St. Augustine Florida
Shopping and outlet malls abound.
By Lena Hunt
When you're taking some time off to take a cruise, most likely shopping is part of the deal. And deal it is when you're in Florida! This state has some of the most amazing outlet malls where top designer brands can be bought at 50% or more off the regular prices. Conveniently situated off Interstate I-95 and the popular Daytona Beach and about 45 minutes from the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT), is a string of outlet malls and discount shopping centers.
The big deal about the shopping centers here is that not just brand name fashion and items can be found, but the world's A-list top designers have their outlet stores here. It's common to find outlets for Old Navy, Nike, and Reebok but to find Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Coach, and Juicy outlets is very rare! Fashion, accessories, shoes, and items are not what you would find in Grandma's attic either.
St. Augustine, Florida
Shopping and outlet malls abound
By Lena Hunt
Southern Florida Cruise Port Specialist
Tampa - Miami - Port Canaveral - Ft. Lauderdale
September 26, 2010
The new Coach perfumes can be found at 50% off or more, for instance. At the Coach outlet, the products are normally priced at 50% off retail and at the Coach website. Yet when you enter the beautiful store, staff hand out coupons that give you an additional 30%. Talk about super savings!
Driving from Jacksonville, FL toward St. Augustine (the oldest town in the continental U.S. Founded by Ponce de Leon as discussed in my previous Cruise Bruise article), I cross the enormous St. John River. It is so huge that it seems more like a small sea than a river. The bridges along the route to the outlet malls are amazing structures as well as beautiful to view. Also JAXPORT, the port for global trade and intermodal transportation, offers an incredible view with ships of all shapes and sizes and cruise ships that make tropical Bahamas their destination. (Check back with Cruise Bruise for the upcoming article about the Jackson Port Authority.)
You know you're close to the outlet malls because there will be billboard after billboard along the highway that announce the different stores available and which exit to take. Once there, it is a shopper's heaven. St. Augustine holds the title of premiere outlet shopping destination of northeast Florida. The Prime Outlet Mall in St. Augustine showcases top stores and a collection of the A-list luxury brands reside here. On this list are Juicy Couture, Saks Fifth Avenue, OFF 5th, Guess, and Cole Haan. So unique is the Prime Outlet Mall in St. Augustine, which is only about fifteen minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, that it showcases the only Gucci outlet store in the southeastern U.S.A. Outlet stores such as Coach and Gucci do not sacrifice its presence, display, and customer service just because their prices are much lower than their regular boutiques/stores. You wouldn't know the difference if it weren't for the jaw-dropping low prices.
With 75 stores and plenty of eateries, the Prime Outlet Mall is an experience in itself. There are other outlet malls, many shopping centers, and several enormous malls where the bargains reign galore. The hardest part is finding the time to visit more than a couple of them because there are so many stores and selections. Many shops have a clearance section and you can just imagine how low 50% off the already 50% discounted price can be!
Close to the amazing Atlantic Ocean and situated in the historical and quaint town of St. Augustine and also near a fascinating port, there isn't a reason why you shouldn't make a day or two to shop and explore when in the area. It's a great opportunity to stock up on presents for holidays and special occasions as well as freshen up your wardrobe and home décor. People from all over flock to the outlet malls in Florida so come see what the craze is all about. It's about getting top brands and designer labels and quality at a fraction – and I do mean fraction – of what you would normally pay in the regular stores or at websites.
