As I was walking downtown Carpinteria with my family we stumbled upon this locally made and sourced…read moreshop. The shop has a variety of home decor and trinkets, bath and beauty items. As we walked in we were approached by a girl that told us everything in here is made by students and all the profits from the shop go back to them. When I heard that I knew I had to get something even if it was small, to help support. I kept with the theme of avocados as a festival was going on across from the shop for the weekend and grabbed a handmade avocado bath bomb.

I love a store with a mission, and Coastland 100% delivers in that area. Attracted to the store by…read morea sign outside "support our students", I entered Coastland. With a nice selection of soaps, key chains, bracelets, cutting boards with hilarious quotes, and other eclectic products for good prices, I was thrilled to discover that Coastland is a nonprofit organization that trains high school students to produce all the products sold in the shop! The proceeds from sales goes back to purchasing materials for the students. I love the business model. Additionally, their products have that unique flair that only high school students can contribute. I found two great gifts for my nephews including a wooden Minecraft box and wooden journal cover with Animation. I love the Star Wars themed cutting board. The prices are very reasonable! The staff member who was working there shared with me her story, as she had been one of the high school students who had made art and returned to work here post-graduation. Full circle! I love it! I wish this business every success.

I just love this little shop in Carpinteria. Right on Linden. No high-pressure sales. They have…read morevery cool one-of-a-kind items in their store. You can tell that the owners take great pride in what they bring in. I have bought quite a few things here.

There are two Whimsy locations in Carp. This one is off the beaten path. I didn't care for it,…read morewhich is a personal preference, given the other reviews. It felt like the merchandise had been thrown in to the space with little regard for organization, let alone styling for visual effect. Given the charm of the merchandising of the Linden Avenue shop, this did not compare in a good light. The exterior has a lot going for it, but the interior needed a lot of attention when we visited on New Year's Eve. There's a fine line between vintage items and antiques presenting as interesting and collectible versus appearing to be dusty old junk. Takes an artistic hand to display the objects in a creative and intriguing way. I wasn't feeling the charm or whimsy at this Whimsy.

This is my favorite soap store of all time. I use a lot of homemade soaps and these are by far the…read morebest!

For something you rub all over your body on a daily basis, most people don't put that much thought…read moreinto soap. This store could change that. It is filled with the most delicious-smelling, beautifully colored soap. From the soap rocks that greet you as you walk in, to the delicate soaps shaped like bon-bon's, Soap has something for everyone. I happen to love soap. Daniel, the proprietor, is also a soap lover. He was very nice and helpful, but also gave us space to wander and enjoy his store. Being on a limited budget, I had to narrow my purchases down to 2 bars of soap. The first was a Shea Butter-enriched Mint Leaf bar from France. I can't wait to use it! The aroma is refreshing. The second was a Cassia Clove aromatherapy herbal soap bar by PlantLife. This square bar of soap is like a work of art and the scent is so yummy that I'm going to leave it out in my bathroom as a fragrance before I actually use it. I know I'm going to smell delicious after I shower now! This store is such a great find. I will definitely drive up the coast just to buy soap here in the future. Soap makes great gifts too, especially when it smells incredible and looks beautiful. I can't wait to have more money to splurge here. The robes and accessories would bring the spa to my own house. If you're in the area, check out Soap!

As a store there's all sorts of different plants and gardening items that you'd need. I like to…read morestop by solely for the botanical gardens in back. It's a nice small excursion if traveling to LA. What a wonderful concept to put a botanical garden on the property, it could show what you could do with the plants that they sold. It's tranquil to walk around and explore yet it is right next to the 101 so the freeway was loud. They really packed a lot of diversity into this small area. There were plaques for each different garden. Plaques I noticed (though there might be more) were South African Garden, Mediterranean Garden, Grassland, Cottage Garden, Native Garden, Succulent Garden, Central/South American garden, Australian garden, and Asian garden. My favorite was the Asian garden because it had a pond with koi fish.

My husband and I were on a road trip up the coast and while looking for things to do, several…read morepeople mentioned this place. As lovers of nature and plants we decided to add it to our itinerary and I'm glad we did. It's just off the 101 freeway and it's massive! You can buy plants, take a walk around the paths, and even peruse the gift shop. They have some cool, fun, and unique gifts that are perfect for everyone. Such a peaceful and beautiful garden that I highly recommend adding to your travels or checking out if you're local.

