Your secret SWV holiday shopping guide

soap

Photo: Wild Mountain Soap Company

Discover unique, unexpected gifts in Southern West Virginia.

Southern WV’s boutiques and quirky stores have just what you need to finish that Christmas list. From homemade jewelry and ceramic bowls to organic beauty products and clothes, you’ll find something to add to your sleigh.  Below is a sample of our shopping opportunities but be sure and visit our complete list of specialty stores, antique shops, art galleries & more!
Made by hand

Handcrafted works are guaranteed to be unique gifts. No painting, ceramic mug or bar of soap is exactly the same!

1. Tamarack

Tamarack, the “Best of West Virginia” art center, has 59,000 square feet of unique gifts. This enormous gallery is filled with every style of creativity: woodwork, metal sculptures, jewelry, dolls, quilts and pottery. You can also cram those Christmas stockings with fresh local jelly, honey and candy.

If you’re shopping with kids, visit Dec.10 for a breakfast with Santa. Your tykes can join him for eggs, pancakes, biscuits and mac’n cheese.

2. Wild Mountain Soap Company

Skip all those mysterious chemicals you’d normally find in beauty products and use natural ingredients from Wild Mountain Soap Company instead.

Pick from cold-process bars like Banana Puree and Cashmere & Silk or select an assortment of scrubs, lotions and muscle rubs. Their Rugged Man products cater to guys, too, so surprise them with Bay Rum shaving soap, beard balm or mustache wax.

Stylish finds

Southern West Virginia’s craggy mountains and feisty rivers are magnetic for outdoor adventurers. Surprise the hikers, climbers and outdoor folk in your family with some adventure swag!

3.  Otter & Oak Outfitters & More

Clothing from Otter and Oak Outfitters & More is durable and flattering. You’ll find brands like Columbia, Kuhl, Prana and ExOfficio. Plus, Otter and Oak has neat gadgets. Splurge and get a solar media player, complete with a power bank and charger. You can also find camping accessories flasks and LED lanterns.

4. Water Stone Outdoors

The staff at Water Stone Outdoors in the New River Gorge are knowledgeable adventurers who know their stuff, firsthand. Browse their climbing gear, dog supplies and racks of clothing. They sell trendy brands like North Face and stylish locally inspired apparel for West Virginia natives, too.

5. Twisted Gypsy’s

Twisted Gypsy’s has a playful sense of humor. Swashbuckling blouses, vibrant shirts and rhinestone-studded bangles will tempt you as much as your gift-ees! They also carry local artwork: drawings, stained glass pieces and handmade jewelry.

Something old, something new

Antique shops are a gold mine of treasures no one would ever expect. As the saying goes, “You never know what you’ll find!”Southern WV’s antique shops businesses curate their collections with an eye for the quirky and unusual.

6. Tickety Boo Mercantile

Tickety Boo Mercantile collects treasures from all eras: tables, desks, lights and chairs. The owner loves to upcycle things and give them new life, so you’ll find an assortment of rescued gems. Tickety Boo also has handmade jewelry and one-of-a-kind sculptures.

7. Walnut Grove Antiques

The low light and generous square footage make Walnut Grove Antiques feel like you’ve entered a treasure cave. Cabinets, vintage kitchenware, primitives, advertising signs and bottles fill the walls. Plan to spend lots of time picking through everything.

8. The Shops in Downtown Lewisburg

If you’re a strategic shopper, downtown Lewisburg has antique shops and boutiques aplenty, all in one spot. Check out:

  • Harmony Ridge Gallery: handmade kitchenware, rings, pendants, glassware and more, all made in America. Finish your shopping at Red Key 3, its in-house artisan cafe and bar!
  • Osage Pecan Company: Anyone in your family with a sweet tooth (and fondness for nuts) will appreciate a selection of treats from this little shop.
  • Brick House Antiques: This charming 1815 shop is an old home-turned-maze of themed rooms, from antique linens to intricate glassware.
Where are you Christmas shopping in Southern West Virginia?