The holiday season is fast approaching. This year, save time, money and even decrease your carbon footprint by shopping local. If you live or work in Carlsbad, you've got a wide variety of shopping choices just around the corner.
For those on your list who want a really hip gift, head for the Carlsbad Village, where retailers include chocolate shops, wine merchants, art galleries and other interesting stores with gifts that are sure to stand out. Carlsbad Village offers hundreds of shops, each with its own treasures and is easy to reach by taking Carlsbad Village Drive off of Interstate 5 and heading toward the ocean. If you need a break from shopping, stop in at one of the Village's eclectic eateries or coffee shops.
If you've got a fashionista on your list, head to The Forum at El Camino Real and Calle Barcelona. They have more than 50 stores, including a wide range of women's and athletic fashion, along with home furnishings, cookware and bedding. For the technologically inclined, The Forum is also home to Carlsbad's Apple Store.
Another great shopping experience is to visit the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, near Interstate 5 and Palomar Airport Road.
This amazing center is home to more than 90 retail stores, offering discounts on everything from home furnishings to designer shoes, purses and clothing. Whether you are looking for formal wear or surf wear, or shopping for kids or adults, you are sure to find a bargain at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets.
For traditional holiday shopping, the Westfield Plaza Camino Real has dozens of retailers, many national brands and is anchored by three department stores. This regional mall is located at Route 78 and El Camino Real.
Finally, for that really special someone, don't forget Car Country Carlsbad.
You can purchase almost any vehicle imaginable in Carlsbad, from a four-wheel-drive work truck, to a luxury sedan to the new Fiat that J-Lo has been singing about. Car Country Carlsbad is on Paseo del Norte between Cannon Road and Palomar Airport Road, with an extension on Avenida Encinas.
Overall, there are more than a dozen auto dealers in Carlsbad. If a new car is not in the picture, don't forget that many of your favorite Carlsbad restaurants offer gift certificates, always an appreciated gift.
I'm not the only one who recognize the great shopping available in Carlsbad, two of our retail centers, The Forum and Car Country Carlsbad, were selected "San Diego's Best 2011" in their categories by readers of The San Diego Union-Tribune and SignOnSanDiego.com. That's a real honor, not just for those centers and the merchants located there, but for Carlsbad's business community. It says we have stretched beyond our border and made our mark as a regional center for shoppers seeking quality and value.
Shopping local doesn't just provide gifts to clients, friends and loved ones. It is a gift to your community.
The dollars you spend in Carlsbad are likely to stay here, since those merchants buy many of their services and supplies here (maybe from your business), and those employees who work at our local stores are likely to spend their money here as well. This keeps our local businesses healthy, provides employment opportunities in Carlsbad and helps fund city services such as police, fire, libraries and parks.
Shop local in Carlsbad, everyone will thank you.
For those on your list who want a really hip gift, head for the Carlsbad Village, where retailers include chocolate shops, wine merchants, art galleries and other interesting stores with gifts that are sure to stand out. Carlsbad Village offers hundreds of shops, each with its own treasures and is easy to reach by taking Carlsbad Village Drive off of Interstate 5 and heading toward the ocean. If you need a break from shopping, stop in at one of the Village's eclectic eateries or coffee shops.
If you've got a fashionista on your list, head to The Forum at El Camino Real and Calle Barcelona. They have more than 50 stores, including a wide range of women's and athletic fashion, along with home furnishings, cookware and bedding. For the technologically inclined, The Forum is also home to Carlsbad's Apple Store.
Another great shopping experience is to visit the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, near Interstate 5 and Palomar Airport Road.
This amazing center is home to more than 90 retail stores, offering discounts on everything from home furnishings to designer shoes, purses and clothing. Whether you are looking for formal wear or surf wear, or shopping for kids or adults, you are sure to find a bargain at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets.
For traditional holiday shopping, the Westfield Plaza Camino Real has dozens of retailers, many national brands and is anchored by three department stores. This regional mall is located at Route 78 and El Camino Real.
Finally, for that really special someone, don't forget Car Country Carlsbad.
You can purchase almost any vehicle imaginable in Carlsbad, from a four-wheel-drive work truck, to a luxury sedan to the new Fiat that J-Lo has been singing about. Car Country Carlsbad is on Paseo del Norte between Cannon Road and Palomar Airport Road, with an extension on Avenida Encinas.
Overall, there are more than a dozen auto dealers in Carlsbad. If a new car is not in the picture, don't forget that many of your favorite Carlsbad restaurants offer gift certificates, always an appreciated gift.
I'm not the only one who recognize the great shopping available in Carlsbad, two of our retail centers, The Forum and Car Country Carlsbad, were selected "San Diego's Best 2011" in their categories by readers of The San Diego Union-Tribune and SignOnSanDiego.com. That's a real honor, not just for those centers and the merchants located there, but for Carlsbad's business community. It says we have stretched beyond our border and made our mark as a regional center for shoppers seeking quality and value.
Shopping local doesn't just provide gifts to clients, friends and loved ones. It is a gift to your community.
The dollars you spend in Carlsbad are likely to stay here, since those merchants buy many of their services and supplies here (maybe from your business), and those employees who work at our local stores are likely to spend their money here as well. This keeps our local businesses healthy, provides employment opportunities in Carlsbad and helps fund city services such as police, fire, libraries and parks.
Shop local in Carlsbad, everyone will thank you.