Orlando: The Mecca of Shopping

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With an endless selection of specialty shops and malls, Orlando is definitely the shopper's dream. If you're looking to do some serious shopping between visits to the numerous attractions in the area, browse around Orlando to find the stores you know and love plus unique specialty shops. Known as Orlando's largest and most popular mall, the Florida Mall has over 260 specialty stores. The Florida Mall offers the shopper quality favorites such as JCPenney, Sears, Dillard's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Eddie Bauer, and Banana Republic. Conveniently located near some of Orlando's most famous attractions--Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios--the Florida Mall is a great stop amidst all the attractions.

The Orlando Fashion Square Mall offers similiar kinds of shopping with 165 stores including Burdines and Gayfers. Another big mall in Orlando is the Mall at Millenia, which offers classy designer stores such as Gucci, Louis Vutton, Chanel, Tiffany's Macy's, Burberry, and all the other favorites, too. This mall has been frequented by stars such as Jerry Seinfeld, Alicia Keys, Tiger Woods, and Chris Rock. Besides possible star-sightings, the Mall at Millenia also offers quality sit-down restaurants like The Cheescake Factory, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Blue Martini, and Brio Tuscan Grille.

During your shopping escapades, don't forget to stop by Orlando's major outlet malls for brand name merchandise without the brand name prices. Orlando Premium Outlets offers 110 different outlets including Liz Claiborne, Nautica, Quiksilver, DKNY Jeans, Tommy Hilfiger and more. Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores also offers many brand name outlet stores such as Gap, Old Navy, Bon Worth, and Nine West. The Belz Designer Outlet has 200,000 square feet of stores and offers many designer outlets such as Coach, Polo Ralph Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Ann Taylor. Just one block away from the Belz Designer Outlet, you'll find the Belz Factory Outlet World, where you'll encounter an additional 700,000 square feet of ubelievable bargains.

For a more unique shopping experience, Orlando offers many less conventional alternatives to large malls. One place deemed "the bargain hunter's dream" is the Central Florida Farmers Market, where you'll find an array of discounted merchandise, unique vendors, and antiques and collectibles in addition to clothing and gifts. Church Street in Orlando also offers many fun shopping experiences. The Church Street Market offers unique shops such as the Great Art Gallery, Sol Time, Cigarz on Church Street, and Ali's Sundry Shop. Along with all the shops, the Church Street Market offers quality dining and musical entertainment in downtown Orlando. The Church Street Station Exchange--technically located on the east side of Church Street, which is Pine Street--is a tri-level complex with 87,000 square feet of unique speciality shops such as Orchid Garden, Phineas Phogg's, Swingin' Saturdays, Apple Annie's, Commander Ragtime, and more.

For more unique shops, the visitor to Orlando should also shop at Market Street at Celebration, which is a city near Orlando and Disney. Market Street in Celebration offers shops such as Barnie's Tea and Coffee, Village Mercantile, White's Gifts, Nottingham's and Jerard International. While these unique shops offer a variety of products, Orlando has store that speicalizes in blue jeans. Denim Place, located on the famous International Drive, sells a variety of name brand jeans such as Polo Jeans, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and DKNY.

While the options to Orlando shopping are obviously numerous, your shopping trip in Orlando will not be complete without stopping in the Downtown Disney Marketplace. Part of the downtown Disney attractions are the unique shops that make up the Disney complex. The Downtown Disney Marketplace has 50,000 square feet of 12 themed sections of Disney shopping. Stores in this Disney enthusiast's paradise include the Art of Disney, Summer Sands, Team Mickey's Athletic Club, World of Disney, and much more. Don't forget to stop at one of the quality restaurants located in this complex, which include The Rainforest Cafe, Planet Hollywood, and House of Blues.

Because of its rapid growth, Orlando is fast becoming known for its shopping centers. With so much variety, it isn't a surprise! Whether you like to shop till you drop or just window shop, shopping in Orlando is an experience any tourist will enjoy.