Find the ideal gifts for family and friends at local stores this holiday season.
By Laguna Beach Magazine Staff
As you make your list and check it twice for holiday presents this year, no doubt there may be a few friends or family members that leave you perplexed about what to get them. Here, we’ve compiled some standout gift suggestions for everyone from the outdoor enthusiast to the foodie, sports fan and fashionista in your life—all available at area stores or from Laguna Beach brands, so you can feel good about supporting the local economy, too, this season.
Exercise Guru
Fitness buffs will appreciate being able to monitor their heart rate, blood oxygen level, pace and distance traveled, sleep quality and more—it’s even water resistant to 50 meters—while still looking stylish with the FITBIT LUXE SPECIAL EDITION, which combines the popular fitness tracker with the Parker Link Bracelet by Laguna Beach jewelry designer gorjana, in gold stainless steel, $199.95, online at fitbit.com.
Philanthropist
For those who like to make a difference, SYMBOLIC ADOPTION KITS benefit Pacific Marine Mammal Center while providing your friend or family member with something they can enjoy, too: The kits come with a plush species of your choice from a sea lion to a harbor seal, dolphin, green sea turtle and more, a reusable lunch bag, certificate of adoption, species info card, patient story and tips for how to help save the ocean, $55. Or, choose the large kit, which upgrades to a bigger plush animal and lunch bag and adds an eco-friendly item like a biodegradable tote bag or a bamboo utensil set, $100, at Pacific Marine Mammal Center. (949-494-3050; pacificmmc.org)
Child
Kids will have fun exploring their creative side with this MIXED MEDIA SET by Royal & Langnickel, which includes a tabletop easel, brushes, oil and watercolor paints and pastels, for ages 10 and up, on sale (along with other items in the store from 20-40% off) until Dec. 24, for $69.99, at Laguna Art Supply. (949-494-8867; lagunaartsupply.com)
Coffee Enthusiast
Any local who seeks that perfect cup of coffee each morning will enjoy the LAGUNA BLEND of coffee beans, roasted in-house by Laguna Coffee Co.; this medium roast with cherry and floral notes is available either ground or whole bean in a 12-ounce bag, $15, at Laguna Coffee Co. (949-494-6901; lagunacoffeeco.com)
Baby
Perfect for babies and children, these snuggly STUFFED ANIMALS ranging from cute unicorns and puppies to monkeys, sloths, turtles, dinosaurs and polar bears by the Jellycat brand are popular and safe for any age, from $18, at Little Freebirds. (949-376-9925; littlefreebirds.com)
Beer Aficionado
From India pale ale to pilsner, red ale and Hefeweizen, get the beer lover in your life a CROWLER—a can version of a growler—or two with their favorite variety from a brand whose owners are from Laguna Beach. Plenty of bottled and canned options as well as apparel with the brewery’s logo are also available. Each 32-ounce crowler, filled with your choice of beer, starts at about $11 (depending on the type of brew), at Laguna Beach Beer Co. (949-715-0805; lagunabeer.com)
Outdoor Adventurer
Those who love the great outdoors might appreciate an experience rather than an item as a present, so consider a GIFT CERTIFICATE for a two-hour surf lesson at Thalia Street beach with a three-to-one student to instructor ratio, $125 (wetsuit included), or a 90-minute KAYAK or STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD TOUR starting from Fisherman’s Cove, $95 each, from La Vida Laguna. Call to request a gift certificate and the order will be processed and emailed. (949-275-7544; lavidalaguna.com)
Proud Lagunan
Available in a variety of colors from navy to pink or green with an adjustable snapback, any local will adore this LOVE THE SEA ORIGINAL TRUCKER HAT, which comes in short and full bill options, to keep the sun out of their eyes while at the beach or just walking around town, $21.50, at The Shop. Laguna Beach. (949-715-8308; theshoplaguna.com)
Art Lover
Anyone who admires both art and the ocean will appreciate having a mixed media original cibachrome of “FRIENDS OF THE SEA” to hang on their wall. For this 44- by 34-inch framed piece of art, Wyland is taking some of his last remaining cibachromes that were popular in the 1990s and painting on top of them with his new street art style. Only a few of these historical pieces are available for collectors, $9,500, at Wyland Galleries. (949-376-8000; wyland.com)
Foodie
Anneliese Schools Store, a community general store carrying a variety of curated artisan goods and benefiting the school’s local campuses and financial aid for students, offers hand-selected items for the home chef or foodie from Incausa stoneware to wooden spoons, organic nuts and trail mixes, freshly baked bread and pastries, and FARMSTEAD GOAT MILK CARAMELS by Big Picture Farm in gift boxes of different sizes, from $12, at Anneliese Schools Store. (949-303-9850; liesas.com)
Wine Connoisseur
