If you're anything like me, you are scrambling to finish up (or are just starting) your holiday shopping and would welcome any guidance as you select gifts. One thing that was really important to me this year, even more than other years, was to support local companies and spend less at large chains. To help, I've put together this short list of some of my favorite places to shop this holiday season for Michigan-themed items. I will be sharing some favorite non MI themed gift ideas in a separate post as well.
When I'm looking for a gift for a girl-friend or one of my daughter's friends, my first stop is always Pink Lemonade in East Grand Rapids (they also have locations in Kalamazoo and Grand Haven). You'll find a variety of gifts for "children, home, and her." The store is cute and fun and I just love popping in, but they have a great website so proximity doesn't have to be a barrier if you don't live close.
Here are just a few of the many adorable items they have available:
Another great gift shop just down the road from Pink Lemonade, Rebel, has unique gifts and products from all over, with some Michigan-themed items. This store is also worth the drive, but they have a beautiful website you can shop as well.
Another one of my favorites, Freshly Squeezed Print Shop, is located in the heart of the East Fulton Business District. They specialize in letterpress printing, using century-old printing presses and do custom hand-made invitations, business cards, coasters, prints, stationery, and more. What's unique is they mix their ink by hand, cut their paper by hand using guillotine paper cutters, and each sheet is fed individually and printed one color at a time through the press. Their presses are foot treadle operated.
The Mitten State has a variety of clothing items for women, men, and children. They love Michigan and you'll get that sense as soon as you browse their store and/or website. From the Michigan-themed items, to the good they do for their local community, their passion for the great state of Michigan is evident on every item and every webpage. They have 30% off everything right now, but you need to order by December 16th if you want the items by Christmas!
Looking for something edible to gift? Look no further than Ferris Coffee & Nut Co., headquartered in Grand Rapids, with 4 other locations throughout Michigan. They have coffee and treats, and make it easy to shop with their beautifully packaged gift baskets and boxes.
Heading north to one of my favorite areas in the state, you will find the most beautiful beaches and landscape in the country, in addition to cool little towns filled with unique shops, wineries, and restuarants. The Leelanua Peninsula extends 30 miles into Lake Michigan, with 65 miles of shoreline. Here are just a couple of my favorite places you can visit and shop online:
Leelanau Cellars is located in Suttons Bay, just north of Traverse City, and has a spacious, beautiful tasting room with samples and shopping. If you aren't local, they can ship to 20 states, depending on your state's individual laws. One of the wines they are best known for is their Winter White, which is a crisp semi sweet white wine.
Festivus is a new wine which namesake can only be from the infamous Seinfeld episode from 1997 where George Costanza’s father, Frank, decided he was staging a one-man war on Christmas. This wine is a dry, red blend. I had to try it just because of the name, and a few friends are getting this from me simply because they love wine, Michigan, and Seinfeld : )
I could fill so many pages with my favorite places in Michigan, but I have to stop at some point. So for now, I'll leave you with one more favorite. I bring you my last, by not least, M22 Glen Arbor (and M22 Traverse City). If you've been to Northern Michigan, you are likely familiar with M-22, the road which runs through some of the most beautiful areas of the state.
Comments