Psst! Mother’s Day is this weekend (and Father’s Day isn’t far away). Still don’t have a gift? Don’t fret—cottage country is filled with gift shops so that you can find the perfect something for the mother and father figures in your life. You know, that elusive thing they didn’t know they needed? Here’s where you can shop local:
West Wind Gallery and Gifts in Bancroft
West Wind is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year—what better way to help them mark the milestone than by popping by to pick up the perfect gift? Choose from casual clothing, including pyjamas that get rave reviews, cottage supplies like eco-friendly bug-repelling candles, dog- and cat-themed accessories, books, games, gifts for nature lovers, and fine art.
Old Hastings Mercantile and Gallery in Ormsby
Ormsby may only have a population of 20 people, but you wouldn’t know it from the wealth of treasures found in the Old Hastings Mercantile and Gallery, which is absolutely stuffed with antiques, Canadian arts and crafts, cottage-themed gifts and (this is very important) candy. To make it easy to focus your search for the perfect present, the shop is arranged by theme rooms, including Books and Music, the Christmas Room, the Gallery, and the Garden and Outdoor Room.
Village Green Originals in Westport
Clothes, shoes, accessories, home decor, books, calendars and puzzles are just a few of the gifts you can find at Village Green Originals. Open since 1985, Village Green has been well known for carrying popular, high-quality brands like Viking and Joybees shoes, Trinket infinity scarves, and Madawaska Coffee Company.
Huckleberry’s in Parry Sound
Huckleberry’s is tucked into a two-storey retail shop in Parry Sound and offers in-person and online shopping experiences. It’s an ideal place to pick up classy, cottage-themed items, including bright dishcloths, sophisticated-yet-rustic tableware, low-key bedding, and even classic Muskoka chairs in a rainbow of colours. Not to be missed: their line of soy candles in scents like dockside lemonade, maple sugar bush, paper birch, and, not surprisingly, campfire.
Ethel Curry Gallery in Haliburton
If you’re looking for Canadian art and handmade items that have been inspired by the Haliburton Highlands, look no further than the Ethel Curry Gallery. Artists featured in the gallery include painters, jewellers, potters, fibre artists, photographers, sculptors, and many more. Along with providing a spot for artists to sell their creations, the Ethel Curry Gallery also supports local art events, including pop-up shows and studio open houses.
Golden Gallery in Tobermory
Tucked away at the end of a winding stone path, with a view overlooking Little Tub Harbour and close to the spectacular views that the Bruce Peninsula is famous for, it’s no surprise that Golden Gallery Tobermory is a spot to come and be inspired. While there are several artists featured at the gallery, pay particular attention to the paintings by owner Kent Wilkens, which highlight the natural beauty of the Bruce.
Iroqrafts in Six Nations of the Grand River (Ohsweken)
Open in 1959, Iroqrafts is the largest and oldest arts and crafts store in Six Nations. While they sell craft supplies—fabric, ribbons, beads, leather, and soapstone—they also have a large selection of gifts, including jewellery, beadwork, sculpture, candles, stained glass, and leather items like boots and moccasins.
Unconventional Moose in Tweed
Two Maritimers, a “local Tweed lad,” an entourage of mannequins and a life-size moose statue named Cosmos make Unconventional Moose a spot worth visiting. Featuring a wide range of items on a wildlife theme, the shop was, at one time, known as the Mohawk Trading Post. Now situated a little ways west of the original location, the Unconventional Moose also offers accommodations—so you can shop for gifts and stay for the view of the Skootamatta River.
Mariposa Market in Orillia
Mariposa Market has lots and lots of baked goods: doughnuts, fritters, cinnamon buns, cupcakes, cookies—but baked goods aren’t all the store is famous for. In fact, this historic spot, which began life as a general store in 1859, has a bakery, two cafes, and two stores that sell everything from syrup and preserves to loungewear, candy, and toiletries. If you can’t find the perfect gift here, you probably aren’t looking hard enough.
Native Renaissance in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory (Deseronto)
Highlighting Indigenous art and gifts for more than 40 years, Native Renaissance is a worth the trip if you’re looking for soapstone sculptures. You’ll find the work of Mohawk stone sculptor Thomas B. Maracle and find a gift shop full of sculptures, moccasins, books, jewellery, clothing, and toys. And if you get hungry after browsing? There’s a cafe on-site as well.
Ellënoire in Dundas
If you’re looking for luxurious handmade bath products, essential oil blends, custom-blended perfumes, or a range of curly-hair products, look no further than Ellënoire, an elegant local shop tucked into the Old Dundas Post Office in historic Dundas, Ontario. What began in 1994 with a small collection of bath products, the shop has grown to include a naturally curly hair salon and many products perfect for those who are “scents-itive” to fragrances.