This Season's Local Holiday Shopping Guide!
Have you started your holiday shopping yet? With so much unpredictability in supply and shipping this holiday season, it’s a great time to take a walk down the main street in your area, support your local businesses, and walk out with a personalized and unique gift. Not sure where to start? We've got you covered with a holiday shopping guide that will help you find the perfect gift for anyone on your list!
For the Little Ones:
Our shop picks for the little ones on your list came from two of our favorite spots that support, encourage, and inspire our next generation to learn and grow through community and imagination.
Woodbury Mountain Toys:
This classic toy shop that has been a staple in Montpelier for over 20 years is ideally located on State Street and has anything you could ever imagine for the kid on your list. This shop believes in the phrase, "it takes a village to raise a child," and it shows when school lets out, the kids can be found visiting, trying out new toys, or getting cozy with a plush stuffed animal.
Woodbury Mountain Toys is known for its commitment to its neighbors through fundraising events, and they also take great pride in being a part of their vibrant and strong downtown community.
Our Gift Pick: There are so many good options here that it was hard to pick! That being said, the games and puzzles selection is our favorite. With critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative play options for any age, you're sure to find something fun to give here.
ECHO museum and gift shop:
ECHO made the list because there are times when we might look around and say, "my kid does not need more STUFF!" This gift option offers the opportunity for children to view the natural environment as part of their neighborhood and explore, learn about, and consider opportunities for stewardship. In the 34,500-square-foot, award-winning LEED-certified facility, this non-profit organization focused on engaging and inspiring families to discover more about the world around them through scientific discovery.
Our Gift Pick: An ECHO gift card is a win because it can be used for day visits, memberships, and at the gift shop, making it the perfect fit for the curious kid in your life.
For the Outdoor Enthusiast:
We live in Vermont, so we are, or we know, a few outdoor enthusiasts. There is an old saying, "there are no bad days, just bad gear," and Vermonters live by that. No one that has ever lived in a state with some of the crazy weather that ours has will ever turn down the gift of outdoor gear. These picks have you covered for the person in your life that loves to get outside or just enjoys being comfortable in less than ideal weather conditions.
Cool Motion Outdoor Sports:
Cool Motion Outdoor Sports is a Bike and Ski shop at the gateway to the Green Mountains in Bristol, Vermont, that offers tuning services, outdoor gear sales, and rentals. They are committed to serving those around them through community service and creating opportunities for everyone to get outside. Their growing inventory of outdoor gear includes Liberty alpine and Fischer Nordic ski packages, Darn Tough Socks, Blackstrap hoods, tubes and base layers, and Atlas snowshoes!
Our Gift Pick: Snowshoes! Give the gift of being able to take walks even when the snow is knee-deep. Whether it's for a stargazing stroll at night or a morning walk on a peaceful trail, this is a gift that will keep on giving.
Outdoor Gear Exchange:
Outdoor Gear Exchange is ideally located for downtown shopping on Church Street in Burlington and has EVERYTHING you could possibly need to play in Vermont and look great doing it. OGE's goal is to make enjoying the outdoors a possibility for everyone by offering discounted consignment options, rentals, and hosting events for those who might want to learn more about various outdoor activities. This could easily be your one-stop-shop for the nature lover on your list.
Our Gift Pick: The North Face Base Camp Duffel is our pick because who doesn't have gear to haul around? Whether your person is traveling or just heading on an adventure for the day, this versatile and durable bag can hold whatever they need.
For the Home:
Some people on your list are less about things you can wear, more about things they can use, or making their house feel more like home. Visiting these two merchants will guarantee that you find something perfect for that thoughtful homebody in your life.
Farmhouse Pottery:
This is one of those shops that makes it hard to decide what NOT to get. Each item in this store has been exquisitely crafted or curated to fit any home. They pride themselves on being "old-world potters” with simple tools and strong beliefs in process and authenticity, " which shows beautifully through their work. Their mission to stay true to the art of pottery while striving to support their community, a more sustainable way of life, and their core values, also makes shoppers feel good about supporting the Farmhouse Pottery brand.
Our Gift Pick: We have two favorites for this one. The first is scheduling a "Clay Date" for you and that special someone in your life. This adorable gift gives a nod to sharing experiences together vs. "things." You and your guest will work to create a piece of stoneware while learning about traditional pottery making. You'll also get to enjoy a workshop tour, demonstrations, shipment of your stoneware, along with wine and cheese!
