Spree – The Shoppers Roadtrip: Pittsburgh and Its Countryside

The so-called Steel City can be as cosmopolitan as they come, with plenty of "steals" along the way. Pittsburgh is a nice place for shopping, due to its compact, walkable business district - think of it as the most efficient way to bounce from shop to shop. Anchored by Macy's Department Store (formerly Kaufmanns), downtown offers an eclectic variety of department stores, specialty shops and trendy boutiques. Mix up your more traditional downtown shopping experiences with a few visits to the trendy creative outlets in the Strip District. Oh, and don't forget to stop and eat - you'll spot plenty of cafes along the way.

Let's start the morning off big at Macy's Department Store (Fifth Avenue & Smithfield Street). It's one of those magical shopping experiences you just must have, all in it's eleven floors of Macy's glory. Window shop your way down to Saks Fifth Avenue (513 Smithfield St.) This small but elegant downtown Pittsburgh store is upscale shopping at its finest, with exclusive designer clothing, cosmetics, crystal, china and gifts. On to the Fifth Avenue Arcade Shops (Fifth, Liberty & Penn Avenues). Something for everyone can be found among the unique mix of specialty shops at Fifth Avenue Place, from discounted women's fashions to jewelry and one-of-a-kind gift items. Finally, we'll hit One Oxford Centre (301 Grant St.) From high fashion at Emphatics to the timeless classic clothing of Ann Taylor and Talbots, shops at One Oxford Centre offer a lot of variety. Don't miss the hand-made items by area artisans at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Store.

Like a hipster's DIY zone, The Strip hoards all the cool, out-of-the-way gear for shoppers with interesting projects at hand. Stop here, in Pittsburgh's historic market district, for the freshest fish, produce, pastries and ethnic goods, along with kitchen wares, cookbooks, and antiques. It's lunchtime, so make your way over to the Robert Wholey Company on Penn Avenue. Get a fish sandwich on an Italian roll, the same specialty they've been making for over a hundred years. Then hit the road for more traditional shopping, like fabrics, collectibles and cool accessories. Get inspired in the Design Zone, a row of over 100 art-oriented businesses (ad agencies, architects) that runs from the Strip out to Lawrenceville.

An hour north from Pittsburgh, you'll find the Volant Village Shops. Volant started out as a small gristmill town in 1893, then in the 1970s became nearly a ghost town when the mill closed. Lucky for all of us, the town is livelier than ever, if not a shopper's paradise. These charming stores create an atmosphere that only this area of Pennsylvania has to offer. The James Creek Galleries offers American- and traditional-made furniture and other fine things, like that perfect Windsor chair. The 1906 Merchantile is another décor must-see, along with Miss Scarlett's Gift Parlor. And you can't miss the Bulk Food & Candy Store, one of the largest purveyors of nostalgic candies you ever did see.

It may not be a mill anymore, but this winery is still pumping out the good stuff. Family owned and operated, these award-winning reds, whites and "fruit" wines are great gifts to bring home to your house sitter. Try the "Elderberry" - a smooth, dark berry wine with a rich and floral aroma.

The Old Amish Order is alive and well in Volant. Buttons are absolutely prohibited, as are belts, by the Amish anyway. But you're still more than welcome here (as long as you take it easy on the video and photographing), and it's common to see station wagons co-mingling with carriages on main street Volant. There's just something special about all the horse-drawn buggies ambling along on a Sunday afternoon. Speaking of special, get a late lunch at the Dumplin Haus on Main Street. Everything is homemade, including pies, breads, soups and cinnamon rolls. Try the famous chicken salad sandwiches and apple dumplin's.

Just 20 minutes east of Volant is Grove City and the home to outlet shopping mania.   Here the Prime Outlets help you shop big at over 140 stores in this open-air savings village. Dig deep at the usual amazing suspects: Calvin Klein, Juicy Couture, Oakley, Polo, Wilson's Leather, Zale's and more. Remember, this is tax-free shopping, so let yourself go. This is why you packed that extra suitcase.