One Tank Get Away - Shopping!

One-Tank Getaway:
LET’S GO SHOPPING!

By Greg & Julie Peters

New York

Factory Stores, Hershey

Home Furnishings Factory Outlet,
Morgantown

Vanity Fair,
Reading

Tanger Outlet Center Lancaster

Rockvale Square,
Rockvale

King of Prussia Malls

Franklin Mills

Martinsburg,
West Virginia

Check out the Internet

Our Advice!

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Shopping, some of us love it and some of us hate it; but with the holidays coming up let us make the best of it! We hope to give you easy directions and some different places to shop than the usual local places, plus their holiday hours and any special events.

The Big Apple, yes, New York City, is still something to see over the holidays. Many area groups offer bus trips with various times at different prices. A trip we like is Open Stage of Harrisburg’s bus trip to New York. It will be going to New York City on Saturday, December 14th at 7 AM from Harrisburg East Mall and will leave New York at 8 PM to come home. It is a long day, but leaves a lot of room to shop, catch a Broadway show, or see Rockafeller Center (lace up those skates). The cost is $30 and you can call 232-6736 for reservations.

Crazy as it may seem, a lot of people do not know we have Factory Stores in Hershey. This outlet center has over 50 merchants. Stores range from Jones New York, Levi’s Outlet, Dockers Outlet, Oshkosh B’Gosh, Corning Revere, and many more. One of the nice things about this outlet is that it is close and easy to get to. Take 322 East from Harrisburg towards Hershey, get off on Hershey Park Drive, go past the park and the outlets are on your right. Call 530-1236 for more info. and holiday hours.

Head East Shoppers! Visit the Home Furnishings Factory Outlet at Morgantown. What used to be known as MOM’s outlet. Two of my favorites are Pennsylvania House Furniture Store, and a Wine & spirits shop. Call (610) 286-2000 for more information and holiday hours. In Reading you will find two outlets to check out, the Vanity Fair Outlet and the Reading Outlet. Vanity Fair is well known for its Woolrich, Black & Decker, Evan-Picone, and of course their own lingerie. Directions are easy. Take the turnpike heading east to Exit 21. This will put you on 222 North. Follow to 422 West and follow the signs. Vanity Fair’s hours for the holidays will be 9 to 9 Monday through Friday, 8 to 9 Saturday, and 10 to 5 Sunday. For more information, call (610) 378-0408. Reading Outlet in downtown Reading offers many stores. The big Timberland sale starts November 20th! Directions are the same as Vanity Fair, except when you are on 422 West, you will follow the signs for downtown and the outlet. For more info. call (610) 376-0206.

To Lancaster and Tanger Outlet Center and Rockvale Square. Tanger has 52 stores. Donna Karan, Polo, B.U.M., Colombia Sportswear, Royal Dalton, FILA, and Liz Claiborne are only a few of the many stores. There is a good place to eat called Let’s Eat! For more information call 392-7202. Rockvale Square has more than 120 stores, so almost everything you need you can find. It’s easy to be satisfied with fast food, with Burger King, Bob Evans, KFC, and a food court just around the corner. Directions to both Tanger and Rockvale are as simple as getting on 283 South and then connect with 30 East. You will run into Tanger first on your right and Rockvale is a mile or two down 30 East on your right at the corner of Routes 30 and 896.

King of Prussia Malls’ the Court and the Plaza will make even the die hard shopper wonder if they can do it all! Besides all the specialty shops, this super mall boasts having Bloomingdales, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Strawbridge’s, J.C. Penny, and Sears! The directions are take the turnpike east to exit 24 and then follow 202 North and the Mall is on your left. For more information call (610) 337-1210.

Franklin Mills with over 200 stores can be mind blowing, but remember to be calm and enjoy yourself. Franklin Mills has Santa arriving on November 21st, and has family nights December 2, 9, 16, and 23rd. It has everything even a Saks Fifth Avenue. For more information call 1-800-336-Mall. Directions: Take the turnpike east and go to exit 28, take 1 South, and get on 95 North, take the first exit and you’re there.

Head west as in Martinsburg, West Virginia to the Blue Ridge Outlet Center. It may seem far, but it is only about 1½ hours away. Take 815 to West Virginia exit 13, and then follow local directions. For more information, call 1-800-445-3993.

Last, but not least you can now use the Internet to search out malls to find the best hours and stores for you and your family. This is good use of technology.

Make sure you bring good walking shoes in and set places and times to meet people. This will make shopping during the holidays a lot easier. Plus be friendly to all the people around you by knowing your credit card limits and having checks or money ready. Enjoy the holidays! It should be fun!