I’m a terrible gift-giver. 🎁 It happens every year around the first of December. I start out thinking I’ll find the perfect gift for every member of my family and after hours of searching and procrastination, they’re lucky to get a gift card (a week after Christmas 🤭) from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

So, today’s topic is, selfishly, as much about helping me as it is about helping you. Instead of those impersonal big box gift cards, I suggest buying local. Give the people you love a piece of the Scenic City.

My ultimate holiday gift would involve having people visit me in Chattanooga. We could visit local attractions, dine at local restaurants, and they could take my custom guided history/paranormal tour. Of course, that would be ideal.

So, here are five ways you can “give Chattanooga” this year. I’m eager to hear your ideas, too.

There are plenty of options available, including local art, #CHA gift baskets, and dining experiences.

Support local artists

The NOOGAtoday office is located inside the wonderful Chattanooga Workspace (302 W. 6th St.). If you haven’t been, it’s a sort of working artists collective with something for everybody, as cliché as that sounds. On Friday, the workspace is open to the public during their monthly Open Studio Nights. You can peruse all four floors and meet the artists (they’ll be offering some holiday deals for the season).

Chattanooga is also home to more than a dozen art galleries. The Hart Gallery (110 E. Main St.) gives homeless and other non-traditional artists an opportunity to create and sell their artwork. So, not only are you purchasing art with a story, but you’ll also be giving back to a community in need.

Here’s a list of other Chattanooga art galleries.

Chattanooga-themed gift basket

What would go into the ultimate Chattanooga gift basket or care package? MoonPies? RC Cola? How about a bag of Velo Coffee or a growler of beer from Chattanooga Brewing Co., Hutton & Smith or OddStory Brewing? Of course, there’s always Chattanooga Whiskey for the drinkers in your life. I also highly recommend a bottle of Hoff Sauce for the foodies on your list. If they live nearby, how about tickets to our area attractions like Rock City, Incline Railway, Ruby Falls or the Hunter Museum of American Art?

You could make the gift basket yourself, but there’s a local business called Locals Only Gifts does exactly what I’m talking about. They offer custom gift baskets featuring only Chattanooga products.

Both Handmade Here and the Co.Starters gift guide are also worth a look.

Heavens to Etsy

The online art marketplace Etsy allows users to filter stores by location. A search for Chattanooga-based vendors reveals plenty of handmade and locally crafted items for almost any gift situation. You can find everything from custom prints and illustrations to jewelry to antiques. If you’re specifically looking for Chattanooga-themed artwork, there are plenty of options on Etsy. (What house is complete without a 24x14 print of the Walnut Street Bridge?)

Make them visit

I’ve been threatening a forced vacation on my relatives for years. Maybe if I just book a hotel room and send my mother notification she might actually visit me for a weekend? If you have a family member or friend that you’d like to come visit you, why not book them a trip? It’s easier to ask for forgiveness, right? Local hotels and plenty of Airbnb options are available at almost any price point. Then, you can take them to visit all the area attractions and restaurants like you’ve been planning to for years. For many, Chattanooga is a vacation destination. But sometimes, a person might need a little encouragement to get here. Be that encouragement.

Holiday markets

Feel like browsing? Several local markets are scheduled this month where you can purchase locally made items from area vendors in one place. On a larger scale, the annual Chattanooga Holiday Market will take place on Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 16. The market — at the Chattanooga Convention Center — features more than 200 vendors, “offering unique gifts and festive preparations-everything you’ll need for the holiday season.”

On Dec. 7, River City Co. will host a Holiday Market in Miller Plaza from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Although smaller in scale, this market offers different vendors from the weekend market.

Gift-giving isn’t rocket science. But it shouldn’t be stressful either. I’ll be hitting up the local markets and I already know three family members who would appreciate a Hoff Sauce gift basket. That’s easy enough, right?

How do you plan to “give Chattanooga” this year? Let us know by commenting below or reaching out to us on reaching out to us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

—Sean + the NOOGAtoday team