Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Orlando is a shopper’s paradise, so whether you are into bargains or a year-round shopaholic, Orlando and the Central Florida region have a variety of shopping venues to choose from. Many of these stores are located in the heart of the tourist district, and a few of them are less than an hour away from Orlando by car. Here is a brief rundown of Orlando’s shopping malls, outlet stores, boutiques and antique shops that give you a chance to bring home more than just your theme park memories.
Shopping Malls: For Orlando visitors, the two biggest and most conveniently located shopping malls are the Florida Mall and the Mall at Millenia. Opened in 2002, the Mall at Millennia is the area’s most upscale shopping center. It is anchored by the nationally-known department stores Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdale’s, and includes luxury retailers such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Burberry, Dior, Jimmy Choo, Tiffany & Co., and Cartier.
Be sure to bring your comfortable shoes (or buy a new pair) for a trek through the Florida Mall. This lengthy shopping mall has seven major department stores: Sears, JC Penney, Saks Fifth Avenue, Dillard’s, Nordstrom, and Macy’s. In addition to the sizable but often crowded food court, there are several sit-down dining options. If you really want to shop ‘til you drop, reserve a room at the Florida Mall Hotel and Conference Center, which is connected to the mall.
Outlet Shopping: A lot of people have to travel miles out of their way just to get to one outlet mall; the city of Orlando has two outlet centers. Prime One Outlets International – Orlando’s newest shopping outlet. Save up to 65% off on the hottest brands like Bebe, Victoria’s Secret, HUGO BOSS, Tourneau, Tumi, White House|Black Market, Converse, Coach Factory, Gap Outlet, Ann Taylor Factory Store, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike Factory Store, and The Children’s Place. Find the best brands at discount prices! Located at the northernmost tip of International Drive. I-Drive basically dead-ends at Prime One Outlets, so you can’t get lost on your way to this shopping center, although you might lose yourself in the nearly 100 stores located there.
The offerings at the Orlando Premium Outlets are even more upscale. With more than 100 stores to choose from, you can save money on luxury brands such as Burberry, Coach, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo, and many more.
Boutiques and Antiques: For those visitors who are willing to look beyond the tourist hot spots, there are more leisurely shopping experiences less than an hour away from Orlando. The city of Winter Park borders Orlando to the northeast, and the Park Avenue shopping district is lined with specialty boutiques and outdoor bistros. Fine wines, children’s clothing and toys, jewelry, and other unique gifts fill this very pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare.
For those shoppers who would like to experience the laid-back charm of Old Florida, Mount Dora in Lake County is approximately a 40-minute drive northwest of Orlando. Mount Dora features boutiques, antique shops, and restaurants in the historic downtown district. Every weekend, shoppers from all over Central Florida converge on Renninger’s Twin Markets just outside of town on Highway 441. Part antique mall and part farmers & flea market, you never know what unusual items you might find amongst the hundreds of vendor booths.
Every shopper dreams of finding an item or a particular bargain that they can’t get anywhere else. Thanks to all of the shopping choices in and around Orlando, these dreams really can come true.