Let’s face it. When it comes to finding the perfect gift for everyone on your Christmas list, holiday shopping can be downright stressful. But with hundreds of shops on Cape Cod and a boatload of unique finds, we have a few suggestions to get you started. The added bonus? You can support our local economy while doing it!

For Mom or Dad
While coffee mugs, scarves and neckties are classic go-to gifts for Mom and Dad, you can also think outside the box this holiday season. A hand-carved wood house sign bearing the family name from Chatham Sign Shop is sure to find a special place at their home. Give them a night out on the town with a gift card to their favorite restaurant, paired with a gift card for a future performance at Cotuit Center for the Arts or by Cape Symphony Orchestra. The gift of a family photo shoot with Cape-based Salty Broad Studios is sure to make mom smile, and a day on the greens at any of Cape Cod’s fabulous golf courses will energize Dad. Osterville Mercantile is a modern day general and kitchen store where you can pick up everything from soaps, books, and kitchen essentials to vegan bags, men's clothing and home décor. 

For Your Child’s Teacher
Cape Abilities Farm in Dennis is a good place to buy heartfelt gifts that show your appreciation, without breaking the budget. Their Holiday Gift Basket - filled with local products like Cape Cod Soy Candles, Summer House Soaps, and Gustare Oils – is our personal favorite. Sea Bags in Mashpee Commons and Chatham has one-of-a-kind totes made from recycled sails, letting your child's teacher cart around their school supplies and lesson plans in style.  And a beautifully decked wreath or festive poinsettia from Harvest of Barnstable, Friends' Marketplace or Hyannis Country Garden is also a nice way to say thanks to the teacher who inspires your child to learn every day.

For Your Grandchild
Give the gift that will bring a full year of fun for the kiddos – a family membership to one of Cape Cod’s many family-friendly attractions! Whether it be the Cape Cod Children’s Museum, Cape Cod Inflatable Park, Heritage Museums & Gardens, Whydah Pirate Museum or the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, your grandkids (and their parents) will still be thanking you for this thoughtful gift by the time next Christmas rolls around. Gift cards for bowling at Ten Pin Eatery, Ryan Family Amusements and The Lanes are also kid-approved stocking stuffers. Buggs Place Toys in Hyannis is a great stop for high-quality unique educational toys, and Chatham Clothing Bar/Chatham T Kids corners the market on trendy kids' apparel.

For Your Furry Friend
Nothing says I love you to your cuddly four-legged companions like a stop at Agway of Cape Cod, where you can fill your cart with tasty treats, stylish leashes and cozy dog beds (added bonus - if your pup plays nicely with others, he or she is even welcome to shop with you in the store)! You can also stock their stuffing with gourmet pet treats, fresh bakery items and dog accessories from Hot Diggity in Mashpee Commons.

For Your Bestie
You’re sure to find something any BFF would love at Just Picked Gifts in Yarmouth Port, where selections run the gamut from coastal-inspired glassware and handbags to handmade products by over 30 local vendors. A gift basket of handcrafted spirits from Cape & Islands Distillers in Mashpee (think Cape Cod Vodka or Great White Rum) pairs perfectly with a scented candle from Helltown Provincetown. If rustic western style is her thing, you can round up cowboy hats and boots, turquoise jewelry, and accessories at Country Soul in Hyannis. Or gift her with one of Cape Cod Nail Co's hand-bottled, locally-made nail polishes, in Cape-inspired colors like Hello Hydrangea. If it’s a bromance you’re buying for, a gift of festive libations from Bad Martha Brewery is a stellar way to show your best bud how much you appreciate him; or gift him a "Cocktail Kit to Go" from Cape Cod Package Store in Centerville. An axe-throwing session at Ryan Family Amusements in South Yarmouth or some time at the shooting range at Cape Gun Works in Hyannis are other great options for male bonding.

For Your Significant Other
The gift of time spent together is priceless, so topping our list is a couples’ massage from the Beach House Spa at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club in Brewster. Reconnect and pamper yourselves over a bottle of champagne. A stylish monogrammed beach chair from Cape Cod Beach Chair Co. - all handmade in a historic barn in Harwich - will never disappoint (we do live on Cape Cod, after all). Or commemorate your most cherished Cape memories with Chatham Jewelers' signature handcrafted collection of nautical charms, pendants, bracelets and earrings

Another way to say I love you to that special someone is with a necklace or ring from the Cape Cod Ocean jewelry collection at Ross Coppelman, Goldsmith in East Dennis, or some hand-dipped chocolates from Kandy Korner in Hyannis. Feel like really splurging this Christmas? Shop the car selection at Tracy Volkswagen or Marty's Chevrolet, and tie a big bow around your loved ones’ new set of wheels on Christmas morning - they’ll be the envy of the neighborhood!  Last but not least, save your hubby the hassle of weekly dump trips or lawn mows with a year of trash pick-up from Nauset Disposal, or a full season of lawn mowing services from Big Buy Landscape. Romantic?  Maybe not.  But he’ll certainly thank you on Saturday mornings, when he has more time to enjoy that Cape Cod Coffee you tucked into his stocking.

For Anyone
Tis' the season for giving, and sometimes the most thoughtful gift isn't something you open. A donation in your loved one’s name to a local nonprofit (and Cape Cod has many to choose from) could be the most inspiring gift you give this holiday season.

This holiday season, put your money where your heart is and shop local. Find more great shop-portunities on Cape Cod.