Kentucky has its share of shopping malls, big-box stores and antique shops. There always seems to be a place to shop. While there may not be a Rodeo Drive or Times Square, the larger cities in Kentucky seem to be able to meet consumer needs.

There are times, however, that it’s a lot of fun to search out those little out-of-the-way places that you would never find in a big city.

Almost everything I know about shopping, I owe to my mom. She was a wheeler and dealer. I remember going shopping with her on several occasions. Shopping for clothes was the worst. But anything else was OK. 

I will never forget when she went to buy a refrigerator. She made the salesman earn his money that day. She would not accept someone pointing in the direction of appliances and saying, “They’re over there.” In order for my mom to be sold, that salesman had to pound on the side of the fridge to prove it wouldn’t dent. He had to almost do a chin-up on the top shelf to show her it would support the milk, a big pitcher of Kool-Aid, and a giant jar of dill pickles. There weren’t any automatic ice makers back then, but it was important to her how many ice trays the freezer would hold. My mom’s clincher on closing the deal was that it had to be delivered that day. No tomorrow for her. It was her final piece of the chase. “I’ll take it if you can deliver it this afternoon,” she’d say.

That night, our new refrigerator might as well been a new television set, as many times as I walked into the kitchen just to look at it, often opening the door just to make sure my Kool-Aid was getting cold. This led to mom yelling at me from the living room to “shut that door, do you think we’re cooling the whole house with it?”

Not a bad idea, I thought, as we were several years away from having an air-conditioned house.

I’ve encountered during my travels some of the best places to shop in some of the most out-of-the-way places, and I can guarantee my mother would have loved them all. And like any good woman who enjoys the chase, she couldn’t wait to tell anyone listening how much she paid.

Here goes:

Creatures of Habit in Paducah is unlike any store you’ll visit. It’s a one-of-a-kind store that sells and rents costumes. With more than 11,000 costumes and half a million authentic period garments and accessories in stock, it’s no wonder it takes much of the four-story 1908 brick downtown building to hold it all.

A few years ago, the store made a Hollywood connection and ever since, its services have been used in movies such as “In Country,” “Pink Cadillac,” “A League of Their Own” and “Titanic,” just to mention a few.

This store carries make-up, wigs, beards, special effects and, of course, masks. Sizes of costumes range from child size 6 to adult XXXXL. Call 270-442-2923 for more information.

Lee’s Garden Center on the outskirts of Hodgenville seems to appear out of nowhere when driving on U.S. 31-E. It’s a pleasant surprise. Almost anything to do with outdoor growing, you’ll find it here, and Lee’s has made its mark as an agricultural learning center, hosting more than 23,000 school kids each October. Call 270-358-9897 for more information.

If you’re looking to shop, browse and grab a bite to eat, then you need to visit Irish Acres in Nonesuch. The Woodford County 1930-something former school building is a destination visit. When you walk past the antebellum-like columns and through the front door, you come face to face with a world-class antique gallery. It’s almost overwhelming in a good sort of way. The icing on the cake is the Glitz tearoom in the lower level’s former school cafeteria. Irish Acres is open from St. Patrick’s Day until the last day of December. Call 859-873-7235 for more information.

Paradise Point is out in the middle of nowhere on U.S. 31-E near Barren River State Resort Park, but it’s worth a trip even if you just stop to look it over. It can be described as a collection of funky junk and art with an ultra-hip personality. With its 1950s and 1960s furniture, it has a museum-like effect on shoppers. You might want to try one of the “planet best” hot dogs. Call 270-392-0465 for more information.

This is a promise. You’ll never go in a general store like Bobby Duncan’s. You have my word on it.

The Strunk store has almost anything you can imagine. Duncan started working there in 1945 as a teenager, and it’s safe to say that he still has a few things for sale that have been in the store as long as he has. “Back in the early 1950s they audited me,” Bobby said. “I even remember the man’s name that was here. You know I haven’t seen anyone from there since.”

If you’re anywhere near McCreary County, you’ve got to stop in Bobby Duncan’s General Store (606-354-2202). I’ve listed the phone number, but that doesn’t mean Bobby will answer the phone. I even called the local newspaper about the phone situation. They assured me he was still open. Heck, even if you only look through the window, it’s worth a visit.

Other places worth a shopping visit:

•Uncle Lee’s in Greenville (270-338-5866), a 130,000-square-foot store.

•Hawks View Glass Blowing Gallery and Café in Hillview in Bullitt County (502-955-1010).

•Metzger’s Country Store in Simpsonville has supplies and feed for almost any pet. Their motto is “animals make people happy … we make animals happy.”

•Wakefield-Scearce Galleries in Shelbyville (502-633-4382). Located in the former girls’ school called Science Hill, this incredible shop features more than 32,000 square feet of English Georgian antiques.

•Paul’s Discount in Somerset (606-678-4405) is a dinosaur by retail store standards with 20,000 square feet of slightly disorganized décor. You want it, they have it, and they still use price tags at checkout.

There is lots to see and do in Kentucky, so get up, get out and get going!

— Gary West’s column runs monthly in the Daily News. He can be reached by emailing west1488@insightbb.com.