Guide to Shopping Getaways:

WHERE TO GO:  Go big or go home, for some of the biggest malls in the country are within your reach.  The King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia is the third-largest shopping mall in the US (by square footage).  Others is the top ten include the Millcreek Mall in Erie, PA; the Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, NY; Tysons Corner Center in McLean, VA; and the Palisades Center in West Nyack, NY.

Outlets!  If the mere word sends shivers up your spine, you’re in luck no matter which state you end up in.  In Maine, head to Kittery and Freeport.  In New Hampshire, the main outlet destination is North Conway, with other centers in Concord, Manchester, Nashua and Tilton. Vermont has outlets in Brattleboro, Manchester Center and Essex. You can find them in the Berkshires of MA, as well as in Cape Cod and Wrentham near Boston. There are two centers in CT, in Westbrook and Clinton.

In the mid-Atlantic, you can find several in NY, including Lake George, Central Valley, Waterloo, and Riverhead. New Jersey is home to five outlet malls, including the popular shore towns of Atlantic City and Tinton Falls. Tourists also flock to Reading, PA and Rehoboth Beach, DE for shopping getaways.

Outlet stores may also be attached to your favorite retailer’s main offices, or a specialty catalog’s headquarters, or a manufacturer’s factory.  For example, Plow&Hearth, a home goods catalog, also has a small chain of stores, with the catalog outlet located in Madison, VA.  Maine's Monroe Salt Works, one of the top salt glaze studios creating handmade stoneware, is opening an outlet store at its Monroe headquarters.  The Oneida Outlet Store in Sherrill, NY, carries discounted silver flatware and tableware in the community where the silver factory used to operate.

You may want to add some museums to your shopping getaway travel itinerary.  Yes, you should go for the cultural enrichment, but also because museum shops often carry the most unique and inspired merchandise, providing the best place to get souvenirs or gifts.  The Philadelphia Museum of Art is known for its expansive collection of products relating to its exhibits. The Corning Glass Museum in Corning, NY is home to the GlassMarket, one of the largest museum shops in the country.  In Washington DC, the National Archives Shop is a treasure trove of books, stationery and literature-related merchandise.

WHERE TO STAY: The adjectives “quaint” and “charming” are usually indicators of great small town shopping districts.  Mystic, CT, East Hampton, NY, Kennebunkport, ME, and Newport, RI are all ideal choices to find walkable rows of shop-lined streets.   Woodstock, VT has been called "the prettiest small town in America," and has a covered bridge in the middle of town, as well as shops and galleries, artisan studios, country stores and handmade furniture stores.  In Maine, Camden’s village center is characterized by clapboard houses, a town green, a ship-filled harbor, and numerous shops and galleries showcasing the works of local artists and craftspeople.

In Pennsylvania, both Peddler’s Village in Lahaska, and Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, draw visitors for their specialty shops, regionally-inspired dining, and charming lodging, set among a yesteryear atmosphere.

WHAT TO DO: Why not shop for a cause?  The Fair Trade Federation, which operates retail stores in Media and Ephrata, PA, imports handmade products from 38 countries, providing disadvantaged artisans with stable income.  At the Ephrata location, a biannual warehouse sale attracts thousands of shoppers.  You can similarly purchase fair trade merchandise, mainly home goods like art, pottery, jewelry, furnishings, and cookware, at the Worldwide Market Square in Great Barrington, MA and at the World Village Fair Trade Market in Hampton Bays, NY.  The Ten Thousand Villages chain has locations in CT, DE, MA, MD, NJ, NY PA and VA.

If you’re inspired by what you see on television, make a trip to the QVC Studio Store in West Chester, PA where you can see, touch, and try on your favorite on-air merchandise. If the Orange County Choppers program is more your style, head to their HQ in Newburgh, NY to shop their retail showroom.

If you would rather leave the planning to the experts, take a shopping tour.  The Well Planned Traveler will create a personalized itinerary for next trip to NYC, directing you to sample sales and small boutiques you would otherwise miss.  The Elegant Tightwad leads individual and group shopping tours through NYC covering the garment district, vintage and consignment shops, and accessory showrooms.

DID YOU KNOW?: Year-round tax-free shopping can be found in DE, NH, and PA.  If you visit these states, make tax-free purchases and bring them home, you may technically be responsible for paying sales or “use” tax to your home state.  Other states promote tax-free weeks or weekends, including CT, MD, NY, VT and VA, usually during the summer months.

Survival Strategies for Your Next Shopping Trip:

Plan ahead.  Research the destination and the stores you will most likely visit.  Go to their websites, and get on their e-mail lists, especially if they issue coupons.  You’ll likely get one or two before your trip.

Get geared up.  For marathon shopping expeditions, bring a wheeled cart to carry your purchases instead of carrying heavy bags.  Consider a backpack instead of a purse to avoid shoulder strain.  Pack a water bottle, notepad and pencil.

Dress the part.  If you plan on trying on clothing and shoes, don’t wear anything with a lot of buttons or snaps.  You’ll need comfy shoes without laces to get on and off.

Time it right.  Shop early in the morning or a few hours before closing in the evening to avoid crowds.

Shop and store.  Buy winter clothes and seasonal merchandise at the end of the January and hold on to it for next year.  Ditto for buying summer stuff in September.

Shop smart.  Only buy things you really want or need, and check over merchandise carefully.  You may not be able to return the item easily if you’re far from home.

Ship it. Take advantage of the store’s mailing services to get all that stuff home, or send gifts directly to their recipients.