Page 32 - 2022-2023 Travel Guide to California

SHOPPING
THE PIER CAFE, Seaport Village, San Diego,
below; Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, right.
and some newcomers to the outlet scene,
H&M and Pottery Barn, among the shady
walkways and Mission Ranch architecture.
Northern California Elegance
San Francisco’s massive malls and quirky
boutiques showcase the city’s European
style. Join the Prada-clad parade encircling
one of the world’s great “urban rooms,”
downtown Union Square. Max out your plat-
inum card in international boutiques,
jewelry stores and high-end department
stores. Today, Neiman Marcus stands where
The City of Paris once stood, retaining the
opulent rotunda and ornate glass skylight.
Stroll down nearby Maiden Lane, once lined
30 2022-23 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA
with Barbary Coast brothels, for more luxury.
Nearby, the Westfield San Francisco
Centre is an architectural gem; under a
stunning 1908 dome stand restaurants and
food emporiums, such as Japan’s Beard
Papa cream puffs, and more than 80 other
stores.
Don’t miss San Francisco’s great shop-
ping neighborhoods. On Chinatown’s
Stockton Street you can pick up Asian
antiques, silk clothing bargains or rare tea.
Herbal pharmacies proffer Chinese medi-
cinal remedies, ginseng, deer antlers or
herbs costing $100 per pound.
Near Pacific Heights, Sacramento Street
houses fancy consignment shops, luxury
goods retailers and haute couture children’s
boutiques. Hippie culture thrives on Haight
Street with the northern outpost of Amoeba
Music and shops selling incense, used
records and vintage San Francisco post-
cards, which make great gifts.
North Beach and Jackson Square cafés
still sound with Italian speakers. Here, visit
the legendary City Lights bookstore, home
of the City’s nascent Beat culture, and
quirky antique stores. Japantown offers
authentic Japanese goods, tansu chests,
bonsai and antique kimonos. Finally, Hayes
Valley, a hipster haven, has trendy stores
and nary a chain store in sight.
Two hours south, in Carmel-by-the-Sea’s
storybook village, shops display fine French
linen and European antiques. Big Sur’s
rugged coast inspires the art found in
SIERRALARA/SHUTTERSTOCK; HARUN OZMEN/SHUTTERSTOCK.