Millions of beads, baubles and gems from all over the world displayed in tiny dishes or strung up on the walls make shopping here more like a museum visit. OC Beads has 25-plus years of experience and offers custom designs with semi-precious stones and pearls, amber and wood, glass and gold. The staff will supervise while you make repairs with their tools, or they’ll do it for you. And classes on the basics ranging from wire-wrapping and weaving to Japanese bead knotting and vintage braiding cater to all levels. OC Beads survived three moves due to Dana Point’s constant refiguring of Coast Highway and Del Prado, but now it owns the building and there’s free parking out back.
34181 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, (949) 248-2000; www.ocbeadstore.com.
