1. Most modern toy stores bombard customers with a cacophony of electronic beeping and whirring, but at  MILK and HONEY, you’ll be greeted with the tranquillity of imagination at work. In addition to cribs (outfitted with custom-made sheets), clothing, and paper goods, the children’s gift boutique features items from a bygone era, like wooden train sets, barnyard animal puzzles, and charming Victorian dollhouses. Best of all, no batteries required. 101 S. Main, Suite A; 830-816-3100

2. Get personalized at FLY PAPER, a stationery and party-ware gift store. Nearly every item here— from notepads and invitations to calendars and sippy cups—can be stamped, engraved, or printed with monograms to give each bauble an individual touch. After finding the perfect present, choose from a wide array of whimsical wrapping papers and ribbons (offered by the yard) to finish off your package. 106 S. Main, 830-331-9006

3. Numerous antiques shops line South Main, but CAROUSEL ANTIQUES & FICKLE PICKLES brings something different to the vintage table: jars of pickles. The store opened in 1987 to sell collectibles but soon found its curios playing second fiddle to the “sweet, crunchy, spicy” pickled cucumbers. The samples will have you hooked. As one customer said while pulling out her wallet, “I don’t usually like pickles, but I need a jar of these.” 118 S. Main, 830-249-9306

4. A warning to turquoise junkies: You may have to enlist a designated shopper before you enter SUN OF A BRAVE and behold row after glinting row of sterling-silver rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings studded with the stone. The collection of American Indian jewelry may dazzle the eye, but don’t forget the intricately carved rain sticks and elaborate dream catchers. Plus, each purchase benefits the Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi communities, who sell their crafts to the store. 126 S. Main, 830-249-5766

5. The menu at CYPRESS GRILLE provides a welcome break from a strenuous shopping spree. Start with pan-seared foie gras or lump crab cakes and proceed to entrées like molasses-glazed venison loin or Italian wild boar sausage. The lamps adorning each table provide a hint of romance, and the extensive wine selection chosen by co-owner and sommelier Paul Thompson will prompt enthusiasts to raise a glass. 170 S. Main, 830-248-1353

6. Bill Zaner’s ART HAUS is an arresting gallery that showcases several Texas-based artists, like Deb Gioia, a mixed-media specialist, and Thom Evans, whose oil painting Summer Swing evokes memories of comfortable porches and iced tea. Zaner, whose art is also on display, has spent his life capturing the beauty of the state’s landscapes in his work. His majestic Sunrise in Big Bend will have you reaching for your keys and driving west. 255 S. Main, 830-249-1650

7. Sidle up to the bar at the TALL PONY, where you can order a frosty ice-cream soda (complete with Blue Bell, of course). Soda jerk and owner Marsha Schoolcraft gladly chats up customers, offering colorful tidbits about the area, including the fact that this place was a saloon in 1886. If you squint just right, you might be able to see whiskey bottles lining the counter. 259 S. Main, 830-249-2009

8. CALAMITY JANE’S TRADING COMPANY, housed in an eye-catching historic homestead, deals in one- off and handmade furnishings. Owner and designer Shawn Beach carefully selects each piece, whether it’s a cushy leather chaise longue or a stylishly carved Spanish four-poster bed, to complement what she refers to as “Hill Country style.” 322 S. Main, 830-249-0081