This is the perfect shop for people like me who wait until.the night before Christmas to do their…read moreholiday shopping. So many wonderful gifts for everyone on your list. I especially appreciate some of their unique gifts made just for that relative you hate, or for that mother in law who drives you crazy. Plus plenty of nice gifts for the nice relatives. My son really appreciated the dip.shit for making a deliciouss dip. I really like their assortment of mugs and glassed too. Such friendly staff too.

Unfortunately, our experience here was uncomfortable and disappointing. My parents and I stopped by…read moreover the weekend hoping to find some gifts for friends. As soon as we walked in, one of the staff members gave us a long, uncomfortable stare that she didn't break even though there were other shoppers in the store as well. She approached us shortly after and asked if we needed help, which we politely declined. However, instead of moving on, she continued to watch us closely the entire time, making us feel singled out and unwelcome. We had no intention of doing anything wrong--we simply came in to browse and support a local business. It's sad and frustrating to be treated in a way that made us feel judged and uncomfortable. This is not the experience we expected or deserved.... Definitely NOT coming back .

Great addition to Oldtown Salinas! They've got something…read morefor everyone. It's a clothing & jewelry boutique: with furniture, fine soaps, art, and SUCCULENTS! I've found many cute gifts there. The clothing is a mix/match of brands & boutique style items. It ranges from party wear, to office wear to casual. If you are into a fun experience with nice staff, this is a highly recommended place.

I just love this store, owner and employees. Great place to shop for new to you furniture and more.read more

Service from owner are always great and helpful/great products in stock on top of uniqueread more

Unfortunately this darling shop has closed. The new owner has changed everything so most of the old…read morevendors have gone. Will miss this Salinas gem.

Just wanted to share a little gem I found yesterday in downtown Salinas. There's a co-op store…read morecalled Downtown Gift Shops at 345 Main Street. Inside are little mini shop stalls where local business owners sell goods. Items range from homemade bath salts, jewelry, knit items, sewn items etc to vintage items, clothing and other gifts. I love that locals are coming together to share retail space and make their dreams come to life! I highly recommend stopping in. Staff were extremely friendly and welcoming!

The Steinbeck Museum was a wonderful literary stop in Salinas. We also visited the Steinbeck House…read moredown the street, which made the experience feel more complete. As a tribute to Steinbeck and his connection to the area, the museum was thoughtful, engaging, and well worth the visit. I especially enjoyed the quirky gift shop, always a bonus when a museum shop has personality. The drive into Salinas was also unexpectedly lovely, with so many fields and vegetables growing. It gave the whole visit a strong sense of place and helped connect the landscape to Steinbeck's writing. A great stop for literature lovers, history fans, or anyone looking for something meaningful to do in the area.

While I can't remember the last time that I've read a book by John Steinbeck, I thoroughly enjoyed…read morevisiting the National Steinbeck Center. Unfortunately, reading his books wasn't part of my high school English curriculum; however, my interest in his works was rekindled by visiting this amazing facility! I spent at least a couple hours meandering through the exhibit, beginning with a short film telling the story of his life. It was fascinating to learn how John Steinbeck was both shaped by his hometown, and how much influence he had on the literary landscape during his lifetime. There is so much to look at and discover here! If you're a book nerd, whether a Steinbeck fan or novice like me, check this place out. Ticket prices are reasonable, and they offer discount for locals, veterans, and youth, or if you become a member. I can't wait to visit his childhood home next!

Omg what a pleasant cafe!!!! We stopped in on a road trip back down south and decided to check and…read moresee if they had matcha- and lo and behold - yes they did AND Gluten Free pastries!!! Oh my gosh what a happy surprise, I was so grateful! Hubby ordered a vanilla latte and a chocolate almond scone and before I could even ask him how it was, I looked over and noticed it was gone... In like three bites lol. Needless to say we both loved our pastries and our hot beverages. The staff was super sweet and friendly as well. Service was a 10 out of 10.

Checked out this coffee spot before eating at Toro Cafe next door. Super cute inside and they have…read morea lot of coffee/baked good items. The coffee was good, but this spot is kinda out of the way unless you live near by.

I love this place! It has everything - gifts, handbags,…read morescarves, jewelry, candles, decorative plaques, etc. Plus, they gift wrap - FREE! The owner is super-nice and has great taste in what she buys for the store. This is now my favorite store to shop in...and I drive all the way from Monterey!

Wonderful store! This is without a doubt my first stop for gifts now. Great variety, beautiful and…read morefun selection AND prices are reasonable.

I would give six stars if I could. When it comes to customer service and communication, Deb is at…read morethe top of her game, no contest. Also, Deb's products are well-made, smell amazing, and in my experience, are good for those that usually shy away from scented bath products. Having a teen with eczema has made it a challenge to find anything that they can use without a breakout. Deb's products have accepted that challenge and won with flying colors. My personal favorites are the bath bombs. Nothing beats a nice, hot soak after a day of running after the kids and driving the carpool.

This young lady has her creations perfected. I found her by the smell (my sinuses are sensitive)…read moreand the fact that Deb still carries shower bombs is absolutely delightful to me and to top it off she will customize the smell according to your needs. Thank you Deb.

We love everything about this place. If I could give it 10 out of 5, I would. We drive all the way…read morefrom Sacramento and always leave completely stocked up. These are truly the world's best artichokes, along with amazing snacks, plants, produce, and other delicious treats. Be sure to try the artichoke cupcake with cream cheese frosting. It's similar to zucchini bread, not too sweet, and yes, it actually has artichoke pieces inside. The staff is always friendly, helpful, and happy to answer any questions you may have. They offer artichokes in several sizes (extra small, small, medium, large, and jumbo), along with cooking directions, recipes, and tips. But honestly, these are by far the best artichokes anywhere. The leaves have so much meat on them, it's incredible. I cannot stress enough how amazing they are. What else would you expect from the artichoke capital of the world, from a family that has been doing this for over 80 years? They also sell cheese, fresh produce, spices, oils, jams, honey, homemade loaves of bread, and so much more. It is definitely worth the stop. We usually leave with a huge haul and start counting down the days until our next visit, because nothing else compares. And don't miss the artichoke food truck on site. We had artichoke tacos and deep-fried artichokes with dill dip. Everything was fresh, delicious, and not greasy at all. Stop by and pay them a visit. There is something for everybody.

Do no Farm Roadside…read morefarm stand located at the heart of one of Castroville's many farms, with this one being in business since 1929. This Farm is one of the original (maybe *the* original??) farms that started growing Castroville's famous Italian Green Globe Artichokes. The Good: *Bigger than the usual farmstand, as this place is pretty epic with tons of great stuff from not just their own Farm, but other neighboring farms and other local producers. *As fresh as it gets, as most of the produce is grown from within feet to a few miles away. *Artichoke cupcake was delicious! Seriously. Try it. :) The Meh: *Parking lot is smallish but it's ample. *Service was, well, it got the job done and not much beyond that. The Ugly: *Prices are a little high, but I still always try and buy a few things to support them. Conclusion: Definitely worth a stop if your traipsing thru the Central Coast.

Adorable gift and housewares! Displays are wonderfully done! Fun place to check out ! They have…read morefall decorations up already.

Such wonderful customer service, every time we would be in Carmel we always stopped by the Barn and…read morepurchased beautiful items that we wouldn't be able to purchase anywhere else. This store is such a gem.