SeeCalifornia.com

If you have given up the trek to malls in favor of online bargain shopping with bonus free shipping, take time this holiday season to check out changes you may have missed at the shopping districts and malls in and around California. During the past several years shopping centers have grown to include more dining options, more movie theaters, trolley rides, carousels, Ferris wheels, Christmas trees, free concerts, entertainment and even ice skating. Shopping has become something special to see and experience first hand.

4 COOL SHOPPING EXPERIENCES IN CALIFORNIA THIS CHRISTMAS:

• Orange County — South Coast Plaza & Fashion Island. Containing every boutique to rival Rodeo Drive, South Coast Plaza (southcoastplaza.com) takes up several city blocks in Costa Mesa. The core of the shopping is an indoor mall that contains a beautiful carousel ride.  One walkway passes over a busy street to another section of shopping and a bridge passes over another street accessing hotels and Orange County Performing Arts Center. 15 minutes west is the outdoor Fashion Island in Newport Beach (shopfashionisland.com) where you can see the world’s tallest living mall Christmas tree, ride the free trolley, dine at gourmet restaurants or brew pubs, and even shop for a car at the Tesla store.
• Los Angeles — Rodeo Drive & Garment District. Rodeo Drive (rodeodrive-bh.com) once known as the ultimate in luxury shopping, has expanded to include affordable fashion and home decor stores for the budget shopper. You can still find the finest items that money can buy, however. Don’t forget to ride the Beverly Hills Trolley which gives you a nice tour around the residential area. Then head on over to Los Angels Shopping District. Building facades may look a little worn but inside are bargains galore–imports, designer, wedding gowns, apparel, couture, and more (fashiondistrict.org).
• San Francisco — Union Square (unionsquareshop.com).  Union Square is comprised of three main areas of shopping – two are malls  while the majority of the Union Square shopping is outdoors. This downtown shopping district of  San Francisco includes one-of-a-kind, made in San Francisco designer stores such as Wilkes Bashford. There are seasonal outdoor skating rinks at Union Square and Embarcadero, and the cool San Francisco weather provides more of a “back East” feel as you do your holiday shopping.
• San Diego — Day trip for bargain shopping in Tijuana, then see the Westfields–all 6 of them in San Diego (westfield.com)! Tijuana offers bargains on unique hand-made gifts such as art, crafts, jewelry, delicious Venus chocolates, and deep discounts on pharmaceuticals. Then shop throughout San Diego’s many regions and over a dozen museums in Balboa Park filled with unique gifts. Westfield Horton Plaza is a holiday favorite but we also like to head out to Fashion Valley Center.