Gift Ideas From Across The U.S.

Posted on by Forest in Food & Drink, General

Gift Ideas From Across The U.S.

I’m not a big advocate for using Christmas to buy expensive things like consumer electronics or easy to buy tacky off the shelf items. If you do choose to buy any gifts at all I think the idea of regional / local gifts have a little more speciality to them. My favorite gift to receive will always been food, the USA has an awesome range of regional choices but you can also look at things like handicrafts and more.

Gift Ideas From Across The U.S.

Food – I have spent most of my time in USA in Vermont. Vermont has awesome cheese, great bakeries and prides itself highly on it’s maple syrup. When I traveled down to Pennsylvania there were a lot od stores selling dutch and germanic style foods from the Amish communities and in Wisconsin they are proud of their cheese curds and pickles. Basically each state has some regional classics and local foods that would be awesome gifts to share.

Beer and Wine – Vermont has more breweries per capita than any other state, that means awesome beer. Local breweries brew a huge range of different styles. I’m currently traveling but when I get back there is a package from an old client waiting for me full of beers from Chicago area, a great gift to receive! California is well know for it’s wines and of course Tennessee has Jack Daniels but also more lesser known varieties of drink too.

Native art – I travel so this wouldn’t be an idea gift for me but if someone is settled art from a genuine source is really cool. Varying native tribes up and down the USA have varying traditional art that artists from the regions produce and sell still today. It can be expensive in upscale galleries but affordable pieces can be found too.

Stone – Paper weights, small pieces of jewellery and more can be found containing local stone. Just do a little research and see if there are any stores in the area specialising in these kinds of stones. You may even be able to find some local stone if you know where to look.

Local handicrafts – There are a lot of craft fairs and local markets at this time of year and they are often a great place to pick up locally made gifts that have a meaning behind them and support small local business.

Your Ideas - Gift Ideas From Across The U.S.

So what is specific to where you live or come from? Would this be a good gift to give to friends and family? What US specific gifts have you given before and what is the significance behind them.