These gift guides are designed to help you shop intentionally for your people this year and to remind you that small businesses are the very best place to start. I believe they make our communities go round. Most of the gifts you’ll see here are from small businesses. They need us now more than ever and I’d love to see them thrive through the holiday season after a year of resilience and resourcefulness.

1 | A getaway – No matter where you live, you can likely hop in the car, take a drive for a few short hours and arrive at a completely new spot with a change of scenery. A day trip to the mountains, a weekend to the beach, or a quick drive to the next city over, a getaway is a perfect gift to help your loved ones reset after a crazy year.

2 | Family photos – Reach out to a local photographer you love and book family photos this year. An excellent gift for parents and grandparents. Some of my favorite local photographers are Katelyn LeBlanc, Anna Duncan, and Chloe Giancola. I could go on and on. I know so many talented photographers. My best tip for finding a photographer in your area if you don’t know one: go on Instagram, search your city in the hashtags (example: #greenvillescphotographer), scroll through to see what style you like, and send them a message.

3 | A cocktail class for two – I found one in my area, but I imagine that your city likely has something similar. If you prefer coffee, many local coffee shops offer classes as well for how to make that perfect pour over at home.

4 | Hollowed Earth Pottery classes – Learning a new creative skill is such a fun experience to do with those you love. Make memories and learn from artists in your area.

Other Ideas | Restaurant tour in your city, a night out for drinks and a fancy dinner at a cool local bar and restaurant, being a tourist in your city and visiting places you haven’t been to yet like museums, walking trails, and shops. Gift a pass to a local gym or yoga studio, buy gift cards from a local nail salon, hair salon, or spa.

If you’re up for an adventure, visit your local outdoor shop such as The Landmark Project Flagship Store and Wander North GA, to get tips for hiking, biking, and other outdoor experiences.