Until I moved to San Diego nine years ago I had never heard of an outdoor mall.

Before my days of stress-free and wildly varied shopping in San Diego, malls gave me nothing but anxiety; the crowds, the energy, the food courts and clothing boutiques on top of the other. Then I walked into Fashion Valley and took a deep breath of fresh air. How could I feel claustrophobic with the sun on my shoulders? Since then I have been to every shopping plaza, outlet center, and mall in San Diego, learning must-share Insider tips and trends along the way.

Discover the top ten San Diego malls and shopping plazas.

The Forum in Carlsbad
Beautiful scenery with numerous and varied stores to frequent including a med spa, Victoria’s Secret and boho chic favorites Anthropologie and Free People. theforumshopping.com

Otay Ranch Town Center
You’ll be surprised to find a clean, neat and gorgeous set up with great dining, stores and a movie theatre at this new center in Chula Vista. Women, men and children are all satisfied by the center’s options for shopping, including Bebe, Aldo, H&M, REI and Zales. otayranchtowncenter.com

Del Mar Plaza
“Come for the shopping, stay for the views” is the motto of this coastal Del Mar shopping center, and I am here to comply. Arguably one of the best combinations of ambience, shops and views in San Diego, Del Mar Plaza is a fantastic alternative to the ho-hum ambience of a generic mall. delmarplaza.com  (pictured)

Fashion Valley Mall
There is no true local that knows not of this San Diego mall. One of the greatest attractions in San Diego, Fashion Valley is responsible for many shopping sprees that include a jaunt to Michael Kors, American Apparel, Neiman Marcus and Forever 21 to name a few of FV’s medley. Spend 44K at Fashion Valley. simon.com

Carlsbad Premium Outlets
This beautiful outdoor center of outlets in Carlsbad features your favorites shops, but with lower prices! Find yummy items from past seasons at Juicy Couture, Kenneth Cole, Banana Republic, Gap and Guess; are only a few outlet jewels from the selection. The cherry on this Premium Outlet sundae? Michael Kors is setting up shop in September. premiumoutlets.com

Westfield UTC La Jolla
A skating rink and a lovely price variety brings a diverse customer base to this outdoor mall in La Jolla. 24 Hour Fitness, Apple, Coach, Charlotte Russe and Nordstrom are among the storefronts giving you that come hither look. Coming soon: $900 million renovation. Spend $4K at UTC. westfield.com/utc

Flower Hill Promenade
Located in Solana Beach in the greater Del Mar area, Flower Hill is a prized shopping center that has been a part of the community for 30 years. Originally developed by the Fletcher family in the mid 1970s, it has continued to provide an upscale array of shops and restaurants as well as a movie theatre to its nearby communities of Solana Beach, Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe. flowerhill.com

Westfield Plaza Bonita
Although not as majestic as the other shopping mall options on this list, the sheer number of eateries, services and stores cannot be overlooked. When heading to the South Bay to shop, don’t miss a trip to Plaza Bonita in Bonita near Chula Vista. westfield.com/plazabonita

Seaport Village
Aside from the fun shops and family entertainment, Seaport Village made the list because it’s truly a wonderland made of bay views, cobble stones and small patches of grass begging you to pop a squat. When wandering into Seaport Village in downtown San Diego, I recommending stopping into the Village Hat Shop. seaportvillage.com

Las Americas Premium Outlets
Any place that can get me my designer duds for less is on my top ten list. Stop in here to pick up that Max Studio dress you wanted a few months ago or that Hugo Boss suit you couldn’t afford. Did I mention they have a Neiman Marcus Last Call? Well, they do. Though located in San Ysidro near the border, this outlet experience is worth the drive. premiumoutlets.com (pictured below)

Discover more of the best boutiques and malls in San Diego in our local shopping directory, and keep up to speed on the latest style trends in our shopping blog.