But Northwest Indiana has many options  many options that suit every budget, with several other choices online for those who prefer to let their fingers do the shopping. 

Here is a selection of ideas to kick start your holiday shopping:

For finer tastes

A bracelet of subtle yet noticeable shine, the Hulchi Belluni Tresore 3 Heart Diamond Beaded Bracelet ($3,429, albertsjewelers.com) is fashion-forward and fun. Round diamond stones set in three hearts offer a focal point that exudes charm.

For those who love gold, the Roberto Coin 18K Yellow Gold Paper Clip Bracelet ($1,700) at Albert’s Diamond Jewelers in Schererville capitalizes on the paper clip design trend in the jewelry industry. With a lobster clasp, this bracelet is trendy and stylish.

The TAG Heuer Ladies Carrera Watch ($1,950) at Albert’s features a Mother of Pearl dial. The timepiece is enclosed in a 32-mm case with a polished bezel design, putting craftsmanship on full display.

At James & Sons Fine Jewelers in Schererville, the J&S Collection .05ctw Diamond Beaded Ring ($249, jamesandsons.com) offers a petite and sleek design. The.05ctw diamond is centered in a 10k yellow gold ring, offering a flawless look.

For a regal look, there’s the the Kendra Scott Elisa Raspberry Illusion Crystal Framed Necklace ($75) at James & Sons. This yellow-gold plated pendant features a rich raspberry hue of stunning crystals.

Other fine pieces at the jeweler include the Dana Rebecca Vertical Bar and .03ctw Diamond Bezel Link Necklace ($770) and the J&S Collection .10ctw Diamond Pearl Cluster Stud Earrings ($579). The modern necklace features a row of round bezel-set diamonds next to a 14-karat gold bar, while the 10k yellow stud earrings have a floral pattern with alternating cultured pearls and diamonds alternating each other.

Online finds: The Armitron Pink Tilly Watch collection ($65 and up, armitron.com) offers three styles with romantic pink or rose gold bands. The collection also reflects the strength and resilience of breast cancer patients, with a portion of the proceeds from each watch sold donated to the Susan G. Komen organization.

For the thoughtful

A perfect gift between mother and children, the Little Words Project bracelets ($25) at Albert’s Diamond Jewelers come in a variety of designs. Each includes beads that spell our phrases including “You got this,” “Forever” and “Girl mom.” There are even designs for grandmas, aunts and cat and dog moms.

During the pandemic, eco-artist Jen Rose observed bees drinking water from her porcelain garden sculptures. She discovered that bees use water to control their body temperature, so she created Vision Bee Cups ($25-$30, bee-cups.com) to benefit the pollinators through this sustainable gift that combines handmade art and science. With enough room for only a teaspoon of water, the cups don’t offer enough space for mosquitos to breed. Vision Bee Cups are available at Pieces of Jayde (piecesofjayde.com) in Chesterton as well as online.

Online finds: As more communities encourage composting to reduce waste, the Blue Vent MUMU ($600, thinkwarestore.com) can be the perfect gift for a mom, grandma or daughter who wants to enrich their gardens while reducing their environmental impact. This AI-powered smart food composter is an odorless and eco-friendly alternative that automatically measures the amount of food waste through an AI system and determines waste disposal based on a certain weight.

For women who love to travel, camp or hike, the Adventurist Classic Backpack ($65, adventuristbackpacks.com) is water-resistant and made with 1000D polyester and vegan leather. For every backpack sold, the company provides 25 meals to families in need across the U.S. through a partnership with Feeding America. It has provided nearly 400,000 meals in the last five years.

For the fashionable

At Dear Dani Boutique in downtown Crown Point, owner Dani Nelson says fashion accessories never go out of style.

“We have a lot of cute hats and beanies ($18 and up, shopdeardaniboutique.com) and scarves ($18 and up), and those are super cozy, cuddly and good quality,” Nelson said.

Other popular items in the shop include hand-knitted or crocheted scarves ($34 and up), as well as a wide assortment of bags and purses ($40 and up).

“We have an amazing local vendor who does one-of-a-kind jewelry ($28 and up),” Nelson said. “She takes vintage jewelry and re-creates pieces from it.”

Shoppers also can pick up soy-based candles ($25-$30), books about Crown Point or meditation ($20 and up) and wax melts ($8) to complement their fashion finds.

“We have amazing wax melts that are soy-based,” Nelson said. “We always have them going in our little melter and people want to know what the good smell is when the come in the store.”

For designer purses and wallets, head to Eco Chic Boutique in Dyer, which offers a wide assortment of new Kate Spade wallets (average $35, ecochicboutique.us), as well as Kate Spade and Michael Kors purses (average $80), says Diane Gross, who co-owns the store that features new and previously owned women’s apparel and accessories.

Co-owner Victoria Madsen says gift certificates can provide a shopping experience once the hustle and bustle of the holidays slow down.

