Shop Small, Shop Local: Your Holiday Gift Guide to Towns County Businesses

The mountains put on their best outfits for the holidays. Twinkling lights appear in shop windows, pine-scented wreaths hang on doors, and downtown Hiawassee and Young Harris hum with cozy energy. If you want your gifts to feel personal, handpicked, stitched, or poured by your neighbors, there’s no better place to shop than Towns County.

This isn’t about mass-produced boxes or last-minute clicks. It’s about strolling into a boutique and telling the person behind the counter what your recipient loves, then watching their eyes light up as they pull the perfect item from the shelf. Below is a guide to where to find thoughtful, local gifts that carry character and a story.

Antiques & Treasures – Gifts with History

If you love the thrill of discovery, our antique shops are full of one-of-a-kind finds that make unforgettable presents.

Hiawassee Antique Mall

Tucked into downtown, this is the sort of place where an hour turns into three. With dozens of dealers and rooms to explore, you’ll find everything from vintage kitchenware and Southern pottery to antique jewelry and old books. It’s a treasure hunt that often ends with something completely unexpected and perfectly right.

Gift ideas here: antique jewelry, unique pottery, adorable books and so much more.

Outdoor Gear – For the People Who Live for Trails

For the hikers and weekend wanderers on your list, local outfitters bring both know-how and quality gear.

Trailful Outdoor Co.

Owned by folks who know these mountains, Trailful offers practical, long-lasting gear and hands-on service. Need hiking boots fitted correctly? Want a suggestion for a daypack or a pair of trekking poles? The staff will help you choose gear that actually gets used and loved, on the trails.

Gift ideas here: fitted hiking shoes, technical layers, topographic maps, and gift certificates for local guided hikes.

Year-Round Holiday Joy – Specialty Boutiques

Some shops make it their life’s work to keep that holiday feeling alive every day.

Always Christmas (Shops at Tater Ridge)

If you want ornament obsession, this is your happy place. Handcrafted baubles, themed collectible series, and customizable ornaments make this a go-to for keepsakes that show up on trees year after year. It’s an easy stop if you want to check several people off the list in one cheerful place.

Gift ideas here: custom ornaments, unique collectibles and sweet trinkets.

Wine From the Mountains – Thoughtful, Local Sips

A bottle from a nearby vineyard carries the season in every sip.

Crane Creek Vineyards & Hightower Creek Vineyards

Both vineyards produce wines that speak of this high-country terroir. Gift sets, tasting room pick-ups, and club memberships make excellent gifts for wine lovers. Add a gift certificate for a tasting or a picnic experience and you’ve given a memory, not just a bottle.

Gift ideas here: a lovely bottle of wine, gift certificate for an experience and wine merch.

Markets & General Stores – Local Flavors and Handcrafted Finds

Small markets and general stores are perfect for building gift baskets that feel like home.

Bon Bon’s Market

A farm-market vibe with local honey, homemade jams, baked goods, and handmade candles. Great for curated food baskets that taste like the mountains.

Creekside General Store

A stop for local snacks, artisan goods, and practical treasures, ideal for last-minute finds that still feel thoughtful.

Gift ideas here: homemade baked goods, local treasures and sweet snacks.

Why Shopping Local Matters (More Than You Think)

Every dollar you spend here does more than buy an item, it helps keep Main Street lively, supports families, and funds hometown events. Local shops are run by neighbors who teach at the schools, coach teams, and volunteer. When they thrive, the whole community thrives.

Shopping local means you’ll get the best customer service. Staff will learn your tastes, remember what worked last year, and often wrap your purchases with care, that personal touch matters.

How to Make the Most of Your Shopping Day

• Turn it into a day: Start with coffee, stroll the boutiques, stop for lunch, and end with a winery tasting or market pick-up.
• Ask for suggestions: Owners know their wares, tell them who you’re shopping for and let them surprise you.
• Check holiday hours & events: Many shops host special evenings, extended hours, or pop-up markets during the season.
• Spread the love: Buying from several small shops spreads your impact and introduces you to a wider range of local makers.

Gifts That Tell a Story

A handcrafted ornament, a reclaimed-wood picture frame, a locally blended candle, a bottle of mountain-grown wine, these are the kinds of presents that come with a sentence or two: where it was made, who made it, and why it felt right for the person receiving it. Those sentences become part of the gift.

When you shop small in Towns County, you’re doing more than giving a present. You’re sharing a piece of our community and keeping the mountain character alive.

Ready to start your local holiday shopping?

Head downtown to Hiawassee and Young Harris, follow your favorite shops on social media for special releases and events, and let the season unfold one thoughtful gift at a time.