Specialty Stores Make Christmas Shopping Fun in the Dallas Area

Escape the mall crowds and look for unique Christmas presents all around the Dallas area. A good place to start is the year-old Brownstone Village in south Arlington, Texas. Hard to believe that the old Arlington Skate Ranch could be renovated and redesigned into a boutique style shopping experience. Landscaped brick and stone fronting welcomes you to 20,000 square feet of retail space. Over 100 individual shops are carved out of the space. Each storeowner has lent their unique eye to bring you plenty of choices for those hard to buy for relatives.

A wine themed store sparkles with holiday wine stoppers, Christmas wine bottle charms, and even wine ornaments. Reasonably priced product can allow Santa to enjoy a smooth swig of Bordeaux in a festively decorated glass while in his travels.

Need presents for your favorite animal? Christmas tree and Santa shaped dog cookies are wrapped with a bow for Fido. He can have his own special ornament on the tree, too. If you don't have time to knit your dog a scarf or sweater, the Dog Style booth has product in every size.

Brownstone Village is decorated and eye appeal alone will have you touching gumdrop shaped Christmas tree decorations or ringing an old sleigh bell. The variety of cute handmade stockings alone will have you adding people to your family. If you work up an appetite, the Bocaccio Café is now open and serving plentiful plates of Italian food. Sit and rest while checking your list, and enjoy lunch or dinner or just a bite of cheesecake. With renewed strength, walk over to the latest Brownstone addition, known as The Boardwalk. This unique wine shop and winery will enable the customer to taste, buy, and create wines. Open for wine tastings and special events, The Boardwalk will be adding an art gallery soon.

From Arlington, catch the Dallas highways and zoom to the north side of the Metroplex area to McKinney, Texas. Here you can enjoy great shopping in a small town atmosphere. Stately old buildings in a town square area allow ease of strolling in and out of individual stores. Creativity abounds as these stores are packed to the gills for the holidays. This is not boring mall merchandise. Instead, each owner has sought out specialty gifts that will catch your eye without hurting the budget.

One such store, the Country Nest, features the decorative glass cow collection - replicas of cow sculptures that have appeared all over the world. Any color, any country - these whimsical creations are a fun present for anyone. The store also features a huge collection of ornaments for a Christmas tree or a memory. The Country Nest is just one example of the selection of stores in the town of McKinney. Plan to spend a day shopping, strolling, and dining in a very pleasant rural town.

Finally, what is Christmas without chocolate? Hop on the highway again and zoom from the town of McKinney, Texas to the street of McKinney Avenue in Dallas. Something about the word "McKinney" must attract great shopping and dining. You can ride the trolley on McKinney and discover superb retail in the West Village or trendy stores off Knox Street. Whichever way you stroll, be sure to stop into Morgen Chocolates and enjoy mouth watering cocoa pleasure. These are specialty chocolates made on the premises and you can finish your shopping here with delectable treats. Chocolate Santas, chocolate snowman, or a huge tray of truffles are available at a rich price. After shopping for the final folks on your list, splurge and treat yourself to a little bite of heaven. You deserve it for helping the Dallas area economy.

Christmas shopping does not have to be a chore. Branch out of your mall mind and enjoy the Brownstone in Arlington, the shops in McKinney, Texas, and chocolate heaven on McKinney Avenue in Dallas, Texas.

Brownstone Village
2408 West Abram ST
Arlington TX 76013
817-275-8990

Country Nest
120 West Louisiana St
McKinney TX 75069
972-548-7100

Morgen Chocolate
4516 McKinney Ave
Dallas TX 75205
214-520-2462