The Ultimate Lake Erie Holiday Gift Guide
From Ontario to Ohio — and everywhere in-between — here's where you'll find something special for the lake lover in your life.
Barefoot on Erie
Launched in 2020, this beach glass jeweler sells online as well as at Shore Society in Cleveland and at several Ontario locations, including Wolf & Rebel in Windsor, Modern Maple in Port Stanley, and 13 Reasons in Port Dover. Our favorite: the Wave Anklet ($10) made with stainless steel and a little piece of beach glass.
Beagle Bay Knot Works
This Huron, Ohio, shop launched with the traditional mariner’s style rope bracelet, but now offers much more. Rope sunglass lanyards make great stocking stuffers while the knotted wreaths bring holiday cheer to your door. Our favorite: star knot tassel clips for your handbag ($12).
123 CLE: The Best Counting Book in The Land
This charming board book ($14.99) opens with a drawing of Lake Erie and then goes on to help toddlers learn their numbers with the help of other Cleveland classics. Our favorite: Lake Erie, of course!
Coastal Cleveland
Coastal Cleveland is an online boutique that, through the holidays, can also be found at the pop-up Home for the Holidays in Lakewood, Ohio. The t-shirts, hats and hoodies are Cleveland- and Lake Erie-focused, with a little extra love given to Lakewood, Avon Lake and Bay Village. Our favorite: the “Unsalted” ribbed crew in chambray ($65).
Cottage North Soapworks
This Port Dover, Ontario, shop has a full line of soaps, lotions, sprays and oils. It also has a line just for little ones featuring soothing lotions and rash creams. Our favorite: the Erie Beach bar soap ($7.50) which boasts a zesty clean look and scent.
Drift
Located in Port Stanley, Ontario, this maker of custom furniture and beach-inspired decor is for when Santa is going big. Our favorite: the boat-shaped book shelf.
The Drifty Mermaid
This online shop is the work of Miranda, a Lake Erie native living on the Gulf Coast. But she still collects Lake Erie beach glass on her visits home and creates one-of-a-kind pieces. Our favorite: these custom-order beach glass angels ($10 to $15 each, including shipping).
Erie and Anchor
Located in Vermilion, Ohio, this boutique offers Lake Erie-inspired clothing for women, men and children, as well as stylish mugs, bags and more. Our favorite: the Great Lakes cropped tee in mint ($26).
The Erie Apparel Co.
A charming collection of Lake Erie t-shirts, hoodie and more, with an emphasis on the 814 area code — all based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Our favorite: the "Don't give up the ship" t-shirt ($25).
Erie Maritime Museum
Check out the Shipwright Gift Shop during your visit to this museum in Erie, Pennsylvania, for lots of "Don't Give Up the Ship" merch, plus all kinds of Erie souvenirs.
Greaves Jams, Jellies & Marmelades
This Niagara-on-the-Lake institution has been serving up top-notch toppings in Ontario for nearly 100 years, including more than 40 flavors. Create your own gift basket or pick one of the many samplers available. Our favorite: the tangy and luminous crab apple jelly ($7.25).
Handmade Toledo
A collection of work by local makers and artists in Toledo, Ohio, including everything from oven mitts to art prints. Our favorite: the Ohio-shaped cutting board made of bamboo ($48).
Lake Erie Candy Company
Missy Bertges and Greg Fornalczyk launched this shop in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 2019 when they were looking for candy that resembled beach glass and couldn't find any. The result is a beautiful, delicious assortment of just about anything your sweet tooth could desire. Our favorite: the beach glass candy ($5.99 a bag) the mimics the colors of actual treasures found along the Lake Erie shore.
Marblehead Soap Co.
Owner Patti Wandover (read her story here) says her Marblehead, Ohio, shop actually does more business around the holidays than it does during the busy summer season. That’s because her hand-crafted soaps, lotions, scrubs and more make the perfect stocking stuffers. Our favorite: her hand-crafted bar soap ($4.50) in dozens of locally inspired scents like Sugar Island, Mayfly, Lakeside Daisy and more.
Meg's Makeshop
Because it's located on Kelleys Island, this shop shuts its doors on Oct. 31, but still sells online throughout the off-season. Meg's is known for its hand-poured soy candles in scents like sweater weather and artisan bread. Our favorite: the Seasonal Scentscription ($50 every three months for a year).
Michelle Brunner Art
Brunner grew up on the shores of Lake Erie and "that feeling of being on the water carried over into my paintings." Her cheery impressionist pieces feature sailboats, landscapes and flowers. We recently visited Brunner on the small Lake Erie Island her family owns, so look for more on her in one of the spring 2023 issues of Lake Erie Living. Our favorite: Hollyhock Shores ($425) which offers a view of the water framed by summer's showiest blooms.
Relish Jewelry, Gifts and Home Decor
Relish has been making and sell beach glass designs for more than 20 years in Erie, Pennsylvania. Prices range from about $15 for simple beach glass studs and go up to around $500 for statement necklaces. Our favorite: the soft green beach glass butterfly necklace ($278).
Serenity Lavender
You'll find lavender everything at this Colchester, Ontario farm. The lavender sachets ($5.95) are best sellers, but you'll also find soaps, honey, lotions, foods and home goods that incorporate or pay homage to this calming herb. Our favorite: lavender linen and room spray ($17.95).
Shore Society
This shop's brick-and-mortar location just opened this spring — within view of Lake Erie in Cleveland. You'll find super-soft, lake-inspired clothing for women, men and kids and even a line of sweet bandanas for your dog. Our favorite: the scoopneck Lake Erie script sweatshirt ($45) in white.
Webb's Candies
This treat boutique is known far beyond Mayville, New York, for its goat milk fudge, which can also be ordered online. Our favorite: the chocolate-peanut butter fudge ($16.99 per pound.)
Whiskeyjack Boutique
This Windsor, Ontario, boutique only sells items "made in Canada by really awesome Canadians," including candles, maple syrup, jewelry, cards and more. Our favorite: the spiral-bound beer journal ($6.79).
Want more Lake Erie in your life? Subscribe to our free The Splash newsletter. It’s your guide to the best food, drinks, parks, beaches, shopping, festivals, music and more. Click here to subscribe.
