NEWSLETTER
With the holidays fast approaching, now is the time to remind your friends and loved ones of their favorite New York State attractions and get them excited about their future travels throughout the state. These unique New York State gift ideas, all of which can be purchased online, are sure to bring back great memories of New York and brighten the day of a special person in your life. Photo Credit: @corningmuseumshops on Instagram.
Originally Published 10/20/2022 | Updated 11/7/2025
Peppermint Pigs from the Saratoga Candy Company (Capital-Saratoga)
Credit: @the_brentwood on Instagram
Get a taste of the Spa City with a classic Peppermint Pig Pile gift set ($46.99). This traditional holiday-favorite sweet dates all the way back to 1880 when the Saratoga Candy Company created an adorable piggy-shaped treat meant to be broken apart with a hammer (included with the set), making them as fun as they are delicious to eat. Be sure to also add some horse-themed chocolatey treats that celebrate Saratoga’s thoroughbred history to your cart. Discover even more uniquely NY treats with our blog on 45 Famous & Unique Foods to Try in NYS.
MetroCard Ugly Sweater from the New York Transit Museum (New York City)
Stand clear and spread holiday cheer with the New York Transit Museum's festive and cozy MetroCard ugly sweater ($72). Featuring the classic yellow-and-blue MetroCard design, it's the perfect gift for commuters, train fans, and anyone who loves New York. Plus, it comes in both adult and kids sizes!
2026 Empire Pass (Statewide)
Give the gift of exploring New York all yearlong with the 2026 Empire Pass. The $80 pass provides unlimited day-use vehicle entry to New York State Parks, state boat launch sites, arboretums, park preserves and Department of Environmental Conservation Forest preserves. Order by December 14 to get it in time for the holidays.
A Baseball Decanter from Cooperstown Distillery (Central New York)
Cooperstown Distillery has something truly special to help the baseball fan in your life show support for their favorite teams and players. Surprise them with a limited edition commemorative decanter ($49.99) etched with the signatures of Hall of Famers including Cal Ripken Jr., Mike Piazza, and Reggie Jackson. The best part is it’s shaped like a baseball, sure to make it the star of any home bar!.
Native American-Made Gifts from the Iroquois Museum (Central New York)
Pick out a beautiful hand-crafted gift for that special someone from the Iroquois Museum (pictured), located on the ancestral lands of the Mohawk people. All items in the gift shop, including feather earrings, soapstone sculptures, and dreamcatchers, are purchased directly from Native American artists.
Iconic New York Landmarks in Lego Form (Hudson Valley)
Credit: @tadenman on Instagram
New York City’s most famous landmarks are even more awesome as LEGO models. At LEGOLAND New York you’ll find the Big Shop, the largest store of its kind in North America, featuring an amazing collection of LEGO sets, clothing, and memorabilia. If you can’t make it out to the Hudson Valley, do your shopping online to build the perfect gift with the New York City skyline set featuring the Flatiron Building, Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, One World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty ($59.99).
A Bottle of Wine from Brotherhood Winery (Hudson Valley)
Credit: @usc4pamnyc on Instagram
Give the gift of New York State wine with a bottle or two from Brotherhood, America’s oldest winery. You can’t go wrong with a bottle of I LOVE NY wine ($13.99), a fruit-forward red blend made with grapes from the Finger Lakes and Long Island, or New York White ($10.99), an elegant, young wine also made entirely of New York grapes. Order online or pick up some bottles when you stop by their Hudson Valley winery for a tasting and tour of their underground cellar.
Amish Crafts from TAUNY (Thousand Islands-Seaway)
While you’ll have to visit to try the delicious produce and baked goods from the Amish farm stands dotting the region’s landscape, a gift of Amish crafts from TAUNY is a great way to bring the Amish experience to your loved ones no matter where they are. From traditional wood toys to hand-sewn quilts, there’s something for every person (and budget) on your list.
