Before you endlessly scroll through Amazon searching for deals, know that the best gifts are just around the corner.
Show your small-town pride by purchasing presents in the Hudson Valley: We’ve selected 29 stores in six towns that are guaranteed to have something special and unique for everyone on your list. (P.S. we encourage you to explore all the amazing shops these towns offer. If we covered them all, this feature would take up the whole issue!)
This glass studio has been casting functional sculptures and home goods—like kitchenware, jewelry, barware, and candle holders—for 35 years. (You can even watch the magic happen during store hours.)
“All our products are handmade! I recommend any of our stunning jewelry or intricate knives.” —Wendy Gilvey, owner of Hudson Beach Glass
Hunca Munca’s offers cute, sustainable toys and goods like woodland baskets and stuffed animals, wood building blocks and kitchen sets, and a selection of curated clothing.
“Wooden tea sets and play kitchen toys are beautiful and unique. Children love the open-ended and imaginative play time that comes from them.” —Erika Barratt, owner of Hunca Munca’s
Beautiful, lightweight jewelry is the focus of this shop, but they also sell candles and diffusers, stationery, and more. This just in: a second location recently opened on Main Street in Cold Spring.
Offering all things flora and fauna, Raven Rose is perfect for friends and family members with green thumbs. You’ll find a wonderful array of plants and planters, garden accessories, fresh and dry flowers, and wellness products.
Utensil has it all—dishware, Weck and Mason jars, dozens of different pots and pans, DIY foodie kits, and more. (And, of course, utensils.) Look out for a second location opening soon at Eastdale Village in Poughkeepsie.
A shop devoted to all things local, this upscale general store is stocked with curated products like wellness items, books, outdoor gear, men’s and women’s apparel, jewelry, cozy throws, candles, and room scents, many of which are made in the Valley.
Though focused on vintage clothing, this groovy store has plenty of other great gifts. Everything is super chic and aesthetic, especially the apothecary items, accessories like hair clips and unique scarves, and stylish housewares.
“We’re big fans of themed gifts. A popular eco-friendly option is a tote used as the gift bag, filled with pampering items like reusable cotton rounds, bath salts and soaks, a face mask, and body butter.” —Cadah Goulet, owner of Poor George
If your kid (or kid at heart) loves spending hours on a jigsaw puzzle, this is your store. Ranging from 300–1,000 pieces, the options range from animals and nature, gorgeous landscapes, culinary spreads, and more. There are also plenty of other toys like model kits and building blocks.
When they’re not hand-dyeing textiles in a Clinton Corners studio, owners Olivier Solanet and Andrew Spitalera enjoy looking for “handmade goods for the home from around the world, country, and county.” Fig and Bella is best known for its eye-catching pillows and scarves, fragrances, and tableware.
“Everyone loves our pillows—including dogs who enjoy them as beds! We also recommend our scarves and handmade jewelry.” —Olivier Solanet, co-owner of Fig and Bella
Among all the upscale and vintage furniture, you’ll find plenty of gifts for the home carefully curated by owners Greg and Richard including pillows, throws, candle holders, found objects, and decorative accent pieces.
A self-described space of “the sleek and rustic, the ancient and modern, the raw and the refined,” Lili and Loo is both eccentric and cool. From furnishings, housewares, and home accessories (such as statement pieces like busts of ancient figures) to jewelry and clothing, gifts here are one-of-a-kind.
Beyond the fan-favorite dried botanicals, there are fancy gardening tools, a small selection of apparel, home accessories like candles and linens, and pantry items such as looseleaf tea and edible flowers.
With a goal of educating customers to make the most of the region’s bounty, Bluecashew stocks everything from bakeware and kitchen tools to table linens and cookbooks. There are plenty of local goods, like Shokan’s Fruition Chocolate Works and ceramics by MQuan Studio in Saugerties.
This lifestyle shop (which has a sister store in Hudson) has something for everyone—there are household gifts for the kitchen, bar, and outdoors; rugs and textiles; skincare and fragrance; and artsy items like Hudson Valley-themed books, prints, and games.
“New this year are gorgeous cashmere sweaters from Eleven Six and wool cardigans handmade in Ireland. We also have our customer-favorite embroidered Hudson Valley sweatshirt.” — Scott Neild, owner of Clove and Creek
Know a birder? Exit Nineteen carries a line of eco-friendly and easy-to-build birdhouses and bird displays. Beyond the avian items, there are candles and fragrances (categorized by type and theme), dinnerware and serving accessories, and pretty linens like napkins and tea towels.
Simply put, everything at Spruce is elegant. The shop specializes in dining and bar collections, with curated bar tools, glassware, serving boards, and even interesting bitters and cocktail mixes. You’ll also find a dedicated apothecary, art, lighting, mirrors, and home accessories.
We love Hammertown’s tagline: “We offer everything you need to feel at home, including the warm welcome.” Because it’s true. Beyond their well-edited collection of furnishings, you’ll find an outstanding selection of unique home accessories, tableware, decorative pillows, jewelry, elegant bedding, rugs, and more. They also have a sister store in Pine Plains.
This is a mecca for natural gifts. There are ceramic vases and modern concrete bowls, tusk-shaped candles, vintage pillows, and beauty products like soaps and bath fizz. They make it easy during the holidays, too: choose from one of five gift bundles, such as “Soak it Up” and “Sweet Dreams.”
It’s hard to describe a toy store that has, well, everything a child would want. Select from arts and crafts sets, construction and vehicle kits, stuffed animals, and various games. You can even help a kid become a future computer genius with a cool coding and robotics kit.
Yes, there are gorgeous cards and stationery, but other paper products, too, like prints, calendars, notepads, and planners in a variety of colors and sizes.) Additional gifts include jewelry and accessories, kitchen and home items, and trendy eyewear.
“For women, check out our luxurious floral-and plaid-printed Epice wool scarves. We also recommend our comfy Banarasi cobalt throw from Designers Guild.” —Serine Hastings, owner of Paper Trail
If you know someone who needs a knife upgrade, you’ve come to the right place—there are 1,500 different styles of knives here, including imported Japanese blades. Bonus: Warren offers drop-off sharpening and engraving services. Other products include cookware sets, upscale bakeware, and a ton of cast iron pans.
This design store is filled to the brim with zany and vibrant home goods—like tapers, dishware, vessels and trays, and table mirrors. It’s also home to a handful of items from up-and-coming designers and brands, plus beauty products and modern jewelry.
“The Pleat Lamp from Wooj Design is 3D-printed out of corn plastic! It’s a playful take on the classic table lamp silhouette, and it captures a dynamic and elegant flow of a pleated skirt in motion.” — Sylvana Kiss and Sasha Zinshtein, owners of Casa Ziki
Come here for the sustainable someone in your life. All gifts are low-waste and/or eco-friendly: choose from unique bath and beauty items (the Mexican Moon Bath soak is uber relaxing), kitchenware, and thoughtful books. Grab a card before you leave—they’re embedded with seeds and can be planted in soil.
Photo courtesy of Lovewild DesignPhoto courtesy of Lovewild Design
Gift the hikers, outdoorsy peeps, and nature lovers something from Shop Little House, whose motto is “supplies for modern pioneers.” There are vintage-y wall hangings and tote bags designed with mushrooms, birds, and camping cartoons; barware perfect for a cabin in the woods; and cozy pillows and blankets for indoor and outdoor use.
Tinker Toys
5 Mill Hill Road Find them on Facebook
This store is as joyful as its name is witty! Children’s instruments, paper kits, toadstool bowling sets, and building blocks are just some of the offerings. And you can even encourage kiddos to travel the world with globes—some of which double as a nightlight.
