Avoid congested department stores and crowded malls this year by taking advantage of these five ways to shop local while checking off every item on your holiday shopping list.
1. Edible Old Town
Children will love snowman macarons from E.A.T. (Extraordinary Artisan Table), 28410 Old Town Front Street, while their parents will appreciate fresh blood orange olive oil from Temecula Olive Oil Company, 28653 Old Town Front Street (www.temeculaoliveoil.com), made from olives grown on their ranch in Aguanga east of Temecula and small-batch produced from the 2015 harvest. Cooks on your list will delight in fragrant herbes de Provence from Temecula Lavender Company, 28561 Old Town Front Street (www.temeculalavenderco.com), made with lavender grown on their small farm in Temecula Wine Country.
2. Horse Around
Local farming family the Coronas offer a beautifully curated selection of specialty gifts, toys, clothing, home decor, jewelry, books, and more at Big Horse Feed, which bills itself as “much more than a feed store.” The selection is horse-centric but full of surprises for everyone on your list. Big Horse Feed is located at 33320 Temecula Parkway.
3. Venture Beyond the Bottle in Wine Country
Visit the tasting room and visitor’s center at Wilson Creek Winery, 35960 Rancho California Road, for home decor, wine-themed gifts, gourmet food, and cigars. While you’re there, pop into the winery’s Creekside Grill to try their addictive and unusual sweet and sour beets, made with local house pickled baby beets, Temecula honey, onions, roasted walnuts, chives, and Drake Farms goat cheese.
4. Tee It Up
Golfers on your list will love to attempt to conquer the 27 challenging holes at Temecula Creek Inn, 44501 Rainbow Canyon Road (www.temeculacreekinn.com). While you’re there, try a garden mint chocolate martini at Cork Fire Grill, offered as part of shop local initiative Temecula Chilled. Other delectable shop local specials include a mint chocolate chip candy cane sundae at Baily’s, 28699 Old Town Front Street, and a cupcake milkshake at Annie’s Café, 27313 Jefferson Avenue.
5. Sample and Shop for a Cause
Enjoy a self-guided scavenger hunt for goodies with part of the proceeds benefiting local charity Rancho Damacitas Children and Family Services at Holiday Taste of Old Town on Wednesday, December 9 from 4 to 9 p.m. Presale tickets are available for $25 at The Bank Mexican Food, 28645 Old Town Front Street, or Old Town Spice Merchants, 41925 Fifth Street. Favorite treats from past years have included mulled wine and gingerbread cookies at Old Town Spice Merchants, a stocking stuffer giant lollipop from The Sweet Shop, 28545 Old Town Front Street, and locally produced cheese tasting at Temecula Valley Cheese Company, 42072 Fifth Street.
Image Source: Flickr/James Mann
[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[/cf]
