1. Westfield Shoppingtown North County
City: Escondido, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 489-2332
Address: 272 East Via Rancho Parkway
Description: North County Inland’s largest enclosed mall is anchored by Nordstrom, Macy’s, Sears, and JCPenney. You’ll find 200 specialty shops, including Godiva chocolates, Crabtree & Evelyn, Mrs. Fields cookies, Lane Bryant, and O’Nami Japanese restaurant as well as a food court with everything from pizza to Indian food. Throughout the mall there are plenty of places to sit and people watch—a favorite pastime for those who come along with a true shopper. Parking on weekends can be tricky, but there always seems to be enough.
2. Deborah’S
City: Escondido, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 743-8980
Address: 1624 East Valley Parkway
Description: This is a huge, one-stop resale store for items for the entire family. In business since 1974, Deborah’s has jewelry, shoes, clothing, accessories, furniture, household items, and gift items. The store sells only items in very good and nearly perfect condition and has a large supply of department-store brands.
3. Barnes & Noble
City: Escondido, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 480-2760
Address: 810 West Valley Parkway
Description: Part of the fine chain of bookstores found throughout the country, these stores, with their atmosphere of calm, are especially inviting on a hectic weekend. While some bookstores have noisy, boisterous events, here you’ll find people who’ve come to quietly browse, and the staff is happy to have them. In no time at all, shoppers can be directed to a special book or have it special-ordered. As at other Barnes & Nobles, there’s a sizeable selection of children’s books and a place for kids and parents to sit and preview them.
4. Waldenbooks
City: Escondido, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 746-4859
Address: 200 East Via Rancho Parkway
Description: Located at the North County Faire Shopping Mall, this Waldenbooks is especially inviting when you’ve been on a shopping spree. There’s a calm atmosphere in the store, and the staff is very willing to allow you to browse. They’ll special-order books, too, if they don’t have them in their large stock. Ask about book clubs and upcoming events, including signings by local and national authors.
5. Hidden Valley Antique Emporium
City: Escondido, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 737-0333
Address: 333 East Grand Avenue
Description: Imagine more than 10,000 square feet of antiques shopping. It’s here at Hidden Valley Antique Emporium. Currently there are more than 60 shops under one roof, and they have layaway. They’re open until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday; other days the hours are from 10:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Parking can be found along nearby side streets.
6. Escondido Drive-In Swap Meet
City: Escondido, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 745-3100
Address: 600 West Washington Street
Description: The swap meet is held year-round, Wednesday and Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Friday 3:00 to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There are food booths, a farmers’ market, and lots of treasures in new and used merchandise. Admission ranges from $1.00 to $1.50; it’s free on Thursday.
7. Escondido Municipal Gallery
City: Escondido, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 480-4101
Address: 142 West Grand Avenue
Description: The shows at this intimate gallery change focus often, so it’s worth stopping in to browse when you’re in the neighborhood. At a recent exhibit there was an all-media exhibition of two- and three-dimensional art by local artists. More than 60 local artists form this partnership that showcases sculpture, prints, paintings, and mixed-media pieces. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
8. The Visual Arts At The California Center For The Arts
City: Escondido, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 839-4120, (800) 988-4253
Address: 340 North Escondido Boulevard
Description: An always changing group of exhibits is on display here. Recently there was an exhibition of 20th-century still-life paintings from the Phillips Collection with works by Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Stuart Davis, and Georgia O’Keeffe. With your ticket to a performance at the center, you can visit the museum and sculpture court for free. Otherwise, ticket prices are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children age 12 and older and students with identification. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4:00 p.m. It’s free the first Wednesday of every month.
9. Mingei International Museum
City: Escondido, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 735-3355
Address: 155 West Grand Avenue
Description: A North County satellite on Grand Avenue in Escondido, just down the street from the California Center for the Arts, opened in December 2003. The facility has a multimedia education center as well as a 5,000-square-foot exhibition gallery for displaying some of the museum’s 12,000-piece collection. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for seniors, and $3.00 for students and children ages 6 to 17. It’s free the third Tuesday of each month and second Sunday of each month from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
City: Escondido, CA
Category: Shopping
Address: 340 North Escondido Boulevard
11. Patio Playhouse Community Theater
City: Escondido, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 746-6669
Address: 201 East Grand Avenue
Description: The Playhouse is a not-for-profit, volunteer organization presenting a range of live performances in comedy, drama, mystery, and musicals. There are seven or eight different shows presented each year, including youth theater shows. During the year, there are fund-raisers also. For the kids in the family there are plays such as Puss & Boots and for adults such entertainment as Jay Mower’s The Diary of Anne Frank. Call or check the Web site for a schedule of events and ticket prices.
12. Welk Resort Center
City: Escondido, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 749-3448, (888) 802-7469
Address: 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive
Description: In our Hotels and Motels chapter we covered the things you can do at the Welk Resort Center, but there’s a whole lot more than spa-ing and golfing here. The Welk Resort’s production team offers such classic shows as Showboat, Carousel, Guys and Dolls, and Singin’ in the Rain. Each week there are five matinees and three evening performances, and both are available with the lunch or dinner buffet or for the performance only. Prices range from $58 to $63 including the buffet.