A Shopping Wonderland

Orange County is a constantly evolving shopping Mecca, perfect for fulfilling your holiday wish list. Not only is Orange County a trendsetter of fashion and design, but it is also a hub of eclectic shopping locales and experiences. From high-end retailers and trend-setting boutiques to bargain shopping, there’s something to be found for every kind of shopper. Orange County offers hundreds of top retailers including eight popular shopping destinations.

The Anaheim GardenWalk, will be an outdoor lifestyle shopping and dining center with more than 400,000 square feet of national stores, unique boutiques, restaurants and cinemas in a tranquil garden setting. The grand opening is set for the end of May 2008. The first phase included the opening of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant & Market, Rhe Cheesecake Factory, McCormick & Schmick’s Grille, P.F. Chang’s and California Pizza Kitchen. Roy’s is set to open toward the end of March.

The Downtown Disney® District located in the heart of the Disneyland Resort offers a variety of dining, shopping and entertainment choices. For entertainment, the district features a House of Blues, an AMC Theatres® and an ESPN Zone, for dining, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen® and the Rainforest Café and Tortilla Jo’s. Shopping options include World of Disney®, The LEGO Imagination Center, as well as the recently opened Anne Geddes and Fossil stores.

Newport Beach’s Fashion Island is a premier open-air coastal shopping destination with an ocean view and nearly 200 specialty shops that are reminiscent of a Mediterranean village. Complemented by a unique 20,000-gallon Koi Pond, a custom-made Venetian-themed carousel and an ice-rink the center has unique boutiques, award-winning restaurants and exclusive shops. Fashion Island also has the county’s only Neiman Marcus, Kate Spade and Juicy Couture.

The Irvine Spectrum Center is a retail center anchored by restaurants, shopping, and entertainment venues. Offering a diverse collection of more than 120 stores, recent additions include H&M, Lucky Brand and Buckle, with a Tommy Bahama shop to open soon. Entertainment options include Dave & Buster’s, one of the country’s largest movie theater complexes, Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 Cinemas, which includes the eight-story-high IMAX Theater, as well as live entertainment at The Irvine Comedy Club. The center has an antique-themed carousel with carved horses and whimsical animals and also has a 108-foot Giant Wheel.

The Block at Orange offers a wide array of food, shops and entertainment in any one location. The variety of shopping includes the only Hilo Hattie location outside of Hawaii, PAC SUN, OC Trends, Virgin Megastore, and Tilly’s with a Forever 21 and Wet Seal shops to open soon. Food offerings of note include Café Tu Tu Tango, Market Broiler and one of only two Alcatraz Brewing Co. locations in the country. Entertainment options include the AMC Theatres® (The Block 30), Vans SkatePark, Dave & Buster’s, and the upscale bowling venue Lucky Strike Lanes.

Part of the alternative-shopping scene is the “SoBeCa District” (South On Bristol Entertainment, Culture and Arts), which encompasses The CAMP and The LAB ANTIMALL, located across the street from each other on South Bristol in Costa Mesa. Both sites consist of progressive, lifestyle-culture, specialty-retail shopping with interests in fashion, arts and the outdoors. The CAMP offers a nontraditional shopping center that balances culture, sophistication and functionality. Offerings include Adventure 16/Patagonia, Native Foods, and Old Vine Café. Urban Outfitters anchors The LAB’s eclectic array of unique shops and restaurants that includes Habana, The Gypsy Den Café, Eye Five, Thousands Elsewhere and Harlow.

As one of Southern California’s most luxurious shopping destinations, South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, boasts more than 280 marquee stores such as Hugo Boss, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, Cartier, and the recently added Michael Kors, Movado and Versace. New additions to the complex will include Rolex, Canali and Calvin Klein. South Coast Plaza also offers a multitude of unique eatery options throughout the center, some of which offer patio dining. 

Located in Santa Ana, Westfield MainPlace offers a variety of stores ranging from apparel to health and beauty to electronics, home furnishings and large retailers such as Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Robinsons-May. The mall has several eateries, a food court and a number of restaurants. Westfield MainPlace has an onsite California Welcome Center and is also currently serving as a donation site for Southern California wildfire victims through November 23.