| To many visitors (and residents) it seems that Southern California is defined by its extensive and widely-varied shopping. Some have joked that it might be possible to travers the entire area by solely winding through its shopping center parking lots! A minor selection of shopping popular among out-of-towners is listed below sorted by distance from the conference hotel. |
| South Coast Plaza - attracting shoppers from around the world this SoCa indoor shopping mall has a wide assortment of up-scale boutiques and famous department stores. For those travelling from abroad with cash, there is a money-exchange kiosk located in the center court on the first floor. |
0.1m |
| Fashion Island - SoCal style open-air mall (SoCal's most famous) dedicated to shopping and dining. In addition to housing almost every major department store, the promenades are filled with boutiques. There is also a Hard Rock Cafe and one of SoCal's finest steakhouses. If you get tired, catch a movie in one of the two movie theatres. |
7m |
| Little Saigon - the oldest, largest, and most prominent Vietnamese population center outside of Vietnam. This wide-spread community dots the Westminster and surrounding areas with Vietnamese and Chinese shopping, restaurants, and culture. |
9m |
| The Irvine Spectrum - (another) SoCal style open-air mall loaded with restaurants and shopping. In recent years expansions have added large department stores to the collection of sidewalk boutiques. There are also some outdoor rides for the kids and a 21-screen movie theatre with IMAX. |
10m |
| Old Towne Orange - billed as "The Antique Capital of California" and in the heart of OC's second oldest city (founded in 1888) this district offers a wide assortment of shopping and dining experiences. The evening bar scene is also large draw for locals. |
11m |
| The Block at Orange - (yet another) SoCal style open-air mall with lots of dining and shopping. There's a 30-screen movie theatre and plenty of evening entertainment. |
11m |
| Laguna Beach - bounded by a vibrant beach and surrounded by cliffs, this small community was founded by a group of artists. Today this is an excellent place to shop for designer clothing, fine decorations, and (of course) art! |
16m |
| Belmont Shores in Long Beach - between OC and LA nightlife there is Long Beach's Belmont Shores. Located around Second St., this 10-block strip is speckled with restaurants and storefronts. The beach is a block away. |
18m |
| LA Fashion District - spread over several city blocks, this hub of the apparel industry is populated by retailers, wholesale buyers, stylists, designers, and the like. Be sure to pick up a free map handed out on the corners to orient yourself to the different type of shopping found on each street. |
39m |
| Santa Monica - almost needing no introduction, Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade is blocked off from traffic and packed with shopping. The arcade is a who's-who of popular fashion boutiques. |
48m |
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