One of my favorite things about the holiday season is looking back over the years. One year still stands out firmly in my mind: 2020, the year of Covid. I have a lot of mixed emotions about that time, and in general, it’s not a year I ever want to repeat. However, there was one thing that I look back on with fondness, and that is all the family game nights. At that time, all my kids were home, and games were not only a way to pass the time but also a way to make some very fond memories to look back on. So this week, The Bloom’s Holiday Shopping Guide is all about family gifts that last the whole year long! Here are some of my favorite places:
One of our go-to spots for holiday gifts and birthday presents is Kingdom Games, with three convenient locations in Lakeport, Clearlake, and Middletown. It’s one-stop shopping for board games, card games, and video games. You can buy, sell, and trade during the day, and it’s a great spot to hang out for DND and many other in-person game nights. Check out their website for details.
Another great spot to visit is Dragon’s Den in Upper Lake, which also offers a wide selection of games and toys for all ages. It’s a great hangout spot any time of day and, of course, in-person game nights. It might be your family’s favorite destination all year long!
And let’s not forget about the movies! Gift cards to the movie theater, whether at Clearlake Stadium Cinemas or Lakeport Cinema 5, are a great holiday gift for the whole family to enjoy. There are movies to be watched at home, and then there is the cinema experience. Really, no comparison there. Cinemas win every time.
Another gift the family can look forward to all winter long is a Disney Boat Rentals gift card in Lakeport. I can feel the anticipation building… a full day on the lake, water skiing, fishing by boat, kayaking, or maybe jet-skiing. There is no way not to have fun on the lake.
And here are a couple of ideas for odds and ends: be sure to check out Middletown Mail & More, which is not only for shipping and packaging but also has a surprising number of gift ideas for the art lovers in the family. And for baby’s first or second Christmas, Middletown Florist and Gifts has a surprisingly fantastic selection of unique, one-of-a-kind toys as well as some great online shopping for wonderful gifts to get that bundle of joy!
Some other great family things to do during the holiday free time are visiting a museum close to you–or heck, why not all of them! It’s a great way to learn about our local history and ask questions about times past. There are three must-visit museums: The Gibson Museum in Middletown, the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum, and the Historic Courthouse Museum in Lakeport.
And don’t forget to see what’s going on at the Taylor Observatory in Kelseyville, which hosts regular shows for the family and always ends the evening with a view of the night sky through the Observatory’s telescopes, weather permitting, of course.
And last, but certainly not least, one of my fondest memories with my daughter was a visit to Small Town Ceramics “Paint Your Own Pottery Studio, where what you do is in the name of the store. They have an incredible selection of pick-your-own pottery you can have fun painting! I suggest calling to make an appointment in advance, as they are pretty popular and well-visited. It’s a great gift idea for you or that special someone!
And I’m sure you already have some great gift ideas for your family. So cheers to every dollar you spend locally.
That’s all for this week, but I promise, there is more to come in the following weeks! I recommend looking at the continuously updated list for Lake EDC’s second annual Eat, Drink, Shop Local Campaign. It’s an excellent resource for businesses to be seen and promote their special deals and discounts. And the really great thing is that the list is constantly being updated, so check regularly here.
