Shopping

The Inner Harbor is an obvious choice for shoppers. But those who like an adventure will find Fells Point, Hampden, Mount Washington, Antique Row on Howard Street, and a lot of fun. If your wallet needs emptying, head over to Cross Keys, near Mount Washington, for designer threads. Harbor East is the newest go-to shopping district.

Inner Harbor

You can find anything from onion rings to diamond rings at the 160 shops that make up Harborplace (tel. 410/332-4191; www.harborplace.com), which is actually three separate venues: two stand-alone pavilions on Light and Pratt streets, and the Gallery, a vertical mall in the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel. The Light Street Pavilion has the most food stalls and restaurants, plus some souvenir shops. The Pratt Street Pavilion offers specialty stores, clothing and jewelry shops, and more restaurants. The Gallery has three floors of shops, plus a fourth-floor food court. Most stores are open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 9pm and Sunday from noon to 6pm.

Most tenants are franchises of national chains, but a few offer some local color. At the Fudgery, in the Light Street Pavilion, employees make amazing music while they make the fudge. Lee's Ice Cream, also in the Light Street Pavilion, is made in West Baltimore. White House/Black Market has stores all over the country, but the original is in the Pratt Street Pavilion. The 75 shops in the Gallery (connected via skywalk to the Pratt St. Pavilion) include Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Ann Taylor, and Coach. Santa's magical house is located between the Harborplace pavilions from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve.

Harbor East

For a neighborhood that didn't even exist a few years ago, this one's thriving, and the shopping is très chic. Most shops are on Exeter or Fleet Street. Look for something hot to carry your stuff in at Handbags and the City, 612 S. Exeter St. (tel. 410/528-1443), or something cool to sit on at Arhaus Furniture, 660 S. Exeter St. (tel. 410/244-6376; www.arhaus.com). People stop at Bluehouse, 1407 Fleet St. (tel. 410/276-1180; www.bluehouselife.com), for eco-friendly home accessories, the organic cafe, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Gaines McHale, 700 S. Caroline St. (tel. 410/625-1900; www.gainesmchale.com), has a 17,000-square foot showroom of fine antiques.

You'll also find plenty of restaurants, including Mustang Alley's 10- and duck-pin bowling and sleek eatery, 1300 Bank St. (tel. 410/522-BOWL; www.mustangalleys.com). Or stop for a snack or supplies at Whole Foods, 1001 Fleet St. (tel. 410/528-1640), or for wine at Bin 604, 604 S. Exeter St. (tel. 410/576-0444; www.bin604.com), which has wine classes on Saturdays and tastings on Thursdays.

Village of Cross Keys

This upscale shopping center, at 5100 Falls Rd. in north Baltimore, has local stores, plus a few chains such as Talbot's and Williams-Sonoma. Hours are from 10am to 6pm or later. From downtown, take the Jones Falls Expressway north to the Northern Parkway East exit. Turn right at the light at Falls Road; the center is on the right.

Antique Row

On a single block in Mount Vernon -- the 800 block of Howard Street -- lies an amazing string of antiques shops. The first antiques stores opened here in the 1840s -- they were furniture resellers, really -- making this the oldest antiques district in the U.S. Most of the shops are open from 11am or noon to 5pm. Street parking is metered -- bring quarters or take the Light Rail, which runs up Howard.

Amos Judd and Sons, Inc. (tel. 410/462-2000) is a dark little store filled with cases of English, French, and Italian accessories. The 20 dealers at Antique Row Stalls (tel. 410/728-6363), an 8,000-square-foot co-op, sell just about everything. They're closed Tuesdays.

The eclectic Connoisseur's Connection (tel. 410/383-2624) has a little of everything and often provides set pieces for locally produced movies. Dubey's Art and Antiques (tel. 410/383-2881) boasts a wealth of Chinese export porcelain and other American, English, and Asian treasures. For antiquities from Europe and Asia, see Richard Sindler (tel. 410/225-2727).

E. A. Mack Antiques (tel. 410/728-1333) specializes in 18th- and 19th-century furniture, all of it in lovely condition. Check out the old silver at Imperial Half Bushel (tel. 410/462-1192) -- the shop fairly glitters with flatware and hollowware. The 20th Century Gallery (tel. 410/728-3800) stocks American and European art pottery, as well as prints and paintings.

Sweet Things in Charm City

Sometimes you just need a sweet -- and there are a couple sweet spots around town that shouldn't be missed if you're in the neighborhood. By the way, Food Network's Ace of Cakes chef, Duff Goldman, has his Charm City Cakes shop in Remington, but it isn't open to the public.

The Baltimore Cupcake Company, 1433 E. Fort Ave. (tel. 410/783-1600; www.baltimorecupcakecompany.com). Stop in this little pink-and-white shop on the way to Fort McHenry for pretty $2 cupcakes and other sweets, along with Cafe du Monde coffee. Open Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm, Saturday from 9am to 4pm.

Dangerously Delicious Pies, 1036 Light St., Federal Hill (tel. 410/522-PIES; www.dangerouspies.com). No fancy stuff here -- just honest, homemade, fresh-out-of-the-oven pies. The rock-'n'-roll guys here make all kinds: fruit, Key (Bridge) lime, derby, and a towering lemon meringue. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 7am to 9pm.

Patisserie Poupon, 820 E. Baltimore St. (tel. 410/332-0390). You'll find this delightful French pastry shop in the shadow of the Shot Tower and near Port Discovery and Little Italy. (It's safer to drive here due to traffic.) Stop for coffee and a croissant or a fabulously decorated pastry. Open Monday through Saturday from 7am to 6pm.

Markets & Malls

Baltimore still has several old-fashioned covered markets with vendors selling seafood, baked goods, produce, and sweets. The outdoor farmers' market held under the Jones Falls viaduct is a Sunday tradition for many people.