Countywide : How To Get To The Malls

Hours listed are for the day after Thanksgiving. Some department stores remain open a little longer than mall hours. ANAHEIM PLAZA Location: Santa Ana (5) Freeway at Euclid Street. Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Avoid: Main Euclid entrance, especially when going south along Euclid. Use: Crescent Avenue or Loara Street. Parking: Best in lots along Crescent. Tight around Euclid entrance. Comments: Santa in the north wing. Nine-foot talking bear in the south end. BREA MALL Location: Imperial (90) Highway at State College Boulevard. Open: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Avoid: Heaviest traffic approaches from the south along State College and left-turn traffic signals make motorists wait to enter mall. Use: Approach from the north along State College and take either of two entrances into mall. Side street entrances also on Birch Street and Randolph Avenue. Parking: No particular trouble areas. Comments: Randolph entrance leads straight to valet parking, $3. BUENA PARK MALL Location: La Palma and Stanton avenues. Open: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Avoid: La Palma entrances. Use: Stanton Avenue or Dale Street entrances. Parking: Best in back of mall, especially in lots near Stanton. Comments: Two hours free baby-sitting of children 2 to 10 years old. HUNTINGTON CENTER Location: Beach Boulevard and Edinger Avenue, at the San Diego (405) Freeway. Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Avoid: Entering from Edinger and the busy Edinger and Beach intersection. Use: Center Avenue entrances. The southbound San Diego Freeway Beach Boulevard off-ramp puts motorists right on Center. The northbound off-ramp lets out onto Beach, but the first right turn is Center. Parking: Good in northeast and northwest lots along Center. Comments: All-American Boys Chorus sings that day at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. LAGUNA HILLS MALL Location: Interstate 5 at El Toro Road. Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Avoid: Main El Toro entrance. Use: Any of the entrances off either Avenida de la Carlota or Calle de la Louisa. The southbound Interstate 5 El Toro off-ramp puts motorists on de la Carlota--just stay on it past El Toro. Parking: Good in lots between Sears and Buffums, along Calle de la Louisa, and Sears and J.C. Penney, along Avenida de la Carlota. Lots near Sears and the Broadway near main entrance fill fast. Comments: Security escort to parking lots available. Ask any store manager to call security when ready to return to car. MALL OF ORANGE Location: Tustin Street, between Heim and Meats avenues. Closest freeway access: Costa Mesa (55) Freeway at Katella or Lincoln avenues. Open: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Avoid: Lincoln off-ramp from the Costa Mesa Freeway, and the main entrance off Tustin. Use: Katella exit from Costa Mesa Freeway. Use entrances off Meats or Heim avenues or Canal Street. Parking: Good in rear lots along Canal. Comments: Automatic doors for the handicapped near main entrance. Package check and carry-out service in center of mall. Parking-lot escort service. MISSION VIEJO MALL Location: Interstate 5, off Crown Valley Parkway. Open: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Avoid: Main entrance. Use: Marguerite entrance. Parking: Good on south side of mall, by May Co. and Montgomery Ward. Comments: Santa knows sign-language. Free second Santa photo for those with relatives stationed in Middle East. THE CITY SHOPPING CENTER Location: Garden Grove (22) Freeway at The City Drive. Open: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Avoid: The City Drive entrances. Parking: Best toward west side of mall.