Women Travelers - Christmas shopping locations - where?

Every year for the past 10 or 12 years, my mom and I go shopping over a long weekend in early or mid December. We probably spend half the time in a fairly-generic mall buying Christmas gifts (a la, this Macy's could be practically anywhere in the US), with about half the time roaming around the city we're in looking at unique-to-that-location sights, shops and/or Christmas shows.

Over the last few years we have gone to Las Vegas twice (which is great for straight-up shopping in December BTW, because the visitor count is low!), San Diego where I'm based, South Coast Plaza/Costa Mesa, San Francisco, and Chicago.

I'd very much appreciate any suggestions you have about where we could go this year. The specific weekend we're looking at is December 10-13. Likely we'd stick to the US.

I'm considering Manhattan, although the travel time would cut into the play time for a 4 day jaunt. Also considering LA, if I could figure out where and what that would be like.

Do you have any favorites? Thanks for your help!

Nothing like the Big Apple! :)

A bit late for your trip but you can check for local urban craft fairs. Think etsy rather than country kitsch.
SF Renegade Holiday Fair Dec 18+19 http://www.renegadecraft.com/holiday-sf

NY has both Muji and Uniqlo, which I love. For something a bit different, Waikiki also has pretty decent shopping and at least you would find more San Diego weather appropriate stores. Shopping map http://www.chic-steals.com/2009/12/shopping-map-of-waikiki-in-case-you.html

Sales tax free Portland has Nordstroms, REI, and the awesome Powells bookstore.

If you go to vegas again, don't miss Cowboy Christmas, associated with the NFR Finals--great time to go!
Also, the Plaza in Kansas City, along with the Hallmark center, is a great Christmas destination.

Mall of America is a great place to go.

How about someplace normal, yet theme-y, like Solvang (http://www.solvangusa.com/), or Leavenworth (http://www.cityofleavenworth.com/)WA?

Bring your life savings if you go to NYC. All the hotels have high rates due to everyone wanting to go there during the holiday season.

If you do LA, you've got The Grove you can go to, as well as head over to Bev Hills for a drink of holiday cheer.

Cheers.

I know its outside the U.S. - but Vancouver, B.C. would be a good option. You've got regular shopping options, as well as the more unique areas like Granville Island.

Weather permitting, if you were feeling adventurous you could even head up to Whistler Village for a night. Even if you don't ski... the dining, shopping, and spa options are worth a visit.

Of course, the best way for a Flyertalker to do her Christmas shopping is on the internet, via one of the portals (like Marriott's) that gives you points for $ spent if you click through their portal on the way to another internet retail site :)

But that's not exactly festive ...

What about a location that has a decent premium outlet mall that is also near an interesting city? I'm not sure if it's any good, but the Petaluma Premium Outlet mall combined with a trip to San Francisco might be a possibility. (Of course, if you go to New York, you could do Woodbury Common + NYC shopping.)

When traveling I usually try and avoid the big shops. Chanel in Paris is pretty much the same as Chanel in NY, Dubai or HK. So unless I have special requests to fill, I prefer to buy from mom & pop stores, craft fairs and seasonal markets.

While it's easy and convenient to buy stuff online, it's not quite the same as picking up a Nepalese watershawl in Nepal, an alpaca scarf in Peru, or Murano glass earrings in Murano.

When traveling I usually try and avoid the big shops. Chanel in Paris is pretty much the same as Chanel in NY, Dubai or HK. So unless I have special requests to fill, I prefer to buy from mom & pop stores, craft fairs and seasonal markets.

While it's easy and convenient to buy stuff online, it's not quite the same as picking up a Nepalese watershawl in Nepal, an alpaca scarf in Peru, or Murano glass earrings in Murano.

tcl- I think you're missing the point. Since the OP has 4 days to make the trip (including travel time), I don't think that a trip to Nepal, Peru or Italy is in the works. And she said she probably wants to stay in the U.S (or perhaps somewhere nearby.) This is a girl's weekend with her mom, not an exotic adventure to brag about to one's friends.

I think she wants a suggestion for an interesting city, reachable in a 4 day trip from San Diego, that has a combination of the chain stores we all find useful for our Christmas shopping, charming boutiques/Christmas markets, and entertainment.

Kate_Canuck, just merely agreeing with you that it's not festive to shop online and that it is better to get things from where you actually visited :) I was just using those places as examples and not implying that the OP should go somewhere brag-worthy.

4-day trips mean different things to different people. Much of it depends on how far one is willing to fly, if they are willing to take red-eyes and of course what deal one can get.

For the east coast, DC is always nice for the surrounding outlet malls, festive windows and of course there's Williamsburg for a daytrip. If you're willing to do Canada, I'd second the Vancouver recommendation or maybe even Montreal or Toronto if you are okay with the cold. All three Canadian cities have large malls with American and Canadian chain stores as well as craft shows such as the One of a Kind Shows if you wanted to pick up something more unique.

Good luck and let us know what you decide :)

OP here....thanks to each of you for your great suggestions. Portland, Mall of America, Solvang, Vancouver....I'd love to hit them all.

I looked into New York, but did decide a second mortgage was going to be necessary to pull it off. :eek:

We settled on Santa Monica, likely staying at the Fairmont Miramar. Although we could venture into outer parts of LA (such as the suggestion of The Grove), we will likely stay closer by.

And then, when the shopping weekend is over, I'll pop online for any additional gifts through the AA portal as per Kate_Canuck's most excellent suggestion. ^

This last year a friend and I went to the Christmas Markets in Paris. It was absolutely lovely. Definitely needed to "supplement" some things that I purchased there with a visit to Galleries lafayette and the boutiques in la Marais. Visited 3 markets - La Defense, Champs d'Elysses and St. Sulpice (smallest one). Would definitely do this again!

I know its outside the U.S. - but Vancouver, B.C. would be a good option. You've got regular shopping options, as well as the more unique areas like Granville Island.+1 on Vancouver - love to shop there.

If the OP wants to start thinking toward next year:

In 4 days, you could easily add a day trip to Victoria - more good "different" shopping.

Seattle + Vancouver is also do-able, altho a bit tight in 4 days.