Sunday, June 17, 2007

Boston may be a history buff's paradise, but it is also a shopper's dream. The shopping in Boston will please all kinds of shoppers, from boutique lovers to high-end fashionistas to gourmet foodies.

Start your shopping on Newbury Street, a renowned, eight-block stretch between Massachusetts Avenue and Arlington Street. As the "Rodeo Drive of the East," it serves as Boston's representative of fashion and style, on par with the most exclusive districts of San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. The street is home to an eclectic mix of independent shops and high-end fashion and dining establishments, including Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Betsey Johnson, Giorgio Armani, Polo Ralph Lauren, DKNY, and Juicy Couture, as well as American Eagle Outfitters, Banana Republic, Benetton, and local favorite, The Boston Baked Bean.

To combine your shopping with some history, head on over to Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Quincy Market. This area is stocked with quaint stores, tourist-friendly souvenir shops, and some familiar flagships. Give your credit card a workout at stores like Crate & Barrel, Swatch, Nine West, Coach, Ann Taylor, Victoria's Secret, Urban Outfitters, Origins, or the Discovery Channel Store.

The next stop for any avid shopper is Downtown Crossing near Boston Common. This browser's paradise -- pedestrian-friendly, no cars allowed -- offers more than 200 retailers. Specialty stores such as Bromfield Camera, Brattle Book Shop, and Windsor Button complement flagships like Macy's, Borders, Men's Warehouse, Champs, City Golf, Talbot's, and Express.

In the Back Bay, don't miss the shops at Prudential Center. Billed as New England's #1 shopping and dining destination, the Prudential Center features over 75 shops and restaurants, including Barnes & Noble, Lacoste, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Sephora.

Also in the historic Back Bay, Copley Place is Boston's most distinctive shopping destination with 100 fabulous stores, including Tiffany & Co., Iridesse Pearls, Barneys New York, Jimmy Choo, Tourneau, Porsche Design, A|X Armani Exchange, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, Christian Dior, and Neiman Marcus.

For a taste of history and shopping both incredible and edible, stroll Boston's North End -- the city's oldest residential district -- where people have lived continuously since its settlement in the 1660s. Want some exquisite prosciutto and fresh mozzarella? Need some hard-to-find ingredients such as anise oil, almond flour or flax seed? How about some fresh-from-the-oven, crusty bread? All of these are available daily throughout the North End, in addition to fine apparel, art, gifts, books, and home furnishings.

If you are headed to Boston, CRSHotels.com has the perfect hotel for you. Choose the charming Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers in the heart of Historic Downtown Boston and the city's Theatre District, and just a short stroll from Newbury Street shopping; or the upscale Omni Parker House Boston, located on the Freedom Trail and easy walking distance to Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market. Enjoy the Lenox in Copley Square, just a short walk from shopping at the Prudential Center or on Newbury Street; or the Copley Square the city's oldest, continuously- operated hotel, within walking distance of Newbury Street, Copley Place and Prudential Center. Save your dollars for your shopping at the Best Western Adams Inn, in Quincy, just minutes away from downtown Boston and Faneuil Hall, or be conveniently near the airport at the Comfort Inn & Suites less than five miles from downtown Boston.

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