Santa Monica
Hippie-chic women’s gear with a dash of retro cool. Santa Monica’s pretty, pouty, upscale flower children get dressed here.
Must-see shopping in California
Mono Lake Region
One-stop shop for everything fishers need. Plus camping supplies. Business hours are subject to change, particularly in winter.
San Francisco
Find local and organic produce and artisan foods at moderate prices, plus charmingly offbeat folk music March through December.
Coastal Highway 1
Stocks a great selection of books on local topics, titles from California’s small presses and specialized outdoor guides.
Monterey
Tall shelves of new, used and antiquarian books, including rare first editions, California titles and John Steinbeck's works.
Santa Cruz
Vast selection of new books, a few used ones, popular and unusual magazines, and ‘Keep Santa Cruz Weird’ bumper stickers.
South Lake Tahoe & Stateline
This store sells a wealth of organic produce, lifestyle products and grocery goods, as well as sandwiches and fresh pizzas.
Gold Country
A welcome sight for Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) hikers and anyone else needing a laundromat, deli, groceries, ATM and wi-fi.
Coastal Highway 1
Sells a fabulous array of women's fashions in rich earth colors made with all-natural fabrics, including hemp and bamboo.
North Coast & Redwoods
Carries a wide range of Mexican folk art and crafts, plus Guatemalan jewelry, work by local artists and vintage threads.
Coastal Highway 1
The town’s biggest grocery store has legit organic credentials, an excellent cold-food bar and great cheese and meat.
Central Coast
Interesting jewelry, homeware and bowls from a well-regarded Californian glass company founded more than 30 years ago.
Sonoma
Figone's presses its own extra-virgin olive oil and infuses some with flavors such as Meyer lemon, all free to sample.
North Coast & Redwoods
For those who are self-catering, Shelter Cove General Store is 2 miles before town. Get groceries and gasoline here.
Berkeley
A long-standing local favorite, Moe’s offers four floors of new, used and remaindered books for hours of browsing.
Coastal Highway 1
Specializes in fabulous handmade quilts, including some gorgeous pieces made by the women from the Amish community.
Mammoth Lakes
Offers friendly advice, maps and sells all-season equipment from winter sports to camping gear. Rentals available.
North Coast & Redwoods
A wonderful natural foods grocery store near the center of town which also has a combo fresh juice and coffee bar.
La Jolla
A cozy cavern of books with a large collection of new and used academic works and regular book readings and talks.
Disneyland Resort
This shop sells animation cels, ornaments and the like, while artists at work demonstrate the creation process.
Mammoth Lakes
Snowboarders worship here. In summer it rents SUPs and electric bikes. Opening hours reduce in the low season.
San Diego
At the foot of Garnet Ave at Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, this store carries spiffy surf apparel for women.
Coastal Highway 1
Birders, astronomy buffs and science geeks head directly to this telescope, binocular and science-toy shop.
Downtown Los Angeles & Boyle Heights
One of several sites used for Fashion District sample sales, usually held on the last Friday of the month.
Calistoga
Handcrafted fair-trade goods including gifts, cards, toys, household items, accessories and other items.
San Francisco Archery Pro Shop
San Francisco
Rents and sells bows, arrows and other accessories just a few blocks from the Golden Gate archery range.
Gold Country
A great used-book store to stock up on vacation reading, including Americana and travel and music books.
North Coast & Redwoods
A lively farmers market that is held during the summer months in the Henderson Center shopping mall.
Laguna Beach
Friendly indie bookshop stocks everything, including surf culture and SoCal local-interest titles.
Sonoma
France meets Sonoma in one-of-a-kind gifts and arty home-decor store at this Cornerstone favorite.
San Diego
A music store selling new and used LPs, CDs, DVDs, cassettes, 45s, VHS, 8-tracks and stickers.
Calistoga
Artisanal pottery, hand-thrown on-site. Ask about the pots glazed with local grapevine ash.
Russian River Area
Vast selection of hand-crafted American-made jewelry, notable for gorgeous earrings.
Wine Country Chocolates Tasting Bar
Sonoma Valley
Sample fine chocolates of varying degrees of cacao and daily ganache selections.
North Coast & Redwoods
Rents, sells and services outdoor equipment and has a full service cycle shop.
North Coast & Redwoods
The house-made, gooey Moo bars are this antique candy shop’s flagship.
North Coast & Redwoods
Sells wools and yarns in a rainbow of colors as well as knitting kits.
