This post may contain affiliate links. Every link is hand-selected by our team, and it isn’t dependent on receiving a commission. You can view our full policy here.
When you’re stuck in a same-old, same-old rut (or just feeling society’s pressures to conform to a certain mold of how a person ‘should’ be), there’s nothing more refreshing than a little escape that helps you see the world through a new lens. I think that’s why the Wander Society took off; it encouraged you to tune out the world’s noise and be observant, looking for the blink-and-you’ll-miss-’em signs of the extraordinary in everyday life.
It may seem strange, particularly since the Wander Society is so rooted in nature, to write a post about shops that conjure that same feeling, but over the past few months I’ve seen a few small businesses that capture that surprise-and-delight feeling so wonderfully that they’re worth checking out.
The Story Shop
Monroe, GA
Home reno bloggers Young House Love introduced me to this spot, with their post on creative kids’ room ideas, and I fell in love with the whimsy behind this shop. It’s more or less play-spaces-within-a-bookstore, where you travel through a giant armoire or a Hobbit-sized round door to get to the main space. Signs direct you to Narnia, District 12, and Whoville, inviting you to scope out the spines of the walls and walls of books on display.
Oxford Exchange
Tampa, FL
Okay, so this isn’t the first time I’ve featured OE, the restaurant/shop/cafe in Tampa. (It’s one of the five hangouts I wish existed in every city.) But it deserves a spot on both lists, just because it’s the type of shop that curates such a surprising array of stunning gifts that can spark your creativity, and it’s got the kind of irresistibly rich lattes and plush, tufted leather sofas that seem to inspire great conversations. It’s a getaway from the ordinary that adults can enjoy.
Little Shop Of Oils
Online store
Essential oil blends have been growing in popularity over the past few years, thanks to their reported ability to help people destress, fall asleep easier, or you know, simply smell better. This shop features roller-ball applicators with blends designed for every zodiac sign and interest. Many are filled with tiny gemstones, adding to their appeal, though I’m partial to the Anxiety Sucks Club, a line for anyone who can relate to that pulse-pounding feeling. (The oil blend contains rosehips and lavender, and it’s supposed to help you relax.)
Au Fudge
Los Angeles, CA
Jessica Biel’s restaurant-bar-marketplace-kids’ playland is everything it’s cracked up to be. It’s a chic alternative to Chuck E. Cheese (though certainly pricier), and after spending a few hours there, I basically wanted to move in. Even though I don’t have kids myself. Biel gave us a tour — as part of my day job at Delish, which you can see above — and I didn’t want to believe her, but the vegan kale Caesar really IS good enough to make you crave salad. The Sinner star knows what’s up.
Toothsome Chocolate Emporium
Orlando, FL
Housed right in Universal Studios’ CityWalk, this gigantic restaurant and shop is a lighthearted blend of Willy Wonka and steampunk, chocolate and cocktails, freakshakes and fantasy. So really, it loves up to the magic of the theme parks that flank it. If you’re looking for something a little different from the typical chain restaurant found, oh, everywhere in Orlando, this is the place to go. Especially if you’re a chocoholic with a hearty appreciation for theatrics.
