Issue link: http://globelitetravelmarketing.uberflip.com/i/782043
The Golden State's iconic malls, bohemian shops and posh boutiques can astound even the most jaded sophisticate. An enticing range of California's eclectic creativity awaits visitors throughout the state, from theme park collectibles to homegrown surfing gear to fine wine. Foodies can sample fresh-made cheeses in artisanal food shops. Fashionistas will love San Francisco's luxurious haute couture haunts. And art lovers can bring home an original California landscape from a red- wood-scented artists' enclave. California shopping safaris may entail sighting a celebrity in a Los Angeles bou- tique, arriving at a mall by boat or hunting bargains behind the walls of a recreated Mesopotamian palace. And super shopping opportunities entice savvy shoppers in mil- lions of square feet of retail space. SoCal Glamour Malls sprawl throughout Los Angeles, crowned by Rodeo Drive's stratospheric price tags. But you'll find significant bar- gains in rings, necklaces and other pieces at prices up to 70 percent less than those in Beverly Hills in the historic Jewelry District, one of the country's largest. More than 1,500 jewelry showrooms stand roughly on 5 th and 8 th streets to the north and south, and Broadway and Olive to the east and west. Behind a facade of bas-reliefs of Baby- lonian princes and heraldic griffins, the Citadel Outlets holds 700,000 square feet of retail bargains inside a one-time 1929 tire plant modeled on an ancient Assyrian palace. And between the Farmer's Market and The Grove shopping center, the Grove Trolley provides shoppers free rides along First Street. The West Hollywood Design District fea- tures high-end fashion, interior design, furniture, decorative arts and luxury brand stores on Melrose Avenue and Robertson and A Shopper's Paradise Outlet bargains, high fashion, and everything in between BY LENORE GREINER CALIFORNIA SHOPPING There are countless ways to enjoy yourself on shopping sprees in California, from one-of-a-kind hole-in-the-wall shops to the grandest department stores and shopping districts. All of the top brands are here, from Neiman Marcus to Nordstrom to Bloomingdale's, and famous districts from Orange County malls to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, above, to San Francisco's Union Square will give you plenty to explore. MICHAEL URMANN/SHUTTERSTOCK ; HUNTINGTON BEACH CVB. OPPOSITE: MARK WEBER 36 2 0 1 7 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A SHOPPING