Angels Antiques has been a wonderful Carp hidden gem for years on end. I've had friends buy and…read morerestore their favorite surf boards from this shop, find bikes, old war souvenirs, nifty planters, and handmade home decor items. Because of it's literal hidden appearance I tend to forget it's event there, and just recently learned it will actually be closing down shop in the near future. In the meantime, make sure to head over and check out the incredible collection of newly discounted one-of-a-kind items they have in stock and are liquidating for the business closing sale. I'm big on succulent gardens, old suitcases, and old fashioned lawn decor and this place had it all for me on a newly college graduate budget. I could spend hours (and so much money) at Angels Antiques. Really... It's dangerous. Make sure to check it out before it's too late and send a loving goodbye to the special owner who made this amazing antique shop more unique and affordable than any other.

The sweetest couple owns this antique shop. Definitely worth the visit! Ask Wayne about his…read moresurfboard collection.

This is one of the better antique shops in Carp. Reasonably priced without being too expensive…read more Lots of goodies so take your time looking and you will find something. The woman who owns the shop knows her stuff. Definitely stop by!

Cute little antique shop in a cute little town! Very nice lady working here, found some wonderful…read moretreasures!

We recently drove up to Carpinteria to purchase the gorgeous Cassetta Festonata Atlas 40 " planter…read more This design center is so amazing, with exceptional planters and unique garden statuary, that it is well worth the two-hour drive up from LA. The owner and staff are very knowledgeable and friendly, and they offer a discount on bags of soil with a purchase. The planter, which was handcrafted in Italy, is very solid and durable and heavy! The staff put it on top of cardboard in my SUV with a forklift, and I had to be careful driving with it in my backseat (where it stayed for more than a week because my boyfriend's teen sons weren't sure they could move it out of my car and up two flights of stairs to the roof patio). We finally got it out of my car and put it in place and it is stunning!!! It is a piece of art, and a beautiful, breathable container for our beloved Dahlia bushes.

I managed to find my first Christmas cactus here. Can't wait for the holidays to see it bloom. Not…read morereally a shop for plants but if you need pots or a fountain, she's got you covered. We fell in love with one but have nowhere to put it.

Lost and found Café, I love this place. For the longest time we thought it was a coffee shop. Last…read moreSunday, for the first time my wife and I walked in, to get a cup of coffee, the owner greeted us and told us "the coffee is on the house ". Lost and Found is a gift shop operated by locals, they have locally made gifts, paintings, coffee table books, Christmas ornaments and many other decorating items. If you ever visit Carpinteria and like to get some souvenirs, this is the place to shop at.

The town of Carpinteria is not only home to "The World's Safest Beach" but also a new art cafe…read morecalled Lost & Found. For those who are familiar with the show Schitt's Creek, I would compare Lost & Found to Rose Apothecary. Instead of David and Patrick, you have two sisters named Susan and Patty who warmly welcome you in. While one could describe it as a 'general store,' others would think it isn't so 'general'. It is a communal coffee shop in that making that hopes to allow everyone to "come in and find themselves." The ultimate goal is to be open seven days a week selling a wide variety of things, including: -Specialty dark roast French coffee with milk -Freshly made goodies (including chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and an assortment of chocolate-dipped ginger, apricots and more) -Home decor and products (lotions, candles, fragrances) -Locally made art pieces, stationery and more! You can't help but notice the space's focal point of a gorgeous tropical-framed painting or all the local art that yells "Carpinteria!" I am truly excited to see this business grow and expand with the plans to have outdoor seating--particularly during these difficult times.

My initial purchase experience was excellent. The quality of materials was superb. We take…read moredelivery next week and I look forward to rating the finished product.

This is the place you come to when you want the décor in your home to make a statement. The items…read morein the shop are so unique, beautiful and original. If you are familiar with the name Joanna Gaines from the television show "Fixer Uppers" you will see some of her home furnishing line here available for you to purchase. Negative space does not exist in this shop there was something beautiful and different in every inch of the shop. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere was relaxing.

Quality & creative merchandise, and Susan is always available with suggestions if you are looking…read morefor something! She always has new and unusual items in her store and the holidays she has the most fun and festive things for your tabletop and decor. Darling baby clothes... Everything is unusual inspirational at her store!

What a delight! Susan, the owner, was a delight to tall with. Seems like you are having a…read moreconversation with your best friend. The store is full of treasures and gift items for all ages. Great place to pick up unique birthday presents for your girlfriends or hospitality gifts.