Malls, Shopping, and More

Houston Galleria

Houston Galleria

There is plenty to please savvy shoppers, from old-fashioned antiquing in the rolling Texas Hill Country to world-class shopping in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Big D. Or perhaps you’d rather brush up on your Spanish and head for the border–a fun shopping experience that you’ll be sure to remember. For amazing deals, explore the outlet malls in San Marcos or Round Rock.

Other Tempting Treasures

• For an upscale shopping experience in the Prairies and Lakes region, you’ll have to look no farther than Dallas. Not only is the city the birthplace and home of the internationally recognized store Neiman Marcus, but it also boasts America’s oldest shopping center, Highland Park Village. A mecca for serious shoppers, Highland Park has a Mediterranean feel, with quaint outdoor cafés and exclusive shopping establishments. The fact is, more people come to Dallas just to shop than to any other city in Texas.
• At the Shops at La Cantera another one-of-a-kind shopping experience awaits you, located near an old stone quarry. The area’s dramatic landscapes combine to produce a soothing environment. Upscale stores like Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, along with a tempting array of restaurants, are nestled in a village-like atmosphere. More than 150 other shops are also part of this scene, including newcomers to the market like Burberry, Tiffany, Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, and BCBG/Max Azaria. Nearby are the Westin La Cantera Resort and Six Flags Fiesta Texas—which is a good thing: If others in the family don’t want to spend the whole day shopping, they’ll be able to find other top-tier activities nearby.
• Houston is an internationally acclaimed shopping destination, where renowned malls such as the Galleria include hundreds of upscale stores. The state’s largest city also boasts lovely European-style locales and unique shopping districts scattered throughout historic neighborhoods. Rice Village, located near Rice University and the Museum District, is one of the oldest, most beloved areas, filled with numerous boutiques. River Oaks Shopping Center offers top-notch shopping at perennial favorites such as Chico’s and Talbots, as well as upscale resale shops like Twice New. Highland Village is a must for home decor items, and for a European experience Uptown Park is a village destination getaway filled with boutiques, fountains, and beautiful gardens.
• Marfa, a small town near Big Bend National Park, has emerged as a world-renowned art destination and a place where patrons from New York City come to snag one-of-a-kind pieces. CQ Galleri Urbane, Exhibitions 2d, and Highland Gallery are among the most prominent. The Marfa Book Company also showcases area artists and has an impressive selection of art and architecture books.
• Amarillo’s Old Route 66 lures shoppers to the Old San Jacinto district, where stores with Wild West clothing, saddles and boots, and ranch antiques, interspersed with charming cafes, follow the old highway’s path through town on Sixth Avenue, between Western and Georgia streets.
• In Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas, a historic-downtown shopping spree will include antiques shops, a century-old hardware store that still sells nails by the pound, an old-fashioned department store, and a dollhouse specialty store.