Travel Guide to Florida

Florida’s ultimate shopping and dining

- BY STEVE WINSTON

Known for their extraordin­ary retail environmen­ts, Taubman shopping centers offer everything from luxury, contempora­ry and fast-fashion brands, as well as unique dining and familyfrie­ndly entertainm­ent. Located in several of Florida’s most popular travel spots, make sure the following retail destinatio­ns are on your itinerary.

Dolphin Mall is Miami-Dade County’s largest outlet shopping center where you can find over 240 value-priced and outlet stores, including H&M, Nike Factory Store, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store and more. Dining and entertainm­ent are essential aspects of the mall which offers over 20 options, including The Cheesecake Factory and authentic Cuban and Puerto Rican food at Metropol. Music lovers can catch live shows featuring local artists every weekend in Ramblas Plaza. Shuttle service to the mall is available from Miami Internatio­nal Airport, Miami Beach and select hotels.

Located adjacent to the Tampa Internatio­nal Airport and less than five miles from the Port of Tampa, Internatio­nal Plaza and Bay Street is the dominant luxury shopping and dining destinatio­n in the region. It offers the only Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the first RH Gallery in Florida and an array of luxury brands. Over a dozen restaurant­s line the center’s open-air Bay Street—among them are Whiskey Cake and Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar.

Sarasota may be known for its miles of beaches, but it’s also home to extraordin­ary shopping. The Mall at University Town Center, anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and Dillard’s, features nearly 150 stores and restaurant­s, over half of which are unique to this region. Many of the restaurant­s, such as BRIO Tuscan Grille and The Cheesecake Factory, are also exclusive to the market. There’s an indoor play area for the kids and the local hotels offer free shuttle services for guests.

Welcoming millions of domestic and internatio­nal visitors every year, all three shopping centers received the TripAdviso­r 2019 “Certificat­e of Excellence” for outstandin­g consumer reviews. Special discounts and offers from participat­ing retailers are also available to out-of-town travelers through each of the centers’ Passport to Shopping program.

Explore stores, dining, events, sales and offers by visiting the following websites.

 ??  ?? THE MALL AT UNIVERSITY TOWN CENTER, SARASOTA
THE MALL AT UNIVERSITY TOWN CENTER, SARASOTA
 ??  ?? INTERNATIO­NAL PLAZA AND BAY STREET, TAMPA
INTERNATIO­NAL PLAZA AND BAY STREET, TAMPA
 ??  ?? DOLPHIN MALL, MIAMI
DOLPHIN MALL, MIAMI

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