This year, as you’re making your list and checking it twice, we want to encourage you to THINK LOCAL.
Our 14 ideas include gift items and experiences from some of our favorite local businesses – and many are offering promotions JUST for Madison Family readers.
If you love to travel — Mouse Magic Travel is fabulous and if you prefer to have a weekend escape, look no further than the Wilderness Resort (a favorite!). For those looking for self care – Kneaded Relief Day Spa is a favorite and a great gift for any grown up on your list. If you are shopping for a foodie – check out BlindVine or Milwaukee Pretzel Company – both are unique and make great gifts! It’s never too early to start saving for college – so EdVest 529 college savings accounts make great gift ideas for those who have someone who may want to contribute.
We are a sucker for experience gifts — Play N Wisconsin, Goldfish Swim School, The Little Gym and Pickleball Pro are gifts that can keep on giving throughout the year with a gift card or membership or lessons. And lastly — Noble Knight Games, Satara Home & Baby, Baby Jack & Co and University Bookstore all are chock full of gifts for anyone on your list!
We know there are so many options when doing your holiday shopping – but if you want to keep your dollars local to Wisconsin, these make a great start!
Milwaukee Pretzel Company
Handcrafted, traditional Bavarian soft pretzel gift boxes including artisanal dips. Shipped FRESH nationwide! Made using only the highest quality ingredients and free of preservatives, artificial flavors and colors. All pretzels are made in a peanut and tree nut free facility.
Kneaded Relief Day Spa & Wellness
Kneaded Relief Day Spa & Wellness is a full service Wellness Spa specializing in therapeutic treatments including massage therapy, facials, nail services, waxing, body treatments, hydrotherapy, personal training and light therapy, to create a stronger body, mind, and spirit.
Our spa is located on an expansive, restored prairie, giving clients a view from several rooms of a beautiful nature landscape and making guests feel like they are worlds away when they are only a few short minutes out of Madison. Inside Kneaded Relief, you will find the peaceful sounds of soothing music accompanied by the calming scents associated with rest and tranquility.
Mouse Magic Travel, LLC
Mouse Magic Travel, LLC plans amazing vacations for families and couples looking for their next getaway. Our friendly travel planners specialize in theme park destinations, major cruise lines, all-inclusive resorts, and more. Best of all, our travel planning services are complimentary when you book your vacation package with us! Your Mouse Magic Travel planner will uncover additional ways to save if you are on a budget, or find special upgrades if you are seeking a premier vacation experience. This holiday season give the gift of family travel and make memories to last a lifetime!
Wilderness Resort
This holiday season give the gift of quality family time with a vacation to Wilderness Resort! We have 4 indoor and 4 outdoor waterparks totaling more than 12 football fields of water fun! Plus, we have our NEW Aquavia Lumina Enchanted Night Walk, Take Flight Aerial Adventure, go-karts, mini golf, 3 mega arcades, laser tag, an indoor ropes course, Timberland Playhouse paint your own pottery and more!
Edvest 529
Edvest 529 is Wisconsin’s College Savings Program that offers a flexible way to save for higher education and provides triple tax advantages. It takes just $25 and 15 minutes to open an Edvest 529 account, and funds saved can be used at colleges, technical schools and graduate schools nationwide and many abroad. In addition to tuition, funds may be used for certain room and board expenses, books, supplies or other qualified expenses.
Goldfish Swim School
Goldfish Swim School’s Holiday Packages are o-FISH-ally here! Give the little fish in your life a gift of experience this season, one that’s sure to create lasting memories and lots of smiles! This year’s packages include swim lessons and items perfect for wrapping and sticking under the tree. Visit their website to learn more and grab yours!
The Little Gym
The Little Gym is the place where children ages 4 months to 12 years learn and grow through movement-based learning and imaginative play. Our gyms are safe spaces for children and parents to explore gymnastics and more.
PlayN Wisconsin
Who knows about playn’ better than a child? And who knows what makes up the perfect playtime and playset better than your child? At PlayN Wisconsin, bringing your family in to discover and explore our play systems, basketball hoops, and trampolines, allows you to see what will be the ideal purchase for them.
Play on the swingsets together. Test out the slides and see which one they love. Notice the playset features and accessories they are naturally drawn to. Try out the basketball hoops until you find the one that’s just right for them. Jump from one trampoline to the next until the best choice is obvious.
Stop in to see our selection of amazing play options, or try one of our open play sessions!
Pickleball Pro
Madison’s Best Dedicated Indoor Pickleball Courts and Party Center. Rent Pickle Pro Courts for your next party. 30′ LED Jumbotron to show videos, photos, etc. Get Catering and Drinks from Beef Butter BBQ.
Baby Jack & Co.
Sensory tag toys and children’s products designed by Mom and Kids in Wisconsin. Stroller toys and soothers, soft & touch teethers, crinkle toy for tummy time, all Baby Jack items teach with the fabric designs (learn Wisconsin state facts!). Evokes the 5 senses of touch, taste, sight, sound and smell. We have sports products, Milwaukee Bucks loveys and fabrics that raise awareness for NICU babies, CHD, Down Syndrome, Rainbow Babies and we do custom corporation designs!
The University Bookstore
The University Book Store is your Wisconsin Badgers Headquarters! We have a great selection of collegiate clothing and gifts, art/school/office supplies, unique Madison gifts, Tech Center (Authorized Apple Store), and much more. The gift ideas are endless – or you could always get a gift card!
Satara Home and Baby
Satara Home & Baby offers a beautiful selection of organic and natural products with an emphasis on products that promote healthy sleep. Our organic bedding and mattresses are crafted with organic cotton, pure wool and natural latex to minimize your exposure to toxic chemicals.
We partner with reputable mattress makers, such as Savvy Rest, Suite Sleep and Naturepedic, to bring you safe, natural alternatives to conventional mattresses and bedding. And because infants are most susceptible to the negative effects of chemicals, we offer an expanded line of natural and organic baby products.
Noble Knight Games
Discover family bonding with Noble Knight Games. Since 1997, we’ve offered a vast selection of board games, from timeless classics to rare finds and game night classics. Shop online or visit our brick and mortar store for a unique selection. We provide hassle-free shipping 7 days a week, ensuring an unforgettable game night for every family.
BlindVine
Unwrap the excitement of wine tasting this holiday season with BlindVine, the ultimate interactive wine tasting experience!
BlindVine kits ship directly to your doorstep and include five small (187ml) bottles of wine that have been “blinded” or anonymized. Users expand their wine knowledge by answering questions about the wines they are tasting, while competing against friends and family in this interactive game. BlindVine is the perfect one-of-a-kind gift for beginners and connoisseurs alike!
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I would choose WiscoBoxes because my parents aren’t able to come back to WI due to Covid and that would be a great gift to send them!
I would choose WiscoBoxes because my parents aren’t able to come back to WI due to Covid and that would be a great gift to send them!
I would love to check out Tradition Womens Market and their kids market too. Oh, and I can’t forget the Gail Ambrosia chocolates ????
Oo I’d love to get some new books from Kismet Books! ???? thanks for encouraging us to shop local for the holidays!
I would choose Tradition Market and Gail Ambrosia! Tradition has the cutest and best quality clothes around for my kids and me too. And that chocolate from Gail Ambrosia….yummmmmm
I’d choose Grasshopper goods! They have such cute stuff!
Poppy Seed in DeForest is another great gem for local gifts. Delicious coffee to sip while you shop too! 🙂