Find unique holiday shopping on National Scenic Byway

A Great Lakes Seaway Trail "Top 11 Shopping Sampler"

Lewiston, Town of Niagara among stops

As the year-end holiday frenzy begins, shoppers can find unique artisanal and mainstream buying experiences along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway, which parallels the freshwater shoreline in New York and Pennsylvania.

The top 11 shopping destinations suggested by tourism representatives of the 518-mile-long byway follow, moving from west to east along the route, which includes Niagara Falls, Rochester and the 1000 Islands.

Great Lakes Seaway Trail: Erie, Pa.

New stores among the more than 150 shops, restaurants and plazas of the Millcreek Mall include ULTA Beauty, Tilly's, Jess' Choice, and Widget Kidz Zone. A bonus of shopping along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail in Pennsylvania is no sales tax on clothing or shoes. Ask about the Millcreek Mall Exclusive Guest Rewards Card, which allows travelers, visitors and tourists to enjoy discounts at several of the mall stores.

Learn more at www.millcreekmall.net.

Great Lakes Seaway Trail: Westfield

Spend Saturdays-only, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. now through Dec. 21, at Cross Roads Farm and Craft Market in rural Chautauqua County between Sherman and Westfield. The market features dozens of vendors known for their crafts, artwork, woodwork, imported gifts, specialty supplies, collectibles, foodstuffs, candy, coffee, handmade clothing, home décor, and eclectic gift assortment. The market is also open "Black Friday," Nov. 22. Visit http://www.thecrossroadsmarket.com/.

Great Lakes Seaway Trail: Allentown-Buffalo

Elmwood Village is a two-mile avenue stretch through an award-winning neighborhood of Buffalo. With four distinctly charactered sections, the avenue includes the artsy Allentown neighborhood and Buffalo's Museum District. The shopping experience includes the hippest urban independently owned boutiques, trendy cafes, upscale dining, chocolatiers, art galleries and eclectic shops.

Learn more at http://www.elmwoodvillage.org.

Great Lakes Seaway Trail: Niagara Frontier

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail Niagara Frontier region offers shoppers everything from the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls to the lovely Village of Lewiston, dotted with a fine array of shops and eateries decked out for the holiday season. Just minutes from the famed Niagara Falls, Fashion Outlets, at 1900 Military Road, is home to more than 150 top designer brand-name stores (http://fashionoutlets.com/).

Nearby, at 28 Old Falls St., shoppers find culinary-themed books at Barnes & Noble at the Culinary Institute of Niagara Falls (http://niagaraculinaryinstitute.bncollege.com/).

Great Lakes Seaway Trail: Albion

For the art lovers on your list, visit Marti's on Main, 229 N. Main St., to be exact, in Albion, a European-style art gallery featuring "One River: 2 Coasts, 3 Generations, 4 Photographers, 5 Artists, 6 Decades: an exhibit by the Fleckenstein family," plus other Artists of the Oak works. The participants of the Orleans County Art Trail include gallery owner Kim Martillotta, who credits the Great Lakes with influencing her surrealistic assemblage art.

Learn more in Kim's blog at http://martisonmain09.blogspot.com/.

Great Lakes Seaway Trail: Rochester

Looking for Made in America gifts? Try the New York-made selection of everything from art to zithers at Simply New York at 4364 Culver Road, Rochester/Irondequoit. The mix of products includes box kites, dinnerware, Highland Lilac soap, regional books, pottery, housewares, alpaca fiber goods, sandals, toys, and gourmet food items (www.simplynystore.com).

Great Lakes Seaway Trail: Wayne County

For a free 2013 Wayne County Holiday Guide, call 1-800-527-6510 or visit [email protected]. The guide suggests visiting the Artisan's Loft, Pultneyville; The Emporium Village, Ontario; Heluva Good Country Cheese Store, Sodus; Kitchen's Country Market, North Rose; Lukacs Pottery Studio, Sodus Point; Mackenzie's, Palmyra; JD Wine Cellars at Long Acre Farms, Macedon; Young Sommer Winery, Williamson; and Thorpe Vineyard on Chimney Heights Boulevard near Lake Ontario. Stop to eat at The Franklin House Tavern in Sodus Point or Orbaker's Drive-In in Williamson.

Great Lakes Seaway Trail: Fair Haven

South Shore Artisans on Main Street in Fair Haven offers a collection of art in all mediums, from oils and pastels to jewelry, candles, graphics, woodturning, fabric arts, ceramics, baskets and stained glass. A harpist will be making beautiful music at the gallery during the Dec. 14 "Jingle Around Town" holiday event.

Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/SouthShoreArtisans.

Great Lakes Seaway Trail: Oswego

Canal Commons in downtown Oswego offers a variety of shops with everything from spices, coffees, and other culinary delights, to a candymaker, women's boutique, and Lakeside Artisans gallery.

Learn more at http://www.canalcommons.com/.

Great Lakes Seaway Trail: Watertown

The Hilton Garden Inn "Serious Shoppers Only Package" is for glamour gift and bargain hunters. The package includes $40 in gift cards, a coupon book, eco-tote, cocktails, dinner and breakfast. This hotel has the only hot tub in town and a pool for relaxing.

For more details, call the hotel directly at 315-788-1234.

Great Lakes Seaway Trail: Cheel Arena, Potsdam

For a one-weekend shopping spree, follow the Great Lakes Seaway Trail into St. Lawrence County and then head east toward the Adirondack Mountains to attend the Dec. 13-14 Craft, Food & Wine Show at Cheel Arena at Clarkson University in Potsdam. Nearly 120 booths offer maple products, mini-quilts, goat milk soap, cedar furniture, rag dolls, decoys, art on conks, wine, cheeses, candies and more. Last year's event drew 5,000 visitors.

Find more information at http://northcountryguide.com/.

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail is not only a great place to shop for the holidays, but for year-round travel. Find tourism themes, itineraries, maps and more at www.seawaytrail.com or call 315-646-1000, ext. 204, for a free travel magazine.