There's the Gap. The Limited. And what's that? Oh, it's an art museum devoted to children's illustrations. Crestwood Court, a mall in St. Louis, Missouri is one of many shopping destinations across the country feeling the affects of a slow economy, but what's different about this mall is that it's renting out its empty spaces to artists, performers, and cultural groups who turn them into galleries, studios, classrooms, and museums. Brilliant! Now you can get your culture and your shopping fix at the same time.

The Children's Illustrated Art Museum is one of several cultural organizations that has set up alongside the mall's fashion boutiques and cell phone stores. Original sketches, illustrations, and paintings by artists like Mary Engelbreit, Astrid Sheckels, and Pamela Carroll are displayed alongside the books in which they appear. Plus special exhibitions create enchanting worlds of fairy tales and fiction, such as the upcoming "Goosebumps" show. Keep an eye on the museum's website to see if there's a special artist appearance coinciding with your visit. The kids will get a kick out of meeting the real person behind all those colorful images. By the end of the day you can all snuggle up in your Heavenly Bed at The Westin St. Louis and read those beloved children's books one more time.