Guide to Los Angeles Area Open Air Markets

If you are tired of regional shopping malls and the clean-cut lifestyle centers developers keep throwing at shoppers, look no further than neighborhood open air markets to add a little flavor to your next shopping trip. If you live in the Los Angeles area or are within driving distance, there are a ton of markets to choose from, but here are a few that will get you started on your shopping adventure.

Owen's Market, located in Beverlywood at 9769 Pico Boulevard, has a boutique-style feel to it. High-end may not be the right word to describe it, but it's definitely one notch above the weekend swap meets most are familiar with.

You can find wines from California wineries, gourmet foods and organic household supplies. Among the more interesting items stocked at this market are the vintage cookbooks (for all you collectors or cooks) and a great meat counter that carries Montana Legend meat.

Fresh flowers and sweets from Los Angeles - based Cake Divas, which makes custom desserts, round out the mix of finds at Owen's Market.

If you are not in a rush, on your visit to Owen's, make sure to stop by the Beverlywood Bakery, which is just down the street. They sell fresh bread, coffee cakes, danishes and pastries.

If you are looking for something with a little more grit and a different type of character, make sure you make at least one stop to Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles. The Market is located at 3175 Broadway, but parking is located on Hill Street.

Grand Central packs in produce, meat counters, seafood, candy stores and fast food stands, into a relatively small area.

It usually gets packed on weekends, but that's part of the fun in shopping there. The China Café serves Chinese food. There's also Corleone Pizza and Maria's Fresh Seafood.

You may also be able to find some unique gifts, but you may have to dig. There's Grand Central Jewelry, but for the most part, this market is made for people looking to buy food. Go here with the mindset that you're shopping for that night's dinner ingredients.

Parking is free with validation (go to the information desk in the center of the market to validate your parking stub).

If finding a unique gift is more your mindset, Chinatown has a couple markets, which are located relatively close to Grand Central.

First off, there's the Dynasty Center in the 800 block of Broadway between Alpine and College streets. This can be characterized as an indoor swap meet where you can find clothing, jewelry, toys and purses. Be prepared to bargain if you are also looking to get a deal.

Adjacent to the Dynasty Center is the Chinatown Plaza. Go there if you are looking for deals on jade and gold jewelry.

For those who are a little more adventurous and willing to drive outside of Los Angeles, try one of the Maclin Open Air Markets in the Inland Empire, east of Los Angeles. The Markets can be found in Victorville, Ontario and Indio.

At these markets you will be able to find crafts, antiques and other vendors. Some of it is junk and then some of it may be just what you are looking for. You just have to be willing to dig and take the time to sift through the different vendors.

While this is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all of the open air markets in the Los Angeles area, it should get you started. Once you start shopping at these markets, it may be difficult to go back to traditional shopping centers. Happy shopping.