Tiffany & Co. store located in the Plaza Frontenac, features some of the finest jewelry in the world. You will also find breathtaking crystal, flatware, chinaware, silverware, and timepieces for sale. Shop for engagement rings and anniversary presents, or something special for a newborn baby. Anything wrapped in Tiffany's signature blue box is sure to be considered an heirloom that the recipient will treasure for generations.

Visitors to the Gateway Arch should be sure to stop at this historical recreation of a 1870s general store. Located in the Visitor's Center on the Arch grounds, the Levee Mercantile features local foods popular in the late 19th Century. Clerks in period costumes sell vintage foodstuffs like kettle corn, milk chocolate, rock candy, breads, cheese and meats such as summer sausage and German bologna. The first project of its kind in any National Park Service facility, the Levee Mercantile is certainly an appetizing way to learn history.

An old neighborhood shopping district on the city's South Side, Cherokee Street found a new calling years ago when it became a congregating place for small antique dealers. It is still doing well today, attracting antiques-seekers of all kinds, whether they are looking for old jewelry, furniture, books, architectural antiques, signs or just plain old junk. Five blocks of stores await visitors, and most are open every day. Homemaker Antiques and Hammond's Books are among the highlights.

A classic, colorful Italian grocer, Viviano's is one of the most interesting places on The Hill, St. Louis' old Italian neighborhood on the South Side. Crowded and teeming with the essentials of good eating, Viviano's offers its customers good (and reasonably priced) choices on everything from olive oils and pastas to pesto sauces and all manner of antipasto. The place is renowned both for its inexpensive grated Parmesan and Romano and for its knife-wielding clerks, who can slice off a pound or so of dozens of cheeses with uncanny precision. In between all of this, you will find terrific liqueurs, inexpensive wines, wonderful salami and prosciutto, and every imaginable spice.

This place has been a favorite in St. Louis and a landmark for ice cream lovers since 1929. Mr. Drewes' cool, creamy delights are served upside down in order to prove just how creamy and thick they really are. Do not be alarmed by the ever-present line, as it moves along pretty quickly. An ice cream-style stand, complete with neon lights and twinkling bulbs, makes this a lively family hangout. It is so relaxed that the menu is handwritten. Try an array of frozen flavors, from pineapple, strawberry and chocolate chip to other odd titles such as the Terramizzou, Fox Treat and the All Shook Up. Visitors will miss a treat by not trying a Concrete. They are open from 11a daily.

Opened in 1913 by Grecian immigrants Harry Karandzieff and Pete Jugaloff, Crown remains much the same in decor and style. It is currently run by Harry's descendants. Great confections, ice cream, a variety of sandwiches, milkshakes, malts, sundaes and banana splits make this a sweet-tooth's paradise. If you are adventurous, try the malt contest, wherein if you can drink five malts in half an hour, you get them all for free. The service is good, but things can get busy and a bit hectic.

Fun and flirty, cool and connected; just a few words to describe the Paper Dolls shopper. If there's a dinner party, social function, barbecue, photo shoot, or wow-him first date in the works, this is the place to hit up. Located in the Washington Avenue loft and business district, this new women's clothing store has made a mark on locals. Though items can be pricey, there's always a bargain to be found. The inventory turns over almost weekly, so there's always something new on the racks. The staff is just as fun and unique as the merchandise. Find jewelry, dresses, handbags, shoes, and anything that screams, "Fabulous!" - Cathryn D. Blue

Spend a day at the mall! At Westfield Crestwood, you can do all your shopping and entertain yourself as well with a movie at AMC Crestwood 10, some arcade games at Tilt Entertainment Center, or even a good fitness checkup at St. Louis Workout. Anchor stores include Dillard's, Macy's, and Sears.

If you've ever wanted to know what goes into a marinade or spice rub, Penzy's Spices may be able to help. With an inventory of over 100 different spices and spice mixes, an online store that carries everything the Maplewood store doesn't have on hand, a patented line of spices and herbs, and a staff that knows everything spice, there is no way that flavor you crave can't be identified. For those who are getting into the culinary arts, Penzy's is a great place to stop for ideas and recommendations. For those who are well seasoned in the craft, this shop, though quaint, conjures sentiments that are tantamount to those of a child in a giant penny candy warehouse. -Cathryn D. Blue

Maplewood is a Mecca for specialty shops and Airedale Antics is no exception. This is no ordinary pet supply store. Focusing on helping the Earth, this pet specialty boutique offers the best, greenest, and healthiest in all natural pet food, medicine, and accessories. The owners believe that animals should have access to healthy and all natural products, devoid of fillers and preservatives. For those feline and canine lovers who like to sport their support for healthy animals, Airedale Antics also carries bumper stickers, t-shirts, and other trinkets for humans who are allies to the animals they love. -Cathryn D. Blue