Community Gift Guide: 4 must-shop places in Escondido this holiday season

Escondido’s Grand Avenue stretches long enough for an afternoon or morning of shopping that will provide exercise, lots of options for meals, snacks, coffee and cocktails, and gifts for everyone on this year’s list.

For those visiting from other parts of the county, the area provides the feel of a small town’s historic downtown, but has the gift potential of any big mall in a larger city.

Here are some of the best options for shopping along Grand Avenue.

CoLabCrafts

Creatives and creators will love CoLabCrafts, which celebrates local craftspeople by selling their work, as well as hosting workshops for newbies who want to learn various artistic pursuits. Most of what’s sold here is from local makers and there are signs and cards displayed to share the story behind each person or company. Some examples of what’s for sale are crocheted animals, artisanal skincare, handmade paper flowers and ornaments and jewelry and tea cups made with real pressed flowers and plants. Shoppers here can know their purchased gifts were made by hand with a lot of love, time and original creativity. 143 W. Grand Ave., Escondido. colabcrafts.com

Daydream

This shop doesn’t look like much from the outside, with a temporary-looking sign over the door, but inside it’s bursting with gift options from dozens of local businesses. There is clothing from Mama & Me Co., accessories from Mei Lei Designs, jewelry from The Sparkle Project, hats from Divina Halos, pottery from Luna y Sol and so much more. One of the major highlights is a display of resin and fluid art, inspired by the ocean, from Valley Center-based company Nohi Designs. If there’s only time for one shopping spot, Daydream provides some of the most variety of any store in the area. 227 E. Grand Ave., Escondido. daydreamhere.com

Nomad Adventures

Outdoors enthusiasts can find everything they can dream of using on their next trip at Nomad Adventures. A stop inside feels like an adventure of its own, with even a tiny rock wall available for climbers to test out shoes. In addition to supplies for hiking, mountaineering, camping, kayaking and a dozen other activities, this shop even has collection of maps for sale to guide gift recipients on their next trips. This has to be one of the most extensive lineup of adventure merchandise in the county, and it’s clear the displays were thoughtfully curated by people with a lot of experience outdoors. 405 W. Grand Ave., Escondido. nomadventures.com

The Grand Tea Room

What better place is there for buying gifts for tea lovers than a gift shop that doubles as a tea room? In the back of the Grand Tea Room is a dining area where guests can enjoy a full service tea, sandwich and dessert experience. In the front, find specialized gifts for tea drinkers, including tea towels, tea cups and tea sets, salt and pepper shakers, jewelry and decor. There’s even tea kettles and loose leaf tea for sale, and everything looks like it’s made for a garden party. 145 W. Grand Ave., Escondido. thegrandtearoom.com