Minnesota has been leading the charge in American consumerism for decades. Huge national chains like Target got their start here in 1962, and the first indoor shopping mall called Southdale was built in Edina. Minnesota has since outdone themselves, creating the country’s largest indoor shopping center, The Mall of America. This behemoth is a destination in itself, with more than 500 stores and a complete amusement park within its city-size walls located just outside Minneapolis-St Paul in the town of Bloomington.

If you can’t find what you want there, Minneapolis has more intimate and personal shopping along Grand Avenue Mall in St Paul, where old homes have been transformed into independent boutiques. The pleasant pedestrian Nicollet Mall in the downtown area of Minneapolis is another great spot, with two upscale malls, City Center and Gaviidae, to go with the streetside options.

In Duluth most people head to Canal Park, where the streets are lined with a diverse range of stores covering home décor, outdoor goods, chocolate, and clothing. In fact, most Minnesota towns have a downtown area with a selection of independent boutiques to check out. One of the best things to buy in this state is the antiques. Nearly every town, no matter how small, has a couple of antiques stores ripe for a treasure hunt. Cities like Apple Valley, Mankato and Mantorville are mainstays, but there are also weekend markets like the Haupt Antiek Market in Apple Valley, where vendors bring their finest wares to sell or trade.