Supporting local businesses is one of our favorite things to do ALL YEAR and it is especially important this year! Check out our great gift guide to Des Moines Shops and Businesses
to help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.
Gifts for Date Nights
Looking for something for your next date night? Whether it is at home, or socially distanced, here are some great ideas for gifts for your next date night.
Satisfy your sweet tooth at Beaverdale Confections. They have a wide variety of holiday-themed desserts as well as DIY kits available for a fun date night in. Grab a Smores Kit or Hot Chocolate Kit to go!
Tap into your competitive spirit and try something new for date night. Check out axe throwing at Iron Axe Club in West Des Moines. It’s a fun experience and a great excuse to get out of the house!
Bundle up and enjoy a night out in downtown Des Moines on the ice rink at Brenton Skating Plaza! The beautiful skyline is the perfect backdrop for spending a night outside.
Gifts for Girlfriends
Girlfriends are the best to get gifts for! It is fun to share a little appreciation and love to the ones who are there for you thick and thin.
Treat your girlfriend to a stylish addition to her wardrobe from Fusion Fashion. The West Des Moines boutique has trendy clothes and accessories that will become closet favorites.
Add a little greenery or a new planter to a plant-loving friend’s life! The Art Terrarium has a collection of handmade, small-batch gifts that will have your friend doing a happy plant dance.
Canoyer Garden Center is a great place to get those holiday planters, succulents, or a fun DIY planter. They also have tons of local products and gifts in their Glass House Market.
Gifts for Teachers and Childcare Providers
They are the ones who care for our kids, the teachers who have ventured into the uncharted waters of virtual learning, and the providers who know what our kids needed as well as we did. Here are a few ways to show them a little extra love this holiday season!
Treat those who take care of your children with a far off adventure or an indulgent read. Give the gift of reading, and that personal touch from a local bookstore like Beaverdale Books this holiday season!
During a year of craziness, everyone needs a little extra caffeine or cocoa to survive! Help them warm up with a gift card for seasonal drinks, baked goods, or food from either of Smokey Row‘s metro locations.
A candle from Dirt Road Candle Co. will have your house smelling delicious and lift your heart this holiday season. There’s nothing like a hand-poured candle to help you feel cozy and get in the holiday spirit.
Whether it is a fun DIY kit to do at home, an in-person class, a kitschy magnet, a custom sign, or a sassy tumbler, a thoughtful gift from the Knotty Nail is sure to delight the teachers or caregivers on your list.
Handmade Gifts From Crafters
Give a unique gift this holiday season! Handcrafted gifts show you care, and help support a business that pours their heart and soul into their products.
Handcrafted FCD is a maker of many beautiful sewn products such as clutches, backpacks, and satchels. She uses a variety of fabrics, so there is something for every occasion and vegan leather for her top quality products.
Jenna Brownlee Design is a watercolor artist, who has prints, fabrics, and custom artwork for that someone who is hard to buy for! Her pet portraits and beautiful watercolor florals provide a pop of color in any space.
Doe A Deer is a Stuart, Iowa, based designer who has a passion for hand-done design that puts a smile on your face. Doe a Deer has brightly designed hand towels, mugs, and paper products to show local love and for every holiday!
Drinks for Any Time of the Day
Give the gift of a warm drink, a caffeinated drink, a bottle of wine, or a delicious craft beer… Here are a few options for someone who needs a drink at any time of the day.
Jasper Winery is right across from Grays Lake and is the perfect location to go wine tasting! Give the gift of a bottle of wine, or a tasting for someone adventurous.
Coffee lovers will appreciate a bag of Horizon Line Coffee‘s high-quality coffee beans or a gift card to their up-scale coffee bar located in the heart of downtown.
Peace Tree Brewing offers great beer, seltzers, and atmosphere. A six-pack of beer or a gift card to their brewery is a must-have for beer lovers.
Wines of Iowa, located in Valley Junction, carries Iowa wines, home decor, and wine accessories. Be sure to check out their holiday wine advent calendar!
For the Food and Culinary Lovers
Do you know someone who loves the finer things in life or an amazing night out to dinner? Gift cards or a meal from one of these locations is great for them.
Order a Festive Charcuterie & Wine Take Home Box for a delectable night in. Curbside pickup is available at Iowa Events Center December 4, 5, 11, 12. Choose from two options.
Kitchen Collage, in the East Village, is a one-stop-shop for high-quality kitchen tools and anything you would need in the kitchen this holiday season. Or give the gift of a culinary class.
The Cheese Shop is full of artisan cheese and delicious foods. If you have great taste and love to talk hours about wine and cheese in a great atmosphere, this is the place for you!
Iowa Inspired Gifts
Local shops that show all the Iowa love are the right gift for you!
Find vintage-inspired Des Moines prints, t-shirts, and home decor at Bozz Prints in Valley Junction. The Des Moines and Midwest-inspired designs are the perfect gift for a lover of all things Iowa.
The Side Garage does live printing, customer printing, provides design services, or has preorder on their site. They have clever and comfortable Des Moines shirt designs for everyday wear.
The Vinyl Studio is more than just a screen-printer. The local design studio sells fashionable Des Moines t-shirts, sweatshirts with a timeless look. Shop at their Valley Junction location or online.
