In the land of avocado toast, juice cleansing, and every fitness fad under the California sun (did someone say hip-hop meditation?), you may arrive stressed, but you’ll leave serene. Keep those namaste-ing ways flowing with theseFull Moon Sachets, on-the-go blends of adaptogenic superherbs and mushrooms—mixable powders with healing powers! Find it at outposts in Venice, Melrose, or Silver Lake.
No question, Portland is a coffee town. Rainy days call for it. But this brew isn’t for sipping, it’s for sudsing.Double Bar Coffee Soap, a poured-by-hand-in-Portland bar charged with ground espresso beans to exfoliate, wakes up your shower with the scent of fresh-roasted beans. It doesn’t hurt that Maak Lab’s bright, airy store, just around the corner from Stumptown Coffee Roasters, looks and smells divine.
It’s not just the sight of the redwoods that give you all the feels—so does the ancient trees’ scent. Stop byGeneral Store in the Sunset District and take those aromas to go.Juniper Ridge Wildcrafted Incense is made of foraged plants, tree sap, and wood so you can stop and smell the roses redwoods anytime, plus the beloved store is stocked with locally-made artisanal items and funky vintage finds you won’t find anywhere else.
Prickly pear, giant saguaros, golden barrels, and barbed chollas dot the Phoenix landscape. The real things make for spiny souvenirs that don’t travel well (don’t even try); instead hit upMADE Art Boutique, a kitschy art gallery and shop along trendy Roosevelt Row that showcases one-of-a-kind jewelry, ceramics, art, and gifts by local makers, including cute cactus embroidery by store owner Cindy Dach.
Palm Springs is the epicenter of mid-century cool. Whether you’re hitting up the sun-drenched desert oasis for Modernism Week or just coming to sip cocktails poolside, take home a reminder of the good life with this swankyMidcentury Modern House Coaster Set fromDestination PSP. The hip housewares store also serves up retro-style glassware, ice buckets, and serving trays so and you’ll always imbibe in style.
6 /10Courtesy of Vocabulary Boutique
Sweet Shades from San Diego
Eyewear India sunglasses fromVocabulary Boutique; $89San Diego boasts miles of gorgeous beaches populated with sunbathers and surfer dudes. The common denominator here is sun, and these designed-in-San DiegoIndia sunglasses fromVocabulary Boutique are the perfect take-home. Made with repurposed bamboo and an acetate frame, proceeds from each sale help restore vision for people in need.
With 85 miles of paved trails, hundreds of miles of mountain biking paths, and 300 days of sunshine, the Mile High City is made for biking. Hit upTopo Designs’ flagship store in the hip RiNo district, a hotspot for colorful made-in-Colorado bags and backpacks, for theTopo Designs x All-City Cycles Bike Bag—because your bike needs a fanny pack too.
Sante Fe is a visual city. From the adobe style architecture to the modern art installation that is Meow Wolf, the aesthetic is alive and layered. See it for yourself atShiprock Sante Fe, a museum-like shop in the historic plaza. Owner Jed Foutz, a fifth-generation Navajo trader, stocks it with standout baskets, turquoise jewelry, pottery, and a stellar collection of originalNavajo rugs and blankets.
Go to Hawaii for the Aloha Spirit; come home with a made-in-HawaiiAloha Shirt fromAloha Beach Club, a personification of that loving feeling. Not that this is your typical loud flowery motif. Designed by co-owner and homegrown Oahuan Kahana Kalama, its print is tamer and its cut more tailored, but it still hollers Hawaii.
No doubt you’ll be slurping oysters in Seattle. Stroll through Pike Place Market and you’ll find your fair share of the slippery suckers. Departing doesn’t mean you have to give up your oyster habit. Nab cans ofSeaBear Canned Smoked Oysters atMade In Washington, a chain of retail specialty stores specializing in local artisan and food gifts located right in Pike Place.