Ready? Set? Spend!

Shopping. Whether a necessity or just plain fun, it's an activity few of us can do without. And in the Heartland, even the most discerning shopper will be pleased with the choices and variety available. Whether your tastes run from designer to discount, or national chains to boutiques, you'll find plenty of great shopping within an easy drive of your front door.

Shop and Play.

National retail chain stores and activities for kids can be found at Hardin County's Towne Mall in Elizabethtown. It has more than 58 stores that include the larger chains such as Belk, Dawahares, JCPenney, Sears, Gap Outlet, American Eagle, Bath & Body Works and Victoria' Secret. If you are looking for indoor activities for the kids, Towne Mall hosts Kids Club from eleven to noon on the third Thursday of each month. Kids Club features activities, special presentations, and discount lunch coupons to mall eateries and prizes from mall stores. Towne Mall also has a soft play area for kids where they can crawl and climb. For more information on store hours and a complete listing of stores, visit www.thetownemall.com. Just north of the mall in Mall Park Center, you'll find other national retailers like Bed, Bath and Beyond, TJ Maxx, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Old Navy and Pier One. And, just up the road, Kohls has opened its doors adding yet another popular Elizabethtown shopping destination to the region.

Boutiques and Antiques.

Personalized gifts, hobby supplies and gourmet goods can all be found in and around at the many independently owned gift stores, boutiques and antique shops throughout the region. The Red Brick Cottage in Radcliff has seasonal gifts, collectibles, candles, baby items, kitchenware and jewelry. And at the Radcliff Antique Mall, Hardin county's largest antique outlet, you can spend hours browsing through booths full of just about anything you can think of.

For model train enthusiasts, the Hobby Station in Elizabethtown's Houchens Plaza carries model train kits, collectibles, toy soldiers, and model train accessories. Just down the road is the eclectic gift shop, Cottage Charm (www.cottagecharm.biz) where you can find something for any occasion, to include fine china, crystal, monogrammed gifts and baby and wedding presents. And at the recently opened Cool Springs Mall on Ring Road you'll find gifts, home décor, and interior design services at Pink Daisies, one of the region's newest retail establishments.

Speaking of antiques, the quaint railroad town of Glendale has more than a dozen antique shops, and is chock full of enchanting stores like Green Top Antiques, Bennie's Barn and True Kentucky, a store showcasing products made only in the commonwealth. A shopper can spend hours wandering through this historic little village, and leave with an assortment of hard-to-find gifts, 'priceless' antiques and unique trinkets. For directions and a listing of upcoming events in Glendale, visit online at www.historicglendale.com.

A stop at the Sweet Shoppe Fudge located in downtown Hodgenville is the perfect way to end a busy day of shopping. Patrick and Paula Durham own and operate the shop, where they make 38 varieties of the richest, creamiest fudge to be found anywhere. Flavors include Pumpkin Pie, Butter Brickle Crunch, Almond Enjoy and Tiger Butter. They also carry a variety of gifts, home decor and jewelry. Sweet Shoppe Fudge recently expanded their operations to include a store in Elizabethtown on Ring Road East. For directions and a listing of items sold, visit www.sweetshoppefudge.com.

Shopping in Bardstown.

There's a reason why Bardstown is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the region. Besides 'My Old Kentucky Home' and several great restaurants, museums and historic sights, it features a rustic downtown bustling with unique places to shop. It's the perfect place for finding antiques or to take a stroll among shops, bookstores and boutiques. Antiques on Third, for instance, offers a variety of antiques on their two levels. Here you can find furniture, primitives, glassware, civil war items, derby glasses, dolls and collectibles. If you are shopping for kids, visit The Peanut Gallery. It also has two floors, filled with specialty items, name brand toys such as Thomas the Tank Engine, Melissa & Doug, Lamaze Baby, Madame Alexander Dolls, Groovy Girls, Hello Kitty, Crafts, Games and Puzzles. Unique home furnishings can be found at the Plantation Furniture & Design store. For the special occasion item, Izzy's is a charming little boutique that carries great gifts such as purses, jewelry, and decorations for your home. Before leaving town, be sure to stop in at Bardstown Booksellers. They sell new books of all varieties, easy listening music and items unique to Kentucky such as Bourbon chocolates and fine gifts. And at 'My Old Kentucky Home,' the gift shop offers a variety of handcrafted Kentucky souvenir items. For more information and a complete listing of events and shops, visit www.visitbardstown.com/tourism.

Outlet Stores and Flea Markets.

In the town of Shepardsville, in Bullitt County are two very unique stores: the World's Most Awesome Flea Market and Zappos. 'The World's Most Awesome Flea Market' is a 70,000 square foot market with indoor and outdoor booths, meat market, fresh cuts of steaks, therapeutic back massage booths, exotic birds, solid oak furniture, dinette sets, and tools. For shoe lovers, Zappos offers one-stop discount shopping for all varieties of most name brand shoes. Zappos is best known for its online store, www.zappos.com, where they offer free shipping on all orders. Cherokee Antique Flea Market in Mt. Washington features antiques and collectibles representing over 30 dealers. For a complete listing of shops in Bullitt County, visit www.travelbullitt.org/shopping.shtml.

Hand Made Gifts.

If you prefer custom crafted gifts and products, travel to Washington County to sample the specialty products made and grown in the region. At Koenig Farm, Spinnery & Yarn shop you can visit with the 115 Angora Goats before buying the products made out of their mohair. The shop has a variety of gifts including 100 percent hand painted and natural mohair yarns, spinning supplies, soft yarns, knitting goodies, how-to books and more. They even offer spinning classes. For a complete listing of products and gifts, visit www.koenigfarm.com. Voted #1 in the U.S. as the B&B with the "Most Historic Charm" by readers of Arrington's B&B Journal, the Maple Hill Manor Bed & Breakfast www.maplehillmanor.com has a charming gift shop with items made from Alpaca fiber, including luxurious scarves, gloves, capes, sweaters, blankets and stuffed animals.

Obviously, there is a wealth of shopping opportunities to be found in the Heartland, and we've just mentioned a few. Pack your credit cards, gas up your car and head down the highway. Find out for yourself. Shop Ôtill you drop, and don't plan on being home for hours.

And if That's Not Enough.

There are some world class shopping destinations located an easy drive up or down Interstate 65. Just 40 minutes from Fort Knox, Louisville has several sprawling shopping malls and eclectic shopping districts, like the Bardstown Road shopping corridor with its distinctive flavor and many locally owned shops. And only a two-hour drive south of Fort Knox, Nashville offers Opry Mills Mall www.oprymills.com with a Bass Pro Shop, Gibson guitar store, and retail offerings of all varieties, conveniently located in the home of country music.

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