After its beaches and year-round temperate climate, Orange County's next greatest asset may well be its expansive malls. In the OC, retail therapy is practically a vocation, and there is no better testament to that notion than the sprawling Fashion

(+) More

After its beaches and year-round temperate climate, Orange County's next greatest asset may well be its expansive malls. In the OC, retail therapy is practically a vocation, and there is no better testament to that notion than the sprawling Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach. Catering to a decidedly upscale clientele, Fashion Island houses a number of high-end retail usual suspects such as Neiman Marcus, Vilebrequin, and Nordstrom. The shopping mecca is also home to a few only-in-Southern-California favorites such as American Rag Cie, which, for the record, is adjoined to the delightful French bistro, Café Beau Soleil. For those who think that a mall is just a mall, Fashion Island, with its distinctly SoCal vibe, may prove to be a curious revelation. The people-watching alone is enough to justify a visit to this shopaholic's paradise (especially given that the place seems to be crawling with reality TV stars these days).

(-) Close