When it comes to shopping destinations in Orange County, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach dominate the charts. But Anaheim is where the "magic" is...and also a decent place to pick up some momentos of your visit to Southern California.

The newest Shopping, Dining and Entertainment location is the Anaheim GardenWalk is an oasis of outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment in the heart of Orange County. Discover an abundance of retail stores, fine dining restaurants, an upscale bowling lounge and state-of-the-art movie theaters, in a truly unique environment of scenic waterfalls and luxuriously manicured gardens. It's the OC's new hot spot for fashion, food and fun! Located just steps from Disneyland and the Anaheim Convention Center in the heart of Anaheim, a short drive from Angel Stadium, the Honda Center and the Platinum Triangle.

Another similar choice is Downtown Disney, the punchy and contrived shopping, dining and entertainment 'district' (aka mall) that links together the hotels and theme parks that make up the Disneyland Resort. DtD, as many locals call it, is accessible via driving (there are quite a few parking lots to choose from, with parking free for the first three hours - and beyond, with validation), taking any of the hotel shuttles that go to Disneyland,  taking a bus, and even walking, if you are close enough. For a clean, safe, tourist-friendly one-stop shopping experience, DTD is the place to go.

At DtD, you can find world-class specialty retailers for children ( Build-A-Bear, Club Libby Lu, The LEGO Imagination Center), women ( Sephora, Something Silver), teens ( Quiksilver Boardriders Surf Store), home ( Basin, Department 56), and the whole family ( World of Disney, Starbilias, Sunglass Icon). Prices tend to be at MSRP for the higher-end products carried at these stores, so be prepared to spend money! There are also kiosks dotted along the district that sell fun miscellaneous goodies such as celebrity-endorsed handcuff bracelets, pearls harvested fresh from their oysters, and commemorative photos. Many of these retailers can help you ship your purchases home if you have luggage issues to deal with.

If you get hungry, there are lots of places to eat. Catal and Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen are great for trendy, upscale dining experiences with good-but-not-great food, or stop by one of the many quick eats, such as La Brea Bakery, Tortilla Jo's, or Napolini. For something in between, Rainforest Cafe and ESPN Zone offer themed dining that is fun and reasonably affordable for the whole family. At peak seasons and dining times, such as Saturday nights in the summer, the lines at both sit-down and fast-food restaurants can be quite long - so make reservations, dine before or after peak hours, or be prepared to wait in line.

The entertainment at Downtown Disney is a great perk to your shopping experience, and it's completely free. During most evenings, a violinist, classical guitarist and Latin music band play at different locations throughout the district.  Their upbeat, instrumental music draw crowds and children and adults can often be found dancing. Or, visit the AMC movie theaters or  House of Blues to catch a movie or see your favorite band.

If you're looking for a similar experience, visit The Block at Orange. About two miles southeast of the Disneyland Resort, The Block is an outdoor shopping center with cornucopia of different retailers and restaurants - there's something for everyone, no matter how old you are or what your budget it. Vist specialty stores such as the Hawaii-themed Hilo Hattie's and hang ten at  Ron Jon's Surf Shop. These splashy stores are fun not only for their themed merchandise but also for their unique architecture. Greeters can often be found at Hilo Hattie's with complimentary shell necklaces in hand; stop and smell the coconut-y surf wax at the entrance of Ron Jon's. Popular chain stores such as Victoria's Secret, Old Navy, Hot Topic, EB Games and Hollister offer familiar retail comfort, while discount retailers such as Saks Off Fifth, Bose Outlet, Zales Outlet and the Ann Taylor Factory Store offer great bargains and selection for high-end products. There are also many kiosks throughout that offer everything from shoe shines to customized stickers. If you're in the mood to relax, visit Burke Williams for an all-out spa experience or Angles Salon and Day Spa for a quick fix.  There is a healthy selection of restaurants, including the gourmet Wolfgang Puck Cafe and the exotic Shoji Shabu-Shabu. For entertainment, visit Powerhouse or Dave & Buster's for arcade games, AMC movie theater for a flick, or Lucky Strike Bowling alley for a pricey-but-worth-it game. On the weekends, musicians often entertain on a stage in the plaza in front of AMC, and well as inside Cafe Tu Tu Tango.

For you bargain hunters, there are deals to be found if you venture outside of the Disneyland Resort. Along the four corners around the intersection of Harbor Blvd. and Katella Ave., there are strip malls with small, independently owned stores where you can find souvenirs such as t-shirts, keychains and other trinkets. Although they lack the polish, glitter and convenience of DTD, they will get you those quintessential California mementos at lower prices. A smattering of eateries are randomly wedged in between the souvenir shops for a quick and easy bite. Those places aren't the best Anaheim has to offer, but will work in a time -- or fiscal -- pinch.

If you're in search for more mundane items, head a couple of miles south on Harbor Blvd. and cross over into the City of Garden Grove. You'll hit a Big 5 Sporting Goods, and, at the corner of Harbor and Chapman, you can find a Target store. At the very corner of that shopping center is a $.99 Viva store, where miscellaneous treasures can be found for less than a dollar. If you've forgetten toiletries, making a pit stop at Viva can probably save you a few bucks.

Head north on Euclid and you'll hit the Anaheim Plaza outdoor mall just past the 5 freeway on-ramp. Anaheim Plaza is home to Wal-Mart, Mervyn's, and other value shopping. These stores do not cater to tourists (Wal-Mart has a decent Disney selection that is designed for tourists), so don't expect to find many souvenirs here - but if you need to find a sweater or make some "regular" purchases, visit Anaheim Plaza as you would your local shopping center at home.

The Anaheim Marketplace is an indoor swapmeet where you can find everything under the sun, under one roof, and at great discounts. This is another great place to pick up some inexpensive souvenirs. There's even a complimentary shuttle to the Marketplace -- call 714/999-0888 for more information.

For a completely different shopping experience, go west on Katella, hang a right on Brookhurst and head north. Here is one of Anaheim's best-kept secrets: Little Arabia. Here lies the hub of Anaheim's Middle Eastern culture, where more than 140 stores offer everything from halal meat to books and jewelry. Stop by Al-Sanabel bakery for a made-to-order flatbread pizza.

There is a Disney Outlet Store that carries Disneyland Park outdated merchandise north on Harbor, at Orangethorpe.  You can also find a Target, a Costco, a Henry's Farmers Market Grocery Store and more at this corner.

There is no nearby grocery store in the Disneyland area, the closest is about one mile west on Katella. It is a Food4Less store that is run by Kroger/Ralphs. (Kroger has the rights to the name in the Southern California area, other areas are run by a different company.)