Shopping in Pacific Grove

After honing his metalworking skills as a Marine blacksmith during WWII, founder Milton Williams opened The Shop in the Garden in 1958, filling a tucked-away courtyard with his original sculptures, whimsical metal decorations, and stunning fountains. In 1967, he hired Michael Largent, who continues Williams’ work as the current owner. Today, the shop bears the name of Aslan, a dearly departed golden retriever who, like his brother Murray, served as the shop’s in-house greeter and chief accounting officer. As visitors enter past handmade chimes, stone decorations, and fountains, they are greeted by the stunning view of a Spanish-style arcade and the warm canine smile of Aslan's successor, Yater. In addition to browsing inspirational knickknacks and outdoor furnishings, visitors can wander through the artists' garden, inspecting copper fountains, hand-cut glass, and original sculptures crafted by Largent and resident glass and metal workers.

Launched more than three decades ago, Site for Sore Eyes now operates to more than 40 showrooms throughout the Bay Area. Staffers at every location share their dedication when pairing customers with head-turning eyewear and contacts. The company secures all of its products with a warranty, replacing broken frames for free and furnishing half-price replacements for glasses that are lost, stolen, or transformed into an acorn squash. In case eyes require prescription tweaks, each shop sits next door to California-licensed Sterling VisionCare doctors of optometry.

Californian abodes can emulate the relaxing, laid-back atmosphere of the tropics with the island-inspired, eco-friendly home accoutrements found at Element Home Furnishings. Many of the items in the shop's unique collection were imported from exotic locales or supplied by local businesses. Multicolored flip-flops, banana-leaf journals, and scented candles immediately evoke vacations on the beach, and a selection of artwork invites a second look with signs made of surfboards and vibrant paintings of Hawaiian landscapes. The shop's furniture show room unveils beds and tables constructed out of sustainable materials, such as plantation-grown mahogany and teak, and towering divider screens made of bamboo wrestled from the jowls of a panda.

Sessions founder Joel Gomez embraced snowboarding back in the 1980s, when ski resorts were still turning boarders away from their slopes. Joel, already an avid skateboarder and surfer, wanted to throw himself into this new sport, and in 1983 he opened up one of the first shops dedicated to snowboarding in the United States. Like snowboarding itself, Sessions grew into an international venture, providing warm outerwear from brands such as d3o and Recco for snowboarders to wear as they carve up slopes or relax in a freezing-cold tub of water. Their collection of apparel, which includes insulated pants, softshell jackets, and boarding accessories, features both muted and vibrant colors inspired by skating culture and punk rock music.

Two moms founded Milana C., naming the boutique clothier after their three children—Mia, Lana, and Charlie. The shop stocks brands including Alexis Bittar, alice + olivia, and Splendid. It also hosts occasional events, which in the past have included a girls' night out that blended networking opportunities with spray tanning, a more effective pairing than editing your resume inside a tanning bed.

Renouncing the modern world and its modern technology, such as toasters and toasters that dispense ice cubes, is dangerous unless you've got the proper tools to survive in the wild. Today's Groupon gets you $50 worth of outdoor gear and apparel from Trailsloggers for $25. You can also combine two Groupons for $100 worth of outdoor couture for $50. Transform yourself from a couchslagging modernite to a tamer of the great outdoors.