Best Friday-After-Thanksgiving Sales in San Diego

Had enough of playing Bumper Cars in the mall parking lots, burning gas at two-plus bucks a gallon as you wait through 3 light cycles at the offramp, wearing out your Nikes on the concrete, just to get the latest Tickle-Me Barbie or whatever? Don't want to be another faceless loser who hands out gift cards? San Diego has many treasures to explore within an hour's drive, with retailers galore offering treats that are fun, stylish, delicious, useful & lasting. Beware - ripoffs coexist easily with fine bargains in California, with today's tourist trap going on sale tomorrow, or this morning's killer deal sold out by noon.
So ditch the crowds, get the deals, and take in some scenery while you're at it. There's retail life outside the mall! But one rule above all: the early bird gets the deal!

1. Balboa Park. The largest urban park in the US, with 15 museums plus shops & restaurants, all easy walking with plenty of parking. The Model Railroad Museum is the world's largest of its kind with all that the toy railroader could want. The Automotive and Air & Space Museums feature books, clothing & toys for all ages, as does the Hall of Champions sports museum. See the shops at the Museum of Art, Museum of Photographic Arts, Old Globe Theater, Museum of Natural History & Museum of Man. The International Gift Shop sells jewelry, toys, books & music to support the United Nations Association. Get some lunch at the Prado, Lady Carolyn's Pub or one of many specialty carts. Most are open from 10am or 11am to 4pm or 5pm. Don't be afraid to ask for bargains - many stores group them in one area. Get there early, because bargain-hunters will clean them out & the stores usually don't keep a lot of each product in stock. Off Highway 163, just north of Interstate 5 and Downtown San Diego.

2. The San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. The world's finest zoo is next to Balboa Park. A gift membership permits unlimited access to both the Zoo and the Wild Animal Park in North County plus special coupons and extra passes for guests. Get a One-Day Winter Camp for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade (and get yourself & spouse a precious day alone in the process). Shops are heavy on Africa themes but feature clothing, toys, games, music and jewelry for many tastes and ages. There's no better place to find exotic foods, spices & cookbooks, especially with Central American, African & East Asian flavors. Only drawback: you have to buy admission to get in unless you're a member. Again, don't hesitate to ask where the bargains & sales are, because they're usually in a group. Open 9am to 4pm during the winter. The Wild Animal Park is on San Pasqual Valley Road, 35 miles from San Diego and twenty minutes east of Escondido and also has plenty of gift shops.

3. Petco Park. Done shopping for Poindexter? Downtown near San Diego Bay is Petco Park, opened in 2004 as the home of the San Diego Padres. Season tickets can be had online, over the phone or at the gate. The gift shop is open year-round and features an array of official products, from hats to bats to shot glasses, for the Padres and all other MLB teams. Open from 8:30 to 5pm., or shop online at sandiego.padres.mlb.com.

4. Mission Bay Sportcenter. Dude, don't we, like, live by the ocean? This huge facility has rentals, lessons & accessories for sailing, surfing, windsurfing, kayaking & waterskiing, as well as stuff for ocean fishermen. Helpful & knowledgeable staff will direct you to bargains as well as information. Open 10am to 5pm, closed Tue. and Wed. 1010 Santa Clara Place, right on Mission Bay in Mission Beach.

5. The Hotel del Coronado. The best-known resort in the region has a whole mall in its basement with more than 20 shops. You may get it all done in one day with Gepetto's Toys, the Moontime Ice Creamery, The Spa Shop, Eclipse Eyewear, Naturally Yours Leather Goods, San Sebastian Shoes, Brady's for Men, The Sweater Store and several fine women's apparel and jewelry shops. A lot of it is pricey but there are some surprising bargains and there's no junk. Walk right out on the beach when you need a break or get some lunch in one of several bars & restaurants. Shop online at delshop.com. Most shops are open 10am to 5pm. 1500 Orange Ave in Coronado, across the Bay from San Diego. Get there early because parking is at a premium everywhere in Coronado. To avoid traffic, consider going north on the Silver Strand from Imperial Beach rather than going over the Bay Bridge and through Coronado.

6. Escondido Swap Meet. What if you're not made of money? The Escondido Swap Meet has quietly become the bargain powerhouse of the region, with an astonishing array of new merchandise & foods for every taste, mostly at better prices than South of the Border, when you figure in gasoline. There's no Mexican dish you can't cook with the ingredients available. Leather goods, hats, memorabilia of all kinds, candy & toys abound. This is the best place to find Christmas display items, as good as or better than any in the malls and at much lower prices. Many vendors & regular shoppers know one another and can make recommendations if you're looking for an array of items. Usually open 8am to 7pm at 635 W. Mission Ave. in downtown Escondido, about half an hour from Downtown San Diego.

7. Julian. The historic mining town in the hills northeast of San Diego is a hive of tourist activity today but keeps its small-town, rustic flavor even so. Most shops are on the old main street and feature bargains for every taste, age and price range. There's no better place for food, including meats, cheeses, spices and the famous Julian Pies, as well as anything you can imagine made from apples. Most shops open at 9am or 10am and stay open at least until 5pm. You'll find somewhere to park but you may have to walk a couple of hundred yards. There are a lot of impatient tourists driving in the little town, so be careful crossing the streets and take your time because there are bargains galore. On Highway 78 an hour northeast of San Diego.

8. Temecula Wine Country. Just north of the county line is a cluster of grape-growers whose reputations are rapidly rivalling Napa Valley's. Most are family-owned & operated by staff whose knowledge is equal to their hospitality. Most specialize in white wines including merlots, rieslings & chardonnays but there are several fine reds. Many make dessert wines such as port. Wilson Creek is renowned for its Almond Champagne. A bazaar at Maurice Car'rie features art, jewelry and specialty foods while the Plantation House restaurant makes an excellent bread & brie. Sales at Bella Vista, the oldest vineyard, can feature wines at less than $10 a bottle. The new South Coast Resort & Spa and the hilltop Churon Winery have package deals including lodging. Out-of-the-way wineries such as Andalusia, Oak Mountain & Keyways (run entirely by women) sometimes have bargain prices on very fine products. All have tasting rooms which charge around $10 for 5-10 tastes. Rancho California Road in Riverside County, about 5 miles east of Interstate 15, an hour from Downtown San Diego.

9. Stone Brewery. Shopping for someone who thinks wine is for sissies? Check out Stone in Escondido, one of the world's leading microbreweries. The Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale is not kids' stuff. A full array of brewing & tasting guides, accessories and clothing are available at the gift shop, along with tasting tours. Open 11am to 7pm at 1999 Citracado Parkway, near Interstate 15 and Highway 78, or shop online at stonebrew.com.

10. Hornblower Cruises. The largest charter sailing outfit in San Diego is at Broadway Pier in Downtown. Day cruises, dinner cruises & whalewatching are available as well as private charters. Package deals are available for other San Diego area events including watersports, bicycling, lodging, dining and museums. Open 8:30am to 5:30pm at 1066 N. Harbor Drive or book online at sandiegohornblower.com.

San Diegans, shop well, shop safe, and shop fun!