Shop and Support Local This Holiday Season
Grand Prize Giveaway
Free to enter; limit 1 entry per person. Content closes at Noon on Fri. 12/18/2020.
Once featured as one of Oprah’s “Favorite Things,” Mary Lake-Thompson’s line of kitchen and home goods are a must-have. We particularly love her holiday tea towel sets, which add the perfect touch of whimsy to any kitchen and are almost too cute to use.
Mary Lake-Thompson
Found in retail shops around the country, Mary Lake-Thompson’s whimsy artwork is best known for dotting kitchen towels and aprons. Mary was an artist from a young age and after marrying, settled in Oroville, where she has a charming retail store with many of her wares. Find her full range of products online or discover deals at her cute outlet store in Oroville.
Once featured as one of Oprah’s “Favorite Things,” Mary Lake-Thompson’s line of kitchen and home goods are a must-have. We particularly love her holiday tea towel sets, which add the perfect touch of whimsy to any kitchen and are almost too cute to use.
Whenever the occasion calls for a card, we head over to Wild Ink Press! Better than the box stores, these cards are hand-crafted right in Chico and perfect for adding that little something extra. We know that friends and family will love the Christmas wreaths cards that we’re including with their gifts this season.
Wild Ink Press
Wild Ink Press designs and manufactures greeting cards, stationery, and other paper goods right from their Downtown Chico letterpress studio. Each piece is made using old printing machines and techniques and features fresh artwork and zingy prose. Buy online or visit their storefront to find the perfect card for every event.
Whenever the occasion calls for a card, we head over to Wild Ink Press! Better than the box stores, these cards are hand-crafted right in Chico and perfect for adding that little something extra. We know that friends and family will love the Christmas wreaths cards that we’re including with their gifts this season.
We have Chico natives, long-time Butte County residents, and the newly relocated team members at Explore Butte County—and we all agree that we love sporting Upper Park Clothing gear! Their beanies are perfect for those early morning explorations, and our friends love taking them home as mementos of the great times had in Bidwell Park.
Upper Park Clothing Co.
Born from a t-shirt featuring their favorite swimming holes, Upper Park Clothing has been a Chico staple since 2013. The clothing and accessories line is inspired by nature, for nature lovers. Discover clothes perfect for any adventure—from high country excursions to hikes through the namesake park.
We have Chico natives, long-time Butte County residents, and the newly relocated team members at Explore Butte County—and we all agree that we love sporting Upper Park Clothing gear! Their beanies are perfect for those early morning explorations, and our friends love taking them home as mementos of the great times had in Bidwell Park.
With scents like “Peppermint Bark” and “Cuddle Weather,” the holiday candles from Poppy Rose Candle Co. are our must-haves for cozy winter nights at home and making a good gift an even better one.
Poppy Rose Candle. Co.
Poppy Rose Candle Co. creates hand-poured premium soy candles with nostalgic fragrances in small batches. Discover scented interpretations of a time, place, person, or mood, with cute, whimsical, and even for adult-friends-only labels—and all made locally in Chico.
Find online at Etsy as well as locally at Made in Chico, Upper Park Clothing, Maisie Jane’s gift shop, and Bless Your Heart Mercantile
With scents like “Peppermint Bark” and “Cuddle Weather,” the holiday candles from Poppy Rose Candle Co. are our must-haves for cozy winter nights at home and making a good gift an even better one.
It’s impossible not to love Tender Loving Coffee’s ethically sourced and locally roasted coffee. When we can’t make it to the cafe, we love brewing a cup of La Patrona Blend at home, made and savored with a little extra TLC.
Tender Loving Coffee
The family-run Tender Loving Coffee is grounded in environmental responsibility, ethical sourcing, and community involvement. Coffee is locally roasted daily using beans sourced from cooperatives and farmers from around the world who share these views. Find their beans at various shops around Chico, discover custom blends at local restaurants, or enjoy at the café with a vegan (or non-vegan) pastry.
*Coffee mugs available for purchase in-store only.
It’s impossible not to love Tender Loving Coffee’s ethically sourced and locally roasted coffee. When we can’t make it to the cafe, we love brewing a cup of La Patrona Blend at home, made and savored with a little extra TLC.
Almendra Winery & Distillery is one of our favorite places to spend an afternoon wine tasting—and a bottle of their Luna red wine is the perfect blend for tasting at home while preparing a holiday meal or as a gift to a favorite friend.
Almendra Winery & Distillery
Since 2016, Berton and Carol Bertagna have been serving their wines and spirits from Almendra Winery & Distillery in Durham. Today, visitors can also enjoy their wine with a meal from the full-service restaurant at Almendra, which features locally sourced products and a great view of their on-site distillery.
Almendra Winery & Distillery is one of our favorite places to spend an afternoon wine tasting—and a bottle of their Luna red wine is the perfect blend for tasting at home while preparing a holiday meal or as a gift to a favorite friend.
Bold and statement-making yet delicate enough for anytime wear, we’re in love with these earrings from Amy Waltz Designs. Don’t be surprised if you catch us wearing them to all our (virtual) holiday parties this season.
Amy Waltz Designs
Amy Waltz Designs sells one-of-a-kind jewelry handcrafted in Chico by women who love what they do. The jewelry features hidden personalized messages, symbolic stones, eco-friendly metals and sprays, so you can feel beautiful and inspired with every purchase.
Bold and statement-making yet delicate enough for anytime wear, we’re in love with these earrings from Amy Waltz Designs. Don’t be surprised if you catch us wearing them to all our (virtual) holiday parties this season.
