Ah, thrift store shopping. As fun to do as it is to say! Go on, trying saying it three times fast. Anyway, I digress. Thrift store shopping is a fun and exciting experience, even in a small town such as Sault Ste. Marie. So, if you want to go on a modern day treasure hunt, I suggest the following places, and for the following reasons.
My first stop was the Salvation Army. I know what youre thinking: people standing around a store in bright red coats ringing bells and asking for your pocket change. Not quite, my friend. Walking into this building I was immediately amazed at just how much stuff is donated. Walls lined with books, shoes, board games, winter wear. I started searching. Let me tell you, if you are a poor college student, this is the place to go for dishes. Plates, cups, bowls, they have it all. And none of it is more than a dollar. I needed a coffee mug, and I got a really nifty one for only fifty cents. 
The cool thing about thrift store shopping is that you never know what youll find. Usually you find stuff that you never thought youd see again, like the Mexican poncho hoodie that I found for only three dollars; the hoodie just like the ones that I stole from my dad as a kid. Or maybe you need a long scarf to keep you warm during this freezing winter. The Salvation Army had racks of them, all long and soft and absolutely warm.
A lot of college students are familiar with St. Vincents. Im surprised I wasnt before now. A lot of floor space in this place, and a lot of fun things to look at. If youre thinking of getting an apartment and are going to need a cheap bed or mattress, you would definitely want to look here. Their selection isnt that bad. And if youre into books, this place as a ton of them on shelves in the back. Cookbooks, fiction, non-fiction; there is a large selection for somebody who wants a random book to read. Most of what they have is clothes, and while some people are wary of what clothes they buy at a thrift store, I have to say that you can find some pretty fun stuff here. Some of these pieces only need a few touch-ups to make a nifty outfit, or a cool Halloween costume. 
The key to thrift store shopping is finding something random and falling in love with it. My friend found a spice rack with empty bottles that she plans on using for holding her scrap booking supplies. I found a Fedora, you know, the kind of hat mob members would wear when they were out on the town. 
There are other thrift stores in town that were closed by the time we got to them. The Thrift Store isnt far from campus, and Value Village is just over the bridge. My advice is to give all of these places a try. They are great for mini-adventures and treasure hunts and spending time with friends trying on silly hats. It is at these little shops that you can explore and maybe, if youre lucky, find a little treasure of your own.
