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Here’s How to Holiday (and Win) Like a Local
Reader, you know what the holidays have become. There’s the day-after-Thanksgiving dash to big box stores, the super-quick slide into Christmas/Hanukkah/Festivus, and finally the frantic race to the New Year.
It’s all over so quickly. Where’s the joy? Where’s the time for fun, for creating little moments that add up to big memories? This year, slow your roll and allow the season to surprise you. Here in Garden City, we take the art of getting off the beaten path seriously. Here’s how we’re inviting you to set a new holiday pace that will fill your cup (in some instances, quite literally) and leave you feeling refreshed and ready once you head back to real life in January.
Shop Local
Big box holiday shopping might be second only to football when it comes to winter contact sports. If you skipped the crowds during 2020 by shopping online, take note: Experts — and businesses themselves — are predicting big backlogs and shipping delays. Instead of biting your nails and hoping your package will arrive on time, why not shop Small Business Saturday in Garden City? The annual Buy Idaho Holiday Market will feature handmade and unique gifts from more than 100 local makers, including specialty food items, glass art, handmade wooden gifts, one-of-a-kind illustrations, beautiful jewelry, and so much more!
Can’t make it to Small Business Saturday? No problem. Check out our guide to artists and makers in Garden City — many of them are ramping up production for the holidays and taking orders now.
Fill Your Cup
The breweries and wineries that line our famous Craft Beverage Corridor have plenty of ways to sip your way into the holiday spirit. Telaya Wine Co. is offering two Telaya Design events that will tap into your creative side: a Thanksgiving Centerpiece class on Nov. 22 and a Holiday Wreath Making class on Nov. 28 and Dec. 1. Cinder plans on hosting an Ugly Sweater Party in December, while Powderhaus Brewing Company is going all out with its European-style Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) Nov. 26-28. Craft Beverage Corridor businesses are offering more events every day, so be sure to check the website of your favorite maker. (Bonus tip: Wine and beer club memberships make fantastic gifts, too.)
Ski and Stay
Yes, it’s too cold to float or surf Garden City’s star attraction, the Boise River. But when the snow starts to fly, locals switch gears by heading up the hill to Bogus Basin Ski Resort. Savvy locals and out-of-towners know the best way to enjoy a day of hassle-free skiing or snowboarding is by making basecamp in Garden City at the Riverside Hotel. Not only does it offer easy access to Bogus Basin, but a treat awaits weary muscles after a long day on the slopes: The hotel’s outdoor pool is heated to a soothing 100 degrees in the winter. Want it even hotter? Try the nearby hot tub and soak any lingering aches away.
You can check out even more ideas to add stress-less fun back into your holiday schedule by visiting the Things to Do section of our website. And don’t forget to enter your chance to win a restful weekend with our Holiday Like a Local contest!
