For this year’s Holiday Gift Guide, PV Magazine wanted to highlight some of the wonderful local nonprofit gift shops that serve the Peninsula and South Bay community. Find a unique gift and know you are supporting local wildlife, land conservancy, libraries, museums and more! Each featured organization gives us their “Holiday Gift Picks” to make gift giving easy.
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Gift Shop
This year the CMA gift shop has a new line of products featuring the stunning artwork of John Van Hamersveld, creative genius behind the “Endless Summer” film poster and countless album covers. Drop by the shop and check out the JVH-curated posters, magnets, pins, mugs, and fabulous tees + onesies. While you are there check out the four murals by John Van Hamersveld highlighting some of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s favorite creatures. The CMA gift shop is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00am to 5:30pm. For more information or to shop online visit friendsofcabrilloaquarium.org or call (310) 548-8394.
Marine Mammal Care Center Gift Shop
Your support makes the holidays happier for the seals and sea lions at MMCC. Now is a great time to visit the newly updated gift shop which is open during regular operating hours of Friday through Monday from 10am to 4pm. Proceeds help to support animal care, conservation and research, and education. MMCC is located at 3601 S. Gaffey Street #8, San Pedro, phone (424) 450-0570.
MMCC has two Holiday Pick suggestions for our readers to check out. First, their “Respect the Locals” tee: A best-selling shirt that inspires respect for local wildlife like California sea lions. Men’s and women’s sizes available and sell for $22.
Another Pick is the “Adopt a Pup Gift Set”: Symbolically adopt a patient from the Marine Mammal Care Center through a generous donation of $25 or $50. Both levels come with an adoption certificate and a fact sheet, the $50 level also includes an adorable animal plushie.
MMCC Gift Shop is offering PV Magazine readers 15% off online and in person at the gift store with code PVMAG starting now through December 31, 2024. For more information or for online shopping, visit marinemammalcare.org.
Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy
Although the George F Canyon Nature Center gift shop is temporarily closed for renovations, the Land Conservancy is offering the “Give the Gift of Conservation “as their Holiday Pick.
Delight a friend or loved one with a meaningful and unique gift: adopt a goat in your friend’s name through the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy! Your friend will receive a beautiful gift certificate and an invitation to meet these eco-friendly, natural weed eaters at a special private event in Spring 2025. They will even have the chance to take a family portrait with a charming goat. A generous gift of $200 will help pay for one goat for a day to prepare an area for native plants needed by local wildlife; $500 helps pay for one goat for nearly a week! You will be putting a smile on someone’s face and helping to save California’s threatened native coastal sage scrub plant community. Shop today at pvplc.org.
Peninsula Friends of the Library Gift Shop
Staffed entirely by Friends volunteers, this local gift shop is full of lovely and unique items. Executive Director, Milton David says, “We pride ourselves in our unique gifts. And we love that we have many Fair Trade items that not only help other communities around the world, but also helps raise money for our three local libraries: Malaga Cove Library, Miraleste Library and the Peninsula Center Library.” This year, Peninsula Friends of the Library were awarded the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.
Their Holiday Pick for this season are the amazing Fair Trade Handmade Seed Bead Hummingbird and Peacock Ornaments from Ecuador which sell for $15 and make a unique and one-of-a-kind gift.
The Friends Gift Shop is located in the Peninsula Center Library and the hours are Monday through Thursday from 10:00am to 5:00pm, Friday 2:00pm to 5:00pm, Saturday 10:00am to 3:30pm and Sunday 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
Point Vicente Interpretive Center Gift Shop
This museum gift shop offers a wide variety of ocean themed items from children’s books and toys, to t-shirts, educational books, and home décor. You will find a wide selection of beach and marine themed ornaments as well as peacock ornaments ideal for gift giving.
This year’s Holiday Picks are unique ocean inspired jewelry. Kai Stone Collective is a line of custom made, hand painted, wooden jewelry featuring the Point Vicente Lighthouse and other ocean themed pieces. Our other pick is Semaki & Bird, a line of sterling silver and gold-plated silver nature inspired earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Find a selection of unique designs including whales, dolphins, turtles, seahorses, shells and even snakes! Both lines are made in the USA. Priced $16 to $29. Located at 31501 Palos Verdes Drive W, Rancho Palos Verdes, for more information call 310 544-5375.
