Posted : November 2, 2018
Our blog is chock full of great ideas for fun things to see and do in York Durham and Headwaters. We are always adding new content and updating old posts, but sometimes you might stumble upon something from our vault. If this article has inspired you to hit the road, be sure to double-check that the featured stops in this post are still welcoming visitors.
When the holidays roll around, gift-giving immediately bubbles to the top of everyone’s mind. We here at YDH don’t think that this yearly tradition has to be a chore. We suggest getting into the spirit and making the most of this daunting task by planning a weekend road trip, gathering treasures for your loved ones along the way!
Find unique handmade gifts by adding these stops to your road trip treasure hunt. We’ve sent our elves out ahead of time to scope out the scene, and they have put together a list of featured finds that are sure to please everyone on your list.
Archibald’s Estate Winery
Archibald’s Estate Winery is a 4th generation family farm, located east of Toronto, in the foothills of the Oak Ridges Moraine. Their wines and ciders are made from their very own apples, as well as other Ontario fruit. The pressing, fermenting & bottling is all done in-house.
Featured Find: Holiday Cider Gift Basket
Archibald’s have been creating these amazing baskets for almost twenty years! These beautiful baskets can include their wines ranging from very dry table wines to sweet “ice types”. There are also non-alcoholic sparkling ciders. Something for every occasion, palate and budget!
Their focus is “as local as possible” with locally made chocolates, cookies, cheeses, honey, soaps, and of course, their own line of small batch preserves made in-house at the winery. A perfect present for just about any occasion.
Buy a Holiday Cider Gift Basket
Savon du Bois
Handcrafted natural, cruelty-free soaps and skin care products with locally-sourced ingredients, for a luxurious beauty regimen you can feel good about. At Savon Du Bois, each skin care product is formulated to be beneficial to you and the environment, and is sustainably packaged, eco-friendly and certified cruelty-free.
Featured Find: Luxurious Hand-Crafted Soap
These luxurious all-natural soaps are made with 100% farm-fresh local goat’s milk and locally crafted beer, making them exceptionally moisturizing, gentle and suitable for all skin types. Pick and choose from a wide range of Savon Du Bois soaps for that special someone on your list.
Lavendar Blu
Lavender-
Featured Find: Relaxing Lavender Solid Lotion Massage Bar
Handmade solid lotion bars are a great moisturizer for hard working hands. They are fabulous for soothing dry skin, and work wonderfully as a massage bar and perfect for travel. No more messy liquid lotions! Enjoy the relaxing and calming aroma of lavender: available in Lavender-Rose Geranium as well as Lavender and Bergamot. This product contains beeswax and includes a reusable aluminum travel container.
Buy Handmade Solid Lotion Bars
Dufferin County Goods
The idea behind The Dufferin County Goods Co. is to showcase the story of Dufferin County. Every design is based on a piece of their local history. With a little humour and a lot of pride, Dufferin County Goods has made shirts that bring Dufferin County to life.
Featured Find: Dufferin County T-Shirt
Dufferin County began with European settlers working hard to clear the land and establish homesteads. They were farmers, tough and determined to create a better life for their families. This design is a tribute to their history and to Dufferin County’s farming community. So many designs to choose from, for that graphic T-shirt loving person in your life. Who doesn’t love a good T-shirt!?
The Weathervane
Nestled in the historic village of Erin, Ontario, The Weathervane offers an imaginative selection of gifts that range from casual home décor, to rustic garden furniture and delightful garden accents, you’re sure to find the perfect unique item.
Featured Find: “Once Upon a Tree” Board
The Weathervane is proud to offer these one-of-a-kind “living edge” serving boards that are hand-crafted by Trevor Ewert in Kitchener, Ontario. Crafted from either solid cherry or walnut, they are available in various sizes and make a wonderful one-of-a-kind gift for any special occasion.
Buy a Hand-Crafted Serving Board
Rosemont General Store
Rosemont General Store carries an array of specialty foods, housewares and products for you and your home, including Drury Tea, Laura’s Luscious Desserts, Sheldon Creek Dairy, Bridlewood Soaps, Rescue & Transform, Perth Soap Co. and much more!
Featured Find: Stitch by Stitch Plush Toy
One of a kind, hand-made plush toys that are made with love. For that special person in your life that appreciates a unique, hand crafted gift that you can’t buy just anywhere (and not online either!)
Bridlewood Soaps
Expertly crafted to promote healthy skin, Bridlewood natural, handmade soaps are made with plant oils and have a high glycerin content. They are better for the environment than traditional soaps, with no detergents, phosphates or sulfates added. Best of all, these products have never been tested on animals.
Featured Find: “For the Man” Gift Pack
Who says only ladies like soaps? This set includes one “Beer Soap”, one “Tea Tree and Malt Shaving Soap”, one “Hemp Beard Oil” and one “Charcoal Shampoo Bar”. It comes together in a large muslin cotton bag with a decorative gift tag. NO BEARD? NO PROBLEM! We can swap out the beard oil for two of your favourite soaps.
