Outlet stores in CA and AZ: any hints?
 

Hi everyone,

I will be going to CA and AZ in a couple of months and I just wanted to know where are the best outlet stores in these states. My main interest will be casual clothing, my wife and I are both around thirty years old and we have three small kids, 2, 4 and 7 years old. We hope we can find some good discount stores or outlets in these places. ANy help will be appreciated. Thanks.

Should you be in the Palm Springs area, the Cabazon outlet, not too far away in the direction of San Bernardino is pretty nice.

The Outlets in Camarillo between L.A. and Ventura is pretty big and should offer shops to accomodate your needs, too.

Both, but especially California, are very large places. WHERE are you going in CA and AZ. It won't do much good to tell you about great outlets in Gilroy or Vacaville when you will be 450 miles away in San Diego county.

CA and AZ are both big states, what part will you be visiting?

I would definitely second the Cabazon outlet mall - one of the best around. If you are closer to San Diego, there is the Carlsbad Company Stores.

There is also Ontario Mills in Ontario, CA and the Arizona Mills in Tempe.

Janis - Looks like you and I were posting the same question at the same time!!

Hi Janis and Paula: I will be driving from San Francisco to San Diego and I will stop in LA and nearby cities like Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. In AZ, I will be in Phoenix and Tucson. Thanks.

Can't answer for all the outlet malls in Arizona but there is Arizona Mills in Tempe as I mentioned. Also right off Interstate 10 in Casa Grande is an outlet mall. You would pass this as you are driving between Tucson and Phoenix. I've never stopped there-doesn't seem like it's very big.

In California, doesn't sound like you will be out towards Palm Springs. In So. Calif the outlet mall in Camarillo is good as Janis mentioned. Also if you are driving towards San Diego, you can stop at the Carlsbad Company Stores, east of I-5 at the Palomar Airport Exit.

There's an outlet mall in Tucson called Foothills Mall. It's not very big, but it's got good enough stores.

http://www.shopfoothillsmall.com/

cchean,

try this link for outlets by state:
http://www.outletsonline.com/sw-reg.html

There's a LARGE complex of outlets in Gilroy, some outlets in Atascadero, just north of San Luis Obispo, more in Pismo Beach, just south of San Luis Obispo.

Sounds like you'll be driving right by those if you take 101 South. They're all right off the freeway.

the Gilroy outlets are VERY VERY VERY good. I spent a day there and i didn't even get to all of the stores. Pismo (south of SLO) doesn't have that great of a selection of outlets. They have a few shoe places, kitchenware, levi, big dog, styles, and thats about all there is.

Hi,
(1)Just north of Phoenix off I17 right across the street from Anthem, there are outlet stores w/large food court.
(2)Heading south to Tucson, (midway between PHX/TUC in Casa Grande) there are two separate outlet malls. The newer stores are Tanger Outlet Stores.
(3) I second the motion that Carlsbad, CA have some of the better outlet stores around. Thumbs up for this outlet.
Francie

The County Stores outlet in Carlsbad is the best IMHO in San Diego since it has the stores that I prefer. If your driving to Tucson there is one on the way out of San Diego on Hwy 8 East- Viejas. It also has a casino and a they put on a little water-works-dance-show. To make a special trip for the show would be driving into disappointment but hey, if you're already shopping there anyway then plan your lunch around it. It is entertaining enough.
There is also an outlet center in San Ysidro, this side of the Mexican border that you might stop at if your going to TJ. (It's pretty big and much more fun than going to TJ, I think).