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If you’ve never been to Boston then you might not know that one of the favorite things for tourists to do at this destination is to go shopping. Yes, people go here to see the historic landmarks and to take tours of the campuses in nearby Cambridge. They also make it a point to enjoy the many restaurants, museums and nightlife options that Boston has to offer. But right smack dab in the middle of most Boston travelers’ lists of things to do is the word “SHOP”.

Boston offers a lot of different opportunities for shopping. There are boutique stores filled with the latest designs from people working in this city which is sometimes considered an American fashion capital. There are shopping districts that are filled with the name brands you’ll recognize from around the world. And there are little pockets of cute stores where you can pick up things so you can fill your suitcase with souvenirs from your Boston vacation.

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There are numerous places that you can go to shop in Boston; just keep your eyes open and you’re sure to see a spot you like. But to make it a little bit easier on those people who want to do some serious shopping during their stay, here’s an overview of some of the top spots to hit up for shopping in Boston:

• Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Also known as Quincy Hall, this shopping destination is a major tourist attraction in Boston. It is located downtown amidst the tall buildings and the historic sites that you’re going to want to be checking out anyway. And since it’s been around for two and a half centuries, it’s a historic site itself which means that you can enjoy an educational tour of some of America’s past while you indulge in your shopping fix. There are over one hundred different stores and kiosks at this shopping center selling everything from shoes to souvenirs. There are also dining opportunities and regularly held events here so check out the schedule and make plans in advance to get the most out of shopping in this specific location in Boston.
• Newbury Street Shopping District. Every major city has a whole bunch of little stores scattered throughout it but also has at least one major shopping district neighborhood that people recognize. That neighborhood in Boston is Newbury Street. It’s a really cool place where you can see some familiar brand names in a setting that’s a bit unusual. That’s because many of the stores are housed in old brownstones that have been converted into commercial areas. Modern names like Armani, Versace and Prada can be found here but the ambiance is such that you’ll feel like you’re browsing through a charming historic region of the world. It almost gives you the sense that you’re vacationing in Europe instead of in Boston and adds a great set of memories to your trip. It’ll also add a lot of new things to your collection of stuff since it’s a massive shopping area that’s hard to not make purchases in!


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• Downtown Crossing Shopping District. Like any good urban area, Boston doesn’t limit itself to just one neighborhood known for shopping. The Downtown Crossing is another district that people go to specifically to shop for stuff. The things that can be found here tend to be more department store shopping than designer brand shopping although there’s a mixture of different stores to suit different people visiting or living in Boston. There are several well known Boston stores here, the most famous of which is Filene’s Basement, a discount retailer of name brand items. People who don’t want to blow their entire travel budget on shopping but who want to get some good items during their stay will find that this shopping district is usually a safe bet.
• Wrentham Village Premium Outlets. Those Boston visitors who really want to pick up name brand items at a discounted price are going to be the kind of shoppers that are on the prowl for the city’s outlet stores. It’s possible to find several of them in the Boston region but the place you’ll want to head for is the nearby small town of Wrentham. This is one of those towns that consists primarily for the purpose of being a center for outlet stores. Plan to spend a whole day here since there are so many things to see and buy in this massive shopping center - and it’s all discounted!
• Charles Street Shopping Area. This Boston shopping district is located at the bottom of historic Beacon Hill and offers you another place in Boston for doing some sightseeing and some shopping in one spot. People who are less interested in chain stores and more interested in specialty shops will find that this is probably their preferred shopping area. It’s the kind of place where you can find boutique clothing stores and historic antique stores. It’s the kind of place that Boston travelers often love to browse. In addition to the shopping and the historic sites in this area, there are four public parks nearby here so it’s a neighborhood where you can truly spend a whole Boston vacation day if that interests you.
• Hotel Commonwealth Stores. There is a trend taking place in major cities across the United States which is to make more mixed-use buildings. Apartments and hotels are starting to add dining and retail shopping to their buildings in order to make it easier for people in urban areas to reduce their dependence on transportation since they’ll have everything they need in one spot. One place that’s contributed to this effort in Boston is the Hotel Commonwealth. This is a luxury hotel which has an amazing selection of retail stores on site, making it a great place to stay as well as a great place to shop. Photographic art stores, jewelry stores and custom fit jeans stores are a few of the options that you’ll find if you seek out a shopping experience in this Boston destination.


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• The Shops at Prudential Center. People who are in Boston and want to enjoy a shopping experience that’s more similar to that which they would get at a mall in their own hometown will find that this shopping area is a good place to start. All of the major chain store names that you would expect to find at an urban mall can be found here. There are also some great little places here to pick up cheesy souvenirs for the people that you left back at home. And it’s possible to get tickets to several Boston attractions in this location so it’s worth a stop at the beginning of a Boston vacation as you do your planning for the rest of the trip.
• Harvard Square. One of the major reasons that people come to Boston is because they want to check out the leading universities in Cambridge, especially Harvard University. They also like to enjoy the ambiance of the college town that permeates the air here. And one of the ways that they do that is to hang out in Harvard Square. There is a plethora of shopping opportunities here with the usual mix that you would expect to find near a college campus. Bookstores, clothing stores and ethnic novelty stores of varying price ranges are all popular in this area.

Boston is an amazing city. It’s known for many things including its universities, its historic landmarks and its affiliation with the publishing and fashion industries. A diverse group of people come to check out these different sites. A large percentage of these people are going to be interested in shopping during their stay in Boston and the city does a good job of accommodating that desire. Consider this as you make plans for your next Boston vacation.

Tags: boston | massachusetts | North America | shopping | travel | United States