Annual Holiday Gift Issue | 2024

“The most precious gift is not a thing,
but the memories made on adventures together.”
__________
“The best things in life are free. The second best are very expensive.”
— Coco Chanel

WHERE TO NEXT?

Dear Traveler,

Have you finished your holiday shopping yet?

At this point in December I’m never done. But I’m in love with looking at lists of gift ideas in the hopes that I will discover “the perfect one” for those people still on my list.

Today is all about gifts! I have collected a variety of “the best of” gift lists and shared them with you below. I have also made my own list by selecting a few items from those lists and combining them with:

gifts I’ve previously given
friends’ recommendations
other gifts I’m giving this year
things I personally covet

I am lucky to live in a community that has several female entrepreneurs. A shout out to three amazing ones with items included in my list this year…

Suzi Curtis, owner of Woody’s Mercantile in Woodstock, VT. Her design sense is the best! Their instagram.
Julie VonBargen, owner of our local jewelry boutique, Von Bargen’s, with shops throughout VT. This is no ordinary jewelry store. Her curated pieces include traditional styles and small artisans’ creations. Their instagram.
Mia Vogt, owner of our stylish, designer women’s clothing boutique, Indigo. Their instagram.

With a bit of direction on what I was looking for, Julie personally selected the jewelry below to go with a specific destination. I love the combinations!

And another to mention – our daughter Allison, who is not currently an “official” entrepreneur, but as you’ll see below she creates incredible designs on winter mittens and she is now an expert fly tyer. As the TA for a biology class they collect bugs from the river. She brings them home, puts them in a preservative and copies them into fishing flies.

One of the rainbow trout she caught with her flies…

I personally love getting people gifts that no one else they know has. The beauty of the shops above is that you have the ability to order online. For those of you who don’t live near me, that increases the odds of giving a unique gift.

There are inspiring ideas for teens, college kids, friends, spouses and whoever else you want to get a gift for.

If you click on the photos, most have links to the website for purchase.

They range from tiny – perfect for stocking stuffers to experiential to one of a kind. There is something for everyone!

Personally I think pairing a tangible gift with an experiential one (travel!) is an ideal combination so this year I shared an travel idea to some of my favorite places for almost all items below.

The possibilities are truly endless!

Caveat – I have purchased/tried/seen many of these, but not all. If you do buy any, would you send me a note and let me know which and how you or the recipient likes it? And if you have other great ideas that aren’t on here, please send them to me – the more the merrier!

NOTE: the destinations do not have embedded links. If you are interested in any of them, send me a message.

I hope you find items that you want to buy for someone (or for yourself – that’s ok too) or I hope these inspire other ideas.

If you are having trouble making a decision, consider taking Gretchen Rubin’s Gift Giving Quiz. Answer 8 questions about the recipient and you’ll learn what types of gifts they appreciate.

I spent over 10 hours curating and creating this list – with lots of love behind it. If you love these ideas – please take 3 seconds to share this newsletter with your friends! Simply push the forward button on your email. You will receive good karma and a thank you from me.

And remember – these aren’t just gifts for the holidays, so feel free to reference the list throughout the year on our website.

What places are on your bucket list for 2025?! Don’t just dream about it, plan it!

Happy holidays!

Warmly,

Below:

