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With the holidays coming up, Avalon is a great place to find that unique gift for the ones you love. One would expect to find the typical souvenir shops but Avalon has a rich collection of unique items to offer: anything from fun color changing nail polish to high-end jewelry and art. There is something for everyone on your list.

Del Sol
A truly colorful experience. Everything at this store changes colors while in the sun. Del Sol’s proprietary Spectrachrome^® technology causes its clothing and accessories to change colors when exposed to sunlight. I particularly liked the color changing nail polish. There are shirts for men, women and children with fun designs and also some great accessories.

Latitude 33
For the man in your life. I love walking into Latitude 33. The vibe of the store is so laid back it’s no wonder it’s the best place to shop for your aloha shirt to get you in the island spirit. The store mostly focuses on menswear but they do have some great things for women. A beautiful turquoise necklace is now part of my collection. The great variety of ukuleles would make a unique gift for anyone.

Two’s Company of Avalon
When you need a little sparkle. I absolutely fell in love with all the jewelry in the store. Every piece is more beautiful than the last. It’s so hard to pick. They also have great home décor. You can spend so much time looking at all the small intricate details of every piece. I came home with a gorgeous scarf that I can wear all year long.

Sun Kissed
For the rustic beach look. Sun Kissed has that laid back beach house feel the second you step foot in the door. A sense of calmness and relaxation envelops you as you look at all the great home décor and accessories. All the items had a beach theme with a rustic feel. This style fits my personality perfectly so it’s no surprise I came home with a lovely mermaid made of driftwood.

Catalina Bath & Body
A scent-sational time. This family-owned business makes the best handmade soaps, lotions, salts and other amazing smelling things. If you want to treat yourself or someone special you will be sure to find what you need here. They have so many fragrances to choose from. For candles, I liked Catalina Coconut and Island Botanical. For handmade soaps my favorites were Mango Papaya and Cotton Blossom. The best part is that their list of offerings is seasonal so I cannot wait to go back and see what new scents they have.

Afishinados
For the fish lover. I can honestly say I have never walked into a store quite like this. As you can tell by the name you will find all sorts of fish themed items from T-shirts to paintings and sculptures. There is a great selection of fish-themed art. If you like fish you will find the missing painting, bowl, or tile to complete your collection.

The Spa Shoppe at Island Spa
For that Spa-tacular find. The Spa Shoppe keeps you looking good with a mix of high-quality products, including women’s apparel, swimwear, home accents, artisan candles, and more. The best part is that many of the products are made with organic all-natural ingredients. I couldn’t pass up an adorable beach tote and handcrafted bracelet.

Catalina Museum Gift Shop
For a bit of culture. The museum’s gift shop is a great place to bring back a piece of Catalina history home. You will find mini surfboards with various Catalina Island scenes that I absolutely had to have. For the baseball lover there is a great selection of Chicago Cubs gear. The vintage Catalina tile and pottery Catalina Island is famous for is also available for purchase. Products featuring the new Chihuly exhibit make a great souvenir to remember your visit to the museum.

by Guadalupe Rodriguez