| One the greatest American pastimes is shopping. Whether you enjoy window shopping, buying knickknacks as a tourist, shopping online, or simply walking the local mall, there is something for everyone. Shopping has become central to our way of life, with brand names like Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger covering everything from perfume to designer jeans. First-rate shopping is easy to find with stores like Nordstrom, Nieman Marcus, and Bloomingdale’s in malls across the nation. The Mall of America is the nation’s largest, sporting a huge food court, an indoor amusement park, and shopping for all ages. A simple pair of jeans can turn into a day’s project, presenting choices like loose-fit versus boot-cut, flared versus tight, low-rise or the classic fit? Online shopping simplifies your search with websites like buyerdom.com and shopzilla.com, and the every popular Ebay. Magazines like Lucky Magazine and Domino Magazine feature online and local shopping guides from home décor to date night apparel. The Fashion Editor is one of the largest online fashion and trend setting guides, offering advice on the latest styles, the fashion industry, and famous stylists. It’s not just the ladies that find shopping addicting, with AskMen.com featuring monthly fashion and shopping question and answers. Of course, most men would rather be seen at the nearby Lowe’s or Home Depot for home fix-ups and furnishings instead. Sporting goods, electronics, and entertainment are big among most, and feature venues like BestBuy, RadioShack, and Sports Authority. After a long day, Barne’s & Noble and Borders are popular bookstores offering comfy chairs for shoppers to peruse their books in luxury before purchasing. With so many shoppers and so much to buy, yesterday’s purchases are quickly passed on to consignment shops and secondhand stores like Name Brand Exchange, sold at rummage sales, or donated to The Salvation Army and Goodwill. Michigan is the premier state for those that love the outdoors, particularly the water, given that it contains more freshwater than any other state in America. With over 3,200 miles of coastline including both private and public access to over four of the five Great Lakes, 11,000 inland lakes, and plenty of rivers and streams, Michigan is prime real estate for those seeking a relaxing, waterfront vacation getaway. Sailing, paddle boating, kayaking, canoeing, swimming and even scuba diving to sunken ships nestled in underwater preserves, are easily accessible. Its 1,300 miles of bike trails through varied terrain make it a mountain biker’s paradise. The same goes for hunters and trappers, whether on the hunt for game birds, waterfowl, small game, fur trapping, or big game deer. Fishermen will enjoy luring in the plentiful bass, salmon, walleye, and trout, just to name a few. Skiing is popular here too, with over 40 ski resorts in the northern part of the state and Upper Peninsula. Michigan also has over 3,100 miles of off-road trails for motorcycles and ATVs. And for those more into spectator sports, there’s plenty of NASCAR and Indy car racing at Michigan International Speedway. Those for whom four-legged horsepower is more their speed can even catch horse races at Great Lakes Downs. After getting a fill of the great outdoors, few things can compare to a relaxing dinner cruise on the lakes or a ride on a dinner train while dining on the catch of the day, like fresh lake perch, a local favorite. Michigan, Lake Michigan, NASCAR, Great Lakes Downs, Upper Peninsula, Michigan International Speedway, Wolverines, University of Michigan window shopping, online shopping, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Marni, designer jeans, perfume, Nordstrom, Nieman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Mall of America, loose-fit jeans, boot-cut jeans, flared jeans, low-rise fit, classic fit, buyerdom.com, shopzilla.com, Ebay, Lucky Magazine, Domino Magazine, The Fashion Editor, fashion industry, AskMen.com, Lowe’s, Home Depot, home fix-ups, Barne’s & Noble, Borders, Amazon.com, RadioShack, CompUSA, BestBuy, Sports Authority, consignment shops, secondhand stores, Name Brand Exchange, rummage sales, The Salvation Army, Goodwill, sporting goods, electronics, furnishings, home décor
|
