Give a gift that won't clutter their closet
Travel and Getaways
Rushing through holiday shopping rids you of all its potential magic. Treat yourself with the luxury of time by booking a weekend (or longer!) stay in Madison. You'll love it so much you'll want to pass on that luxury by booking nights or buying gift cards as a gift!
Staybridge Suites Madison-Fitchburg is offering a Jingle Bells Holiday Package where you will be welcomed with a choice of bubbly wine or cider upon arrival and treated with a discount card for an area restaurant. Seven Acre Dairy Company is giving away $25 gift cards for every $100 purchased in gift cards this season. Iron Amethyst Inn makes for the perfect cozy getaway destination. Check out their outdoor domes, holiday cocktails at the speakeasy and don't miss their Roaring 20's New Year's Eve Party.
Discover the restoring principles of balance at Kosa Spa, where you can book specialty, discounted packages, get bonus gift cards and find discounted Ayurvedic products to keep for yourself or gift!
Learn Something New
The holiday season is a great time to kick-start the ambitions of the new year by gifting classes or lessons to your loved ones, including:
- Pottery classes at Crimson Artist Collective
- Fly fishing trips with Madison Fly Fishing
- Cooking classes at Orange Tree Imports
- Woodworking workshops at Grand Inspired
Subscriptions and Memberships
The joy of receiving a gift shouldn't be limited to one day a year. A membership, tickets or even a donation to the Madison Children's Museum or Madison Museum of Contemporary Art inspires life-long learning (and fun!) for people of all ages.
A Treat Your Shelves subscription with Mystery to Me allows a monthly gift of reading at your doorstep for three, six or 12 months. The staff at Mystery to Me will hand-select books for the receiver based on their interests.
Stay active all year-round with a monthly indoor golf membership or indoor lessons at Blind Shot Social Club, which also features a bar and restaurant with the largest N/A bar program in the state.
Fun with Your Faves
If quality time is what you crave, these recommendations are for you. Shopping is always better with a friend, and Hilldale makes for the perfect place to do so. Shop dozens of stores, grab drinks and eats at local restaurants and stop along the way to take pictures at outdoor displays sure to make you feel merry and bright.
Give the gift of together with tickets to Cave of the Mounds or a 2024 Madison Mallards game (hint: keep your eyes peeled for holiday ticket packages). Spread your love for Madison with gift cards for Madison Adventure Tours, the city's first e-bike tour, or plan a trip to Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison.
Shopping local = shopping better
For the Madison lover
When you come to Madison to shop, don't forget to take a piece of it home for you (and your loved ones, too). WiscoBoxes makes Madison and Wisconsin-themed gift boxes filled with locally-made gifts that you can buy curated or build your own. Learn the stories behind Madison's culinary culture and transform locally-sourced produce into elevated dishes with the Dane County Farmers' Market cookbook. If Madison's natural beauty inspires you, you'll have to buy one of Madison Parks' 2024 calendars, featuring photos from the city's annual photography contest.
Don't forget about your furry friends, too! Petphoria, in addition to luxury dog treats and toys, sells Madison-themed merch for you and your pet to match in! Find Pethporia and many other fantastic boutique stores Hilldale.
Artisanal wonders
Madison is full of opportunities to support artists and makers. UW-Madison's world-renown printmaking studio Tandem Press hosts an annual holiday open house event where you can buy fine art prints from resident artists. Sun and Lace in Stoughton is home to handcrafted, leather children's boots and accessories that are high-quality and sure to make you say "awww." Looking for variety? The Glitter Workshop inside Garver Feed Mill features original art and gifts from more than 20 local artists.
Holiday home goods
A well-decorated home can create a whole lot of holiday magic. Our friends at Linen & Clove and Surrounding Events and Floral offer lines of holiday decor that make it so easy to turn your home into a winter wonderland (and their gift selections are great too). Stop into Surrounding Events and Floral November 10 – 11 for their open house sale where everything will be 20% off!
It's always a good idea to keep your game shelf stocked around the holiday season, and it's easy to do so at Noble Knight Games which has the world's largest supply of board, card and role-playing games.
The Soap Opera is a one-stop shop for all your holiday-themed soaps and bathroom accoutrements. Their home spa gift set is a best-seller and great for almost anyone you need to buy for. Pro tip: visit Soap Opera during the weekend in December and get free hot chocolate while you shop!
