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While staying in Palm Springs for three months, many of the people we met would ask us if we had yet shopped at El Paseo.
So, we decided to take the trip to Palm Desert to experience the ultimate in shopping trips.
Fortunately, we both enjoyed the experience. El Paseo is not always a place where we would actually purchase much because the cost is prohibitive; however, we did enjoy "window shopping" in this elegant area.
We, of course, purchased ice cream cones; we ate lunch and dinner there; I purchased several post cards; most of all, we simply enjoyed mingling with the "upper crust" of the Desert Society.
El Paseo Drive features over 150 stores and restaurants; there is free curbside parking as well as free parking behind the stores.
Between San Pablo Avenue and Larkspur is a lovely garden called "The Gardens of El Paseo". Additionally, we truly enjoyed the beautiful outdoor sculptures which were scattered along the avenue.
While we were there, they were completing a new shopping area called Shoppingtown (between Highway 111 and Fred Waring Drive. It is completed now and just adds more options to this lovely community.
What to buy: One of my favorite stores was called The Feathered Nest. It features Home Decor, a Gift Gallery, and Signature Clothing.
Everything in this store is remarkably beautiful and unique. Of course, there is a price to pay for such unique beauty.
73-425 El Paseo, Suite 21A
Palm Desert
(760)568-1782
What to pay: Everything on El Paseo is expensive
Updated May 18, 2005
Address: El Paseo, Palm Desert, California
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This was my favorite shopping center, great shops and great shopping! They have all kinds of shops like adidas, big dog sportswear, gap, puma, hilfiger, book stores, furniture, shoes etc etc. Great place!
Written Dec 22, 2004
Address: 681 Leavesley Road, Gilroy
Website: http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=23
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One of my favorite shopping malls during my trip. Maybe because of the big contrast of getting back to civilisation after my visit to Yosemite ;-)
There were shops of GAP, Reebok, Levi's, and many other smaller ones - I could have spend a fortune and was close to buying a new suitcase...
Written Dec 22, 2004
What to pay: Germany has a sales tax of 16%, whereas the area that I visited (mainly San Bernardino county) has only 7,75%!
For Europeans, certain things might be really cheaper to buy in the U.S. I noticed that when buying t-shirts and stuff, but also non-clothing items.
Wearing contact lenses, the price of cleaning solution caught my attention one day, because it was only half of what I pay in Germany.
Updated Jul 8, 2004
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Ralph's is a regional chain of supermarkets. It has a complete meat room, deli, and bakery.
What to buy: You can buy about anything that won't eat you first. I bought the fixins for Puerto Rican chicken and rice, and chili cheese sauce to go over chicken that Sean grilled.
Updated May 15, 2004
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Macy's is a large department which you will find in most cities. This one is in San Francisco on Union Square and is really beautiful.
What to buy: Women's fashions, from moderate to very expensive.
I would recommend the souvenir department for tourists. It's better than what you can find on Fisherman's Wharf.
Written Jul 13, 2003
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If you want to get a bargain, drive out to Plam Springs and go to the outlet stores out there. Be like a Palm Springer and shop in the air-conditioned stores during the day and only come out at night.
Written Jun 21, 2003
There are several garlic themed shops on Highway 101 through Gilroy that have anything you may want. The Garlic Shoppe and Garlic World are two. Fresh garlic wreaths, garlic mustards, sauces, oils and seasonings. Also pottery, tiles and cooking gear centred on garlic or artichoke themes.
What to buy: Buy some granulated garlic to take home that gives real taste to your food when the real thing isn't available. Seasonings are easy to transport treats and gifts too.
What to pay: Two dollars and up.
Updated Mar 11, 2003
Address: Gilroy
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This is not a proper shopping tip, but a suggestion that when you arrive in California, or anywhere really in the States, always pick up the leaflets/discount books as they have always got plenty of discount coupons in them. Whether this be for a theme park/zoo/museum/restaurant/hotel, you are sure to find something in there that you can use.
Written Nov 2, 2002
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