Prime Outlets, What's all the fuss about?

Growing up in Williamsburg the locals always knew to avoid Busch Gardens on weekends in the summer. The reason was simple, why fight the crowds during peak times when locals have the luxury of going anytime. Today the park is decidedly less crowded, perhaps because they have added new rides and attractions and there is simply more room for everyone to spread out. Today the place locals avoid on the weekends is without question Prime Outlets.

What is all the fuss about? Outlet shopping is hardly a new idea, yet during the worst economy of my lifetime there seems to be no shortage of people looking to spend their hard earned cash. For Memorial Day weekend my husbands brother and his wife were in town with their two kids and number one on her agenda: Outlet Shopping. Here was my big chance to see it from a tourist perspective.

Although my "must visit" stores included Polo, Michael Kors and Ann Taylor, my sister in law took the visit much more seriously. Mapping out her route, essentials included Hannah Anderson, Carters, LL Bean, Adidas and the new "Crocs" store. As we passed along she educated me to what items would have cost as department stores. "Pay $25 for Crocs?" I joked, "surely you are kidding. Plastic shoes can't cost that much!" She assures me they do, and that the bargain she found for half of that saved her family of four $50.00.

Store after store my sister in law found one deal after another and when it was all said and done she assured me that she saved a small fortune. A fortune I save every time I shop, yet I had no idea the savings were so substantial. Knowing I had a great deal made the trip all the more exciting!

No longer will I wonder why this attraction, above all others in Williamsburg seems to be busy year round, I'll just sit back, join thr crowd and count the money that I am "making." After all, as I told my husband, "A penny saved is a penny earned." A little rationalizing never hurt anyone!