Sale and Return: Top 5 Cities for Shopping

Sure, there are
pre-holiday and post-holiday sales, but some destinations
are hot shopping spots year-round. Consider visiting one of
the five states that don't charge sales tax: Alaska,
Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. If
you're in need of some retail therapy but are feeling
crunched by credit, shop around these cities for a bargain:
Portland, Oregon; Anchorage, Alaska; St. Thomas, USVI, and,
of course, New York and L.A.

1. PORTLAND, OREGON
No state sales tax makes a shopping spree to the Rose
City extra enticing. Add to that a slew of appealing
promotions at some of the city's most chic hotels,
restaurants, and shops -- courtesy of the Travel Portland Big Deal
promotion -- and the Rose City is impossible to
resist. For more on shopping Portland, scour the Discover. Portland. Shopping
blog for steals and deals.

Sale rail
Visit Powell's City of Books (1005
W. Burnside; 800-878-7323), an entire city block of
literary goodness. Stock up on decadent organic chocolates
from around the world at Cacao (414 S.W. 13th Avenue;
503-241-0656). Hit Columbia Sportswear (911
S.W. Broadway; 503-226-6800) in its hometown flagship
location and stock up on gear for kayaking, climbing,
and exploring the nearby outdoors. For hipster crafts and a
taste of Portland's funky side, visit Crafty Wonderland, Portland's
monthly art and craft extravaganza, every second
Sunday of the month at The
Doug Fir (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; 830 E. Burnside
Street; 503-231-9663).

2. NEW YORK
New York is a shopper's paradise, especially for gay
travelers. Whether you're interested in spending a lot
or saving even more, you've got a myriad of options.
From high-end boutiques to vibrant street markets and
funky stores, the city is world-renowned for its diverse and
trend-setting shopping opportunities -- and rightly so.

Sale rail

Uniqlo (546 Broadway;
917-237-8800) is the Japanese bargain trendsetter whose
slick SoHo outlet is the growing chain's global
flagship. For authentic kitsch, Love Saves the
Day (119 Second Avenue; 212-228-3802) saves the day
with more Pez dispensers, Jesus action figures, and
mid-century shtick than you can shake a stick at. For
your favorite flight attendant or travel buddy -- or
even for yourself -- check out Greenwich Village's Flight
001 (96 Greenwich Ave; 212-691-1001), part of a
chic travel minichain selling items of a "global"
nature, such as rain hats, Italian toothbrush kits,
and hard-to-find guidebooks.