WRAL 2023 Holiday Gift Guide

Our experts on parenting, frugal living and the best that the Triangle has to offer have scoured their sources and shopped the stores (and the internet) for the best suggestions for your holiday giving. No matter the age or interest, you'll find gift ideas here.

Shop local: WRAL's Made by Mom gift guide

This holiday season, make it a goal to shop small. Shopping local does more than support small business owners and entrepreneurs in the community; it's a great way to find personalized, creative gifts for everyone on your list -- especially that loved one who is hard to shop for.

Over the years, WRAL Family has profiled dozens of women and mompreneurs who started their own businesses and online shops. Even a few dads made this list! Find a list of locally-made items here, sorted by gift type:

Children and babies

Kids boutique: Alara + Zane, Raleigh. Visit the playspace and shop at North Hills or shop online.
BundleBee Baby swaddles: BundleBee Baby. Link to shop online.
Toys and games, Youngsville: Kenson Kids toys: Link to shop online.

Our favorite gift shops

There are so many gift shops in the Triangle that sell locally-made gifts and goods. Here are some of our favorites.

Curate Raleigh (15 W. Hargett St., Raleigh) - This gift shop sells fun, unique products from local artists. There is also a location inside Crabtree Valley Mall beside Cheesecake Factory.

DECO Raleigh (207 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh) - This shop is a must for great stocking stuffers and unique gifts. There are a ton of North Carolina products in addition to cards, clothing and toys.

Parker and Otis (324 Blackwell St. Bay 4, Durham) - Another great dining and shopping spot! This Durham restaurant and market features gigantic deli sandwiches and a great mix of local goods, food and gift inspiration.

NOFO (2014 Fairview Road, Raleigh) - Dine downstairs and head upstairs to buy some great North Carolina-made products including pepper jelly, barbecue sauce, jewelry, clothing and more.

'Something you can't get anywhere else': Gathering Gallery gift shop opens in downtown Raleigh

Gathering Gallery (111 E. Hargett St. #100, Raleigh) - This eclectic gift shop employs adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities while selling locally-made products and gifts.

Gather Goods Co. (417 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary) - Craft classes, flower shop, local gifts, foods, toys and more.

Liberation Station Bookstore (208 Fayetteville St.) - Raleigh's first and only Black-owned children's bookstore.

Raleigh's first Black-owned children's bookstore raises $10,000

Harvest Moon Trading Company (3901 Burlington Mills Road, Wake Forest) - This shop is a hidden gem across from a general store and MB's Tasty Pastries stand (where you can order a pie for the holidays). You can find a lot of great local gifts, including food and jewelry.

Father and Son Antiques (302 S. West St., Raleigh) - You will find everything from furniture to vintage clothing and just about everything else at this downtown Raleigh shop.

Sweet Tea and Cornbread (4325 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh) - This shop, located inside Crabtree Valley Mall, only offers North Carolina-made products. It is a great place to find everything from food to jewelry and even soap.

Mindful Merchant (2425 Kildaire Farm Road) - Sustainable gift shop in Cary selling earth-friendly home and body products plus gifts and toys.

Mindful Merchant opens in Cary, offering families 'zero waste' home and beauty goods

Zen Succulent (208 S Wilmington St., Raleigh, and 123 Market St., Durham) - You might not have a green thumb but this place will help you get in touch with your inner gardener! We love the variety of plants!

Little Details (2670 Timber Drive, Garner) - This boutique has great size-inclusive women's clothing and a lot of fun gift ideas, including home decor, children's clothing and food and beverage items.

Edge of Urge (215 E. Franklin St., Raleigh) - We love their celeb candles and everything else at this store. Head inside to find everything from greeting cards featuring RuPaul and Uncle Jesse to stylish clothing and accessories.

Walk in and smile: Leaf plant shop opens in Clayton

Leaf (112 N. Church St., Clayton) - This woman-owned houseplant shop in downtown Clayton is a one-stop shop for plants and plant accessories.

More gift ideas

Travis Kelce reveals the sweet Christmas gift Taylor Swift's brother Austin gave him

(CNN) -- Austin Swift's Christmas gift to Travis Kelce made the Kansas City Chiefs football player "feel like a child," but in a good way.

By Lisa Respers France, CNN

Travis Kelce reveals the sweet Christmas gift Taylor Swift's brother Austin gave him

Cary man's story about son opening gifts goes viral

A Cary man and published author now has a good story to tell for the holiday season after his 3-year-old son opened everyone's gifts at 3 a.m.

Christmas surprise: Cary man's 3-year-old son unwraps entire family's gifts at 3 a.m.

