A friend & I went on an outlet mall expedition this past weekend to San Marcos TX. We certainly helped the local economy a bundle. 
We rented a cool blue PT Cruiser and flew down Interstate 35 from Fort Worth to San Marcos early Saturday morning. Shopped til we nearly dropped. Then had dinner at the Gristmill overlooking the Guadalupe River in Gruene TX and got to hear live music from the dance hall (that's a boot-scootin' place with open air sides, the ol' Texas kind) next door.
Then we shopped some more yesterday before flying back north to home.
I'm repeating the weekend before Thanksgiving. Will fly down (via plane, not car) to Houston, hook up with a cousin who lives north of Houston and head to San Marcos again.
I told my friend that men who enjoy hunting should understand the thrill that we shoppers get when we scent out a wonderful bargain -- such as 40% off 3rd or 4th markdown, with another 10% with the outlet mall's frequent shopper card. And remember, every season is HUNTING season for bargains!
I actually DID get things I needed: a toaster to replace the dead one; slacks marked down more than 75%; shorts that were about 80% off orig price; shoes 33% of orig.; very nice blazer that was 75% off orig.
I've made pilgrimages to Freeport, Maine, and Kittery, Maine, and shopped there.
Any other places with about 200 outlet stores all clustered together?
We rented a cool blue PT Cruiser and flew down Interstate 35 from Fort Worth to San Marcos early Saturday morning. Shopped til we nearly dropped. Then had dinner at the Gristmill overlooking the Guadalupe River in Gruene TX and got to hear live music from the dance hall (that's a boot-scootin' place with open air sides, the ol' Texas kind) next door.
Then we shopped some more yesterday before flying back north to home.
I'm repeating the weekend before Thanksgiving. Will fly down (via plane, not car) to Houston, hook up with a cousin who lives north of Houston and head to San Marcos again.
I told my friend that men who enjoy hunting should understand the thrill that we shoppers get when we scent out a wonderful bargain -- such as 40% off 3rd or 4th markdown, with another 10% with the outlet mall's frequent shopper card. And remember, every season is HUNTING season for bargains!
I actually DID get things I needed: a toaster to replace the dead one; slacks marked down more than 75%; shorts that were about 80% off orig price; shoes 33% of orig.; very nice blazer that was 75% off orig.
I've made pilgrimages to Freeport, Maine, and Kittery, Maine, and shopped there.
Any other places with about 200 outlet stores all clustered together?
