Escape to Liberty Village

Is there anything that says “Girls’ Day” like shopping?  Well, maybe facials and mani/pedis, but my kids needed Easter dresses, so I headed to Liberty Village Premium Outlets last week, and I dragged one of my favorite girls along with me.

Liberty Village is situated at the top of Church Street in Flemington, and boasts 40 outlet stores. They’ve got designer duds for men, women and children, as well as shoes, housewares, and accessories.

One of my favorite things about outlet shopping is the atmosphere. I’ve rarely been to an outlet center that does that small town feel as well as Liberty Village. Brick walkways take you past unobtrusive store fronts, winding through shops, and making Liberty Village seem less like an outdoor mall, and much more like, well, a village! There’s even a pond in the courtyard, that boasts a fountain in warmer weather. Benches are plentiful, as are coin operated kiddie rides.  The kiddie rides are actually the reason I hate bringing my kids to Liberty Village. They want to go on every single one, and at fifty and seventy five cents a pop, I’d have to choose between the rides and the shopping.

There are vending machines around, with snacks and drinks, and a lovely cafe, which is perfect for a quick carb load during your shopping marathon. However, if you’re interested in sitting down for a nice meal, I suggest taking a quick detour out of the Village and onto Flemington’s Main Street, where you’ll find plenty of cozy restaurants and cafes, as well as more shopping in a quaint and picturesque setting.

Savvy outlet shoppers always check out the website before heading out. The Premium Outlets website offers a VIP membership, where you can print out coupons from different retailers prior to your trip. The membership is free, and worth its weight in gold. They will, of course, send you periodic emails to let you know of events and sales coming up.  If you don’t want to see those emails, learn to use your spam filters.

In addition to coupons you can get from the Liberty Village website, most retailers will honor their store coupons. Call ahead if you want to be sure, though. 

If you think Flemington is a bit of a drive for one afternoon of shopping, well, you’re not alone. You can check out hotel recommendations on the Village website, as well as different attractions and things of interest in the area.  I highly recommend the Main Street Manor Bed & Breakfast Inn. However, there is no shortage of hotels and inns in the Flemington area, and no shortage of fun things to do, including Liberty Village Premium Outlets!

Liberty Village is located at 1 Church Street in Flemington, NJ. The number of the Management Office is 908-782-8550. Their regular hours are Sun-Wed: 10am-6pm, Thu-Sat: 10am-9pm. There may be special hours on holiday weekends or during sales, so check the website before you go!