The Galleria

New York has Fifth Avenue. Beverly Hills has Rodeo Drive. In Houston, luxury stores flock to the Galleria. The gigantic indoor mall has a dazzling array of designer boutiques, including Dior, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Ferragamo, Fendi, Jimmy Choo, MaxMara, Tory Burch, Cartier, DeBeers, Tiffany & Co. and Bulgari, along with Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and two Macy's. Developer Gerald Hines modeled the mall after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan and added a large ice rink in the middle. The layout can be a little puzzling as the mall been enlarged four times since it opened in 1970, but go in any direction. It's a shopper's heaven. When you've shopped 'til you've dropped, check out a slew of restaurants, ranging from a large food court around the ice rink to such favorites as the Gigi's Asian Bistro, Del Frisco Double Eagle Steakhouse, Cheesecake Factory, Rainforest Cafe, The Daily Grill and The Oceanaire Seafood Room.

Serious shoppers valet park at the Neiman Marcus entrance off of Post Oak Boulevard.