Top Things to do in California
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Things to do in California, United States: The Best Shopping Malls
California is a fertile, peaceful place where you’ll find a near-equal balance of vineyards and deserts, beaches and mountains, hippies and traditionalists. Catch an epic wave in Big Sur or swirl a glass in Napa Valley. Be dazzled by the Joshua Tree night sky or just star-gaze in Hollywood. Swish down the slopes of a Tahoe ski resort, or cruise across the Golden Gate Bridge with the top down and the music blasting. Above all, don’t forget to soak up some Golden State sunshine.
Restaurants in California
1. Third Street Promenade
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,098 reviews
A moviegoer's haven, this colorful three-block stretch, open to pedestrians only, has some 20 movie theater screens, hundreds of stores, numerous restaurants, animal topiaries and street entertainment running the gamut from dancers to fortune tellers.
Reviewed By LisaJeyDavis - Santa Monica, United States
If you’re hunting for something specific to shop for, you’re looking for a great meal, want to see a movie, or just want to kill sometime and enjoy some great people watching, the Third Street Promenade has something for everyone. And it begins right at the mouth of the Santa Monica Place Mall (so if you don’t find what you need on the Promenade’s three blocks,you’ve got tons of great options there). There are two movie theatres with multiple screens, sports bars, all kinds of restaurants, a huge Apple store and all kinds of retail / from local boutiques to national brands. And the street entertainers are something else all together. Plus there are plenty of parking garages surrounding the place with 90 minute free and affordable parking. I love the Promenade.
2. El Paseo Shopping District
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,016 reviews
A unique nine-block shopping district filled with over 200 delightful discoveries... Shops, restaurants, art and more! Experience this mile of adventures by hopping aboard our fun Yellow Courtesy Cart and go from one end to the other, finding treasures every step of the way. Don't miss all the special events like El Paseo Cruise Night (1st & 3rd Fridays, Nov through April), Holiday events and Santa each December, Jazz Concert Series (Jan-Apr), Fashion Week El Paseo (Mid-March), Pam Desert Food & Wine (mid-March) and so much more! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and online.
Reviewed By rodr345 - Edmonton, Canada
Best shopping in Palm Desert. Many high end outlets but also many more affordable options. El Paseo is a beautiful street especially at night when the tree lights are on. In addition to great shopping there are also many world class restaurants that are well worth a visit.
3. The Forum Carlsbad
4. Irvine Spectrum Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,185 reviews
Irvine Spectrum Center is one of Southern California's most popular shopping, dining and entertainment lifestyle destinations. The center features Nordstrom and Target, along with more than 130 stores, restaurants and entertainment venues, including Improv Comedy Club and Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 IMAX & RPX.
Reviewed By rdsw - Grand Rapids, United States
This place has it all! It is the most beautiful outdoor mall, with fountains, lights, greenery. Great shopping and plenty of restaurants are available. A large movie theater, outdoor screen, Ferris wheel, and other entertainment are located here. Our family especially loves coming here at night at Christmas time.
5. South Coast Plaza
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 598 reviews
The West Coast's biggest mall is elegant and aesthetic, with a wing designed by architect Frank Gehry. Its 250 inviting shops include Saks, Stella McCartney, and Hermes
Reviewed By GeorgeDubiecki - Los Angeles, United States
South Coast Plaza is definitely the best shopping mall in California. I found it refreshing that the three shops that we shopped at had really nice employees. They were knowledgeable and friendly. They always made us feel that our needs were most important. “Mars Li” in Georgio Armani was wonderful. Georgio Armani is very lucky to have him working there. Austin Schroeter in Ralph Lauren was very helpful and courteous. Yes you expect that kind of service in high end shops. But you don’t always get that. He even offered to carry my purchase out to our car. Sabrina in Escada was also very nice, helpful and knowledgeable. They each represent South Coast Plaza perfectly. That is why we love to shop there. They have a few hundred shops to choose from. Great quality shops. Plus lots of really good restaurants.
6. Stanford Shopping Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 876 reviews
Welcome to Stanford Shopping Center, Northern California’s premier open-air shopping and dining destination with Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Wilkes Bashford and more than 140 world-class specialty stores, ranging from luxury brands to local favorites. Enjoy an extraordinary mix of restaurants and cafes from Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, True Food Kitchen, and The Melt, to Yucca de Lac and so many more. Shop the European Street Market for the freshest California produce and gourmet specialty foods. Breathtaking gardens, sculptures and fountains accent the garden environment that people come from all over the world to see. Stanford Shopping Center truly is a one of a kind experience. Whatever the season, it’s always magically in bloom! Experience the garden of everything. Stanford Shopping Center. Stanford Shopping Center is located between El Camino Real and Sand Hill Rd. The Center situated in the heart of the Silicon Valley adjacent to the world renowned Stanford University Campus. Stanford Shopping Center serves the nearby affluent communities of Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Woodside, and Atherton.