Cary father Scott Reintgen woke up on Christmas morning and came downstairs to find all the presents had been unwrapped. It turns out his 3-year-old son was a little too full of Christmas spirit.

Ryan Bisesi, WRAL multiplatform producer and Ashley Rowe, WRAL anchor/reporter

Christmas surprise: Cary man's 3-year-old son unwraps entire family's gifts at 3 a.m.

Holiday gift returns: What shoppers need to know

What happens if what you give (or get) isn't quite right? Consumer Reports has tips to navigate those post-holiday returns, refunds and exchanges.

WRAL staff

Holiday gift returns: What shoppers need to know

Helping Hand Mission has strong need for Christmas presents

Long lines were outside Helping Hand Mission on Sunday as there's still a huge need for Christmas presents.

Raleigh business owner brightens 30 kids' Christmases with bike giveaway

A bike giveaway organized by Raleigh business owner Reggie Lewis helped several Raleigh families have a memorable Christmas.

Business owner's bike giveaway gives Raleigh families reason to smile at Christmas

A local barber in southeast Raleigh is paying it forward this Christmas by providing brand new bicycles to children in need.

Lora Lavigne, WRAL reporter

From the WRAL archive: Last-minute Christmas shopping with Gilbert Baez

Instead of traveling out to Crabtree Valley Mall, we're traveling back in time to 1992. In the WRAL Archive, WRAL Fayetteville reporter Gilbert Baez showed what the last-minute Christmas shopping was like back then.

Deals under $6: Kids' books, toys, pizza cutter, measuring cups set, gel pens & more

Amazon has a number of impressive deals under $6 including book lights, bookmark sets, USB wall charger, glitter gel pens, Sharpie marker sets, Melissa & Doug activity pads, toys, kids' books, lip balm, hand lotion, measuring cups sets, measuring spoons sets, KitchenAid pizza wheel and more!

Gift card warning, scammers drain cards

Scammers are using a "gift card draining" trick to steal money before you can use them. Look for damaged packaging, extra barcodes and scuff marks to avoid becoming a victim.

Beware of gift card draining scam: Here's how to protect yourself this holiday season

Scammers are using a "gift card draining" trick to steal money before you can use them. Look for damaged packaging, extra barcodes and scuff marks to avoid becoming a victim.

Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter

Beware of gift card draining scam: Here's how to protect yourself this holiday season

Consumer Reports' top tech gifts for 2023 holiday season

If you have a lot of people to buy for this holiday season, tech gifts are often some of the most popular, but also the most expensive. So Consumer Reports compiled a list of top tech gifts that cost $150 or less.

Keely Arthur, WRAL consumer reporter

Consumer Reports' top tech gifts for 2023 holiday season

Top kitchen gadgets and gifts for your favorite chef this Christmas

Bells are ringing, carolers are singing, and many of our loved ones are cooking up a storm this holiday season. So why not secure a place in your favorite chef's heart and table with recommended kitchen gifts from the experts at Consumer Reports?

Keely Arthur, WRAL Consumer Reporter

Top kitchen gadgets and gifts for your favorite chef this Christmas

5 on Your Side: The upside of refurbished gifts

Despite inflation cooling, many gifts are still at an all-time high costwise. The prices are making more people shift towards renewed and refurbished as a way to get a great deal. 5 on Your Side's Keely Arthur shares the benefits behind giving this type of gift.

Be an angel: Charity programs still accepting donations to help make Christmas bright

Hundreds of Fayetteville-area families will receive Christmas gifts on Monday at the Salvation Army's annual Angel Tree distribution event.

Gilbert Baez, WRAL Fayetteville reporter

Be an angel: Charity programs still accepting donations to help make Christmas bright

Holiday gift guide: The best experience gifts in NC

These are some great North Carolina gift ideas for experience gifts in and around Raleigh.

Tandra Wilkerson, WRAL contributor

Holiday gift guide: The best experience gifts in NC

Teacher's TikTok fills students' wish lists

A Las Vegas teacher turns to TikTok and ignites national support for a 'Wishmas' program created for her students.

Deputies in Wake, Durham shop with kids for Christmas gifts

The annual "shop with a cop" events allow children to pick gifts and create bonds.

Gifts under $10 from Amazon

Check out this list of gifts under $10 for kids and adults (and pets) at Amazon!

Giving Tuesday: Environmental non-profits in NC

If you're looking to make a tax-deductible contribution to a non-profit this holiday season, there are dozens of local environmental organizations in our area working to fight climate change, address environmental justice, and make the air and water cleaner across the state.

Liz McLaughlin, WRAL Climate Change reporter

Giving Tuesday: Environmental non-profits in NC