I come from a pretty large family (7 kids) so when we all get together for Thanksgiving with our spouses and children - it’s quite a gathering.  Most of the guys are golfers so they typically spend the mornings on the golf course.  If everything goes according to plan, one of the days is set aside for the girls to leave the kids behind and go shopping.  We usually spend the time free from distractions by catching up while we browse through stores, stopping to enjoy a coffee or having lunch at a café.

Here are a few of my favorite places to shop with the girls:

-  Union Square in San Francisco:  with the new Westfield Shopping Centre and its 400 stores added to the square, this is a wonderful place to spend a leisurely day of shopping.

-  Fifth Avenue in New York City:  Besides excellent shopping, the window displays are usually spectacular between Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

-  Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles: I was shopping here two weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised to see how friendly the staff was in each store.

-  Pike Place Market (outdoor) and Pacific Place (indoor) in Seattle, depending on the amount of rainfall. At Pike Place Market you’ll discover an amazing selection of fresh fish, flowers, fresh produce, art, and clothing. 

-  Old Town (outdoor) or Scottsdale Fashion Square (indoor) in Scottsdale: you’ll find all the top retailers in the Scottsdale Fashion Square. Old Town by foot is a great way to experience some local flavor.

-  Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto – If you haven’t been to Max’s Opera Café, make it a must stop on your next trip to the peninsula.  This outdoor center is also known for its beautiful garden displays.

-  El Paseo in Palm Springs (CA) – This is one of the times of the year when you can actually enjoy a stroll down the Paseo, so take advantage of the cool temperatures and see all the shops you skipped before.