Young and contemporary is the word here, just like the clientele you'll find browsing the stores on funky Fourth Avenue. This boutique specializes in hard-to-find clothes that are considered sleek and avant-garde. Clothing lines include notables such as Plum, Rojas, Ben Sherman and Blue Marlin. The window display changes continually because of new shipments, and it's always the kind of stuff that is currently considered cool.

If you happen to be expecting while staying in Tucson, owner Amy Nehls and her staff may convince you that you can still be chic while you're showing. This boutique in St. Philip's Plaza specializes in maternity clothing that doesn't look like maternity clothing. It features quite an array of designers such as L'Attessa, First Comes Love, Belly Basics, Erica Courtney and Japanese Weekend. There is also a small selection of baby clothes and gifts on hand.

Located in beautiful St. Philip's Plaza, this bright and airy boutique caters to people that prefer the European brands in denim products to their American counterparts. Racks labeled with names like Diesel Industry, Replay, Aviatic and other European designer names occupy most of the shop. The sister store, Piece by Pierce Wear, also situated in St. Philip's Plaza offers the newest in contemporary clothing for women exclusively. The sales staff is consistently helpful, upbeat and knowledgeable.

You may not imagine a desert town like Tucson to be a center for water sports, but be assured that swimming is a popular activity here, with several public pools to choose from. Now, if you want not just to swim but to swim in style, you'll be well advised to visit Sigi's boutique at St. Philip's Plaza, where high-style swim wear for women is for sale in many, many different sizes and colors. You will also find a small selection of southwest jewelry and gifts here to decorate your body or home.

This downtown antique store basically displays the entire African craft items owner Maggie Johnson collected during her travels to Kenya and it's quite an impressive collection. The walls are covered with masks, spears and hatchets from different regions of Sub-Saharan Africa and there is a large array of clothing and jewelry, as well as statues of gods, spirits and men used in shamanic rituals. Note the big carved power figure from The Republic of Congo, intended to protect the villagers; it certainly looks scary enough for the purpose and yet retains its beauty.

Since 1982, Alan's has sold quality shoes to both Tucsonans and international visitors. Starting as a small business, it has now grown to two spacious stores covering both the east and the west side of town. All shelves feature the big international brand names in shoe design such as Rocco, Mephisto, Rockport and Birkenstock. Alan's is famous for its excellent customer service, which is one reason to prefer it to the big retailers.

This picturesque shopping plaza on Broadway two blocks west of Country Club, designed in Spanish Colonial-Style, entices visitors to linger in its shaded courtyard before going back into the blazing Tucson summer heat. The area has recently attracted some of the city's finer retailers, as well as a bakery-cafe, Southwestern furniture shops and galleries, a deli, an upscale wine restaurant and a hair salon. This is a nice retreat from the noise and bustle of a major thoroughfare.

Tall palm trees and cool waterworks make shopping and dining an agreeable experience here. In case you won't notice, the courtyard is shaped like the state of Arizona. It features restaurants, Southwest gifts, jewelry, a bakery producing quality bread you won't find at the supermarket, and an art gallery. This also the location of the River Branch of the Public Library, which is, by the way, a great resource to find out about current events in Tucson. All stores accept major credit cards.

There is a diverse mix of businesses to be found here, with the main focus on art and accessories. Finding a parking space can be a challenge on weekends, when visitors crowd into Millie's Pancake House for brunch and mill around the surrounding galleries while waiting for a table. The galleries at this east side shopping plaza represent a wide variety of artistic expression, and southwestern gift stores offer many opportunities for souvenir shopping. La Plaza is also known as a location for some of the finest boutiques in Tucson. All stores and restaurants accept major credit cards.

Located in the shadows of the city's financial and corporate center, this shopping and dining plaza caters mainly to the employees of the big corporations that have set up their offices in the surrounding high rises. There's a certain level of sophistication that attracts high-end accessories shoppers and business executives, as well as visitors looking for quality gifts and souvenirs to take home. Featuring jewelry stores, gifts, women and men's apparel, furniture, footwear and a business restaurant. Credit cards are widely accepted.