Hey! My neck of the woods.... Bay area stores.
Aquarium Concepts moved 2 months ago, they're in Dublin now. I don't know what to expect, since everything is "new" again. However, they've typically been one of my favorites, and always my first stop.
The ones you don't want to miss are:
Atlantis Aquarium (atlantisaquarium.net) in Fremont, home to just about every LE SPS in existence. Bring a credit card with a high limit. Amazing corals here, all sold frag style. Seriously, you just need to see it. We've all seen the unbelievable photos, assuming they're photoshopped. To see the corals in real life, all in one tank (scary, I know), you realize... that stuff's for real.
Aquatic Gallery (aquatic-gallery.com), in Milpitas. This is the standard setter. Beautiful store! Couches in front of displays, etc. If I could only see one, I'd still pick this one over Atlantis.
Both are a ways from I5, but worth it, IMO. Down south, it's like shooting fish in a barrel. Pick some stores, and go see them. The south's big claim is more along the lines of variety and selection than high end shops. Not to say there aren't high end shops. For me, though, being half way between LA and the Bay area, I'll head to the Bay area every time.
Many of the national wholesalers are down near LAX airport, so a lot of the "good stuff" heads down south first, as well. If you somehow get an "in" to the wholesalers, you absolutely cannot pass that up. It will change the way you think about this hobby. It did for me. Imagine Costco, but live fish only. And every variety you can imagine, including some you didn't know existed.
