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Best Places In Chicago To Get Your Holiday Shopping Done Early

You've got a shopping list that looks like it's a mile long and about a month to get everything wrapped up. What's a busy Chicagoan to do? Consider making the most of your time by perusing the shops in a shopping district or mall in the area. Eclectic boutiques and big-box retailers alike can all help you find what you need. Take a look at these five shopping districts and malls in the Chicago area when you're shopping this holiday season. Before you go, check online for special holiday hours and discounts.

Downtown Oak Park
(Photo Credit: Downtown Oak Park's Facebook)

Downtown Oak Park
Lake St. and Harlem Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60301
(708) 383-4145
www.downtownoakpark.net

Browse the selection of antique stores, stationery shops and special food retailers in Oak Park's downtown area. Retailers in this suburb include Fitzgerald's Fine Stationery, Fleet Feet Sports, Scratch 'n Sniff and Ten Thousand Villages. A number of restaurants and fast-casual places dot the area too, so you can refuel while shopping. Would you like a bit of culture while you shop? Then consider taking a look at the Ernest Hemingway Foundation or take a tour through the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust.

Fashion Outlets Of Chicago
5220 Fashion Outlets Way
Rosemont, IL 60018
(847) 928-7500
www.fashionoutletsofchicago.com

Located just outside Chicago in the suburb of Rosemont, Fashion Outlets of Chicago have more than a few options when it comes to shopping. The shopping center has more than 130 retailers, with everything from shoes, clothing and accessories to chocolates, cosmetics, luggage and toys. Retailers include Bath & Body Works, Lucky Brand, lululemon athletica and Michael Kors. Fashion Outlets of Chicago offers a number of services, too, with gift wrapping, coat check and other services available for a fee. For directions to the mall when using a GPS device, check out the shopping center's website.

Logan Square Neighborhood
Milwaukee Ave. and Logan Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60647
loganchamber.org

What can you find in Chicago's bustling Logan Square neighborhood? The answer: What can't you find? The neighborhood features an array of independent retailers, including children's store Play, City Lit Books, which has a selection of titles for adults and children, and menswear shop Meyvn. Take a stroll along Milwaukee Avenue, Logan Boulevard and Kedzie Avenue and you'll find a number of other shops for everyone on your list. If you'd like to add something fresh and locally produced to your next holiday event, then consider stopping in at the Logan Square Farmers Market, held indoors on Sundays at 2755 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Related: Best Places To Buy Vintage Video Games & Accessories In Chicago

Santa
(Photo Credit: shopwatertower.com)

Water Tower Place
835 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 440-3166
www.shopwatertower.com

If you live or work in Chicago's Near North Side, then consider stopping in at Water Tower Place for some holiday shopping. The shopping center features about 100 retailers, and shoppers can peruse the likes of Vera Bradley, Macy's, Marbles: The Brain Store, Coach, Eileen Fisher, Armani Exchange and many more. After a day of shopping at Water Tower Place, make sure to spend some time on Michigan Avenue, too. Known as the Magnificent Mile, the famed retail district has a number of art galleries, restaurants and specialty stores; for a full list of retailers that can be found on Michigan Avenue, check out the Mag Mile's website.

Woodfield Mall
5 Woodfield Mall
Schaumburg, IL 60173
(847) 330-0220
www.simon.com

With about 300 stores all under one roof, there's a good chance you can find what you need for everyone on your shopping list at Woodfield Mall. Located in the northwest suburb of Schaumburg, the mall features an assortment of retailers that include Apple, Banana Republic, Disney Store, Columbia, LEGO, Journeys, Lacoste and many more. If you need a quick break from shopping, you're in luck; the shopping mall also boasts a number of places to grab a bite to eat, including The Cheesecake Factory, Starbucks and A&W All-American Food. Take a look at the mall's website for information regarding holiday hours.

Related: Best Boutiques For Back To School Clothes In Chicago

Megan Horst-Hatch is a runner, reader, baker, gardener, knitter, and other words that end in "-er." She is also the president of Megan Writes, LLC. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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