Holiday Gifts — Island Style
Fall air brings autumn excitement. The leaves changing reminds everyone of the upcoming holiday season. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are right around the corner. If you want to give great gifts to your friends and family, then you need to start looking now. Luckily if you are taking a little mid-autumn trip to Friday Harbor, you can probably find something for everyone in the family, even the notoriously hard-to-gift friends. Here are some of our favorite places to pick up unique gifts on San Juan Island:
Print Shop Northwest is a favorite on the island for visitors and locals alike. The beautiful, intricate prints are unique enough to stand out while being simple and elegant in design. They have a wide range of t-shirts, hoodies, sweaters, tank tops, and even baby onesies that come with detailed prints. You can even customize an article of clothing by selecting the color of the shirt and the design to create a unique gift! While their t-shirts are the biggest pull to the store, their tea towels are by far my favorite collection in the store. With crisp, clean lines and nature-inspired designs, these are a staple of any modern kitchen. The fern-printed towel is the minimalistic touch of nature that would be perfect for any outdoorsy friend, and the Lime Kiln-printed towel is the perfect addition to any coastal home.
This eclectic shop in downtown Friday Harbor is filled with treasures. Geodes, rare rocks, fossils, and more fill the shelves inside the Mystical Mermaid. If you know someone who loves to collect beautiful gemstones and rocks or would like a delicate necklace made out of a particularly stunning stone, then this is the place to look. No matter which direction you turn, there is so much to see. You will also find a wide range of locally made art in the store. Be sure to sort through the prints and larger paintings, as these would make an excellent addition to any colorful home.
Some people are seemingly impossible to shop for, but almost everyone loves a perfectly seasoned bit of jerky. Stop by the Friday Harbor House of Jerky to find the most supple cuts of jerky you may ever taste. While you could play it safe with some classic beef or turkey jerky, try some of the more exotic varieties like venison, elk, caribou, moose, and even kangaroo. These jerkies will impress even the most knowledgeable meat lover. You can also pick up a packet as part of a picnic kit!
The Pelindaba Lavender Farm on San Juan Island is one of the best attractions on the island. You know you’re getting close to their farm by the welcoming scent of lavender in the air. While the farm is most active from May to October, you can visit their Friday Harbor store year-round. This is one of the best places to get gifts for friends (and a little extra something for yourself). They have the most incredible lavender candles, bunches of dried lavender, dog treats, essential oils, and even cooking ingredients. Pick up a spa bundle for the perfect Secret Santa or White Elephant gift. Everyone will be jealous of the recipient.
The holiday season brings an influx of gatherings and dinner parties that always sneak up on you a little too fast. What other dinner party gift is better than a bottle of wine!? Stock up on some of the best wines out of the Pacific Northwest right on the island. Plus San Juan Cellars offer tastings every day in the shop. Taste the complex and smooth wines that come from grapes grown just miles from the store. These wines are sure to impress your friends.
Once you step foot in Sand Pebble, you’ll never want to leave the store. This is the ultimate gift shop, with everything from children’s toys to the cutest kid’s pajamas, seasonal decorations, thank you notes, candles galore, and even unique wrapping paper to match the items. It is almost impossible to leave this store empty handed. If you are looking for the perfect gift for your neighbors, friends, family, or nieces and nephews, then head into Sand Pebble and you will most certainly find everything you’re looking for.
There are so many shops in downtown Friday Harbor selling unique gifts and little treasures, so wander around and explore every window that catches your eye. Luckily the ferries don’t weigh your car on the way back to the mainland because after visiting these San Juan Island gift shops, it will likely be packed to the brim.
