How to Find the Best Shopping in Queens, New York

Shopping in Queens, New York, is often ignored in favor of shopping in Manhattan. However, that's not to say that there isn't an abundance of great places to shop in New York City's largest borough. Here are a few places to shop in Queens if you live there or ever are lucky enough to spend a day there!

Things You'll Need

• transportation to Queens
• appetite for shopping
• money

Instructions

Shopping in Queens, New York!

1. Go to the Queens Center. Once a rather small shopping center, the past three years have been kind to the Queens Center. It is now approximately three times as large as it used to be. With an abundance of great department stores, fashion (Urban Outfitters, Papaya, Abercrombie and Fitch, etc) and a sprawling food court, this is the place to shop in Queens. With anything you could ask for from a mall, there's not really much need to go anywhere else!

2. Stop by the Queens Place. Located on Queens Boulevard not far from the aforementioned Queens Center, this mall hosts a great selection of stores, from a multi-level Target to a Daffy's outlet department store. Not only is the shopping selection fantastic, there is also a great selection of dining options, from Red Lobster to Outback Steakhouse, Coldstone Creamery, Mrs. Fields Cookies, and everything else in between.

3. Take a stroll through Austin Street in Forest Hills! If you take the E express train to 71st Street, you will get off right in the heart of Austin Street. Austin Street is kind of like an outdoor mall, with stores ranging from Ann Taylor Loft to Victoria's Secret to the Gap. Not only does Austin Street have almost every major fashion chain, there are a lot of nice unique boutique shops. Be sure to check them all out, they range from extremely cheap to extremely expensive. Be sure not to miss out on this exciting shopping experience.

4. Visit the Shops at Atlas Park in Glendale! A new, classy, sophisticated shopping center, the Shops at Atlas Park has a great selection of shops. With everything from J. Jill to Laila Rowe, this is a great place to keep up on the latest fashions. Not to mention, the Shops at Atlas Park has some fabulous dining options, including a California Pizza Kitchen.

5. Visit Rego Park! Off Queens Boulevard, there is a plaza hosting a diverse and solid selection of stores. Sears, Marshall's outlet department store, Circuit City, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and many more, this is a great source for your practical shopping needs. If you are shopping in the Queens area, this is definitely a place you need to know!

Tips & Warnings

• Queens isn't far from Long Island. You can easily drive to malls on the western side of Long Island, such as the large Roosevelt Field Mall or the excellent outlet mall The Source. There are also trains that make these shopping complexes easily accessible.

• The Queens Center can be extremely crowded on weekends. Try to go on a weekday if possible!