1. Book Tales
City: Encinitas, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 436-7892
Address: 603 South Coast Highway 101
Description: Book Tales, a bargain hunter’s dream, has welcomed book lovers for over 30 years. Located in the Small Mall in downtown Encinitas, it features thousands of gently used paperbacks. Genres offer something for everyone including fiction, history, biography, travel, New Age, gardening, and cooking. Low prices on paperbacks can be further lowered through a popular paperback-trading program. Hardcover novels in near-new condition are sold for $3.00 and arrayed on carts outside the door. Book Tales buys books too. Call ahead before bringing in items. Book Tales sponsors the Used Bookstore Crawls that explore other used bookstores in the area. Check the Web site for details. You may want to join the fun.
2. Seaside Bazaar
City: Encinitas, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 753-1611
Address: 1 block south of Encinitas Boulevard on
Description: Every weekend for the last 25 years, vendors and shoppers have been coming to this import craft bazaar to sell, buy, and marvel at the merchandise: books, jewelry, and clothing imports from around the world as well as crafts, antiques, collectibles, flowers, plants, and home-decorating items. Sunset magazine once called it one of the “secret finds along the coast.” A secret no more, this North County Coastal sale still offers opportunities to find a bargain, if not an outright prize. It’s open weekends 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. year-round. There is no admission fee.
City: Encinitas, CA
Category: Shopping
Address: 400 La Costa Avenue
4. Weidners’ Gardens
City: Encinitas, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 436-2194
Address: 695 Normandy Road
Description: Every day except Tuesday, the gardens are open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for retail sales. This family-owned nursery was formerly called Begonia Gardens, but Mary Weidner changed the name because many thought that was the only flower for sale. In fact, you’ll find perfect tuberous begonias of all varieties, from tiny hanging plants to monster-size specimens, but you’ll also find fuscias, impatiens, and other flowers. The nursery sells many new introductions—plants that the public hasn’t seen before—and specializes in hanging baskets. At Christmastime there’s a fine collection of superfresh poinsettias.
5. 101 Artists’ Colony
City: Encinitas, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 632-9072
Address: 90 North Coast Highway
Description: This nonprofit’s mission is both to bring art to the public and provide a forum for fine artists and art-related works and events. Frequent receptions usher in shows by the colony’s numerous artists; both the gift shop and gallery are open daily except Monday. There’s poetry, drumming, and music several times a week. Some events are free, others are a nominal charge. Visit the Web site for a list of upcoming events.
6. La Paloma
City: Encinitas, CA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (760) 436-7469
Address: 471 South Coast Highway 101
Description: Inaugurated in 1928 as a silent-movie house with a wonderful organ, La Paloma is now the place for watching art films and viewing wild, weird, or funny classics. The ambiance is strictly “Last Picture Show.” The guy who sells you the ticket will also be popping your popcorn. Don’t expect highbrow stuff at this beach-town film house; most of the films are on the contemporary side of classic. For instance, if you must see the 1960s surf classic Endless Summer on the big screen once again, La Paloma is the place. La Paloma also hosts various community events and programs.