Pure Michigan Christmas Gift Ideas

Have you heard those fabulous Tim Allen radio commercials for my beloved home state of Michigan?

#PureMichigan

I swear when I am driving along the highway and they come on the radio – any time of year – I want to turn my car around and speed north.

Unfortunately,  I’m usually in the middle of racing to the bank, heading for the always long line at the post office or trying to wind myself up to brace the crowds at Costco.

But in my head?

Oh yeah…

I’m enjoying the #420 Stewart’s Farmer’s Hash Sandwich at Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor.

Grabbing some cherries at the Farmer’s Market in Traverse City.

Catching at movie at the most adorable movie theater EVER in Sutton’s Bay.

Stopping for a cup of coffee at Roast & Toast in Petoskey while I do some shopping in the Torch Light district.

So I thought Christmas would be a great time to share some of my favorite Michigan destinations for those of you looking for unique Christmas gifts for your peeps this year…

Tried and True Favorite Michigan Christmas Gifts

• First up are the fine treats from Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor. This place is so awesome that even Nate Berkus and Oprah order gifts from them! (I know right??) They offer everything from a Bacon Club (yes a real club you can join!) to Brownie Bites and the most fabulous sour cream coffee cake you will ever get your chompers on…
• Then there is American Spoon. Their little cafe in Petoskey is a favorite lunch stop for my little momma, my sis and I in the summers. And our whole crew makes their gelato an almost daily summer treat. They have a great online store that makes it easier to have all of your favorites delivered right to your door or that of someone you love! The Deluxe Up North Breakfast Box is on it’s way to my parents house right now… Sssh. It’s a suprise!

• We can’t create a list of Michigan treats without including some world famous, Up North fudge right? Our favorite is Murdick’s. The Mackinac Holiday  Box is my favorite this time of year. You should have them throw in a slice of Michigan Maple Walnut and one  Traverse City Black Cherry too just for fun.
• And any Pure Michigan gift list would have to include Grand Traverse Pie Company. Folks like Mario Batalli and (again) Oprah rave about this place for good reason. You can even give someone you love a gift membership to…The Pie of the Month Club! Enough said.

• We all know cherries are great for our health… this store makes it yummy and easy to eat cherries all year around. It’s Cherry Republic my friends. I’ve given so many of their goodies as gifts and people always rave about them. Makes sense since they are located in Traverse City…the cherry capital!
• If coffee is your jam (and isn’t everyone addicted to the stuff?) my two favorites are Great Lakes Coffee in the “D” and Roast & Toast in the “P.” (Ok…no one really calls Petoskey the P, but we all do call Detroit the D!)

• Tandem Cider in Sutton’s Bay is another favorite. Unfortunately, they can’t ship because it’s hard cider folks and alcohol is involved. But they can tell you what great stores you can find their goods at if you can’t make the trek north before Christmas! And for the record…this is the place Mario Batali taped one of his segments for The Chew this summer. The man in orange calls this area home too.
• For us artsy type folks, Sturgeon River Pottery and their sister store North Goods are home to some of the best treats of all! From pottery to garden art, you will fall in love with these stores. Their furry, four-legged greeter Nina is reason enough to make the trip to Petoskey.

 

• If you are an independent bookstore lover, northern Michigan is the best place to visit. Our favorites are Mclean & Eakin, Between the Covers and  Saturn Booksellers. They know books. They read books. They can make fantastic recommendations for books. And they ship for reasonable prices. Support local bookstores!!

Give Michigan Lovers Mitten Garb for Holiday Gifts

• The Mitten State is a great source for Michigan garb… From Sparty goods to Go Blue, they’ve got you covered. Or for those of us who wholeheartedly agree with what the t-shirt below says… I’d Rather Be Up North…this makes a great gift!

• Michigan Awesome is an online store you can’t resist! From t-shirts and bike jerseys to drinkware and treats like Michigan Blueberry Preserves or Cherry Maple Syrup, you have a lot of Mitten state goods to choose from here.
• Michigan Mittens rounds out my list! I’m sure hoping a pair or two of these find their way under my Christmas tree this year.

That’s It!! Hope the lucky people on your list love their Mitten State loot!

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Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy 2016!

Shelley