The Twin Cities really know how to do retro. From rockabilly wear to Eames-inspired furniture, you'll find everything you need to recreate the era of your choice, from the 1950s through the 1980s, in Minneapolis and St. Paul's myriad cool, independently owned boutiques. One region with a particularly concentrated cluster is the St. Paul Retro Loop, a group of five shops in the Merriam Park East neighborhood.

Beginning with Up Six, the loop's southernmost stop housed in a row of brick storefronts at 157 Snelling Ave. N, you'll find a mix of vintage clothing, furniture, records, shoes, and accessories. Just around the corner at 1287 Selby, Lula is a treasure trove of crinoline ball gowns, flirty cocktail dresses, pill box hats, fur-trimmed coats, and colorful printed scarves. Stock up on a suitcase's worth, and then head up to University Avenue, where at number 1910 you'll hit the jackpot for Mod Squad era stuff at Swank. Space-age finds straight out of The Jetsons overflow onto the sidewalk. A half mile up the road, there's a den of art deco to Danish modern delights at Classic Retro @ Pete's, and a bit further on, more Scandinavian treasures, including a range of glassware and pottery, and a well-selected mix of furniture fill Succotash.

The St. Paul Retro Loop is just six miles from Aloft Minneapolis, so after a full day of shopping you can sink a few balls, like a 1960s pool shark at the re:mix(SM) lounge.