If ever there was a destination that looked like it belonged in a snow globe,…
A “Places to Love” Gift Guide
If you’ve been a longtime viewer of “Places to Love,” you know we love featuring locally-owned businesses wherever we go. Below is a guide to some of the products featured on the show that would make absolutely fantastic gifts. From forged carbon-steel knives you can pass down for generations to ski-pole toilet plungers to a travel wheelchair tool kit, consider this a gift guide to love! Want more gift ideas? Check out my Travel Gift Guide for the travel lover in your life!
Some of the products listed below are affiliate links. I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Beignet Mix & Coffee from Cafe du Monde
From our “New Orleans” episode
If you, too, love beignets from Cafe du Monde, good news. You can make them at home! They sell their beignet mix and coffee beans online here, so you can really feel like you’re right back in New Orleans getting powdered sugar all over your clothes!
A Cheerful Painting from Marianne Angeli Rodriguez
From our “New Orleans” episode
If you have someone who loves to decorate with bright, cheerful colors, consider paintings or prints by Marianne Angeli Rodriguez. She’s based in Covington, a small town across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans, and describes her work as “joy-inducing art for the color obsessed.”
Anything Cherry from Cherry Republic
From our “Traverse City, MI” episode
Fun fact about the northwest lower peninsula of Michigan: it’s the largest producer of tart cherries in America! Traverse City is actually known as “The Cherry Capital of the World.” For anyone shopping for a cherry lover, check out Cherry Republic.
Raclette Cheese from Leelanau Cheese
From our “Traverse City, MI” episode
Another food gem from Traverse City is the raclette cheese at Leelanau Cheese. They’ve actually won Super Gold at the World Cheese Awards and beat out nearly 4,000 other global companies to place in the top 100! They’ve got a lot of different options that make for great gifts in their shop.
Cadillac Jewelry from Lile Art Gallery
From our “Route 66: Oklahoma – Texas” episode
I love unique jewelry, and nowhere else sells Cadilite jewelry like Lile Art Gallery. Artist Bob “Crocodile” Lile visits the nearby Cadillac Ranch to collect spray paint chips and turns them into colorful pieces you can wear. I personally love the heart pendant!
Christmas Decor from Käthe Wohlfahrt
From our “Mainz, Wiesbaden, Rothenburg, Germany” episode
When it comes to places perfect for Christmas-themed travel, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, is usually at the top of the list. And while you may not be able to visit for its Christmas Markets, you can be a part of the spirit with Käthe Wohlfahrt. The shop is open all year round and stocks something like 20,000 handmade items! Check their online shop because I can guarantee anyone who’s a Christmas-lover will be delighted by a gift from here.
Treasures from Prairie Edge & Sioux Trading Post
From our “Black Hills of South Dakota” episode
Located in Rapid City, South Dakota, Prairie Edge & Sioux Trading Post is a great place to shop for Native American art that benefits the Northern Plains tribes. They sell so many great products, but I especially love the quilts and beaded work.
Coffee Beans from Zamora Coffee
From “Portland, Oregon”
Hector Mejia Zamora is not only the owner of Café Zamora in Portland, Oregon but is also a part of a cooperative of forty other small coffee farmers growing Guatemalan coffee and shipping it directly to his café. They all work together and have even managed to build a school, two different mills, and a clinic for their collective. Get your loved one one of his bags of coffee beans or sign them up for a subscription.
An Heirloom Puzzle from The Puzzle Lab
From “Victoria, British Columbia”
‘Tis the season where everyone wants an indoor activity. And who doesn’t love a good puzzle? I’ll raise you a typical 1,000-piece puzzle with the unique creations from The Puzzle Lab in Victoria, British Columbia. They create their puzzles with more abstract designs and all art is curated from Canadian and Indigenous artists who get a percentage from every puzzle sold.
Carmel Honey Company
From “Monterey & Big Sur”
Back when I met the founder of Carmel Honey Company, Jake Reisdorf, he was just fourteen! Now he’s in college and continuing his mission to save the world, one honeycomb at a time. He tends to 70+ hives and creates a variety of raw honey with his parents. In addition to creating honey (and, of course, going to school), he focuses on bee education and saving bees from extinction. Grab any of his honey gift boxes or bath and beauty products for a very sweet gift.
Clothing from Magpies & Peacocks
From “The Makers”
This one is for fashion lovers! Based in Houston, Sarah Jane Smith founded Magpies & Peacocks over a decade ago, and since then she’s been diverting literal tons of clothing from landfills and transforming them into one-of-a-kind, luxury pieces. They work with a number of designers and artists and are the country’s only 501(c)3 non-profit design house that focuses on reducing fashion’s environmental and social impact. I picked up the dress in this post’s cover photo while visiting!
Clyde Butcher Photography Books
From “Naples & the Paradise Coast, Florida”
Clyde Butcher’s photography is perfect for anyone who could use a little more peace in their life. He’s a black and white fine arts photographer and environmentalist who focuses on landscapes and is often dubbed the next Ansel Adams. Don’t take my word for it – he just became a National Medal of Arts recipient in 2024! Get one of his many photography books for your home and flip through when you need a moment of quiet solitude.
