GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.--November, 2013—As the holiday season approaches, it can be difficult to decide the perfect gift for friends, colleagues and loved ones. However, there is a solution—give local. By purchasing locally produced gifts and shopping at locally owned stores, you can give the gift of Grand Junction, which is a win-win for the community and the gift’s recipient.
Wine
Grand Junction is known as Colorado’s Wine Country, so what better way to share the love than with a bottle of local wine? From chardonnay to cabernet, merlot to mead, the vineyards of Grand Junction are bursting with bottles that are sure to please any palate. Personalize a gift by having a special message engraved on the bottle and ring in 2014 with one of Grand Junction’s effervescent wines. Looking for a romantic getaway? Plan a weekend in wine country and give the gift of memories that will last well into the new year.
Beer and Craft Spirits
If your palate is more suited to bourbons and beers than wine, sample the liquid gold from one of the local breweries or craft distilleries like Kannah Creek Brewing Company or Peach Street Distillers—bottles of any size and flavor make excellent gifts.
Chocolate
Enstrom Candies, lauded for its Almond Toffee, creates beautiful gifts of chocolate with truffle assortments, turtles and other fine culinary confections. A box (or three) is the perfect gift for the sweetheart in your life.
Lavender
For a sweet smelling gift, visit the Lavender Christmas Craft Fair on Dec. 7 in downtown Grand Junction. Prized for its perfume, medicinal properties, culinary attributes, and beautiful color, lavender has been one of the most popular herbs for centuries and is one of the newest crops to be grown in western Colorado. The Christmas Craft Fair will feature quality handcrafted lavender-related items as well as unique arts and crafts.
Fruits
The Grand Junction area is known for its exceptional harvests. Though the growing season is short, you can enjoy the fruits of the orchards well through the winter with treats from Alida’s, located on Main Street in Grand Junction. Specializing in fruit, Alida’s offers home-canned jams, jellies, syrups, salsas, and treats like chocolate-dipped dried fruit. Pick out a gift box or send a gift certificate to spread a little home-grown holiday cheer.
Outdoor Gear
Based in Grand Junction, Loki was the first brand of outerwear clothing to incorporate face shields and mitts into its designs. These protective elements, which are invisible until needed, are part of the casual yet performance-based brand that has become a leader in the industry.
Of course, sometimes the best gift is to allow the receiver to choose for themselves. With a Downtown Grand Junction gift certificate or a gift card from one of Grand Junction’s many shops and boutiques, you’ll be able to please even the most discerning recipient.
Nestled near 11,000-foot Grand Mesa and the 7,500-foot Book Cliffs, Grand Junction (www.visitgrandjunction.com) is the largest city in western Colorado. The area is known as Colorado's Wine Country, with nearly 30 vineyards and 21 wineries. At an altitude of 4,586 feet, warm summers and moderate spring, fall and winter seasons allow for year-round golf, hiking and biking. Boasting more than 275 days of sunshine annually, Grand Junction recently was named one of the eight sunniest cities in the United States by TourismReview.com. Among Grand Junction's spectacular red cliffs and winding canyons are the Grand Mesa, the world's largest flat top mountain, the Colorado National Monument, Book Cliff Wild Horse Area, two national scenic byways and five golf courses. Grand Junction lies in the heart of the Colorado-Utah Dinosaur Diamond.
Contacts:
Gaylene Ore, Ore Communications: [email protected]; (970) 531-2336
Mistalynn Meyeraan, Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau: [email protected]; (970) 256-4063
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