Alpaca Coziness from Buck Brook Alpacas (Catskills)
Credit: Anna Pakman
The TikTok-famous Buck Brook Alpacas in Roscoe is not only the premier place to cozy up to these delightful creatures, but also a great place to buy gear for that person in your life who is always cold. Twice as warm as wool and much less allergenic, Alpaca yarn has been spun up into great gift options like Baby alpaca all terrain gloves ($29), incredibly fluffy Alpaca fur slides ($109), and adorable alpaca fur teddy bears ($35).
Lavender Scented Stocking Stuffers (All Under $25) from Lavender By The Bay (Long Island)
Forget pine! Make lavender the scent of the season with florally fragrant stocking stuffers from Lavender by the Bay. From a refreshing pillow mist to bath salts, lotions, an adorable lavender-scented owl satchel, and even lavender honey, these aromatic gifts will have you dreaming of summer when this Long Island lavender farm blooms in a sea of purple.
Original Squeaky Cheese Curds from River Rat Cheese (Thousand Islands-Seaway)
Does someone in your life love “cheesy” gifts? Make their holiday season with a gift box from River Rat Cheese, an internationally known producer of aged cheddars. The River Rat Rhapsody box ($28.99) features six flavors of River Rat’s original squeaky cheese curds while the Tri-County Special ($48.99) will send that special someone’s taste buds on a tour of the Thousand Islands region with local maple syrup, bologna, coffee, and of course, River Rat’s own Sharp Red Wax 1 lb. Cheddar. Clayton; prices vary.
Legacy Sites Passport from the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (Adirondacks)
For the person in your life who’s always on the hunt for their next adventure, treat them to a Legacy Sites Passport from the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority to unlock an Olympic gold experience in Lake Placid. The passport package includes one-time admission to the Whiteface Cloudsplitter Gondola, Olympic Jumping Complex Skyride, Skating on the James C. Sheffield Speed Skating Oval, entry to the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, 20% off a cross country trail pass, admission to both the FIL World Cup Luge and the IBSF World Cup Bobsled & Skeleton at Mt Van Hoevenberg, plus 10% off dining and retail at all the Legacy Sites! Lake Placid, $49-$59.
Celebrate the Birthplace of Hip Hop with a Hush Tours Gift Card (NYC)
Credit: Kim McVeigh
There’s no better way to learn about hip hop's NYC roots than with Hush Hip Hop Tours. Get the real ones a gift card so they can follow in the footsteps of Biggie on a walking tour of Brooklyn or board a bus tour that takes it back to hip hop’s birthplace in the ‘Boogie Down Bronx.’ NYC; Gift cards are available in any amount.
A Gift From National Comedy Center's Comedy Shop (Chautauqua-Allegheny)
Tickle someone’s funny bone with the gift of laughter from the National Comedy Center. The Comedy Shop, the Center's hub for comedy-themed products and gifts, celebrates the legacies of comedy’s most iconic personalities and brands with a broad array of gifts and exclusive products that will bring smiles and laughter to anyone who loves to laugh.
A Tour of the Star Trek Original Series Set in Ticonderoga (Adirondacks)
Beam up the Trekkie in your life to Ticonderoga for a unique Star Trek Tour. Fans of the sci-fi franchise can revel in the complete recreations of the set of the original Star Trek series which were meticulously built by a superfan with the help of original blueprints, tons of research, thousands of photos, and licensing from CBS. Purchase a gift certificate which can only be redeemed online to schedule a standard tour or photo shoot tour.
A Gift Certificate for Fly Fishing Gear from Dette Flies (Catskills)
Outstanding fly fishing is one of the Catskills' greatest claims to fame. Considered the birthplace of American dry fly fishing, its endless supply of lakes, reservoirs, ponds, rivers, streams, and creeks make it the perfect place to cast a line. Send some love to the outdoors enthusiast in your life with a gift certificate for fly fishing gear, classes, and workshops at Dette Flies in Livingston Manor.
