| 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. As one of the 13 original colonies, Connecticut provides a rich history of Early American culture. The state is located between Boston and New York City, and boasts beautiful Victorian-style architecture, prominent theater and music districts, inspiring art museums and more. Connecticut’s rich history and heritage have earned it its nickname, the “Constitution State.” The relatively small size of the state and conveniently located venues such as Bradley International Airport make it easier to explore archeological sites, battle sites from the Revolutionary War, and Historic Parks. State parks and forests, such as the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, provide miles of trails for fun outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, biking, skiing, and snowboarding, depending on the season. The numerous lakes and rivers are perfect for fishing, river rafting, boating, swimming, and water skiing. Connecticut’s festivals and state and county fairs entertain guests and locals with games, animals, and delicious food, while teaching some state culture as well. In honor of the movement to gain freedom for the African American culture, the state created its own “Freedom Trail.” It includes structures that supposedly aided in the Underground Railroad, as well as locations linked to the Amistad case. So whether you are looking to surround yourself in some Early American history, or just want to enjoy all the activities the outdoors has to offer, Connecticut is the place to go. Bradley International Airport, Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Mohegan Sun, Quinnipiac University, Bear Mountain, The Constitution State, University of Connecticut, Nutmeg State, Hartford, 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
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