Flo’s Hot Dog Relish
From “Coastal Maine”
Want to know how to make a hot dog life-changing? Buy some Flo’s Hot Dog Relish and add generously. I’ve been visiting Flo’s in Maine for over 40 years, and I loved their hot dogs so much I served them at my wedding. The relish is a homemade family secret, and I love that I can have it on hand even when I’m hours away in Brooklyn.
Harney & Sons Tea
From “Dutchess County, New York”
This is a gift idea for all fellow tea lovers. Harney & Sons was founded right in Millerton, New York about forty years ago and now has over 300+ flavors. My go-to is their Supreme Breakfast blend.
Danny Clinch Prints
From “The Jersey Shore & More”
What might just be cooler than being a rock star? Being the guy who photographs rock stars! Danny Clinch has photographed some of music’s biggest names, and I got to see his work when I visited his gallery in legendary Asbury Park. If you want to splurge, you can purchase one of his iconic prints (just scroll through for all the famous names!) or check out one of his books or posters.
Perfume or Skincare from Burren Perfumery
From Limerick, Ireland
Located in County Clare, Ireland, The Burren Perfumery taps into its mystical surroundings to create some of the most beautiful skincare and perfumes. Everything is made, bottled, and packaged in small batches onsite.
Food Kits from Kenny & Ziggy’s Deli
Everything’s bigger in Texas, right? At least that’s the motto Ziggy Gruber adopted when he opened up Kenny and Ziggy’s Delicatessen in Houston! They’re known for their delicious skyscraper sandwiches, and now you can purchase one of their food kits to make at home. Just think – pastrami sandwiches, smoked whitefish, noodle kugel… all delivered right to your doorstep! Check out all the food kit options here.
Art from 18Loves
From ”Savannah, Georgia”
If you ever visit Savannah, you can find 18Loves Art in the glass box of joy located in the Plant Riverside District. Founder Amelia Jamerson is a SCAD graduate, and all her work focuses on positivity and optimism. Each piece is meant to inspire love and encouragement. Her online shop is full of colorful designs from prints to calendars and even an adorable coloring book.
Delicacies from Bourbon Barrel Foods
From “The Makers”
Bourbon and Kentucky are practically synonymous but have you ever wondered what happens to those barrels used to age the famous drink? Bourbon Barrel Foods has managed to figure out a way to reuse them to make everything from sauces to spices to sweets. Their yuzu soy sauce is my personal go-to. Shop their selection here.
Beautiful Homeware from Stoneware & Co
Another Louisville gem? Stoneware & Co. Immigrants coming west used to stock up on necessities in this city. Think heavy and tough crocks, plates, bowls, and more – the kind of sturdy items that could survive long trips on barges and wagons. Stoneware & Co. was the first of its kind in Louisville. Founded by Jacob Lewis in 1815, the company still operates today using the same methods of craftsmanship passed down for generations.
A Knife Set from Steelport Knife Co
From “Portland, Oregon”
Talk to anyone who spends time in the kitchen, and they’ll tell you – a good knife can make all the difference. And no one does it quite like Steelport Knife Co. Their knives are hand forged in Portland, Oregon and intended to create an heirloom product that can last generations.
Colorado Ski Furniture
From “Colorado Springs, Colorado”
When it comes to old ski equipment, Adam Vernon has managed to design some truly unique products at Colorado Ski Furniture. Think gorgeous Adirondack chairs, beautiful benches, and… ski pole plungers. No, I’m not kidding!
Mustard Gift Boxes
From Madison, Wisconsin
Did you know that the National Mustard Museum is right outside of Madison, Wisconsin? And that this museum has the largest mustard collection in the world? As you might guess, their online shop has a ton of potential gifts for any mustard-lover in your life. I’d personally go for one of their mystery gift boxes!
A Wheelchair Survival Tool Kit
If you have a wheelchair user in your life, travel blogger Cory Lee from Curb Free with Cory Lee, has put together the perfect gift – a wheelchair survival toolkit. And trust me, he knows what he’s talking about. As a wheelchair user, he’s visited all seven continents and has been through it all (including a hippo attack in South Africa!) His kit only weighs 2 pounds (less than 1kg) and has everything you need for on-the-go wheelchair repairs.
Spicewalla Spices
From Asheville, North Carolina
Looking to experiment with cooking this year? Check out the spices from Chef Meherwan Irani’s Spicewalla brand. If you’ve ever been to his James Beard-winning restaurant, Chai Pani, you know firsthand just how mouthwateringly delicious his creations are. All spices are hand-blended and really allow you to experiment with some incredible flavors. If you’re not sure where to start, just check out Spicewalla’s recipe page.
Bespoke Pieces from Ari O Jewelry
From Big Sky, Montana
For those looking to buy a really beautiful piece of jewelry, Ariane Coleman founded Ari O Jewelry as a small batch artisan gemstone and metal jewelry store. All pieces are inspired by Montana’s nature and are made by hand.
Have you ever purchased something from a Places to Love business? I’d LOVE to hear about it below!
Pin for later!
Related Posts
Comments (0)