Hicklebee’s, in charming downtown Willow Glen, is an independent bookstore that specializes in children’s books. But they also offer a well-curated selection of toys, crafts and games, as well as books for teens and adults. Hicklebee’s makes it easy to pick the perfect gift, with a knowledgeable staff that is happy to make recommendations. A “Books of the Year” shelf highlights the best new children’s books, while a “Worth the Candle” shelf keeps older classics from being forgotten.

For a gift that’s not only local, but also unique, Black & Brown offers a stylish collection of vintage clothes and accessories for women and men. This is not your typical overstuffed second-hand store—instead, the airy space is home to on-trend pieces that won’t break the bank, designer scarves and bags, and a small collection of decorative home pieces.

At the Wooden Horse, a neighborhood toy store in Los Gatos, play is serious business, with a collection of toys that will excite, wonder and delight. The small size of this store is deceptive—inside you’ll find a wide variety of high-quality toys, games, books and puzzles. They also stock quality costumes, like space suits for aspiring astronauts and a Little Red Ridinghood’s cloak; European toys, including Haba blocks and Corolle dolls; and a fantastic selection of science toys, from simple magnets and magnifying glasses to circuit boards and chemistry sets. A gift from the Wooden Horse is sure to be treasured, shared and played with long after the holiday season.

San Jose's largest selection of implant grade body jewelry. Professional and experienced piercers. Gift Certificates also available.

Give the gift of comfortable feet with a trip to Willow Glen’s specialty running store, Athletic Performance. Local runners love the personal attention at this small shop, where the knowledgeable staff takes the guess-work out of finding the perfect athletic shoe fit. Accessories, like Balega running socks, breatheable gloves, and water bottles make perfect stocking stuffers. Once you have all the gear, join your neighbors at the shop for the weekly group run on Thursdays at 6am and Saturdays at 7am.

It doesn’t get much more local than C.J. Olson Cherries, a specialty food shop in Sunnyvale. The Olson family has been in the fruit business since back when Silicon Valley was known as the Valley of Heart’s Delight. You can still taste that delight in C.J. Olson’s local specialties, including California-grown fruits and nuts, gourmet chocolates, and gift-ready platters of dried apricots and cherries. Attractive gift baskets and a good story about our local history make this an easy stop on your way to holiday parties.

The Olive Bar in downtown Campbell is the perfect place to shop for sure-to-be-used hostess gifts and hard-to-please foodie friends. The small shop prides itself on carrying only the freshest and highest quality extra virgin olive oils, balsamic vinegars and more. With items sourced from all over the world, The Olive Bar makes picking a gift easy, with pretty gift baskets and specially selected oil-and-vinegar duos. Best of all, you can taste all of the oils and vinegars before you buy.

Therapy, a locally-owned chain (with additional locations in Mountain View and Los Altos) carries a fun selection of clothing and housewares. Browsing their fanciful bar-ware, like mason jar shot glasses, and locally-made stationery and candles, is retail therapy at its best. Many of the items reflect a great sense of humor, like the child’s sippy cup shaped like a sriracha bottle. Much of the affordably priced jewelry is made by local designers, and the clothing, for men and women won't break the bank. This is the perfect place to pick up unique gifts for fashionable friends or office gift exchanges.

Cukui is a street-wear shop and art gallery in San Jose’s Japantown. The name, Cukui, is a mash-up of kukui, the Hawaiian word for the candlenut, a symbol of peace and enlightenment, and “el cucuy,” a Mexican-American boogeyman used to scare children into going to bed. The shop and gallery is a collaboration between friends Orly Locquiao and Sammy Rodriguez, who bring a twist to local pride with high-design shirts for Bay Area teams like the Raiders and the Warriors. Other items, such as hats and jewelry, feature Hawaiian tribal designs and Mexican skulls. Cukui is good reminder of the global influences on our local Bay Area culture.

Vinyl collectors are notoriously hard to please, but Needle to the Groove, in a narrow storefront in downtown San Jose, has the goods to satisfy even the most exacting record collector. The stock, which is replenished regularly, spans genres from jazz, hip hop, and soul, to rock. Highly collectible records go for a premium, but most of the vinyl is reasonably priced, and there are plenty of finds in very good condition for around $10. No need to be intimidated if you’re not a vinyl aficionado–the staff is friendly and enthusiastic, and they’re happy to help customers find a favorite album or discover something new.

Mariette Chocolates, a jewel-box of a shop in downtown Willow Glen, specializes in artful truffles, chews and chocolate dipped fruits and nuts. This family-run business was started by a husband and wife team who followed their sweet tooth from careers in IT and hospitality to open a hand-crafted sweet shop. The truffles are as beautiful as they are delicious, with brightly colored swirls and drizzles to distinguish each flavor. These truffles, as well as their excellent dark salted caramels and chocolate-dipped apricots and orange peels, are packed into distinctive blue and brown boxes and carefully tied with ribbon–perfect for no-hassle gifting.

Few gifts inspire as much excitement as a sparkly new piece of jewelry, and there are plenty of options, from new diamond engagement rings to vintage pieces, at Joe Escobar Diamonds in Campbell. This second-generation family-run store was started by Joe Escobar, a long-time police officer who discovered that he had a passion for making and selling beautiful jewelry. For Joe, it was all about making people happy, and his family has continued that tradition by combining top-quality jewelry with excellent customer service. Locals know that they can depend on Joe Escobar’s for a no-pressure sales environment, top-notch jewelry and watch care, and personalized service.

Thinker Toys has been a local establishment since 1969, when the first shop opened in Carmel. The Morgan Hill location was a welcome addition for local families, who appreciate the store’s focus on classic and quality toys. You won’t find rows of plastic action figures here. Instead, games, puzzles, and wooden toys promise both fun and education, as the store’s name suggests. To make the busy holidays a bit easier, Thinker Toys offers free assembly and free gift-wrapping on all purchases.

Give the gift of good cheer with a bottle of craft beer from Jane’s Beer Store in Mountain View. With over 500 craft beers in stock, Jane’s goes way beyond IPAs, with an impressive selection of local and imported stouts, porters, sour beers and saisons. Choose a bottle based on the beautiful labels, or ask the friendly staff for a recommendation. There are bottles here for newbies and beer snobs alike. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll get to share in the good cheer!

Stay on budget this year with our 2015 holiday gift guide. It's packed with 50 great gift ideas—all of them under $50. From foodies and freaks, to sports fans and bookworms, we've got something for everyone on that list, whether they've been naughty or nice.

These San Jose shops are ready with specialized gifts and treats for those on your list.