A Day of Fun at Great Mall

Feeling sad that summer is ending? Don't worry, you can still plan a great weekend staycation! And there's no better way to spend the day than at  Great Mall in Milpitas, CA. It's within a short driving distance from practically any city in the Bay Area, and it has everything you need to spend the day out with the family -- great stores (with great bargains!), fun things to do for the kids and for grownups, and delicious places to grab a snack or a meal. There's something for everyone!

The Great Mall was the first outlet center I visited when I came the US in 1994 as a graduate student, and I was blown away by the size of the mall (it's like a giant football field with over 200 stores!) and the variety of shops. I've loved it ever since, and my kids have grown up shopping at Great Mall!

A few weeks ago I took the boys out for a day of fun at Great Mall (courtesy of Great Mall and Simon Malls). It was just before school started, so it was the perfect opportunity to go back to school shopping and have one last hurrah before summer vacation ended. Here are all the things we did that day at Great Mall:

Shopping
Great Mall is the perfect place to find a bargain! They have great outlet stores and retail stores for men, women, teens, kids, and home.  Whether you need to stock up on back to school supplies and outfits or buy a holiday present for everyone on your list, you don't have to go any further than Great Mall.

Food
Great Mall offers plenty of delicious ways to refuel. Their food court has all kinds of fast food cuisine, from Indian to Japanese to Mediterranean, and more. There are snack carts and kiosks scattered all around the mall, featuring favorites like Wetzels Pretzels, Dippin Dots, Starbucks, Mrs. Fields, Cold Stone Creamery, and more. Yum!

Entertainment
You don't have to be a shopaholic to enjoy the Great Mall. There are entertainment options for everyone!

There are several meeting places where families can meet and rest their feet. My favorite one has a fountain where the little ones love to play.

You really don't have to worry about young kids getting antsy, because there are lots of rides spaced around the mall, including a mini railroad, carousel, and bungee jump.

Don't worry, there are games for grown-ups too. Dave & Buster's has a ton of arcade games and video games, along with a bar and restaurant with giant sports screens showing the live sports matches.

You can even go to the movies! Century Theatres has 20 screens including 3D and XD options, a game arcade, and the all-important concession stands with popcorn, sodas and other snacks.

One of the boys' favorite things to do is hang out at Game Stop and play video games.

That's a lot of stuff to do! If you're all tired out, look for the coin-operated massage chairs so you can give your aching body a break!

We had a great day out and can't wait to go back!

Here's a list of some of our favorite stores (I limited it to three per category, otherwise the list would go on and on!). You can find a complete list of Great Mall stores on their website.

Bonggamom:
Favorite place to shop: UGG, Victoria's Secret, The Body Shop
Favorite place to eat: Red Ribbon Bake Shop, Mrs. Field's
Favorite place to hang out: Century Cinema

Alfie:
Favorite place to shop: J. Crew Factory, Calvin Klein, Clark's
Favorite place to eat: Anderson's Bakery, Starbucks
Favorite place to hang out: Century Cinema, Dave & Buster's

The Pea:
Favorite place to shop: Uniqlo, Bath & Body Works, Forever 21
Favorite place to eat: Wetzel's Pretzels, Chipotle
Favorite place to hang out: Century Cinema

Jammy
Favorite place to shop: Adidas Outlet Store
Favorite place to eat: Dippin Dots, Jollibee
Favorite place to hang out: Dave & Buster's, Game Stop


3Po
Favorite place to shop: Nike Outlet Store
Favorite place to eat: Cinnabon, Subway
Favorite place to hang out: Dave & Buster's, Game Stop




Disclosure: I received a Simon Mall gift bag including gift cards to help us enjoy our day out at Great Mall. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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