Travel Channel 

The Mall of America

The Scoop

Address: Bloomington, Minn. 55425
Phone: 1-800-879-3555
Web site: mallofamerica.com

Where: Bloomington, Minnesota
What's Cool: Despite the harsh winters, there's no need for a heating system beyond the entrances. Guests and the miles of lights provide enough warmth.
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The Mall of America is, in form and function, like a small city.

It's form, 2. 5 million square feet of stores, attracts more visitors each year than Disney World, the Grand Canyon and Graceland combined. There are over 15,000 parking spaces for the more than 520 stores all indoors. If you spent just 10 minutes at every store, your visit would last 86 hours. It receives 600,000-900,000 visitors per week.

One of the most common impressions is that it's a mall you'd never have to leave. There are 49 restaurants, 34 food stores, 8 nightclubs and 14 theaters. Clothing shops include almost all the traditional anchor stores such as Nordstroms, Bloomingdales and Macy's, even Old Navy's flagship store.

There's a medical clinic, school, amusement park and, yes, even a wedding chapel that recently announced its 3,000th marriage (wonder where they're registered¿).

On any given day, the Mall of America is Minnesota's third largest city.

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The Scoop

Address: Royal Street, New Orleans, La.
Web site: royalstreetguild.com

Where: Rue Royal, New Orleans, La.
What's Cool: James H. Cohen and Sons, Inc. features antique weapons, Civil War items and rare foreign and American coins.
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In the French Quarter of New Orleans, there's an old street steeped in history.

Mules still draw carriages past carefully preserved French and Spanish style buildings from the 1700s through eight continuous blocks of antique stores. La Rue Royale is one of the premiere destinations for antique hunters from around the world.

It got its start back in 1816 with the opening of Francois Seignoret's furniture and wine store. By the turn of the 20th century, New Orleans was the fifth largest city in the United States. Wealthy people from all over the world traded with local shop owners and left behind artifacts of a bygone era that, in many cases, can't be found anywhere else.

Stores that have stayed in the same family for generations can offer everything from a $45,000 Edwardian diamond necklace and Rolex watches from the 1920s to 19th century furniture and an $80,000 centerpiece once owned by Charles Dickens.

At la Rue Royal, you can go on a real antiques roadshow.

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REI Flagship Store

The Scoop

Address: 222 Yale Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: (888) 873-1938
Web site: rei.com

Where: Seattle, Wash.
What's Cool: Try everything before you buy.
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It's not all about the 65-foot climbing wall. It's also about the trees, full-scale boulders and mountain bike trail, all inside one of Seattle's top tourist attractions.

The REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) store was originally opened in 1944 by mountain climbers Lloyd and Mary Anderson and 23 of their climbing friends. The company has since grown to include 66 retail stores in the United States.

But the Seattle flagship store has departments for nearly every outdoor gear category, and the sales staff will encourage you to take the equipment for a spin.

Going camping? Crawl into a sleeping bag with holes for your legs. Visiting a snowbound locale? Try on a pair of snowshoes or cross-country skis. Looking for some new boots? Take a walk down a rock-strewn path. Just need to stay dry? Throw on some foul weather gear and step into the rain room.

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Where: Pasadena, Calif.
What's Cool: Over 2,200 vendors with something for everyone.
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The dream began in 1966 when auto show organizer, R.G. Cannine lost his way and ended up driving through the Rose Bowl valley. If he could rent out the stadium, he thought, the flea marketeers would come.

And so they have, in droves, for over 25 years to the monthly event where you can find almost anything.

The stadium that's played host to the NFL's Super Bowl, World Cup and UCLA football is also attracting around 20,000 flea market shoppers to the event every second Sunday.

The over 200,000 items for sale include vintage clothing, fine furniture, home spas, animal feed and beauty products to lifelong collections like phonograph players, vintage French movie posters, beer cans and, yes, Beanie Babies.

Determined shoppers can arrive early and pay an extra entrance fee to get in ahead of the big crowd.

Someone's trash is another's treasure, but be prepared to haggle for the best price.

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Forum Shops, Caesars Palace

The Scoop

Address: Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nev. 89109
Phone: (877) 427-7243
Web site: vegas.com

Where: Las Vegas, Nev.
What's Cool: The sun never sets.
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Las Vegas architecture is all about illusion, and Caesars Palace has applied that concept to shopping better than anyone else.

