Ann Arbor Downtown

Ann Arbor's large downtown shopping district is an impressive collection of quality gift stores, book shops and clothing boutiques intermingled with so many restaurants that it feels like there are at least two or three on each street. Do-not-miss stores: Acme Mercantile (lots of kitschy goods mixed in with environmentally conscious products); 16 Hands Gallery (jewelry, artwork, frames, soaps, candles, cards); Crazy Wisdom Books and Tea (books with New Age and environmental bents, Tarot cards, incense); Clay Gallery (dozens of artists' ceramic wares); Downtown Home and Garden (housewares and garden supplies in an old-fashioned setting); and Selo-Shevel Gallery (amazing mobiles, items made of wood, jewelry). If you're a chocolate-lover, do not skip Schakolad Chocolate Factory. The selection of chocolate (including low-carb and sugar-free varieties) will knock your socks off, as will the specialty items they make (chocolate champagne glasses, handcuffs, teddy bears and, well, you get the idea). More importantly, you can have your chocolate and eat it, too, at the cafe tables they provide. As for the restaurants, they're myriad. Any type of food you might desire, from Italian to Ethiopian, Eastern European to Thai, is represented. On just the 300 block of South State Street, there are 14 restaurants. Best of all, you can make a night of it. All are within walking distance of The Ark music venue, Network Performance Theatre, three brewpubs (Arbor Brewing Company, Blue Tractor and Jolly Pumpkin) and Vinology, a wine bar.