We have been waiting and watching as businesses reopen after the Camp Fire of 2018. When we learned about the wooden bears, carved from fallen trees from the fire to serve as a symbol for rebirth, we knew we wanted to share. Perfect for the yard or the hearth, no matter where you live, you’ll have a little piece of Paradise.
Dan Forschler at Treasures from Paradise
Dan Forschler’s wooden bear carvings have become something of a Paradise icon in the years since 2018’s Camp Fire. Forschler makes them out of the trees burned in the fire, and for every bear he sells, he donates two trees to Camp Fire survivors to aid in their rebuilding process. Find the bears—ranging from 6 inches to a few feet tall—for sale at Treasures from Paradise.
Buy in-person at Treasures from Paradise
We have been waiting and watching as businesses reopen after the Camp Fire of 2018. When we learned about the wooden bears, carved from fallen trees from the fire to serve as a symbol for rebirth, we knew we wanted to share. Perfect for the yard or the hearth, no matter where you live, you’ll have a little piece of Paradise.
Visiting local Butte County producers to buy nuts, honey, and wine for our friends and family is an annual tradition—so we’re thrilled that Sierra Oro Farm Trail is doing all the hard work for us this year! Their holiday tasting box is so good, we’re buying at least three for gifts this year (and of course, one for ourselves)!
Sierra Oro Farm Trail
As a non-profit association of farmers and business people in Butte County with a shared passion for agriculture and the local community, the Sierra Oro Farm Trail celebrates the bounty of Butte County with its annual Passport Weekend and new Foodie Tasting Boxes.
Visiting local Butte County producers to buy nuts, honey, and wine for our friends and family is an annual tradition—so we’re thrilled that Sierra Oro Farm Trail is doing all the hard work for us this year! Their holiday tasting box is so good, we’re buying at least three for gifts this year (and of course, one for ourselves)!
It’s hard to overstate how much we love the soaps, lotions, and wool from Milk & Honey 1860, each made by hand by the whole family, using milk and wool from sheeps and goats living on the property. It’s almost impossible to pick a favorite, so we’re excited to give away an Explore Butte County exclusive gift crate, featuring a bottle of lotion, a lip balm, a large goat milk soap, 3 small sheep soap, and a skein of yarn.
Milk & Honery 1860
When the Larson family bought their Victorian farmhouse in Butte Valley, they were just looking for their own place in the country. But then, they accidentally started a farm, which accidentally turned into a business. Today, the family-run Milk & Honey 1860 offers goat milk lotions, soaps, wool, and more, all hand-crafted from their homestead. (Make sure to say hi to the animals if you visit the little farm store!)
It’s hard to overstate how much we love the soaps, lotions, and wool from Milk & Honey 1860, each made by hand by the whole family, using milk and wool from sheeps and goats living on the property. It’s almost impossible to pick a favorite, so we’re excited to give away an Explore Butte County exclusive gift crate, featuring a bottle of lotion, a lip balm, a large goat milk soap, 3 small sheep soap, and a skein of yarn.
We love how the Oroville-based photographer perfectly captures the beauty of the city, and Butte County in general, in vivid detail. The emotion Ben captures in every photo makes you just feel something, and his landscapes would look great in any living room.
Ben North at Brushstrokes Art Studio & Gallery
Ben North has been a professional photographer and videographer for the better part of 18 years and has worked for companies including Hilton, Capital Records and Catalina Island Company. The now-local artist showcases his beautiful outdoor lifestyle and landscape photography exclusively at Brushstrokes Art Gallery & Studio in Oroville.
Purchase in-store at Brushstrokes Art Studio & Gallery
We love how the Oroville-based photographer perfectly captures the beauty of the city, and Butte County in general, in vivid detail. The emotion Ben captures in every photo makes you just feel something, and his landscapes would look great in any living room.
After the year that has been 2020, we think this holiday season should be the “Treat Yo’ Self” season—and Orient & Flume is our first stop. World-renowned and celebrated, the beautiful hand-blown glass from the Chico gallery is an elegant gift for yourself (or a loved one) and perfect for any collection.
Orient & Flume Art Glass
Since 1972, Orient & Flume Art Glass has been nationally acclaimed for its excellence in design. Using both traditional and contemporary motifs, Bruce Sillars’ work can be viewed in permanent collections around the world, such as at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, purchased through the Lenox and Geary’s catalogues, or bought directly from the Chico showroom and museum!
After the year that has been 2020, we think this holiday season should be the “Treat Yo’ Self” season—and Orient & Flume is our first stop. World-renowned and celebrated, the beautiful hand-blown glass from the Chico gallery is an elegant gift for yourself (or a loved one) and perfect for any collection.
Follow Explore Butte County on Instagram (@explorebuttecountyca) and Facebook (@ExploreButteCA) and follow the instructions on the giveaways. Sign ups for giveaways will begin Mon. 11/23. We will give away a total of 24 items over a 23 day period. Giveaways will end on Wed. 12/16. It is free to enter for each giveaway.
Winners of the social media daily winners can be of any age (except for the winner of the wine giveaway, who must be 21 or older and will be required to provide valid age verification).
The grand prize winner must be 18 or older, and the wine will be substituted with a gift card to Almendra Winery & Distillery.
Yes! All items can be mailed to you directly. If you are the winner of the Luna wine from Almendra Winery & Distillery and are unable to pick up the wine, you will be mailed a gift certificate for the value of the wine.
The grand prize winner will receive gift basket with the 12 favorite things when they redeem their one-night hotel stay. Explore Butte County will arrange to have the basket in their hotel room upon their arrival.