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Where Shopping and Entertainment Meet
These new malls north of Atlanta combine recreation with bargains for fun holiday outings.

A NOTE TO OUR READERS:
"Where Shopping and Entertainment Meet" is from the November 2002 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.

These new malls north of Atlanta combine recreation with bargains for fun holiday outings.

One of the newest shopping areas near Atlanta, Discover Mills welcomes you with mall neighborhoods that focus on fashions, home accessories, and the outdoors. Drop in to Sun & Ski Sports at Discover Mills to scale the climbing wall.

Christmas shopping is easier in Georgia. Two new megamalls in Gwinnett County, only a half hour northeast of Atlanta on I-85, offer just about everything Santa could need. Within 6 miles of each other, Discover Mills and Mall of Georgia provide as much shopping as any elf could want--plus enough nonshopping activities to keep everyone entertained the rest of the year.

Shopping as Sport
It's a full mile around the oval track that makes up the hallways of 1-year-old Discover Mills. If all you do is simply walk around it, you'll encounter stores with climbing walls and snow skiing machines, a sizable kiddie playground, sports and music hall of fame displays, an indoor skateboard park, a mammoth boat store, specialty retail shops, as well as dozens of outlets. But you'll want to do more than stroll. There's Off 5th--Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet, Last Call From Neiman Marcus, LEGO store, Off-Broadway Shoe Warehouse, and Kenneth Cole New York Outlet, just to name a few.

The 130,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World keeps anglers and adventurous folks outfitted. You can see an enormous aquarium filled with bass, bream, and crappie native to Georgia. Over in the fly shop, experts know what's biting in North Georgia streams. Elsewhere in the store, try your hand at the shooting arcade, take a trip up a climbing wall, or simply watch the waterfall.

When all you want is a bite to eat, choose from about 25 favorite eateries at the Towne Square Festival Food Court or the family-friendly Jillian's.

State of Shopping
The 3-year-old Mall of Georgia spreads out just a few interstate exits to the north. Plan to skip gliding around the ice-skating rink this month, as you'll need every bit of energy to peruse all the stores.

This three-level facility is fashioned like a traditional mall, with Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, Rich's, JCPenney, and Dillard's anchoring more than 225 other specialty shops and restaurants.

At The Village Entrance, moms try to keep their kids out of the squirting fountain on warm fall days till they get their shopping done. Many come just for the Regal Cinemas' Cineplex with the state's only imax 3-D theater.

Discover Mills: (678) 847-5000 or www.discovermills.com.
Mall of Georgia: (678) 482-8788 or www.mallofgeorgia.com.

Where To Drop After You've Shopped
Lodging in the Discover Mills area: Camden Suites, 2350 Stephens Center Drive, (678) 474-9700; $69 shopping package includes room, dinner for two, and Discover Mills coupon book. Hilton Garden Inn, 2040 Sugarloaf Circle, (770) 495-7600; rates start at $69. Atlanta Marriott Gwinnett Place, 1775 Pleasant Hill Road, (770) 923-1775; Discover Mills shopping package includes a room for $69 and a coupon book.

Lodging in the Mall of Georgia area: Hampton Inn, 3240 Buford Drive, (678) 546-1200; rates start at $89, and shopping packages are available. Springhill Suites by Marriott, 3250 Buford Drive, (678) 714-2150; rates start at $95 with Continental breakfast. Wingate Inn, 1355 Mall of Georgia Boulevard, (678) 714-0248; rates start at $79. Reservations: Contact the Gwinnett County Convention & Visitors Bureau; www.gcvb.org.
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