Page 67 - 2015 Travel Guide to California

heraldic griffins, the Citadel Outlets holds
700,000 square feet of retail bargains inside
a one-time 1929 tire plant modeled on an
ancient Assyrian palace. And between the
Farmer’s Market and The Grove shopping
center, the Grove Trolley provides shoppers
free rides along First Street.
The West Hollywood Design District fea-
tures high-end fashion, interior design,
furniture, decorative arts and luxury brand
stores on Melrose Avenue and Robertson and
Beverly boulevards. Sunset Boulevard’s world
famous Amoeba Music is the nation’s largest
music emporium, stocking an overwhelming
selection of vinyl, CDs, tapes, posters and col-
lectibles—at rock-bottom prices.
In Santa Monica’s breezy, outdoor Third
Street Promenade, find the usual mall sus-
pects, Anthropologie and Gap, as well as
celebrity-soaked Fred Segal and Zara, a
trendy European chain.
Artsy shoppers should head to nearby
Venice Beach’s hip art galleries, bookstores
and vintage shops. For bargains, drive
north to Camarillo’s giant 160-store Camar-
illo Premium Outlets.
In Orange County, quintessential SoCal
shopping experiences await in huge open-
air malls, complete with valet parking.
Inspired by Spain’s Alhambra, the Irvine
Spectrum Center holds 130 stores, restau-
rants and a 21-screen cinema, anchored by
Nordstrom and Macy’s.
Fashion Island, with its casual resort
setting featuring splashing fountains and
a koi pond, overlooks the Pacific. Leading
with Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, this
coastal center has more than 100 shops
and 36 restaurants.
Beyond the malls, Laguna Beach’s
stylish art galleries line streets sloping to a
pretty beach. And, if heading to Palm
Springs, stop at the 130-store Desert Hills
Premium Outlets in Cabazon for luxury
designer brands.
Southward in San Diego, begin your
shopping trip with a delightful morning
at waterside Seaport Village. Then, hop on
the Coronado Island ferry and cruise to
the Ferry Landing Marketplace for more
sunny shopping.
San Diego’s own Rodeo Drive—Prospect
Street in La Jolla—has art galleries, bou-
tiques and sweeping Pacific views. In the
city center, the 16½-block Gaslamp Quarter
features mall chains as well as hip shops
and art galleries occupying restored Victo-
rian buildings.
You’ll find San Diego’s two regional
outlet malls on Carlsbad’s coast and south
at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Northern California Elegance
San Francisco’s massive malls and quirky
SHOPPING AT MARINA DEL
Rey, left, and Long Beach, below.
boutiques showcase the city’s European
style. Join the Prada-clad parade circling
downtown Union Square to max out your
platinum card in the upscale department
stores. Stroll down nearby Maiden Lane,
once lined with Barbary Coast brothels, for
more luxury.
Nearby, the Westfield San Francisco
Centre is an architectural gem with 200
stores, restaurants and two food empo-
riums under a stunning 1908 dome.
Don’t miss San Francisco’s great shop-
ping neighborhoods. On Chinatown’s
Stockton Street, you can pick up Asian
antiques, silk clothing bargains or rare tea.
Herbal pharmacies proffer Chinese medic-
inal remedies, ginseng, deer antlers or
herbs costing $100 per pound.
Near Pacific Heights, Sacramento Street
houses fancy consignment shops, luxury
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