A Gift Card from Holiday Valley (Chautauqua-Allegheny)
This holiday season, help someone create a future New York State adventure by sending a gift card from Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, the all-season resort known for some of the best skiing in the Northeast, world-class golf, a thrilling mountain coaster ride, and more. Purchase gift cards in amounts ranging from $25 to $500. The gift cards are available in any increments for any product or service offered, including ski lift tickets, learn to ski or snowboard packages, snowshoe rentals and tours, cross-country ski rentals, Mountain Shop merchandise (outerwear, goggles, hats, to name a few), and winter lodging and packages. Summer gift ideas include golf, golf lessons, golf shop merchandise, and more.
A Glass Ornament You’ve Designed From the Corning Museum of Glass (Finger Lakes)
Credit: Courtesy of Corning Museum of Glass
In addition to featuring a wide range of holiday ornaments and other amazing handmade glass gifts, the Corning Museum of Glass allows you to create a unique ornament of your own design to send as a gift to a special person to remind them of Corning’s rich glassmaking history and the world-class museum that honors and celebrates it. Choose from round and teardrop ornaments made at the museum’s studio and add your own base color, accent colors, and pattern! Corning; Make Your Own Glass ornaments priced at $34.
A Perfect Gift for Animal Lovers From Aquarium of Niagara (Greater Niagara)
Honor the animal lover in your life with the gift of becoming an Aquaparent from Aquarium of Niagara, which is dedicated to the education and conservation of aquatic life! Your gift recipient will be able to “adopt” one of the seals, sea lions, or Humboldt penguins that call the Aquarium home and will receive, at minimum, a certificate of adoption, a 4"x6" color picture of the animal they chose, and a species ID card. Niagara Falls, three adoption levels from $30-$95.
A Frederic Church Print From Olana State Historic Site (Hudson Valley)
Is there an art aficionado in your life? Send them some art from the heart with a postcard print of renowned American painter Frederic Edwin Church’s work, including El Khasné, Petra, an 1874 oil painting that is the most important large painting in Church’s Greenport home, Olana. In 1875, Church made El Khasné a gift to his wife, Isabel, and installed it over the fireplace in their sitting room. The painting depicts the Al-Khazneh temple in the historical city of Petra, Jordan, which Church visited during an extended trip to the Middle East and Europe.
A Gift Certificate That Gives Back From Gurney’s (Long Island)
Send your special person to the only luxury hotel in the Hamptons that’s located right on the beach with a gift certificate to Gurney’s Montauk Resort and Seawater Spa, featuring 146 rooms, suites, and beachfront cottages, each with panoramic ocean views. Guests can enjoy access to a private beach, five unique dining and drinking venues, and acclaimed spa home to North America's only ocean-fed seawater pool.
Your Very Own Empire State Building (New York City)
The Empire State Building has captured the hearts and imaginations of people worldwide since its opening in 1931. Whether you’re shopping for a fan of history, architecture, or even movies, the Empire State Building Official Store has beautifully detailed replicas of the building that make the perfect gift. You can also choose from many other items, from mugs to snow globes, that showcase this 102-story Art Deco wonder. New York City; 12" Empire State Building replica with wood base & detachable King Kong priced at $50.99.
A Chocolate Oswego Lighthouse (Thousand Islands-Seaway)
Credit: Amy Lear, Man in the Moon Candies
In days past, lighthouses played an indispensable role in helping ship captains safely navigate to their destinations. Today, the Thousand Island-Seaway’s rich legacy of historic lighthouses are among its most visited travel destinations. Send a tasty reminder of these beloved waterside landmarks to someone special this year by gifting a delicious Oswego Lighthouse recreated in chocolate and surrounded by edible chocolate rocks, from Man in the Moon Candies. Oswego; $19.95.
And Some Camping Cheer (Various Regions)
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is making it easy to bring happiness to the campground-loving person in your life with gift cards and electronic, print-it-yourself gift certificates. They’re good for stays and services at all DEC campgrounds and are available online. Statewide, prices vary; an account must be created to order them.
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