Retail Therapy

Detroit is shopping-crazy with no less than a dozen major malls, a handful of boutique-packed suburban downtowns, and countless smaller shopping centers. This Birmingham/Royal Oak itinerary gives you a good fix of both independent shops and national retailers.

Birmingham/Royal Oak/Troy (Oakland County): Both Birmingham and Royal Oak have lively, walkable downtowns packed with unique local shops as well as a smattering of national retailers. Troy is home to one of the best upscale shopping centers in the country, Somerset Collection. Start in Royal Oak on Main Street, a few blocks east of Woodward Avenue Most of the activity is focused between 11 Mile Road and 6th Street.

Here you'll find edgy clothing shops; modern and antique furniture stores; a fine wine shop; art galleries; bakeries; and more. Cut down 4th Street as you head to Washington Street and hit Burn Rubber (202 W. 4th St.), purveyor of collectible sneakers, cutting edge clothier Chrome (117 W. 4th St.) and Syd & Samz (110 W. 4th St.) for teen-centric goods.Washington Street offers several more blocks of shopping from high-end shoe boutique Sole Sisters (325 S. Washington), to Shine (621 S. Washington) for funky jewelry and home decor.

Travel about 6 miles north on Woodward Avenue to downtown Birmingham. Most of the shopping here is concentrated on Old Woodward Avenue (which runs diagonally from Woodward Avenue, watch for a sign for "downtown Birmingham") and Maple Road, and is a bit more classic and upscale than trendy Royal Oak. Shops to look for include Nicole Miller (268 W. Maple Rd.), Caruso Caruso (166 W. Maple Rd.), Tender (271 W. Maple Rd.), and SEE Eyewear (160 S. Old Woodward Ave.). Beauty-fiends shouldn't miss Todd's Room (239 Pierce St.) the salon and shop of nationally-famous makeup artist Todd Skogg.

Both Birmingham and Royal Oak have great weekend Farmers Markets, with flowers, produce and handcrafted foods and arts: Birmingham Farmers Market, 798 N. Old Woodward Ave., Sunday from July through October, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m; Royal Oak Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile Rd., Saturday year-round, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

Less than 3 miles northeast of downtown Birmingham lies Somerset Collection (2800 W. Big Beaver, Troy) a mall like no other. Somerset's 180 stores include high-end retailers like Gucci, Cartier, Tiffany and Louis Vuitton, and four department stores - Macy's Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom. All of this is set in splendor with a soaring atrium at its center, and marble flooring and museum-quality artwork throughout. Luxurious perks like a concierge and valet parking are also available to Somerset guests.

Other Shopping Districts:
Downtown Rochester (near I-75 and M-59, Oakland County)
Twelve Oaks Mall newly revonated (near I-96 and I-275, Western Oakland County)
Partidge Creek a new outdoor mall (Hall Road, Macomb County)
Downtown Wyandotte (near the end of M-39 and Southfield Rd., Wayne County)
New Center Place (in the Fisher Building, 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit)
Village of Grosse Pointe (just east of I-94, near Lake St. Clair, Wayne County)