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Shopping With Kate
Desert Hills Premium Outlets
You've seen it. You've wondered about it. But, have you stopped to check it out? The Desert Hills Premium Outlets! Next stop: Fields Road in Cabazon, Calif.
If you've never shopped at outlets before, let me fill you in. Outlet shops are name brand designer stores, but they offer their products at special prices. Why the bargain price? Well, these items are overflow from retail stores, leftovers from previous seasons, or flawed in some small way. However, don't let any of these reasons deter you from finding a steal of a deal.
My friend Rhonda, her daughter Gabby and I headed to the outlets in search of some great bargains to add to our wardrobes. Though we had been to the outlets many times, we continued to be amazed at the plethora of stores housed there.
We arrived at the outlets on a Thursday afternoon. We knew parking is often hard to find, especially on the weekends, but much to our delight we were able to find a great shaded spot in the middle of the complex. After Gabby was secured in her stroller, we meandered toward Carter's clothing store for children. Rhonda managed to find several chic and dainty jumpers for Gabby. The clothing was additionally discounted from the original outlet prices.
In our afternoon of exploration, we found the best bargains at the J. Crew outlet. I was stoked to discover a pair of their cowboy cut jeans, usually retailing for around $96, for only $12. Rhonda purchased three great pairs of capris for a total price of $40. Now those are some good buys! 
At the Nike outlet, I purchased a new sport swimsuit that I planned to use for lap swimming at the MCCS pools. Rhonda found several cute t-shirts at Van Heusen for wearing around the house. Gabby smiled throughout the trip as she looked from her stroller at dresses, skirts, pants and tops. She was happy to see the constant change of scenery as we walked from the warm outdoor air into the cool shops.
When we were about halfway through the circle, we came upon one of the two food courts available at the outlets. As we dined we watched as children ate, played and bounced about while their parents visited with friends. One lady even sauntered by with her dog in a stroller. The overall feel of the Desert Hills Premium Outlets was very kid-friendly; even the restrooms at the food court were planned with families in mind.
Eventually, Rhonda and I finished our shopping course and arrived back at the car. Excited about our purchases, thankful for the enjoyable walk, and delighted with our meal; we were ready to navigate our return to the high desert.
If you plan to visit the Desert Hills Premium Outlets with your children, then you may want to do a side jaunt to see the dinosaurs, a must see Southern California tourist stop also located in Cabazon. They have been featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Pee Wee's Big Adventure.
Whether you decide to make a day trip, or just stop for an hour on your way out of the desert, don't be discouraged if you can't do it all in a day. There is more to see than one day allows. You may even find yourself planning your return trip to the outlets before you leave the parking lot. See you in Cabazon!
