There are many things to do for fun in Omaha. My favorite off-campus activity is to shop.

Omaha has recently welcomed a new store downtown, American Apparel, and is awaiting the arrival of another shop, Anthropologie, which is coming soon to Regency Court.

I grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a city with a population of 127,000. Cedar Rapids does not offer a great variety in shopping, so I usually resorted to trips to Chicago or the Internet.

I can specifically remember walking into the gym on the first day of high school, and seeing almost half of the freshman girls wearing the same American Eagle classic polo. Because the polo only came in about six different colors, many girls were wearing the same one. Ever since that experience, I have not been a frequent shopper of the store.

My lack of exposure to big-city style has made me strive to be unique with my clothing choices. When I arrived in Omaha last year, I knew I was lucky. I immediately recognized that there are actually more than two malls in addition to boutiques and specialty shops.

I was, and still am, in shopping heaven. All of my favorite clothes are at my finger tips.

“When Village Pointe opened, it was a big deal because they had upper-scaled stores that Omaha, as well as the rest of Nebraska, had never seen before,” said Arts & Sciences sophomore Katie Lester, a long time Nebraska resident.

The addition of Village Pointe, as well as the renovation of Westroads mall, has greatly improved Omaha’s shopping scene.

Village Pointe, which opened within the past five years, is the home to one of the most anticipated stores to come to the Omaha area: the Apple Store. It houses the first Apple Store to come to Nebraska, and it remains the only one.

The renovation of Westroads mall brought a smarter, more accessible layout with trendier stores. Some of these stores include Forever 21, Delia’s and DSW.

A major contributor to the mall’s sales is Von Maur. This department store is three stories high and includes an enormous shoe section – one of the best varieties of brand name shoes in the Midwest.

The Old Market is another hot spot for shopping. A popular nightlife, great restaurants and one-of-a-kind boutiques make this a unique spot for shopping and enjoyable for almost anyone . Three of my favorite stores include Nouveau Riche, The Paper Doll and the Nebraska Clothing Company.

Downtown Omaha is also becoming a target for shoppers. Urban Outfitters opened last year, just a few blocks from campus on 14th Street. Because of its great location, as well as its variety of distinctive clothing, this store has been a big hit in the area. American Apparel, which opened on Sept. 12, offers simple styles of clothing in a variety of colors.

The soon-to-come store, Anthropologie, contains higher-end merchandise in different areas: clothing, shoes, purses, accessories, and home furnishings.

If you ever feel like saying Omaha is lacking in shopping, don’t hold your breath because it sure isn’t.