There’s no better gift for a wine lover than a truly great selection of vino—and that’s exactly what you’ll get with a bottle of the CABERNET SAUVIGNON from Caymus Vineyards in Napa Valley. The family-owned winery produces a bold, balanced red that blends ripe taste and sweet flavor with complex undertones; it pairs perfectly with a nice filet mignon, $96.99, at Wine Gallery. (949-715-8744; winegallerylaguna.com)
Jewelry Lover
When looking for the perfect piece of jewelry this year, look no further than Adam Neeley’s north Laguna gallery, where each and every piece is an expertly crafted work of art. Especially stunning is the ASTRA RING, a white gold circlet that is part of the one-of-a-kind Couture Collection. The focal point of the piece is a rare rhodolite garnet, which is beautifully accented by diamonds designed in a chevron pattern, $9,850, at Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry. (949-715-0953; adamneeley.com)
Beauty Junkie
Ensure your loved ones are ready for any scenario with Ilia’s THE AFTER HOURS SET, a three-piece collection of clean beauty products that are great for everyday activities and elevated evenings as well. The set comes with a full-size volumizing mascara, a neutral eye tint that applies like a liquid but dries powdery soft, and a creamy multiuse stick that adds a rose hue to both cheeks and lips, $50.50, at Roots the Beauty Underground. (949-424-4266; rootsbeauty.com)
Sports Fan
Skip the ball cap or jersey and opt to give your favorite sports fan a thrilling experience instead. Stand-up paddleboarding has been on the rise, and NSP’s COCOFLAX CRUISE board is the perfect all-around option for gliding over local waters, where athletes and amateurs alike can master the paddleboard technique while spotting things like orange Garibaldi fish, sea bass, dolphins and sometimes even whales. The lightweight, eco-friendly design ensures that those of all ages and skill sets will have a board to be proud of, $1,460, at Sup to You. (949-715-7300; suptoyou.com)
Serenity Seeker
The on-site spa at Montage Laguna Beach is the perfect place to find tranquility, but you can give the gift of relaxation in the comfort of your own home as well this holiday season. Snag a comfy MONTAGE LAGUNA BEACH EXCLUSIVE ROBE, $165, and a tub of the Spa Montage JASMINE & ORANGE BODY BUTTER, $29, for a treatment that will leave your skin feeling smooth and hydrated and your soul feeling refreshed, at Spa Montage, Montage Laguna Beach. (949-715-6010; montagehotels.com)
Fashionista
Art is everywhere in Laguna Beach and an outfit like Spell’s GARDEN PARTY BUTTERFLY LONG SLEEVE BLOUSE, $179, with the matching GARDEN PARTY BUTTERFLY MIDI SKIRT, $239, offers a look just as artistic as the town itself. The flowy, lightweight material is perfect for the endless summer weather in Orange County while the whimsical, colorful floral and butterfly pattern, multi-tiered skirt and brass buttons have plenty of character, at The Shop. Laguna Beach. (949-715-8308; theshoplaguna.com)
Book Lover
There are a number of popular titles to add to your loved ones’ bookshelves this year, from the fictional “Sankofa” by Chibundu Onuzo, $26, in which a Nigerian novelist writes about a mixed-race woman who seeks to learn about her African father, to the “Renegades: Born in the USA” collaboration between former President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen, $50. Or, for a heartwarming option reminiscent of the season, consider “Atlas of the Heart” by Brené Brown, which explores emotion, connection and the human experience, $30, at Laguna Beach Books. (949-494-4779; lagunabeachbooks.com)
Dog
As we indulge in peppermint bark, Christmas cookies and white chocolate truffles, our furry friends may feel left out, also hoping for a treat to tide them over during holiday gatherings. Luckily, Naked Dog Bistro has plenty of snacks to choose from. One of the most unique is the doggy ICE CREAM from Puppy Scoops. Made from goat’s milk for enhanced digestion, just add water and freeze for a lactose-free treat in flavors like pumpkin, blueberry, peanut butter and more, from $8, at Naked Dog Bistro. (949-715-9900; nakeddogbistro.com)
Traveler
The We the Free collection’s SOHO CONVERTIBLE SLING bag is perfect for life on-the-go, as it can be worn as a backpack while wandering new cities or slung over your shoulder to easily reach your wallet, phone and more. Made from a soft leather material, the sleek, chic bag has zippers for easy access as well as a unique silhouette to enhance every outfit—plus it comes in three shades: iced blue, distressed brown and vanilla bean, $128, at Free People. (949-519-3056; freepeople.com)
Photographer
Whether your friends and family are looking to enhance their photography skills or learn editing programs like Photoshop or Lightroom, local photographer Mary Gulino offers a number of ART CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS that are perfect for experts and budding artists alike. A six-week photography course will be starting in January, and those interested can email mary@myartistloft.com to sign up, prices vary, at My Artist Loft. (949-371-3375; myartistloft.com)
