1.  Pangea (Nashville, TN; www.pangeanashville.com)  Located alongside the Vanderbilt University campus, this eclectic shop is a feast for the eye as well as the pocketbook.  Shoppers will find temptation around every corner, from indie-label rompers to kitsch folk art to a variety of naughty cards and buttons.  Expect a sniff or two from one of the store owner’s adorable dogs while killing time in the best way possible.

2.  Candy Baron (Laguna Beach, CA; www.thecandybaron.com)  This sunny beach town is home to a candy store that brings out the kid in all of us.  Check your self-control at the door and indulge in barrel after barrel of classic penny candies that remind you of summer days at camp.    Their selection includes sugar-free, international and hard-to-find concoctions meant to satisfy your sweet tooth for days to come.

3.  Hey Daisy (Appleton, WI; www.heydaisy.com)  This unexpected gem of a boutique breathes life onto East College Avenue in Appleton.  The shopper who ducks into Hey Daisy will find a well-edited selection of jeans, tee shirts and dresses at terrific prices.  The last-minute “impulse” buys located next to the cash register are particularly tempting.

4.  American Rag (Newport Beach, CA; amrag.com) American Rag’s “classidelic” look has a loyal following on the West Coast.   Their vintage-inspired men and womenswear manages to be both timeless and boundary-pushing all at the same time.  Make time for lunch, as their in-store café offers the best salad selection west of Paris.  Then walk out with bags full of head-turning and envy-inspiring fashion.  You won’t regret it.

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