Wander North Georgia
This locally owned, family-run outdoor store in Clayton, Ga., is more than just a store … it’s the heartbeat of a community. Their goal is to highlight the amazing people, places and experiences in North Georgia, and they deliver the goods in style. Now with locations in Clayton and Tallulah Falls, the hiking hub offers all the top outdoor brands and local treasures to keep both your backpack and your stockings full all year long. wandernorthgeorgia.com
Tours and Passes
Gifts don’t have to be physical to be fabulous. For the wine lover, gift the Georgia Wine Tour and experience eight wineries on the Georgia Wine Highway. Make reservations at georgiawinetours.com. Outdoor lovers will enjoy an annual Georgia State Parks pass, valid for up to five family members for an entire year. A separate pass can be purchased for state historic sites. Purchase at gastateparks.org.
Calming Moments
From bath and body to culinary specialties, Red Oak Lavender in Dahlonega is one of the largest lavender fields in the Southeast, producing the purest handcrafted products. In addition to products, consider gifting a workshop experience, with many happening throughout the year. Shop at the local store or online at redoaklavender.com. Also check out White Hill Farm in Dearing, Ga., for an array of lavender products. whitehillsfarm.us
Master at the Wheel
Georgia’s oldest pottery shop showcases beautiful work by local artisans. Mark of the Potter, located in Clarkesville, sits along the Soque River and was once a grist mill. Visit the store, open daily, to choose the perfect mug for your Christmas morning coffee. Learn about the mill and shop at markofthepotter.com.
A Cup of Joe
Working with co-ops around the world, Café Campesino Coffee Roasters in Americus, Ga. delivers fair-trade coffee roasted locally in Georgia. With coffee that tastes as good as the work it supports, they offer a wide range of roasts for the coffee aficionado on your holiday list. cafecampesino.com.
Always Add Sauce
Whether by the bottle or case, the famous Southern Soul BBQ sells mix-and-match bundles to decorate your meat of choice with the exact flavor profile you crave. From their Georgia Crab Boil and Chicken Scratch seasonings to their customer-favorite Sweet Georgia Soul Sauce, bring the taste of St. Simons Island to your kitchen. southernsoulbbq.com.
Sensational Scents
Made in small batches with attention to detail, Himalayan Handmade Candles of Duluth combines the beauty of fragrance and vessel. The candles will add to your décor while providing a long-lasting product, a container that is refillable and reusable time and again. himalayantradingpost.com.
Breakfast First
A box of Stripling General Store’s specialties makes the holidays even more tasty. With multiple locations, including in Bogart and Cordele, stop in and craft a unique box for your special someone, or choose a curated box, which includes sausages, cheeses and rubs. They carry a wide variety of Georgia-made specialties. striplings.com.
Scottsdale Farms
Like Wander Georgia in Clayton, this local favorite in Milton, Ga., is the heartbeat of Georgia’s Horse Country. Nestled on 65 acres, this gorgeous store offers a lush garden center, on-trend home décor and fashion, as well as a café for a one-stop shop. Plus, with their Christmas Tree Farm and special holiday events galore, you may just have found the closest thing to the North Pole in Georgia. scottsdalefarms.com
Leather Luxury
Doing things the old-fashioned way describes the crafters at KMM & Co. of Atlanta. Timeless leather goods created by owners Kyle Martin and Marcus Orfield add vintage flair underneath the tree. From classic tote bags and handbags to wallets and leather travel journals, customize your choice of full-grain leathers and gift a long-lasting memento. kmmco.com.
Grits & Grains
At Helen’s historic Nora Mill Granary, the grist mill and country store sells the freshest grains and flours to create the best products. Powered by the Chattahoochee River, the stones grind corn and wheat-based products. There are also pancake and bread mixes, all ideal for the Christmas morning family breakfast. Shop at the general store or order online at noramill.com.
Babyland General
Even if you aren’t an “eighties baby,” a shopping trip to Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, Ga., should be on every Georgian’s bucket list, young and old! Visitors can watch a Cabbage Patch Kid being born from a magical tree, then adopt their own baby doll at this legendary store that’s still spreading magic after all these years. You can hand-pick your own hand-stitched collector’s doll or choose from an array of the Cabbage Patch Kids and Furskins from the deluxe and cuties collections, as well as other toys and accessories. cabbagepatchkids.com
A Helping of Helen
Stroll the cobblestone streets of Helen for a holiday helping of retail therapy, with nearly every shop you pop into being a local gem. From Bavarian Clockworks to Betty’s Country Store, and of course, the open-year-round Christmas Shoppe, you will have this holiday in the bag. And don’t miss the Helen Chamber of Commerce’s 18th Annual Helen’s Christmas Market on Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 6-7, offering unique handmade holiday gifts and decorations, along with an assortment of sweets and treats. helenga.org.
Georgia on my Mind
At The Rustic Market, there’s a variety of Peach State gifts for everyone on your list. From puzzles and cups to Georgia-shaped serving boards and a holiday-inspired Christmas collection, choose what speaks “peach” to you. The Athens double-sided pillow is perfect and cozy for football Saturdays. shoptherusticmarket.com.
River Dog Co.
Do you know a river rat and dog-lover to boot? Then your one-stop shop should be River Dog Co. in Rome, Ga., a full-time outfitter and shop with a twist and a paddle! Here you can rent, demo, and buy paddleboards and also get some awesome swag, such as cool t-shirts, surf-style apparel and fun accessories. And yes, dogs are always welcome at this dog-friendly establishment, which also boasts a beer garden. We’ll toast to that! perfectpaddles.com
An Old-Fashioned Caramel Holiday
It doesn’t get much better or more Southern than a caramel cake for the holiday season. Savannah’s River Street Sweets is the go-to for fresh pralines or cakes, whether to gift or to add to your holiday table. Shop at the Savannah store on River Street or order online, riverstreetsweets.com.