Gifts that give back
Feel good about what you buy this year with gifts that support the environment and people around the world. Overt Space Gallery + Gift makes planting trees easy with their stylish acorn vase. Your skin can survive the harsh winter with help from Green Life Trading Co.'s Winter Survival Kit featuring zero to low-waste cosmetic and home products.
Lake City Books and Little Luxuries have made it easy to support local nonprofits while you shop. Lake City is offering free gift wrapping when you make a donation to charity, and Little Luxuries will set up their Reach Dane Giving Tree for those who would like to donate gifts for children participating in Dane County's Head Start Program.
You can impact people around the world with select purchases at Little Pop Color Shop and Ethical Trade Co. Little Pop partnered with the Imani Collective to create their Have a Cup of Cheer banner, which supports Imani's mission of "empowering artisans through dignified work, opportunity, and community." At Ethical Trade Co., you can purchase Ukrainian tableware and ornaments from Ukraine and Haiti, with proceeds supporting the respective countries.
Save Some Serious Money This Year
Exclusive Holiday Discounts
Some local businesses are feeling the generosity of the season and offering exclusive holiday shopping discounts. Mention Destination Madison at Hazel General Store, JNJ Gifts and More and the Taliesin Gift Shop for 10% off your total. (Use code DestinationMadison at Hazel and DM10 at Taliesin for online discounts.)
You can look and feel good with deals like special holiday pricing on select skin care services at Harmony Medical Aesthetics and 30% off a 10-class pass at Amor y Asana when you use code NAVIDAD.
Gift Cards Galore
Make your dollars go further with special gift card deals including:
- Madison Originals: Buy $100 in gift cards and get $25 bonus cards Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday and December 11 – 25
- Food Fight Restaurant Group: Buy $100 in gift cards and get a $25 bonus gift certificate valid January 1 – March 31
- Kylee's Gift Cottage: Get $5 in Kylee Bucks good through January 27 for every $50 you spend in store.
Share the best flavors of the season
Bring the Madison Food Scene Home
After tasting some of Madison's incredible culinary options during your trip, you'll have to bring some flavors home with you to share. Locally-loved Fortune Favors pecans always go over well at a party or as a gift. The Deliciouser's drink trio and spice blends and Sugar River Pizza's homemade Tom and Jerry mixes allow you to up your cooking game with high-end, easy-to-use ingredients.
People with gluten sensitivities can rejoice because Haven Gluten Free bakery is offering a Wisconsin classic — a kringle — in gluten-free form for the first time this year.
Jazz up your holiday bar with commemorative mugs from Lucille's Miracle on King Street. Collecting fun mugs like dinosaur Santa and Krampus makes for an awesome new holiday tradition.
Boozy Fun
Madison's craft beverage scene is known for awesome drinks made by even better people. Share your love for great beverages with the following gifts:
- State Line Distillery's mix-and-match spirits and FREE gift box. (The coffee liqueur is their most popular item, for good reason!)
- J. Henry & Sons' limited-edition bourbon aged 5 – 12 years (available Black Friday weekend and sells out FAST).
- A seat at Dancing Goat's Gin Academy that allows people to make their very own bespoke gin.
- A private wine tasting at Table Wine.
- Giant Jones Brewing Company's 12 Beers of Winter tasting box.
- Delta Beer Lab's holiday gift bundles (customizable for humans AND pets).
- Starkweather Brewing Company's Crowler a Month Club membership.
- Beer from Lone Girl Brewing and a reservation for their rooftop cozy domes.
- A signature Brandy Old Fashioned Set from Old Sugar Distillery.
- Holiday gift boxes from The Cider Farm. (Don't forget to add some brandy-infused caramels from Madison Chocolate Company!)
- In-person or to-go DIY Wisconsin beer tasting kit from Longtable Beer Cafe.
Holiday Sets
The holiday season is not complete without festive food and treats. You can never go wrong with charcuterie for a crowd, and Tricky Foods knows how to make a splash with grazing tables and festive trays (that also make for great gifts). Miggy's Bakes' holiday-themed desserts are a must-have. Stop by the bakery to pick up your goodies AND shop from local makers featured in the shop including LoveU Candle, Every Bitch Needs a Scrunchie and Ten by Ten Gallery.
For an elevated food experience, a holiday gift box from Heritage Tavern is a must and Gail Ambrosius holiday chocolate boxes are an indulgent treat that always pleases.