Walk through hall after hall of marble floors and expensive stores like Fendi, Gianni Versace and Louis Vuitton and you may feel like you're in just a (very) high-end mall. Then look up, and you'll see the sky ¿ a Vegas sky with a smattering of clouds and sunlight that never sets, it just moves from dawn to dusk.

Continue your walk and you'll see statue after statue of classic Roman sculpture (some even talk). You'll pass corinthian columns adorned with gold, fountains and, of course, slot machines. It all creates the impression that you're a god on top of Mount Olympus. And what would Americans do if they were deified¿ Well, shop of course!

And eat. Restaurants like Wolfgang Puck's Spago will help you really enjoy your winnings ¿ or help make losing easier to swallow.

Don't miss the grand finale: a recreation of the rise and fall of the lost city of Atlantis, complete with fountains and laser shows.

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The Scoop

Address: Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, Calif.
Phone: (323) 857-7215
Web site: fifiandromeo.com

Where: Los Angeles, Calif.
What's Cool: Their doggy clothes and accessories are featured in Legally Blond 2.
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Who'd ever think that in La La Land's moderate climate, one would find a pet shop specialising in hand-knit sweaters for dogs.

But walk into the pink striped and blue polka dotted decor of Fifi & Romeo, and you'll find fine clothing and more in what's been called a "Doggie Disneyland."

A few years ago, a former costume designer for Ally McBeal, Yana Syrkin, was concerned about her chihuahua's warmth during the "cold" L.A. winters. She took out her equipment, cut up and re-sewed one of her cashmere sweaters and, unbeknownst to her at the time, she was pioneered a new doggy style.

Her cashmere creations caught on and Syrkin soon opened Fifi & Romeo's in 2000 with a star-studded launch party including actor Robert Downey, Jr. and Portia De Rossi from Ally McBeal.

The original 100 percent cashmere sweater is still one of the most popular items for sale, but the store also sells vintage wool coats and hand-knit scarves, blankets, pillows, hats and shawls. The clothing line includes some versions for owners too.

The store, near West Hollywood, has gained some star appeal. A new line of doggy clothing appears in the film Legally Blond 2 and stars such as Cameron Diaz, Madonna, Ray Romano and Kid Rock, reportedly have shopped here.

So walk your dog on down to the Fifi & Romeo boutique, have her try on a $200 sweater (traditional or sleeveless), coordinate with matching ladies and baby design, wrap her in a $1,000 blanket and pack her up in a $550 sleek, leather F&R carrier. Then stroll down the streets of L.A. knowing you have a truly pampered pooch.

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The Scoop

Parking Best Bet: Municipal Lot on nearby Brighton Way
Web site: seeing-stars.com

Where: Beverly Hills, Calif.
What's Cool: Nearby Beverly Wilshire Hotel can be seen in Pretty Woman and Beverly Hills Cop.
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With the top designers, the most expensive stores and, of course, the biggest stars in Hollywood, Rodeo Drive is synonymous with the creme de la creme of fashion in the United States.

Fashion houses from Italy to Paris to Spain have real estate on this small street nearby the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. When that grand structure opened its doors to Hollywood's elite in 1928, Rodeo's stock as a premiere shopping destination rose through the roof.

Tourists still flock to the three blocks of cobblestones and polished marble on Rodeo Drive for celebrity sightings, and to experience, however vicariously, the lifestyle of Hollywood's rich and famous.

Armani, Gucci, Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Yves Saint Laurent¿ the list goes on to include the best in jewelry, lingerie and clothing. In fact, it's also home to what's been called the most expensive store in the world ¿ Bijan, where an appointment is mandatory and the typical customer can spend around $100,000 on men's fashion.

You may have seen some of the jewelry from David Orgell draped around the necks of celebrities at the 2001 oscars. Items here include a necklace with a center diamond at over 21 carats. The price?: $1,250,000.

Just to show you how close this street is to old Hollywood, some famous stars who actually lived on this stretch of concrete included: Gene Kelly, Jackie Cooper, Carl Reiner and Gene Hersholt.

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The West Edmonton Mall's skating rink

The Scoop

Address: #2472, 8882-170 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Phone: 1-800-661-8890
Web site: westedmall.com

Where: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
What's Cool: It's the largest mall on Earth. One hundred and ten football fields could fit inside it.
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Alberta, Canada's number one tourist attraction is a 5.3 million-foot mall stretching some 48 square city blocks. Big enough for you? Well, it's also big enough for the Guinness Book of World Records which has West Edmonton Mall listed as the largest mall in the world.

