NC Foothills Online Gift Guide for Offline Shopping
- Update: Check out our Area Guide – Things to Do in Tryon and the NC/SC Carolina Foothills
I was inspired to take this on, creating an online gift guide for buying locally in our Foothills community, because Jay and I prefer to shop locally when it comes to gift-giving throughout the year. While I know plenty of folks feel the same way, the lure of online shopping is just one easy click away for us all. I thought if I took a go at compiling the beginnings of a list of local businesses who offer great gift options (for the holidays and throughout the year) then maybe, just maybe, more folks would get excited about shopping in-person with our local businesses.
This is not intended to be comprehensive. For more ideas look to ExploreTryon, First Peak Visitor Center, Tryon Downtown Association, Polk County Chamber of Commerce. To connect with local artists directly you might enjoy looking up the 2014 Art Trek Tryon brochure from Upstairs ArtSpace as it has dozens of local artists/craftspeople listed.
Here goes for the first ever / less than complete NC Foothills Online Gift Guide for Offline Shopping. The ease of the click has its place but buying locally face to face offers a special kind of satisfaction. Look up our local businesses and then pay them a visit to check off all the items on your holiday gift-giving list.
Endless Ideas to Get Started
Creative gift-giving while celebrating our Foothills community might look like … a gift box/basket you put together featuring an assortment of local items that follow a theme.What about “Good Eats” (could include gift certificates to local restaurants and yummy gourmet foods and drinks), “Hand Crafts”, “Good Reads” featuring a selection from local bookstores and by local authors, “For the Green Thumb” – stop by Thompson Garden Gallery or A Gardener’s Cottage for endless gift ideas for garden-lovers.
People love experiential gifts! Here are some ideas that fall literally outside-the-box. What about a gift certificate to fly through the treetops with Gorge Zipline (I gave my son one last year for his birthday and talk about fun!) or a certificate to take a class on weaving or jewelry making at Tryon Arts and Crafts? You could give the gift of a personal organizer for a day, a morning with a computer geek, a series of music lessons, a gift certificate for a gourmet home delivered meal by Chef Patricia, or a weekend painting workshop? The ideas are endless and you might just be giving a gift that opens up a whole new world of fun for a loved-one. I have noted with a * the businesses/folks on the following list who I understand offer some kind of experiential class or workshop. Check them out!
Music anyone? You could give the gift of a house concert. Many local musicians love the opportunity to do intimate house concerts. Look up the following bands – 176, The Trophy Husbands, the Jim Peterman Band, Phil and Gaye Johnson, Ben and Becky Seymour … You could gift season tickets to Tryon Fine Arts performances for fun all year long. If you have a guitar or ukulele player on your list a gift certificate for a custom Lichty guitar or ukulele would be the gift of a lifetime! Ben Seymour handcrafts dulcimers for another idea.
We have some lovely B&B’s and cabins for rent in the area. Gift a “night away from home” for locals (or a night to the Foothills for folks who live elsewhere) at Butterfly Creek Inn to create memories.
We are blessed to have many good body-workers in our area who offer everything from message to Reiki to nutritional counseling, each might make for a nice gift certificate.
My less than traditional random ideas are endless – Give the gift of getting one’s car detailed, a day of pet sitting could be perfect for someone who has a hard time getting away or a special visit to a salon or local spa could pamper a loved-one. All of these services are offered by local folks.
Here goes for lots more ideas … and happy gift giving!
* Designates that they offer classes or workshops for experiential gift ideas.
Outdoor Adventures
The Gorge – Zipline adventures
Green River Adventures – Kayak instruction, Inflatable Kayak trips, Bradley Falls Rappe and more
For Book Lovers
Crafts & Arts
We’re fortunate to live in an area rich with craftsmen and artists. Look to our local galleries for great selections of treasures or look up the individual artists.
The Millstone Gallery – Landrum
Lynda Evans Studio – such a talented artist whose specialty is equestrian artwork
Kim Attwooll – watercolor artist – handmade cards
Monica Stevenson Photography – stunning limited edition fine art digital prints
Green River Frame Shop and Gallery – custom framing and original artwork from local artists
* Tryon Painters and Sculptors Gallery featuring cards, jewelry, sculptures, painting and more from local artists
Thompson Garden Gallery – showcasing local talent, artists and craftsmen, with a mix of items for home and garden.
* Upstairs Artspace – The Upstairs Artspace is a nonprofit contemporary art gallery in downtown Tryon, North Carolina
* Tryon Arts and Crafts – classes, workshops and a lovely gallery that features work of artisans from the Appalachian region in a number of media
Salamander – offering a wonderful and electric mix of books, cards, art, antiques, music, fair trade crafts, jewelry, hats and handbags.
Heartwood – wood, pottery, porcelain, jewelry, chimes, candles, glass, paintings, sculpture, and much more.
* Dale McEntire – Saluda, NC artist
Jim Shackelford – Tryon, NC artist
* William Jameson – Saluda, NC artist
* Richard Nelson – Tryon, NC artist
* Jim Carson – Saluda, NC artist
Richard Baker – Saluda, NC artist
* Kniticality – yarn boutique, classes
Erik Olsen Photography – Erik is a brilliant story-teller through digital media. Equine photography, special photo shoots, videography
Misc Fun Gifts for the Home, Garden and more
Down to Earth Garden Garden Center
Thompson Garden Gallery – local crafts, bird houses, yard ornaments, furniture and more
Vines and Stuff – treasures, trinkets, toys, teas and treats while browsing through our eclectic selection of “gifts for all ages”.
The Nest Artisan Market art gallery and market
Packard Woodworking – a gift certificate for the woodworker in your life
A Gardener’s Cottage – treasures to delight the gardener in everyone
* Random Arts – vintage clothing, wildly creative art supplies and classes
Frog and Swan – fine antiques and the unusual.
Architectural Warehouse – antiques, old doors, stained glass, antique china, tables, chairs, clocks, porcelain, lamps, beds, and sofas
Saluda Forge – hand forged treasures crafted by Bill Crowell
Four Winds Florist – you can never go wrong with flowers.
Local Spirits
The Bottle – For a fine selection of wine and beer, many of them crafted locally
Overmountain Vineyards and Winery
Delicious Delectables
* Personal Chef Tryon NC Services that include customized in-home meal delivery, private cooking classes, special event catering and you can even give the gift of food via Gift Certificates- Chef Patricia
Heirloom Locally Grown Garlic – Go Garlic
Annual Community Supported Agriculture membership – what an amazing gift this would be!
Stone Soup Cafe – gift certificate for a lovely meal out
Open Road Coffee – pick up some fabulous organic coffees or a stash of their yummy Sustain Bars
Nature’s Storehouse – a gift basket of health goodies or a certificate to a shopping spree?
Mill Spring Farm Store – local farm fresh goods
Old Mule Company – family owned gourmet sauce company
Thompson’s Store – oldest grocery store in NC
PolkFresh Foods
For Our Four-legged Friends
Cat Pods – eco-friendly furniture for your cat. If you have not heard of these – they are super cool!
Purrrfect Bark – local independently owned pet store
What about a gift certificate for dog training, grooming …?
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Just think you can find something for everyone right here in the Foothills!
Happy Shopping!
I am happy to add more ideas/businesses to the list. Simply send along your ideas to corrie (@) LichtyGuitars.com