“Ladies love receiving gift certificates from Eco Chic Boutique,” she said. “Your money goes a lot farther when you shop with us.”

Online finds: It may seem cold and dreary, but quality eyewear is a thoughtful gift that can be used year-round in the Region. Brook Eyewear ($165, brookeyewear.com) features sun lenses that are impact-resistant, anti-reflective and smudge resistant with 100% UV protection.

Adding humor

One of the most popular sellers each holiday season at Dear Dani Boutique in Crown Point are off-humor mugs and tumblers ($16 and up), items so in-demand that Nelson says she often has to restock as the shopping season winds down. 

“Where we have the mugs and tumblers displayed is often the first section that people walk over to in our store when they arrive,” she said. “They’re some of our best-selling items in the store.”

Online finds: Pair a book club gift with hilarious stemless wine glasses ($27 for set of two, pourtionsjustright.com) that feature the phrases “Cliffhanger” and “Hungover” depending on how much wine is being enjoyed. The online shop also includes clever products including pasta bowls, dinner plates and tea towels with quips.

For the foodie

Head to Morkes Chocolates of Cedar Lake to find the perfect gift for sweets fans. A chocolate gift basket ($33 and up, morkescedarlake.com) offers an opportunity to sample a little bit of several types of gourmet chocolates and candies.

“We can also custom design them as well,” owner Mark VanderPloeg said.

For a fun twist on the gift basket are chocolate sleighs filled with colorful foiled milk chocolates ($9).

“The sleigh can be ordered in milk, dark or white gourmet chocolate,” VanderPloeg said. “The sleigh is individually bagged with a holiday bow.”

For a gift that makes a dramatic statement, try a 3-foot, 30-pound chocolate Santa.

“We have a wide variety of custom molded chocolate Santas from 1 ounce to our largest, the 30-pound Santa ($4 and up for smaller Santas; $40 and up for larger Santas),” VanderPloeg said.

Chocolate gift boxes ($6 to $60) can be memorable gifts for loved ones who have everything, as well as teachers, friends, colleagues and clients.

“We have many gift boxes to choose from or we can create a custom assortment,” VanderPloeg said.

For the java lover, a  newly published book, “How to Taste Coffee” ($25, amazon.com), helps to demystify specialty coffee. Miller Beach resident Jessica Easto explains why flavor notes are not always as straightforward with coffee as they are with other beverages, and teaches what creates and affects coffee flavor and how to practice sensory skills.

Online finds: Pair “How to Taste Coffee” with Vashon Island Coffee Dust ($36 for 72-serving sampler, vashoncoffeedust.com), a unique alternative to traditional syrups and flavored beans. This product crafts spice blends to flavor coffee without sweeteners, additives or preservatives and allows you to mix the spice blends with your coffee grounds, froth them with your milk or sprinkle them on top of your brewed coffee. Flavors include Hot Momma, Spicy Papa, Gingerbread and Cocoa Calm.

For tea fanciers, the VAHDAM Advent Calendar ($15, amazon.com) includes 24 tea bags. Pair it with the Sparkle Perfect Tea Maker ($20, vahdam.com) that elevates the tea brewing experience with its design, which features an industrial grade stainless steel infuser and 100% Borosilicate glass.

Made using local ingredients inspired by the desert, Monsoon Chocolates collections ($9 and up, monsoonchocolate.com) feature flavors such as Prickly Pear Caramel, Pomegranate Hibiscus Caramel, Sonoran Sea Salt Dark Chocolate, Mesquite White Chocolate and Blue Corn Atole White Chocolate.

For the griller, the Lumin Electric Grill ($479-$519, weber.com) is a memorable gift that keeps giving. Suited to small patio spaces, the electric grill delivers high temps of more than 600 degrees Fahrenheit for searing or authentic barbecue.

Other ideas

Treat your loved one with a Bailey’s Gift Set ($30, wiseguysliquors.com), which includes a hot chocolate mug.

Other gifts at Wise Guys Discount Liquors in Valparaiso, Hobart and Chesterton include an Aperol Gift Set ($27) with a signature Aperol spritz glass, a Rumchata Gift Set ($23) with peppermint bark flavors and a Merry & Bright Holiday Cream Gift Pack ($39) that includes black walnut and peppermint bark flavored rum.

Online finds: For he fitness enthusiast, the Ultra Fit Circle ($27, pilates.com) is great for an upper and lower body workout, as well as building strength and toning. Padded handles on the inside and the outside of the ring offer added comfort.

Pair it with the Nexus Pro Wireless Body Composition Scale ($40, ihealthlabs.com) that offers a 12 essential body composition analysis. Measurements include weight, heart rate, body fat percentage, BMI, body water percentage, muscle mass, body age and more. And it syncs with a variety of apps such as Apple Health and Google Fit.