THE HEIGHTS. One of the many antiques and collectibles vendors along the Heights' historic main street, this business is actually a co-op, whose dozen dealers sell a wide variety of goods at low to mid-range prices. You'll find everything from elegant wooden furniture to curious oddities.#13;#10;

THE HEIGHTS. One of the city's top destinations for pursuing antiques, this street north of downtown Houston attracts lots of folks looking to accent their homes with something beautiful and time-tested. Numerous shops clustered in the area offer a variety of goods; if you think antiques are old hat, you can browse art galleries and home decor shops instead. Thankfully, a few cafes in the vicinity cater to folks on the search for new treasures.

OLD TOWN SPRING. Whether you're in the mood for a quick day trip outside of the city limits or you're in the market for antiques and art, you'll want to make the drive to Old Town Spring. The turn-of-the-century community north of Houston offers tons of character and loads of merchandise in restored homes from the era. The pedestrian-friendly streets are full of shoppers wandering from locale to locale, and if you decide to stay over, you'll find B&Bs, wineries, and even a number of festivals that take place throughout the spring and fall.

UPPER KIRBY DISTRICT. This pleasant shop specializes in antique silver and linens, American and British. Drop by and check out the stock, which includes items by Tiffany, Gorham, and Jensen.

TOMBALL. You should be able to find all sorts of things you're looking for in this area, which was once known as Oil Town, USA ­ in 1933, liquid gold shot 100 feet in the air here. Now, the town offers some 49 shops selling a variety of merchandise, including antiques. Worth a trip just for the friendly, downhome hospitality.