Guest column by Jane Howard: Support Gilroy with local holiday shopping

It’s easy and fun to take care of all your holiday shopping right here in Gilroy.

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By Jane Howard

Holiday shopping does not have to be stressful or draining. In fact, it can be a fun experience. Instead of shopping online or getting stuck in freeway traffic traveling out of town, stay local and shop in Gilroy.

A few benefits of shopping locally include: (1) It’s convenient; (2) It’s a way to support local businesses; (3) It reduces your carbon footprint; (4) It helps create demand for local jobs; and often (5) There are fantastic deals to be found!

In Gilroy, you can find unique items and special experiences that family and friends can enjoy together — all while helping to support the local economy. Here are some great Gilroy gift ideas for everyone on your list:

Friends & Family: To provide a family with a wonderful experience that can be used throughout the year, purchase 2022 membership passes to Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park. Buy passes for yourselves, your extended family, and your neighborhood friends.

For another fun family experience, gift some tickets to the Gilroy Ostrich Farm, where families can feed ostriches and pet alpacas, emus, sheep, goats and more.

Wine Lovers: Purchase some Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail Passes to give any wine-lovers on your list all-encompassing wine experience. These are good for an entire year from the date of purchase, and they provide the recipient with four free tastings each at 30 wineries. To complete the gift, add some Gilroy wine glasses and a bottle of wine from one of your favorite wineries.

Difficult Teenagers: Teens can be hard to buy for — so give them a fun day out in Gilroy. Purchase some gift cards at the Gilroy Premium Outlets. They can spend a day shopping for clothing, shoes, accessories, and cosmetics they can pick out themselves.

For those big appetites, give them gift cards to local eateries including frozen yogurt stores, ice cream shops, or bakeries. The teen in your life will thank you for a day of shopping (and eating!) that they can enjoy locally with their friends.

Unique Unicorns: For those special people in your life who like unique items, head downtown for an eclectic set of shops, art studios, and restaurants. For a memorable experience downtown, add in a paint night at a local art studio or tickets to a theater show. Catch one of the local art and craft fairs or boutiques to find special, handmade items.

Out-of-Town Guests: Got family members visiting from out-of-town? Reserve them a room for a night or two at one of Gilroy’s hotels and add in gift cards to some of your favorite local restaurants. You can enjoy their company without having to worry about hosting or cooking — and they will be happy to visit again soon!

It’s easy and fun to take care of all your holiday shopping right here in Gilroy. The next time you eat at your favorite restaurant, purchase a gift card while enjoying your meal.

If you visit a local winery for a tasting, buy a couple of bottles of your favorite varietal wine. Everything you purchase locally helps support local businesses and our local economy.

Remember, you can always check out VisitGilroy.com for more ideas on upcoming events and things to do in Gilroy or visit the California Welcome Center Gilroy located in Gilroy Premium Outlets for local gift ideas.

Jane Howard is the executive director of Visit Gilroy. She wrote this column for Gilroy Life.