| 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. Maine, the most northeastern state in the entire United States, is the country of pointed firs, abundant waterways, pristine lakes, picturesque bays, and over 5,500 miles of beautiful white sand beaches. Here, the sea and inland waters provide a way of life found nowhere else. Here, nautical reminders abound, as do menus full of fresh seafood, particularly a huge variety of fresh fish, succulent Maine lobster, delicious crab, tasty shellfish, and rich, creamy bisques and chowders. All along the scenic coastline are numerous islands, quaint fishing towns, romantic inns, wooden fishing piers, and stately lighthouses that have inspired astounding paintings, books, and striking photography recognized the world over. Outdoor activities include windjammer cruises, canoeing, kayaking, fishing tours, and whitewater rafting. And for those lacking sea legs, landlubbers can enjoy golf, hiking, camping, hunting, and snow sports. Maine is also home to some of the finest antique shops and retail outlets in America. Here, shoppers can find that one-of-a kind rarity or search for a finishing piece to their own antique collections by day, have a delicious meal, and retire to a quaint bed and breakfast or seaside inn. For entertainment, gaming is plentiful throughout the state. Portland and Brunswick are home to several casinos, while Scarborough Downs and Bangor Raceway offer exciting horse racing and betting. And don’t forget Penobscot High Stakes BINGO on Indian Island in Old Town. Amusement parks, historical sites, and nautical museums also dot the state. Maine, northeast, Maine lobster, chowder, lighthouses, whitewater rafting, antiques, Portland, Brunswick, Scarborough Downs, Penobscot 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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