Q: Where are good shopping spots in Houston, Texas?

A: Houston is a shopper’s paradise, as there are over 30 malls in the area. There is even a 10km (6-mile) system of underground pedestrian tunnels and sky walks for weather-free shopping and dining. The Uptown area of Houston, around Westheimer Road at Post Oak, has a host of shops, including Macy’s, Versace, Tiffany and Gucci. Most are all located in the Galleria – a shopping mall that is also one of Houston’s top tourist attractions (goto www.chinatownconnection.com/shoppingchinatown.htm for a detailed list of places and addresses), with a giant indoor ice skating rink as its centrepiece. A few blocks east of the Galleria on Westheimer Road is the Highland Village Shopping Center with several upmarket shops. In the same vicinity is Uptown Park ,a European-style plaza with fountains and small gardens.

A more eclectic mix of shops can be found in the Rice Village neighbourhood, with designer boutiques, art and craft galleries and traditional shops. Art galleries and antique shops are to be found in the Upper Kirby District. Houston’s oldest shopping district, West Gray Street, now has a string of Art Deco-inspired upmarket shops and galleries in the River Oaks Shopping Center. A haven for serious budget shoppers is Katy Mills Mall around 25 miles (40km) west of Downtown. It has a wealth of discounted designer shops. Most visitors to Texas come away with an item of cowboy wear, such as a stetson, and these can be bought at Pinto Ranch at 1717 Post Oak Boulevard. Other best buys include Western-style boots, clothes and riding equipment. Antiques and arts and crafts bargain hunters should go to the Back Bay Market (tel: (281) 474 3869), held twice a month, south of Downtown in Clear Lake. Trader’s Village is an open-air bargain hunters’ paradise, selling anything and everything. It takes place on a Saturday and Sunday at North Eldridge Road and is a great day out.
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