But what really sets this mall apart from others is its emphasis on entertainment. It's home to the world's largest indoor amusement park. Galaxyland includes a triple-loop roller coaster and the Space Shot, which launches you almost 120 feet into the air. There's also a five acre waterpark (open year-round) with miles of slides, the world's largest indoor wave pool (2.7 million gallons) and a temperature balmy enough to slip into a bathing suit and lounge by a hot tub.

The Ice Palace is large enough to serve as the practice rink for the Edmonton Oilers hockey team. "Bourbon Street" offers themed restaurants with a taste of New Orleans during Mardi Gras and an attraction called Deep-Sea Adventure, where you can ride an actual submarine amid colorful fish and fantastic constructions including a sunken ship.

Ready to shop? Well, why not put that off until tomorrow and stay the night in the Fantasyland hotel where you can stay in the Truck Room, where you share living space with an actually pickup/jacuzzi (like something out of Monster Garage), or try the Canadian Rail Room where you'll be lulled to sleep by the clack of train tracks.

Now that you've had your fantasy vacation, it's time to take home some souvenirs. Choose from over 800 stores at the mall from fine art to toy, furniture to groceries, in all the usual mall stores, from Aveda to the United Colors of Benetton.

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Auction at Christie's

The Scoop

Address: 20 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N.Y.
Phone: 1-212-636-2000
Web site: christies.com

Where: New York, NY
What's Cool: Marilyn Monroe's personal effects were sold here, including a lipstick that brought $200,000.
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On any given day at the galleries within Christie's Auction House in New York, you can find on exhibit anything from famous paintings from famous painters such as Monet, Picasso and Rembrandt to entertainment memorabilia like a 1942 "Best Director" Oscar (to Michael Curtis for Casablanca) or selections of paintings and photographs from Playboy Magazine. Turn another corner and you'll see the private collection of museum-quality modern art.

This is where art meets capitalism at the highest levels. The display gallery whets the appetite for competition inside the auction rooms, where scratching your nose can commit thousands of dollars toward the item on stage.

James Christie, a businessman of the mid to late-1700s, became one of the most well-known auctioneers of his time, eventually negotiating a deal with Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia for the sale of paintings that would become the permanent collection of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg (the paintings sold for 40,000 English Pounds in 1778).

His auction houses in England eventually expanded overseas with 86 locations all over Europe, Asia and in the United States at New York and Los Angeles. The New York branch opened in 1977, but found its current home at Rockefeller Center in 1999.

In over 200 years of auctions, Christie's has made some of the most famous and expensive sales of art in history. In 1965, the sale of Rembrandt's Portrait of Titus was the first painting to bring an auction price over 100,000 English Pounds. In 1987, Van Gogh's Sunflowers sold for $39.9 million. And in 2000, Picasso's Femme aux bras croises sold at auction for over $55 million, the current record-holder.

Art lovers from all over the world travel to the auctions in New York to try their luck at bidding for one-of-a-kind pieces in packed rooms where the mood is electric and competitive as people bid via phone or by holding up numbered paddles.

So, as John Rendell, the deputy chairman of Christie's America says, do your research, set your limit and don't scratch your nose.

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Fifth Avenue at Christmas

The Scoop

Address: Fifth Avenue (between 49th and 59th Street), New York, N.Y.

Where: New York, NY
What's Cool:
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The ten blocks of stores lining New York's Fifth Avenue just south of Central Park is often hard to traverse, as hoards of office workers, tourists and of course shoppers converge on the center of the center of the universe (at least in the minds of New Yorkers).

But shoppers do traverse it, stopping in at Bergdorf Goodman, Bulgari and what could be called the anchor store, Saks. Saks opened in 1924 and other stores followed, turning what was a largely residential neighborhood into the high-end retail mecca it is today.

Hollywood has taken notice over the years. Breakfast at Tiffany's portrayed a young girl who saw in the famous Fifth Avenue jeweler, the meaning of life. And Big featured a youth-possessed Tom Hanks browsing the 75,000 square feet of FAO Schwartz, the world's most exclusive toy store. Current hot items include a new line of G.I. Joe action figures and Lord of the Rings Barbie!

Bargain hunters can even find a home at H&M, a Swedish clothing store with low prices on high fashion. But the old standby, and perhaps the main attraction, is the 10 floors of Saks Fifth Avenue. This store gets special mentions for its ball gowns, men's fashion and a large shoe section. Chock full of top shelf, but practical designer sections like Calvin Klein and DKNY, the store is so big that some people have resorted to hiring personal shoppers. It may be the closest you'll ever come to understanding what it's really like to be a movie star.

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