Shopping Showcase

Sure, online shopping is (mostly) quick and easy, but where is the fun in it? There's no experience to be had. We suggest taking your time to find a gift from the heart and making a day of it, with delicious bites to eat and maybe even a stop at the spa.

Take a short drive to these local destinations for a hands-on, heart-warming, jolly good time.
 

Lifestyle Centers

Briarcliff Village
Briarcliff Village is a holiday shopper's delight. This unique shopping experience, designed after a real Tuscan village, offers a relaxation getaway featuring a shopping and dining experience unmatched in Kansas City. You'll find the best collection of locally owned businesses anywhere, and what you find will be one-of-a-kind in quality and design. Plan a “getaway day” with a spa visit, an exclusive lunch or dinner, and gift selections that ensure your loved ones will have an extra special holiday. Intersection of Highways 169 and 9, just five minutes from downtown Kansas City. www.briarcliffvillagekc.com

Crown Center
Christmas lives at Crown Center. With 50-plus unique shops, Crown Center will put you in a holiday state-of-mind. Shop for one-of-a-kind gifts from fascinating stores you won't find anywhere else in the city. Enjoy a snack or a relaxing meal at one of more than 25 restaurants. Visit Santa, see a play or just listen to the holiday music. Crown Center sparkles with light, warmth and fun at Christmastime. 25th and Grand, Kansas City, Mo. www.crowncenter.com

Corinth Square
Shoppers enjoy Corinth's community atmosphere, home to locally owned restaurants, antique shops and more. Get lost hours on end in the Mission Road Antique Mall, with its more than 350 dealers and the quaint Bloomsbury Bistro. Catch up with friends over coffee at Hattie's, pick out an educational gift for a young student at The Learning Tree and buy something manly (a chainsaw?) for your hubby at Westlake Hardware. 83rd and Mission Road, Prairie Village, Kan. www.corinthsquare.com

Oak Park Mall
Treat yourself to great holiday shopping at Oak Park Mall, featuring more than 180 fabulous stores, including the area's only Nordstrom, Fossil, Lacoste, LUSH, Pandora and XXI Forever. Oak Park Mall also features Dillard's, JCPenney and Macy's, along with favorites like Bare Essentials, Coach, Sephora, Swarovski and Teavana. Many other stores opened this year, such as Barnes & Noble, Francesca's Collections, The Jayhawks Store, PINK and Zumiez. Take the kids to meet Santa daily, November 14-December 24. 95th and Quivira, Overland Park, Kan. www.thenewoakparkmall.com

Zona Rosa
Looking for that old-town feel with the most modern stores? Zona Rosa, a shopping, dining and entertainment community, is home to many well-known merchants, including Barnes & Noble, Ann Taylor LOFT, DSW, Hollister, Abercrombie and Fitch, and more. Be sure to check everyone off your list (after you've checked it twice) before heading to dinner at one of the many dining options, including Bravo! Cucina Italiana, Hereford House, Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy and Ted's Montana Grill, or check out a late-night comedy show at the Improv. I-29 and Barry Road, Kansas City, Mo. www.zonarosa.com

Destinations

Bonner Springs
If you want big-city entertainment with a small-town atmosphere, spend a night (or day) out on the town of Bonner Springs. Located just minutes from Village West, Bonner Springs offers its own variety of shops and eateries. For home decor, gifts, jewelry and accessories, visit shops like Magnum Opus, Miller's Too, Pink Zebra, Provence on the Prairie and Moon Marble. After a long day of shopping, take a load off at Madame Hatter's Tea Room or really relax at Bottle 12. Bonner Springs is a hidden gem to add to your holiday shopping route. Located off K-7 Hwy, just minutes from Village West. www.bonnersprings.org/tourism.html

Historic Downtown Leavenworth
More than $22 million has been reinvested in Leavenworth's downtown area through building rehabilitation, new construction, facade renovations and a variety of other improvement projects. But the small town hasn't lost its charm. There are several antique shops for truly one-of-a-kind gift items, along with other delightful shops like Artistic Works by Lu, dorMail and Euro Pottery. Grab a bite to eat at the many restaurants like High Noon Saloon & Brewery. Off K-7 north of I-70. www.leavenworthmainstreet.com

Parkville
This quaint, turn-of-the-century town is so interesting that Budget Travel magazine has named it “one of the 10 coolest communities in America.” Find great gift ideas from fashionable styles and bathroom sweets to fine jewelry at some of Parkville's popular shops like Sunrise Soap, Watercolors High Fashion and Trinity Jewelry. Another stocking-stuffer idea is the gift of treating your mother (or even yourself) to a relaxing day at Spa St. Martin. South of 45 Hwy on Hwy 9. www.parkvillemo.org