Fodor's Expert Review La Parada

Exploring the farther reaches of the rural North Valley takes you past small adobe antique shops and mom-and-pop-type finds, but then there is the unexpected two-story stack of 1800s-vintage terrone block that forms the colorfully inviting La Parada. Inside, its longtime owner shows a keen eye for crafts from across the Americas (fantastic Haitian tin work made from recycled oil drums, charming blue-and-white painted D’Casa pottery from Guadalajara) and around the globe. All show the artists’ hands, as does the outstanding selection of vintage ties, handkerchiefs, and linens for sale.