Living the nomadic lifestyle has the added bonus of being able to see, sample and enjoy local fare wherever you live. We often go to our tried and true familiar stores (hello Tar-jay). I am not against strolling down an aisle pushing a red cart with a coffee in hand, but part of the exploring where the military sends you means exploring and enjoying local places. Want to share your SoCal life with your family back home? Or want to enjoy local fare when you are home for the holidays? Check out our favorite local places below!
Coffee:
We have written about these two places before because they are our favorites and ones we visit frequently.Zebra House Coffee is the only drive-thru coffee place in San Clemente (just north of Camp Pendleton). Why not gift the coffee lover in your life a bag ofbeans, a gift card or maybe even a Zebra House mug (if there are any left!) Ina similar fashion, Bear Coast Coffee is a small coffee shop in San Clemente andDana Point where you can purchase a bevy of Bear Coast products from coffee mugsto hats in addition to Bear Coast coins for a cup of coffee or a bag of beans.
Chocolate:
Have you seen Chuao Chocolate when shopping at said red-cart shopping store? This delicious andunique chocolate is made locally – in Carlsbad in fact. You can tour and make chocolate at this location, and while we haven’t done it yet, it is for sure on our bucket list! Buy a bar or two as a stocking stuffer for yourself, friends or family.
Jewelry:
The Hive& Co is a gem in our eyes. With their almost secret location near the Ritz off the PCH in Dana Point, going there feels like you are heading to a club only locals know. The reality is everyone should know about it. In addition to delicious snacks, locally sourced wares made by local artisans abound. Treat yourself or someone else with something beautiful while supporting a local artist.
Something Sweet:
Porchside Ice Cream is a small business in San Clemente that makes small-batch handcrafted ice cream. Her holiday flavor for Christmas is Cinntastic – a cinnamon ice cream with caramel ribbons. If you are looking to host a special event or aparty, consider a localy made treat (she needs 3 weeks notice). You can email her at : porchsideicecream@gmail.comand reach out to see what flavors she has on hand for a local pick up.
BeeSweet Bakeshop and Such is a military spouse owned and operated small business out of San Diego. She has cookie decorating kits and premade cookies that would be awesome stocking stuffers or sweet treats. Follow her Instagram for cookie decorating classes and cookie kits that are ready to go! Bookmark this one for the new year!
Sunglasses
We would be remiss if we didn’t include our favorite sunglass company Roshambo. These colorful lightweight sunglasses are great for anyone in your family! They are San Diego-natives who built a company within the community for the community. Use the code “MilMom” for 10% off your order. We do not earn commission on any purchases.
With each move, military families have a new “home” for a period of time. While orders often give a specific amount of time to live in a place, many variables can lead to a change earlier than expected. Enjoy the local fare and wares while you can military families! SoCal locals- enjoy and seek out these fabulous local businesses!
