Big Sur Shopping and Districts

(Big Sur, Monterey County, California - CA, USA)



Coastal viewA number of shops are to be found around Big Sur, being scattered along the Coast Highway Route 1, although the town's shopping scene does tend to be rather dominated by art galleries and gift stores. Popular souvenirs include hand-made jewelry, clothing, pottery, and models of 'cuddly' native creatures, such as raccoons and otters.

Most stores in Big Sur tend to extend their shopping hours during the summer months, to take full advantage of the influx of visitors. Further shopping opportunities can by found at the number of the surrounding camping sites and state parks, such as the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and also within nearby Carmel, Marina and Monterey.


Central picture

Where to Shop

Amongst the stores, a number stand out as being worthy of anyone's time. These include the Heart Beat, the Spirit Gardens, the Henry Miller Memorial Library, and also the acclaimed Phoenix Shop at the Nepenthe restaurant on Highway 1, which is a truly unique gift shop

The Phoenix is known for promoting 'creativity' and offers a range of merchandise from all over the world, including plenty of handicrafts produced by local artisans from around Big Sur and this part of California. These include wooden toys, flora one-off hand-woven rugs and quilts, and some unusual musical instruments, such as 'strum sticks' and 'Kalimba' thumb pianos. The Phoenix Store guarantees a memorable shopping experience, whilst also boasting some outstanding views of Big Sur's beautiful southern coast.