he climate-controlled
atmosphere of the malls may be a big plus in the dead of winter or at
the height of the dog days of August, but nothing beats a breath of
fresh air while exploring these great downtowns during the spring and
fall months.
Indeed, even the winter can
be fun with the various scheduled holiday events, lights and
decorations. Think too, how much better that cup of coffee tastes when
you dash into a cafe and leave your coat on for a few minutes to warm
up - instead of lugging it around a hot stuffy mall. Malls are good
too though; after all, no cold drink is big enough to make up for air
conditioning in August. It's certainly possible to enjoy both for
different reasons at different seasons.
Because each of the ten
downtowns listed have their own unique allure, no attempt has been made to
rate or rank them - they're simply listed in simple alphabetical order with a brief
description. Links on the map pages will provide more detailed information about
the shops, restaurants and other nearby attractions.
