The Unique Shops of Cambria

On our last trip over to Cambria for an overnight away from the wee one, we had the opportunity to stay at the El Colibri Hotel which I talk about here, as well as enjoy a couple of Cambria’s restaurants which I discuss here.

We also took the time to walk around the quaint little village and I just never realized how many shops there are. I mean, there are an endless number of mom and pop, unique shops up and down the main drag. From jewelry to knitting supplies, from clothing to antiques, from music boxes to art, from gourmet foods to pet supplies, and so much more.

Prior to becoming an ambassador for Visit Cambria I just never took the time to notice it all. The coolest part is that between all these great shops are amazing restaurants and a couple of wine tasting rooms so you can rest while you’re shopping. No need to “shop til you drop”. See what I did there?

We walked into a handful of shops but my favorite was Froggies, a kids store with toys, clothes, books, and so on. Annie and I were in Cambria to get away from our kid but found ourselves buying a few things in there for him…funny how that works. If you’re ever in Cambria and happen to have a kid or grandkid to spoil, stop in.

Cambria has definitely become a mecca for artists as well. We’ve walked in to several wonderful art studios/galleries there and have consistently been impressed. It’s always been interesting to me how a community becomes an artist community…and Cambria is absolutely that. There are also some fantastic antique shops. As a minimalist I don’t buy that sort of thing anymore but as I’ve wandered through the antique shops I have come close, there are some really great pieces.

As I think about it, there are hundreds and hundreds of great little communities across California and this country. Why does Cambria stick out so much? Why have I been going since I moved to Paso Robles in 2003 and why do I continue to go so regularly? Sure it has great shops, killer restaurants, and good wine…but that can’t be it. Well, it’s definitely a big part of it but the other thing Cambria has, similar to Paso Robles but different obviously, is a very unique vibe.

I’ve talked a lot about how much I love Paso Robles, the community, and the feeling of this town. Cambria has that too. You feel it when you pull on to the main street. You don’t just see the small town, quaint village…you feel it. It’s a community. To me, the special communities are the ones you feel. The vibe runs through you. The most telling thing is when you drive away from a place like Cambria and you start thinking about when you’ll be coming back. And trust me, I will be.