It happens every year: You get stuck buying for those notoriously impossible-to-impress relatives. I feel your pain, disheartened shopper, I really do. That is why the Discover Wisconsin crew has done the research for you and compiled our list of top uniquely Wisconsin gift ideas courtesy of Something Special from Wisconsin. Drumroll please. Here are the results:
1. 100 Mile Sauce Company. First of all, I find the name incredibly intriguing. Come to find out, the products behind the name are just as neat. 100 Mile Sauce Company works to bring sustainable sauces from farm to table while sourcing nearly all of their ingredients from within a 100-mile radius of Madison. Now that is a gift idea we can get behind.
2. Head off the beaten path without leaving the comfort of your reliable Lazy Boy by picking up a copy of one of our favorite books. Written by Kelly Maddern, the "Badger State of Mind" conveys the beauty of Wisconsin through photos and stories with an emphasis on the state's hidden gems.
3. Truly unique and totally Wisconsin, Bob's Wooden Bowls are affordable, handcrafted works of art made by Robert Newton in Sheboygan. But wait. This is the coolest part: A penny is embedded in the bottom of each bowl for the year it was created. (Excellence is in the details, people.)
4. Did someone say "sweet treats"? Chippy's Popcorn Creations to the rescue, please. This Beaver Dam-based husband and wife duo travel throughout Wisconsin and Illinois preparing their famous kettle corn and popcorn creations for the masses. Their shop features over 60 flavors of popcorn plus fresh-squeezed lemonade, farmstead ice cream, locally roasted coffee, retro candies and more.
5. Y'all will love this one. It's called Double S BBQ and while these BBQ and Cajun specialties present a real Texan twist, we are loving that they're actually made right here in Wisconsin. In addition to throwing some lip-smacking sauces under that tree, why not spice up this year's holiday dinner by replacing the cliché holiday ham with Double S BBQ's award-winning brisket, ribs and bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers?
6. As the nation's leading producer of cranberries, nothing says "Wisconsin" more than cranberry sauces, cookies and appetizers. And if that doesn't fulfill your affinity for Wisconsin's state fruit, Glacial Lake Cranberries can also hook you up with cranberry art, books and clothing. Well, heck, while you're at it, you might as well throw in a birding tour at Old Glacial Lake Wisconsin, where your lucky gift recipient will love identifying loons, sand hill cranes, trumpeter swans and black terns.
7. All right, so there may be a reoccurring theme here: Sconnies love food. This we know. So it's probably no surprise to you that Jones Dairy Farm in Fort Atkinson has earned a spot on our list. From premier sausage and hams to yummy bacon and specialty meats, you'll be tempted to pick up a few tasty treats for yourself. (Go ahead. We won't judge ya for it.)
8. You smell that? It's the scent of fresh air, tranquil living and the Spirit of the Northwoods brought to you by Burnett-based Log Cabin Soaps. These li'l aromatic delights make the perfect stocking stuffers.
9. You simply can't go wrong when you give the gift of sweetness: Maple Valley Cooperative produces certified organic, Kosher Maple products and gluten-free maple syrup, sugar, cream and candy. That's right, more "good eats." Mmm delish.
10. Nothing says "I Heart You" like the perfect Wisconsin getaway. Visit the Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association's website for a guide to the state's most amazing B&Bs plus maps, cookbooks, gift certificates and more.
11. Pick up a gorgeous locally-made holiday wreath at a Christmas tree farm near you. Look to the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association for a complete list of farms.
12. We're not ignoring you, Fido. We've got a little somethin'-somethin' for our furry four-legged friends, too: organic and all-natural Alice's Natural Dog Treats. For sensitive stomachs (or picky eaters), you'll even find vegetarian, vegan, wheat-free, gluten-free and grain-free dog treats.
- Mariah Haberman is the co-host of the nation's longest-running tourism TV show, "Discover Wisconsin." Her column is published Tuesday on Life page in the Times.
1. 100 Mile Sauce Company. First of all, I find the name incredibly intriguing. Come to find out, the products behind the name are just as neat. 100 Mile Sauce Company works to bring sustainable sauces from farm to table while sourcing nearly all of their ingredients from within a 100-mile radius of Madison. Now that is a gift idea we can get behind.
2. Head off the beaten path without leaving the comfort of your reliable Lazy Boy by picking up a copy of one of our favorite books. Written by Kelly Maddern, the "Badger State of Mind" conveys the beauty of Wisconsin through photos and stories with an emphasis on the state's hidden gems.
3. Truly unique and totally Wisconsin, Bob's Wooden Bowls are affordable, handcrafted works of art made by Robert Newton in Sheboygan. But wait. This is the coolest part: A penny is embedded in the bottom of each bowl for the year it was created. (Excellence is in the details, people.)
4. Did someone say "sweet treats"? Chippy's Popcorn Creations to the rescue, please. This Beaver Dam-based husband and wife duo travel throughout Wisconsin and Illinois preparing their famous kettle corn and popcorn creations for the masses. Their shop features over 60 flavors of popcorn plus fresh-squeezed lemonade, farmstead ice cream, locally roasted coffee, retro candies and more.
5. Y'all will love this one. It's called Double S BBQ and while these BBQ and Cajun specialties present a real Texan twist, we are loving that they're actually made right here in Wisconsin. In addition to throwing some lip-smacking sauces under that tree, why not spice up this year's holiday dinner by replacing the cliché holiday ham with Double S BBQ's award-winning brisket, ribs and bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers?
6. As the nation's leading producer of cranberries, nothing says "Wisconsin" more than cranberry sauces, cookies and appetizers. And if that doesn't fulfill your affinity for Wisconsin's state fruit, Glacial Lake Cranberries can also hook you up with cranberry art, books and clothing. Well, heck, while you're at it, you might as well throw in a birding tour at Old Glacial Lake Wisconsin, where your lucky gift recipient will love identifying loons, sand hill cranes, trumpeter swans and black terns.
7. All right, so there may be a reoccurring theme here: Sconnies love food. This we know. So it's probably no surprise to you that Jones Dairy Farm in Fort Atkinson has earned a spot on our list. From premier sausage and hams to yummy bacon and specialty meats, you'll be tempted to pick up a few tasty treats for yourself. (Go ahead. We won't judge ya for it.)
8. You smell that? It's the scent of fresh air, tranquil living and the Spirit of the Northwoods brought to you by Burnett-based Log Cabin Soaps. These li'l aromatic delights make the perfect stocking stuffers.
9. You simply can't go wrong when you give the gift of sweetness: Maple Valley Cooperative produces certified organic, Kosher Maple products and gluten-free maple syrup, sugar, cream and candy. That's right, more "good eats." Mmm delish.
10. Nothing says "I Heart You" like the perfect Wisconsin getaway. Visit the Wisconsin Bed & Breakfast Association's website for a guide to the state's most amazing B&Bs plus maps, cookbooks, gift certificates and more.
11. Pick up a gorgeous locally-made holiday wreath at a Christmas tree farm near you. Look to the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association for a complete list of farms.
12. We're not ignoring you, Fido. We've got a little somethin'-somethin' for our furry four-legged friends, too: organic and all-natural Alice's Natural Dog Treats. For sensitive stomachs (or picky eaters), you'll even find vegetarian, vegan, wheat-free, gluten-free and grain-free dog treats.
- Mariah Haberman is the co-host of the nation's longest-running tourism TV show, "Discover Wisconsin." Her column is published Tuesday on Life page in the Times.