Vermont's Kid-Approved Holiday Gift Guide
Want to avoid the big box stores and Amazon this holiday season, or just want to support local small businesses? We've put together a kid-approved holiday gift guide to help you find the best shops in Vermont for toys, apparel, books, and stocking stuffers, plus great ideas for experiential gifts!
Shop Local
Whether you want to buy new, or used, we have so many local gift shops and bookstores in Vermont. Peruse the "Gifts & Gear" section of the site for shops near you by categories.
ECHO's Museum Store
Shop ECHO’s Museum Store for toys, apparel, Champ merchandise, and more. Check out LEGO collections, Vermont Teddy stuffies, Darn Tough Champ socks, local gifts including custom pins, stickers, and key chains. Every purchase delights AND supports science education—gifts that give back! Stop in daily, 10 am–5 pm.
Note the upcoming 20% off ECHO member sales: Nov. 15-23 and Dec. 8–14.
Turner Toys
Turner Toys in Williston is a family-owned toy store offering a vast selection of unique toys, LEGOs, games, puzzles, arts and crafts & fidget toys. At Turner Toys, you'll find creative toys for kids of all ages. Bonus: Save big with their Rewards Program. Plus, we love the DIY gift wrap station. Shop Turner Toys' Holiday Catalog.
Zutano Outlet
Gift the tots in your life adorable, high quality clothing, accessories, and toys. Located on Main Street in Montpelier, the Zutano Outlet store sells Zutano brand clothing & accessories at discounted prices. Plus find other brands of clothing, accessories & toys for kids just-born to 10 years old!
Church Street Marketplace
Every November and December, the Church Street Marketplace transforms into Vermont’s holiday hub. Sip hot cocoa, take in twinkling lights, and enjoy free festive events all season long while shopping local bookstores and gift shops. From local shopping to timeless traditions, the Marketplace is where the spirit of the holidays comes alive - right in the heart of Burlington. Shop small, celebrate big! Explore Church Street Marketplace.
More Local Shops
- Other Toy Stores: The Collection in Waitsfield, Jamie Two Coats in Shelburne, Woodbury Mountain Toys in Montpelier, and Kidstructive Fun in the UMall!
- Swing by your local bookstore for your avid reader, plus great stocking stuffers: Phoenix Bookstores in Burlington, Essex and Rutland, Inklings in Waitsifield, Bear Pond Books in Montpelier, The Flying Pig in Charlotte are just a few.
- A few more favorites: Quarterstaff Games on Church Street for your hobby gamers, Play It Again Sports for used and new sports gear, Homeport for stocking stuffers, Boho Baby for gently used apparel and toys.
Gift an Experience
Looking for less "stuff" post-holiday? Stuff the stockings with passes to the kids favorite places to play! Explore "Indoor Activities" for ideas for passes or family memberships. Check out the "Art" and "Music & Movement" sections for ideas to get the families creativity flowing.
Pro tip from The Chirp Squad: Memberships and family experiences are great ideas to give to the grandparents, and aunts and uncles!
The Flynn
Share the excitement of live theater with your family the holiday season! Save big with a special buy two tickets and get two tickets free to the same production. Performances included are Sunny Jain’s Wild, Wild East; Cirque Mechanics: TILT; Minty Fresh Circus; and Nuttin But A Word. Offer good November 24 through December 24. Learn more at FlynnVT.org.
Monkey Do
Give the kids the gift of jumping, crawling, swinging and playing at Monkey Do! Kids love to role play and run around at this Williston spot for getting the wiggles out. Save with their upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales: 10 punch pass for $170 (a $185 value) or snatch one of their holiday package which includes 1 day visit, 1 t-shirt and a pair socks package for $35 (a $45 value). This will be available starting November 28. Learn more.
More Experience Ideas
- Museum and science center memberships are great family gifts: ECHO, Montshire Museum of Science, Shelburne Museum, Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, VINS and Wonderfeet are just a few of the great options in Vermont.
- Indoor activity passes are great stocking stuffers that can be used over the holiday break! We love Spare Time, Smuggs FunZone 2.0, Stowe Bowl, Petra Cliffs, The Pumphouse and Clips & Reels at Jay Peak, Gold Rush Arcade, and of course, movie theatre tickets!