Shopping in San Diego
 

Can anyone recommend some shopping areas in San Diego? Maybe some big shopping mall? Somewhere where people would do good full shopping :).
Thanks!

Horton plaza

There is a quality outlet mall in N San Diego County. Its in the city of Carlsbad.

If you're looking for an Outlet Mall this one is 15 mins drive from Downtown SD. Carlsbad is about 45 mins away
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=76

There are 2 regular malls near Downtown. The Fashion Valley Mall and the Mission Valley Mall.

There are plenty of shopping malls in San Diego. Is there a particular type of store you want?

Clothes? Gifts? Will you have a car?
Is there a particular thing you want?

Thank you! I don't plan on getting a car because the hotel will have an expensive parking. I was hoping for some place I can possibly get by public transportation. I'll be staying near downtown area.

Nothing in particular, just wanted to know where to find some malls.

If you are staying downtown, then I agree with janisj--Horton Plaza. I rarely go there because there is a Westfield shopping center a few blocks from my house. But Horton can be a fun place to shop.

http://www.westfield.com/hortonplaza/

If you dont have a car, you wouldnt want to drive to Carlsbad to go shopping. However, anyone else visiting from out of state or country and wants to shop in the San Diego area should consider those outlets.

Most outlet stores sell what I call 'outlet grade' quality but I find top grade material in Carlsbad

Then go to Horton Plaza, although a bus will take you to Fashion Valley which is a huge mall with many possibilities.

Fashion is a lot bigger.

You can always rent a car2go.

http://sandiego.car2go.com/

I am an out if towner who loves to shop. Nordstroms is the only really good shopping at Horton from my perspective. Fashion Valley is very easy accessed from downtown and has much more varied offerings. If you are young and hip, there are some boutiques in the downtown area near Horton.

I agree if you are going to be in the Gaslamp or downtown area without a car, then Horton Plaza is the big shopping mall downtown. And there are tons of big name stores and small gallery or independent stores in the Gaslamp area where you can easily walk around.

The other malls are at UTC (University Towne Center - near La Jolla off Interstate 5 going north) or Fashion & Mission Valley (two malls close to each other) in the Mission Valley Area (the north side of Interstate 8). They have all your big name stores like Macy', Sears, Penney's, Nordstroms, BB&B, etc.

Thank you all. Fashion Valley was really great, and Horton Plaza was not bad and close to where I stayed.

Friendlys - after all the info you received - that's your trip report?

Did you take the trolley, walk around the Gaslamp, etc etc?

:) I'm recuperating :), the flight back killed me, I could not fall asleep at all.

Well, you can get around San Diego using public transit really well. The hotel was next to the Green Line trolley (and you buy $5 day pass), and it was so easy.
Horton Plaza (and the Gaslamp) in downtown were in walking distance from the hotel. However, you could also take Green line to Broadway and switch to the bus and go to 4th or 5th street (which is Gaslamp).

The Horton Plaza was great, but the Fashion Valley Mall - much better, and it takes just several stops by trolley Green Line to get there, and the stop is right across the mall. That mall is huge, Nordstrom, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, JC Penney... You really don't need a car (except for maybe more storage for bought stuff :)). And the trolley is likea little train, so modern, so comfortable seats.

Recuperate friendlys, recuperate!

I'm glad you liked Fashion Valley. I think they are a little more shopping friendly than Horton Plaza. Which is a cute little mall and they have plenty of places to eat but few people really go there to shop unless one works or lives downtown.

The Gaslamp district had some very cute boutiques!