I love coming here every Christmas. It feels like I’m saying hello to an old friend who you don’t speak to often. However, when you do, all the memories come rushing back.
But if there’s one place I have to visit, it’s the South Coast Plaza shopping mall. From favorites such as The North Face and Anthropologie, to Burberry and Chanel, their upscale stores will have something for almost everyone on your list.
Capture your child’s imagination and bring them for a magical display of elves, houses with tiny smokestacks, carousel rides, train rides, and who could forget, a visit with Santa himself.
South Coast Plaza is divided into two different buildings, which are connected with an impressive bridge, and each side contains the traditional Christmas trees I’ve visited ever since I was a kid. One is adorned with bright, polished ornaments and the other is decked out with miniature Victorian houses, a railroad track, and a gigantic Saint Nick; that one is my personal favorite.
I may be 24 years old, but there’s nothing like visiting your childhood home to capture the spirit of Christmas.