Shopping in San Diego ranges from the hip stores of Hillcrest to the world-class boutiques of La Jolla's Prospect Street and Girard Avenue to the trendy Gaslamp Quarter and the quaint village of Coronado. If you poke around some of the smaller neighborhoods -- Del Mar, Solana Beach's Cedros Design District, Carlsbad's upscale outlet mall, and Julian -- you may turn up some real finds.

Local malls and shopping areas are outdoors; they're pleasant places to stroll and enjoy the area's legendary sunny weather. Some, like Horton Plaza downtown, are visual feasts. Most major malls, however, offer merchandise you can find nearly anywhere. For San Diego-related memorabilia, browse the gift shops at major attractions like the zoo, Wild Animal Park, and Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town. You can also pick up a real-live San Diego keepsake at the flower nurseries around Carlsbad and Encinitas, and along inland farm trails.

Most establishments are open daily 10-6; department stores and shops within the larger malls stay open until 9 on weekdays. Sales are advertised in the San Diego Union-Tribune and in the Reader, a free weekly that comes out on Thursday. Also, check out the Web sites www.signonsandiego.com and www.sandiegoinsider.com for more details on local shops and sales.