I don't know if I've mentioned it or not, but I think there are wonderful "finds" in gift shops. My favorite gift shops are those associated with an art museum, but interesting shops abound, just about anywhere there is an "attraction." My lovely sister-in-law got me these lovely Monet inspired water lilies from the Chicago Art Institute.
INow there is a new type of store I can add to my shopping list - antique shops. C and I had great success yesterday at a shop that held about a hundred vendors. We found awesome stuff for the people we care about and made some interesting discoveries as well. One vendor had, in perfect condition, newspapers from the early 1950's. We discovered an attempt on the life of President Truman that neither of us had ever heard about.
A trip like this is great fodder for conversation as well. It's an amazing time to find out how old your kids really think you are (LOL).