Reviewed By phillipl404 - Nipomo, United States
Well...I LOVE Stanford Shopping Center! First off, it’s in Palo Alto and a perfect “warm up” or “cool down” to University Ave! Doing both...takes us most of the day. Stanford Shopping Center has 150 upscale Stores for your shopping pleasure, Shaub’s Meat Market, Sigonas Farmers Market, a nice selection of eateries from upscale to fast food...depending on your mood or budget, Water features, Fire features, plenty of seating areas with “charging poles” to plug in your depleted Phone batteries, and plants in bloom virtually all year round. Mall Security keeps a visual presence (at one point...a ROBOT MALL SECURITY Patrol Officer, kinda looked like an egg!) so you feel relatively secure and lots of parking. All in all, from a Shopping Center, “who could ask for anything more”...isn’t that a jingle?! From the Fashion OUTRAGEOUS to the Fashion SUBLIME it’s all here at the Stanford Shopping Center. In this Reviewer’s opinion...for it’s wonderful variety of Shops, it’s plethoras of Eateries, Presentation and Cleanliness, on this and many prior occasions, Stanford Shopping Center has truly earned this “highly recommend” 5 Point review!
7. Fashion Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 641 reviews
As Orange County's premier coastal shopping experience, Fashion Island features exclusive specialty boutiques, world-class department stores and a diverse assortment of restaurants and cafes. Fashion Island offers a sophisticated yet relaxed, resort-like atmosphere that is distinctively Southern California, with pristine views of the Pacific Ocean. Owned by Irvine Company, Fashion Island is home to Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Bloomingdale's Home Store and Macy's - in addition to Orange County's only Neiman Marcus, Nespresso, Urban Decay, Nike Women's, SoulCycle, Trina Turk, Vince, Joie and Halston Heritage. Fashion Island also features acclaimed restaurants such as Sushi Roku, FIG & OLIVE, Red O by Rick Bayless, CUCINA enoteca, Lemonade, Hopdoddy Burger Bar and True Food Kitchen.
Reviewed By appledude1221 - Cleveland, United States
This mall is a real gem hidden on the coast very very beautiful mall if you are in Newport Beach I highly recommend this place if you are in Newport Beach
8. Cedros Design District
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 128 reviews
Reviewed By on_the_go_98765
The bridge over the train tracks has a staircase leading to Cedros Design District. This isn't any more than 1/2 mile walk up from Pacific Coast Highway and Del Mar's Dog Beach. The walk/bike trail starts under the Solana Beach and Rail Trail archways. This walk all by itself is worth taking, just for the walk. The Design District is only maybe a couple of blocks long and ends at the Village on Cedros mall (where the farmer's market is found on weekends). Two of the big warehouse-style indoor vendor booths are SOLO and Lotus (across the street from each other). For us, it's all about the creative public art we get to enjoy along both the Rail Trail path and along the Cedros Design District walk.
9. The Americana at Brand
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 511 reviews
Reviewed By Christopher_E_Haigh - Glendale, United States
There are some malls where you go to shop. That mall is conveniently located across the street. The Americana at Brand is an experience, and one worth repeating even when you have nothing to purchase. A trolley, elegantly choreographed water fountains, and curated green spaces invite you to enjoy the central square (much like a piazza) with your family. This is the perfect place to hang out while "the shopper" among you hits the stores. Not to be missed: the outdoor patio inside Barnes & Noble, and the rooftop bars and restaurants that give you the bird's-eye view of it all. And when hungry stomachs prevail, there are literally dozens of restaurants within a short walk.
10. Santana Row
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 579 reviews
Santana Row is Silicon Valley's premier outdoor destination for shopping, dining, living and working. Surrounded by landscaped gardens, parks and plazas, Santana Row features over 50 shops, 30 restaurants, the boutique Hotel Valencia and a six-screen movie theatre. Santana Row hosts a variety of events ranging from fashion shows to live music, outdoor yoga classes to the annual tree lighting ceremony. In addition to the dynamic shopping & dining options, Santana Row offers 615 luxury rental homes, 219 privately owned condos and 690,000+ square feet of Class A office space.
Reviewed By normanr302 - San Jose, United States
Stroll down Santana Row. Lots of great restaurants to chose from including outdoor seating; great shopping; lots of convenient parking; oftentimes outdoor music; movie theater at one end.
