3 Best Shopping in The Bay Area, California

A huge selection of new music for every taste has been drawing crowds to this independent brand since 1971. Only in a town that also contained Amoeba Music could Rasputin's stock of used CDs, DVDs, collectibles, and vinyl be surpassed.

Founded in Berkeley in 1970, this local chain uses premium-quality ingredients to create face, body, hair-care, and aromatherapy products. Essential oils and perfume oils can be combined to create personal fragrances. Tiare, gardenia, and China Rain are a few favorite scents.

This store is every child's (and many adults') dream come true, with rows of fresh homemade fudge, barrels of rainbow-colored jelly beans, and neat ribboned boxes of truffles. A train in the window drives figure eights through convincing faux-chocolate mountains and around M&M houses.