Buy the “For the Man” Gift Pack
Noodle Gallery
Noodle Gallery is a warm, rustic space that showcases innovative & stylish furniture and lighting, features an artisan market chock-full of unique, whimsical and high quality gift ideas and inspiring and interesting visual art in a variety of mediums (paint, textile, glass, photography, metals, ceramic and wood). Noodle Gallery strives to offer a welcoming and comfortable environment to intrigue and delight all. Come visit us and see for yourself!
Featured Find: Art by Rebecca Brianceau or Grace Bohemian Bags
Looking for an original, earthy, hand-crafted gift? Rebecca Brianceau is a self-taught artist exploring nature, a globetrotter longing for the next adventure and a visual storyteller that craves music and culture. Ocean Soul Art Series is inspired by a journey Rebecca took to Brazil where she joined local marine biologists on a 2-week work trip along the coast of São Paulo. These pieces are truly breathtaking. This is the perfect gift for that art lover on your list.
GRACE was started over ten years ago after Canadian designer Alison Gledhill, having returned from India with a backpack full of sari silk, was looking for a unique way to share her experiences from abroad. Seventeen years later and Alison continues to scour the globe in search of unique materials to use for her designs.
McMichael Art Collection Gallery Shop
The McMichael Art Collection is located twenty minutes north of Toronto, surrounded by 100 acres of northern landscape and hiking trails. It houses a 6,500-piece Canadian art collection, including works by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, their contemporaries, and First Nations, Metis, Inuit and contemporary artists.
Featured Find: Wildflower Scarf – Tom Thomson
For that person on your list that can’t resist a statement piece, this beautifully colourful scarf is 80 x 25 inches, made of a satin poly chiffon blend, designed and packaged in Canada.
Feature Find: Director’s Choice – McMichael Canadian Art Collection Book
Historic and contemporary Indigenous art accounts for over a third of the total collection and is celebrated in the Gallery’s dynamic exhibition program. Here, the author, Ian Dejardin’s personal selection of highlights offers a revelatory opportunity to engage with the essence of Canada as portrayed in the luminous works of its artists.
Buy the McMichael Director’s Choice Book
Newmarket Olive Oil Co. (at Market & Co.)
Newmarket Olive Oil Co. is a locally-owned business that takes pride in their high-quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar. They provide superior customer service to find you the perfect gifts and pairing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Featured Find: Olive Oil Custom Gift Basket
You can find these custom gift baskets at Market & Co. which houses a combination of your local baker, butcher, seafood market, produce, flower shop and restaurants all rolled into one, curated market and gathering place. This basket is sure to be a hit with the foodie fanatic on your list!
Old FireHall Confectionery
The Old Firehall Confectionery features award winning chocolatier and artisan confections. Known for its highest quality of products, ranging from, old fashioned, hand made truffles, chocolates, candy apples, sponge, and the list goes on. Named #1 chocolatier and pastry maker in Ontario!
Featured Find: Chocolate Lover Gift Basket
No matter the special occasion, pick up one of their homemade and handcrafted specialty gift baskets or customize your own for an extra special holiday gift that’s just as much fun to give as to receive.
Pretty Thingz
Pretty Thingz strive to give women a push of confidence as well as make you shine, sparkle, and glow… but most importantly to love yourself! They guarantee to have the most on trend, chic, and stylish products from all over the world.
Featured Find: Animal Coffee Socks
Not only warm, these animal coffee socks are super fuzzy and cozy for the cooler days spent inside with a nice cup of coffee. With its fluffy lining and animal inspired prints on the top of the feet, feel like your own little woodland creature. Not to mention, these socks are accompanied with lovely traction bottoms to keep you feeling soft and safe.
First Batch (at Market & Co.)
First Batch is a pop-up collective featuring pantry essentials, table and barware and unique gifts. Handmade by more than 60 emerging and independent makers, these carefully crafted goods are created in small runs with both style and function in mind.
Featured Find: Glass Ornaments – Tree of Enchantment from Kitras Art Glass
Like trees in a forest, no two are alike, with a special sentiment for each theme. Enjoy the magic of the seasons or give the gift of inspiration with these unique glass ornaments, ready to give in a gift box.
La Jolie Cheeseshop
La Jolie Cheeseshop offers fine cheeses that represent all four corners of the world. They pride themselves on their delectable selection of cheese, specializing in those that are sought after by fine cheese connoisseurs. If you have a ‘favourite’ cheese that is otherwise hard to find, they will try to locate and bring it to the shop for your personal enjoyment.
Featured Find: Medium Cheese Board (4-8 person)
The medium cheeseboard features a selection of five unique cheeses, offering a whirlwind introduction to fine cheese! This gift will be sure to delight the cheese enthusiast on your list.
Find these and other unique gifts on your next YDH road trip! While we’ve got you in the gift-shopping mood, you might also want to consider giving your loved ones the gift of an unforgettable experience in York Durham Headwaters. Check out our Gifting an Experience blog post.
