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Discounted clothing. Levi's jeans, Abercrombie & Fitch polo shirts, Tommy Hilfiger underwear, Converse sneakers... Here, outlets are commonplace and offer unbeatable prices all year long on a wide selection of American brands.
Signature sweatshirts. A trip to the United States is an opportunity to return with a sweatshirt stamped with the name of a major university, such as UCLA - University of California, Los Angeles - Standford, Berkeley... Generally, you can find them in the stores installed on the campus of the institutions.
Leather hats and boots. Whether at a rodeo or in a town immersed in cowboy culture, such as Virginia City, Nevada, there is no shortage of opportunities to buy "Western" items, as the American West is obliged to do. A temple of the typical Stetson, it also abounds in beautiful belt buckles, sold in more or less authentic stores, like those in Old Town, in San Diego.
Sports jerseys. From the Giants to the San Francisco 49ers, the Los Angeles Lakers to the Anaheim Ducks, baseball, soccer, basketball and field hockey teams are among the highlights of California: buy the jersey of your favorite player - why not LeBron James?
Turquoise jewelry. Arizona and Nevada are famous for their abundance of mines. While some were forced to close, like Sleeping Beauty - once the largest in the country and one of the largest in the world - the mining that went on there can still be seen on many of the pendants, earrings and bracelets on display in stores across the Southwest. Commonly associated with Native Americans, turquoise jewelry has been around since the 1880s, when a European salesman persuaded a Navajo artisan to make one from a piece of silver. Before that, shamans used turquoise in ceremonies to commune with the sky spirit.
Decoration and everyday objects
Antiques". Like ships going back in time, stores called "antique stores " specialize in the sale of old objects... or not so old. Because we are not talking about items dating back several centuries, but about everyday objects, symbolic of 20th century America. Star Wars or animal figurines, rosaries, Bibles, pious pictures, tin cans, artificial snow bombs, license plates, typewriters, Coca-Cola bottles, plastic toys, baseball cards, Route 66 signs... These are joyful bric-a-brac items where kitschy items rub shoulders with rare pearls, offering a sort of museum of the deepest United States, of which our childhood movies gave us a brief glimpse. Thus, in Orange, California, the Old Towne district is definitely worth a visit for its quantity ofantique stores.
Native American crafts. From intricately carved woodwork to ethnic linens to pottery, Native Americans create excellent products. These are found primarily in Arizona, around Navajo, Hopi and Apache reservations and other areas, such as gas station stores. There are also historic stores such as Cameron Trading Post near the Grand Canyon and Cocopah in Sedona. Although there is no label to certify the authenticity of the items, just look at their labels to be sure of their provenance. If they are free of it, ask the sellers. Also, craftsmanship comes at a cost: if the price of the products seems very low, they are probably not authentic.
Movie posters. Some Like It Hot, Pulp Fiction, Jaws, Back to the Future, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Last Jedi... As the birthplace of Hollywood and the 7th art, California is full of businesses with movie posters on their walls, from vintage classics to more recent works. Some of them are run by real movie buffs, happy to chat with other enthusiasts.
Merchandise. Whether in national parks such as the Grand Canyon (Arizona) and the Arches (Utah), or in attractions such as the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, and Universal Studios Hollywood, in the suburbs of Los Angeles, American souvenir stores are particularly well-stocked. Beautiful photography books, mugs, maps, pairs of socks, T-shirts and caps are found on the shelves of the former. In the latter, you'll find a lot of merchandise related to the theme of the place, from sweatshirts and figurines to objects specific to their universe, such as Star Wars lightsabers and Harry Potter wands. The catch: the sometimes exorbitant prices.
Memories of Las Vegas. A gambling temple with a theme park feel, the city also has a large number of souvenir stores. You can buy poker sets, dice, chips, shot glasses, magnets, keychains, or even flashy hats and t-shirts.
Gourmet products
Wine. Although France's wine contributes to its cultural richness and worldwide reputation, it would be a shame to pass up one of the fine bottles of California wine that can be found in the evocative Wine Country north of San Francisco or in the Central Coast valleys north of Santa Barbara. A bottle of zinfandel, the region's star grape, will be a hit when you return. However, prices are generally higher than in Europe.
Cannabis. Its use has been legalized for recreational purposes in California, Nevada and Arizona, and it is sold in many dedicated stores, the "dispensaries". Chocolate bars, honey, herbal tea, peanut butter candies, varieties of weed... Some shops, such as MedMen, are like delicatessens, with a choice of products that is beyond comprehension and for which the salesmen are of great help. Also, the law is strictly enforced: it is impossible to cross the threshold of a dispensary if you are under 21 years old, even if accompanied. Moreover, it is forbidden to fly with cannabis, whatever its presentation
