list of shops at the Festival marketplace, visit
www.festival.com.
For
those who appreciate a good deal, Florida offers a wide
variety of outlet malls where you can get that designer
look without the designer price. St. Augustine Premium
Outlets (http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=55)
is home to 95 outlet stores, with impressive savings from
J. Crew, Banana Republic, Coach and Tommy Bahama, just
to name a few. Also worth a visit are the Silver Sands
Factory Stores (www.silversandsoutlet.com) in Destin. This shopping center
is the nation’s largest, featuring more than 100 name
brand factory outlets and is literally across the street
from the Gulf of Mexico.
Florida
offers a variety of unique shopping experiences, designed
to help you find that perfect souvenir that you know you
won’t find anywhere else. Key West is the place to
go for the most unique finds in the state. If you feel
like shell-hunting, but are trying to avoid the heat, visit
the Shell Warehouse for everything shell-related, from
jewelry to chandeliers. Located on Whitehead Street in
Key West, the unique shop has the look of an old clipper,
with weathered walls covered with trophy fish. For a true
specialty, visit the pride of Key West, Kino Sandals, where
the Lopez family has been handcrafting sandals for 40 years.
Best of all, each comfortable pair is less than $10, so
you can walk the beaches without a care in the world. For
complete rejuvenation that you can take home, don’t
miss Key West Aloe (www.keywestaloe.com)
on Front Street, where all the products are developed from
local tropical ingredients, like key lime and pure aloe.
Choose from an array of natural shampoos, lotions and sea
salt rubs, and don’t forget the sunscreen.
In
Florida, it is well understood that one person’s trash
is another person’s treasure, and the Sunshine State’s
antique and flea markets are perfect for those who appreciate
a time-honored value. Truly an eclectic experience, Mirror
Image Antiques in Havana, Florida is one of the South’s
most unique specialty shops, featuring antiques from across
America, England and France. The shop is home to various
sports memorabilia, as well as historical books and vintage
fishing tackle. If you’re in Bradenton, be sure to
visit the Red Barn Flea Market, which boasts more than
600 booths, and has been a proud tradition since 1981.
Here you will find everything from clothing, collectibles
and antiques, to electronics, tools and pet supplies. (www.redbarnfleamarket.com)
Also worth a visit is Renninger’s Antique Center in
Mount Dora, which features 40,000 square feet of antique
furniture, collectibles, jewelry, glass, china, dolls,
paintings, clocks and hardware. More than 180 shops make
up the antique center, and there are also a number of special
events and extravaganzas to enjoy.
Whatever
treasure it is that you are hunting for - new or old, unique,
inexpensive, or both - Florida is the state for shopping.
For further information on these and other Florida shopping
centers, visit www.visitflorida.com/experience/shopping.
For
information on travel to Florida or to order a copy of
VISIT FLORIDA's free Vacation Guide visit VISIT FLORIDA's
consumer web site, www.VISITFLORIDA.com, or call VISIT
FLORIDA's toll-free consumer number at 1-888-7-FLAUSA (352872).
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