Photos by:
TriangleLocalista.com
TriangleLocalista.com recently did a fantastic series focused on the various "independent retail & dining establishments found in pedestrian-friendly areas of the Triangle". It's a great idea, rather than spending all day fighting crowds at the mall, or fighting traffic and parking hassles from one chain store to another, why not make a morning or afternoon of exploring unique independent stores in a walker-friendly area. You can grab a coffee and muffin from a local coffee shop, enjoy lunch at an independent eatery, support the local community, and knock out your holiday shopping, all while enjoying the fresh air as you stroll from store-front to store-front. The series explores downtown Durham, Pittsboro, Apex, Wake Forest, and Cary. Links below:
Downtown Durham:
http://www.trianglelocalista.com/2012/11/23/shop-local-and-sustain-a-bull/
Downtown Pittsboro:
http://www.trianglelocalista.com/2012/11/20/shop-local-downtown-pittsboro/
Downtown Apex:
http://www.trianglelocalista.com/2012/11/16/shop-local-downtown-apex/
Downtown Wake Forest:
http://www.trianglelocalista.com/2012/11/12/shop-local-downtown-wake-forest/
Downtown Cary:
http://www.trianglelocalista.com/2012/11/05/shop-local-downtown-carys-heart/
...Or, Support Local Businesses Online:
Still too busy to get out and shop? Why not support local businesses by shopping them online? Triangle Localista also suggests some local businesses you can purchase from online, and have your gifts shipped around the country. One very interesting suggestion is
The Makery, which is similar to Etsy, but focused just on North Carolina artists and craftspeople.
Local Businesses Online:
http://www.trianglelocalista.com/2012/11/26/shop-local-online/
