The Florida Mall

I was born to shop. And there’s no better place to do it than in Florida. The Orlando shopping experience is so much more relaxed than your usual trips to the shopping centre back home. My favourite mall is the Florida Mall. I always visit here whenever I am holidaying in Orlando and it is a very enjoyable experience. The Florida Mall is huge and there is such variety with over 250 stores. Whether you are looking for something in particular or just want to browse, in its air conditioned splendour, the mall is guaranteed to be a great day out.

To the hard core shopper, clothes are a must. At the Florida Mall you will not be disappointed. Brand name clothes shops such a Gap, Billabong, Victoria’s Secret, Papaya and Banana Republic sell there wares, from evening dress and lingerie to casual wear and sports clothing. And let’s not forget the all important shoes and accessories. Stores include Guess, Sunglass Hut, Nine West, Bakers, Sketchers and Hat Shack.

As well as all the fashion stores, there are also some great sports shops. There is the fantastic Field of Dreams which sells all sorts of sports memorabilia for many US sports teams, past and present. From baseball, to American football, to basketball and hockey, here you can pick up authentic collector items – a must for all hard core sports fans. Other sports shops include Foot Locker, Team Choice and the Ultimate Sports Fan.

Another fantastically different store is M& Ms World. As you would expect, everything is M& Ms related. From candy to cushions, soft toys and games, kids and big kids alike will love this shop. The store greeters are dressed up as M& Ms and the shop is so bright and colourful. The candy is stored in huge clear plastic tubes and you can pick and choose exactly which candy you want.

The mall also has a number of large department stores including Sears, JC Penney and Macys. These are great for all you shopaholics out there. They sell a wide range of stock, from clothes to home furnishings, to toys and power tools. You can also pick up cosmetics, perfumes and jewellery.

There are also kiosks dotted about the walkways of the mall, selling a host of goodies such as sunglasses, accessories, perfumes and snacks.

And speaking of food… The food court at the mall is great. It is inexpensive yet of a good quality. As you wander around the food court, helpful assistants will try to tempt you with free samples of their cuisine. My personal favourite is the Chinese food – yum! Or if you prefer something away from the noise level of the food court, why not try one of the restaurants. I recommend Ruby Tuesday. Situated at the entrance, just opposite Foot Locker, this is a fantastic restaurant. Whether it is lunch or dinner that you are after, they have a full menu. The only difficulty you will have is deciding what to have! Portion sizes, as always in America, are very generous. If you fancy something other than a soda, they have a great selection of smoothies and fruit cocktails (with or without alcohol).

So as you can see I have a great passion for shopping and the Florida Mall really hits the mark.