The best gift ideas for 2024!
Other gift guides

GIFTS + TRAVEL

Klipsta hat clip

for carrying your sunhat without squishing it

pairs well with…

sailing in the Mediterranean Sea

SuperPuff vest

for staying warm while looking stylish

pairs well with…

visiting the Atacama Desert

SuperPuff Long High Gloss

for staying warm under the night sky

pairs well with…

seeing the Northern Lights in Norway

Travel Happens™ Reusable Sealed Wet Bag

for keeping wet bathing suits separately

pairs well with…

white water rafting in Peru

Broadway show

& Juliet is super popular

pairs well with…

a stay at the Whitby in Midtown

Graza Drizzle

a finishing extra virgin olive oil

pairs well with…

a stay at the Four Seasons Madrid

Wooden Ships ski babe chunky sweater

for cozy après ski

pairs well with…

a stay at Montage Big Sky

Roller Rabbit Hathi pjs

for warm nights next to the fire

pairs well with…

Mayflower Inn & Spa

Eagles at the Sphere

for nostalgic music lovers

pairs well with…

a weekend at MGM SkyLofts

RAINS Cargo Curve Jacket

for staying dry and looking good

pairs well with…

a visit to Dublin

Stave Manarola wooden puzzle

for lazy Sunday afternoons

pairs well with…

a trip to Manarola, Italy

Bonilla Spanish potato chips

there’s nothing better than these chips
with a cold beer on a hot day sitting on a terraza

pairs well with…

a stay on the beach at Puente Romano in Marbella

St. Andrews hat

The conversation…”Did you play the Old Course?”
“Well, yes I did.”

pairs well with…

a round of golf on the Old Course at St. Andrews

A VIP experience watching Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez sailing race

our connections allow you to experience the race up close on the water with a local well-connected captain

pairs well with…

a stay at Cheval Blanc St. Tropez

Stio Basis PeakWool Lightweight Underlayer

an ideal baselayer for outdoor winter activities

pairs well with…

cross country or downhill skiing at The Chedi Andermatt

Goyard Saint Louis GM Bag

best to stop by the shop on your trip to Paris

pairs well with…

relaxing in the lovely Relais Christine garden

Vuori Performance Jogger

my favorite pants for lounging, meditation and overnight flights

pairs well with…

a wellness getaway at the new
SHA Wellness Clinic in Mexico

tickets to sporting events

choose an event that is in a place
you also want to visit

GIFTS FOR TRAVEL

Dreamegg Portable White Noise Machine

game changer for light sleepers – two people in my family love this!

MINIX Turbo 3-Port Wall Charger and Fast Charging Adapter

for traveling in the US and abroad

Le Labo Travel Set

I love their products. Their boutique kept me occupied for 30+ minutes in LAX

Sekaer Portable Electric Travel Tea Kettle

for travelers who love having hot water
wherever they are

tiny lip balms

also available at CVS
perfect size for travel

Apple AirTag

never check a bag without one in your luggage!

JEWELRY + TRAVEL GO TOGETHER

Seafoam Emerald Briolettes Earrings

Von Bargen’s

pairs well with…Belmond Cap Jaluca

for a winter escape to the most stunning Caribbean beach

Mother of Pearl and Emerald Inlay Necklace

Von Bargen’s

pairs well with…Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur

opulence, seclusion and romance in India

Multi-faceted Pink and Orange Necklace

Von Bargen’s

pairs well with…Eden Roc St. Barths

for a getaway at an exclusive, iconic resort

CULINARY & WINE GIFTS

Plough Gate

butter lover subscription
(who doesn’t love delicious butter?!)

pairs well with…

a stay at Twin Farms in VT

Snake River Farms

Wagyu filet mignon and ribeye steaks.
We received these as a gift and they are beyond delicious!

pairs well with…Triple Creek Ranch

participate in a once in a lifetime cattle drive

Coravin Timeless Wine Preservation System

when you need only a small amount for cooking or just one glass of wine
my brother bought this after a server used it at Blackberry Farm – love it!

1 BBF - meals afield Watch the sunset from the Yallarhammer

pairs well with…Blackberry Farm

enjoy a “meal afield” while watching the sunset from the Yallarhammer

cookbook and stories from the Piedmont area of Italy

written by my former neighbor and chef extraordinaire
try the gnocchi recipe – the lightest, fluffiest gnocchi I’ve ever made

pairs well with…Nordelaia in Piedmont

delicious food and wine, magical setting and a tranquil respite

a ravioli spoon rest

for adding a bit of novelty to your kitchen

pairs well with…Villa Aminta on Lake Maggiore

magical, romantic destination with nearby beautiful hiking trails

… AND MORE GIFTS

custom mittens designed by Allison

Note: these are sold out for this year’s holiday season,
but if you’re interested for another occasion
send me an email if you’d like to be put in touch with her