Lodi Station Outlets in Lodi, Ohio ~ train rides, shopping and so much more! @LodiStation

If you live in Ohio and have never been to Lodi Station Outlets before, it is a definite must! You can get so many quality items at a fraction of the price you would pay at a mall! We live only 18 minutes from the outlets, so we shop their quiet often! The Lodi Outlets are so much more than just shopping!  There is a  trains, reverse train robberies on the train, live music at certain times, a play ground, foot court model trains and more!  Last year I  participated in a VIP Blogger’s Event at the Lodi Station Outlets and was asked to participate again this year!

This year's experience was so different.  Instead of just shopping and hanging out, a handful of Ohio bloggers were able to tour the Outlets, experience a Wild West Reverse Train Robbert, check out the Birthday room, Santa's room, the Easter Bunny room and learn how to make pretzels at Aunt Anne's!

Not only is Lodi Outlets a great place to shop, but they are all about the family.  Last year we took the kids on the Santa Express and they loved it.  They also have an Easter Bunny Express, Bunny Breakfast, Egg hunt, Trick or Treat Tracks, Trick or Treating at the stores, etc.   The Outlets leave the Easter Bunny room and Santa room decorated all year, although you can only visit it during the holiday times.  The staff is constantly adding to the rooms as well!

Thinking of planning a birthday?  Then look no further than the outlets for a train-rific experience!

• CHOO CHOO BIRTHDAY EXPRESS special train ride for party guests featuring the birthday child as the engineer driving the train!
• KEEPSAKES for the birthday child including a Lodi Station Engineer’s Hat & Train Whistle, and a special keepsake photo of their adventure as the engineer driving their own birthday train.
• PRIVATE PARTY ROOM 1 hour party package with Lodi Station mascot CHUGGA CHUGGA CHARLIE on board as host.

The bloggers were split into groups and some were able to paint ceramics and the rest off to make pretzels!  We met with the owner of the Auntie Anne's pretzels at the Outlets and she explained the process of making pretzels and taught us her secrets!   Did you know that they offer Pretzel Perfect, Just for fun, Field Trips and a Dough Know How Program!  The cost is $5-7 per person, but at the end of the experience the participants will each get a golden hot pretzel and a lemonade.  That is my kind of day!

We were not able to eat the pretzels we made, but Auntie Anne's hooked us up with a golden hot pretzel and an old fashioned lemonade.  So we had the entire experience and it was amazing!!!

After hanging with the bloggers, hubby, the kids and I did some shopping.  For about $45 we got 2 toys from the new Toys R Us Outlet, 5 shirts for the kids, a shirt for myself and 2 cookies from Rocky Mountain Chocolates.  A great day in my book!

Lodi Station Outlets is a 311,478 square-foot turn-of-the-century outlet mall featuring vintage trains and over 60 fabulous outlet stores. Lodi Station Outlets boasts a lineup of nationally-known retail brands, including Aeropostale, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Gap Outlet, The Children's Place, Bath & Body Outlet, and Tommy Hilfiger, among many others.

Some of our favorite stores are Gap Outlet, The Children's Place, Bath & Body Outlet, VanHuesen, Rack Room Shoes, etc. Well what is great about the outlets, most stores accept coupons!  Just make sure the coupons state okay to use at Outlets! So not only are you saving money by shopping at the outlets, but then with coupons, the savings are even greater!


Train Rides:  If your kids are like mine, they feel the only reason to visit is for the train rides!  Now you cans purchase a  VIP Premier Pass. It costs $35 for adults and $25 for children under 10 for one year of free train rides.

Select weekends you can also experience Wild West Weekends.  When you board the train you will not only get a show, but select rides will get to experience a Reverse Robbery.  Not only did us bloggers get to experience the Reverse Robbery, but at the end of then day, I took the family on it as well and our train was held up too!  The kids loved it!  Instead of being robbed, all the kids were given wooden train whistles!

ALL DAY PASS - $3.50
Available Monday through Thursday (weather permitting), this ticket allows you to board the train at Lodi Central Station at any time, and ride  the train throughout the entire center.

SINGLE RIDE PASS - $3.00
Available Friday, Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting), this ticket allows you to board the train at Lodi Central Station at a designated time, and ride the train throughout the entire center. On these days, the train will not stop at any other stations aside from Central Station. The ride is approximately 15 minutes, and will take you on a journey around the center!

Tickets are sold for specific departure times to ensure every passenger has a seat, so purchase your tickets early to have your choice of ride time.

Head on over and spend a day of shopping, experiencing the outlets and have a great time!

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Disclosure:  We received a swag bag, lunch ,coupons, a train ride and a pretzel making class to help facilitate this review. For my full disclosure policy please click here