Our other pick is the Live Edge Walnut Board. These organic, unique, and stunning boards function beautifully for their intended purpose to serve an epic charcuterie board, but it'll look nice on display when it is not in use.
The Vermont Country Store:
Talk about one-stop shopping! This one made the list because it is one of our all-time favorites for anyone on your list, but Specialty Wreaths, clothing, personal care, home decor, toys, food, and ANYTHING else you could imagine. The Vermont Country store prides itself on finding unique and hard-to-find items, making it an excellent option for finding a gift that stands out from the rest.
The store is as local as a local shop could get and is run by 4th and 5th generation store-keepers who keep memories alive with stories of horse-drawn carriages that brought mail to the community from Montpelier. The Weston store was also the first restored rural general store in the nation. Worth a visit for so many reasons, but we are confident that you'll find the perfect gift for the home within these walls.
Our Gift Pick: We all know how dry it can get in your home over the winter, so the Lattice Top Cast-Iron Wood Stove Steamer is a must for any wood stove owner.
For the Host:
Chances are if someone loves to host a party or holiday dinner, they enjoy planning, cooking, socializing, and welcoming people into their home. These two picks offer limitless gift options for the most wonderful host in your life this holiday season.
Cheese and Wine Traders:
If you are looking for an excellent selection of everything you'll need, or your favorite host might need, for this holiday season, Cheese and Wine Traders is a must-stop shop. Not only do they have an extensive collection of specialty cheeses, gourmet foods, ciders and beers, Vermont-made products, and handmade gift baskets, they also offer it all at reasonable prices. Buying a nice organic wine can get pricey, but this shop has a way of finding all of the best stuff for much less than you would pay at other retailers. As a Vermont family-owned independent specialty store, their connection and love for their community are apparent as soon as you walk through the door.
Our Gift Pick: A gift basket! With so many options to choose from, you can easily pick the perfect combination to say thank you to your favorite host this season.
Yankee Bookshop:
Since opening its doors for the first time in November of 1935, the Yankee Bookshop has become Vermont's oldest continuously operated independent bookshop. This store prides itself on the variety of carefully curated merchandise from books to vinyl, stationery, gifts, puzzles, and more. This shop is ideally located in the beautiful village of Woodstock and should not be overlooked if you are doing a little holiday shop strolling this season.
Our Gift Pick: A beautiful cookbook like Savor will give the hostess with the mostess inspiration for their next gathering with fresh ideas and versatile recipes.
For Everyone:
If you're still stumped when it comes to those last few people you need to buy for, head to one of these last two shops and we're sure that with the help of the knowledgeable staff, you'll walk out with the perfect gift.
Eli Parr:
If you are looking for a gift that someone will adore, Eli Parr is for you. Their brand focuses on modern, quality, hand-crafted pieces that are stylish yet sophisticated. The Shelburne boutique also serves as a workshop and design studio where they sell beautiful jewelry pieces as well as other unique products such as beauty, accessories, home & body.
They are also hosting one of their biggest sales of the year on Black Friday, November 26th, and Small Business Saturday, November 27th. Saturday's sale will be an in-store-only event at their Shelburne boutique from 10-6, where they will be offering gifts with purchase, tom-girl swag bags, pre-made gift boxes, complimentary gift wrapping, and complimentary drinks/treats (while supplies last). If you can't make it to these sales, keep an eye out for the first-ever Shelburne Village Holiday Shopping Stroll on Saturday, December 4th. Elli Parr will participate with over a dozen other Shelburne Village boutiques, restaurants, galleries, and independent shops participating in the event!
Our Gift Pick: The Harbor Gold Hammered Cuff is our pick because it's classic and can easily be stacked with other bracelets or make a simple statement on its own. There is nothing NOT to love about this beauty.
Common Deer:
Last but certainly not least, is one of our all-time favorite shops. This family-owned and operated retailer draws in anyone walking by to come in and look around with its large variety of specialty merchandise on display in the windows. One of their goals is to make American Made more accessible by working with makers from across North America to collect beautiful and functional pieces to line their shelves.
They also strive to practice and encourage others to shop consciously in ways that support a healthier environment, whether through production standards, reducing freight, and finding quality products that last. We do not doubt that you will fall in love with this shop and easily find gifts for loved ones, or even a little something for yourself.
Our Gift Pick: The Mountains of Vermont Letterpress Print captures the beauty of our state in a unique, thoughtful, and simple way that would look great on anyone's wall.
We could write about our favorite local shops all day,
but here are a few more for you to check out!
We are wishing you and yours a safe and Happy Holiday Season!
-Vermont Real Estate Company
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