A short drive from Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, the Inland Empire offers some prime shopping at its outlet centers.
In fact, San Bernardino County is home to California’s largest outlet mall: Ontario Mills, which is located next door to Ontario International Airport and the Toyota Arena, is about 40 miles east of downtown Los Angeles and 30 miles from Anaheim.
With more than 200 stores, Ontario Mills literally offers brand names from A (Abercrombie & Fitch) to Z (Zumiez), and includes some distinctly high-end labels such as Coach, Michael Kors, and a Saks Fifth Avenue/Off 5th. You’ll also encounter some key spots for completing your California look, such as outlets of Ugg and Vans. It also features a long list of sit-down dining and family entertainment, like an Improv Comedy Club and Dinner Theatre, a 30-screen AMC movie theater, and a Dave & Buster’s, along with restaurants such as Rainforest Café and Blake Pizza. For snack time, don’t miss SomiSomi, the Korean ice cream shop where the soft-serve is presented in its signature fish-shaped cone.
You’ll find another good assortment of brand names at The Outlets at Lake Elsinore, about 20 miles from Temecula in Riverside County’s Lake Elsinore. Browse for deals at stores such as Nike, Gap, and Guess Armani, as well as some excellent spots for surf culture shopping: the mall has a Pacific Shore Boardshop and a branch of the Golden State classic, O’Neill surf shop. Check the deals page to check for added discounts at specific stores.
