Our 6 favorite spots to browse and buy

It's always easy to find an excuse to browse a neighborhood of small, independent artisan shops. In fact, it's our absolute favorite way to while away a Saturday afternoon in the city — no planning, no calling ahead for tickets, no parking hassles required. Here are Sunset editors' top picks in different Western cities for exploring, browsing, and buying.

Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Los Angeles

L.A. is definitely a city of shoppers. And in this la-la land of Melrose, the number one coolest street is Venice's Abbot Kinney Boulevard, just a few blocks inland from famous Muscle Beach. Pictured here: the stylish Strange Invisibles Perfumes.

More L.A. shopping: Fresh blooms from the Flower District