Splurge or Go Bargain Hunting at the Best of Shopping in Southern California

Whether you’re shopping for the latest fashions or want to pick up gifts and trinket items on your trip to Southern California, you won’t be disappointed by the multitude of shopping malls, outlet centers, boutique shops, and souvenir outposts throughout the region. From Palm Springs to Los Angeles, you’ll find plenty of places to shop until you drop and might even find a few unique items to add to your collection.

Los Angeles County is considered to be one of the world’s largest fashion and shopping capitals, the place to splurge like a celebrity or simply set your sights on a bargain hunting adventure. Make your way to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills to shop designer boutique shops and upscale shopping malls like The Grove. You’ll also find the Original Farmers Market in this neighborhood, a place to enjoy a village-like atmosphere and pick up some great locally-grown or locally made foods. You can’t miss the 8-story The Beverly Center located on the edge of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, one of the biggest fashion destinations in Southern California and home to 160 boutique stores. This mall boasts a fancy food hall and several upscale restaurants so you can splurge on a delicious meal as well..

Santa Monica’s Montana Avenue is another upscale shopping district and also the place to do some celebrity spotting. You can spend your days cruising through the stores and also visit Third Street Promenade, a pedestrian-friendly part of the city where you can pick up trinkets, collectibles, and other small goods from local vendors or shop more big-name chain stores. Santa Monica Place is home to several trendy boutique stores and also has a rooftop deck where you can enjoy some beautiful ocean views.

Make your way to Venice Beach further south along the coast to shop some of the chic boutiques, visit art galleries, and dine at hip restaurants. You can spend some time shopping around Abbot Kinney Boulevard to pick up some unique finds. In Palm Springs, the downtown area is home to several boutique shops and the El Paseo Shopping District has been nicknamed the ‘Rodeo Drive of the Desert’.

When you find yourself in La Jolla, don’t miss the chance to visit the La Jolla Cave Store. This charming attraction gives you a chance to visit the Sunny Jim Cave through a man-made tunnel. It’s the only way to visit this sea cave and you can also rent snorkel gear to explore some of the other entrances to the cave.

Costa Mesa is home to a luxury shopping mall boasting more than 250 retailers and dozens of dining options. It’s actually made of two separate enclosed malls and offers upscale amenities, including valet parking and fancy restaurants. This is the mall to shop boutiques stores like John Varvatos, Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren, and Celine. Settle in for a delicious meal at restaurants including AnQi By House of An, the Pacific Whey Cafe, and Antonello Ristorante.

When you’re in the South Bay region, make your way to the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance. It boasts a coastal chic style and features more than 200 stores. Glendale also has its own shopping mall, a three-story shopping center with more than 250 stores and restaurants. It’s the fourth largest mall in Los Angeles and offers a mix of department stores and smaller boutique shops.

Bargain hunters will find plenty to do at the outlet malls around Southern California. The Outlets at Orange is one of the bigger outlet malls in the region, a Simon mall that features dozens of brand name designer stores. It’s only a few minutes from Disneyland and within easy reach of the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center off I-5. You can shop more than 120 outlet stores here, including Neiman Marcus Last Call, the Banana Republic Factory Store, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, and other value stores for some great deals and steals.