Christmas Shopping in the Lakeshore and Muskegon Area

The Lakeshore is a great place to shop for Christmas! People from as far north as Ludington come to shop here. Most go to the Lakes Mall, but many come for the small, quaint gift shops that offer specialty items such as Michigan Honey, Fruit/Vegetable Preserves, Quilts, Michigan Wines, Paintings/Sculptures, Michigan Fudge/Candies and more. Here is a list of my favorite gift shops/boutiques in the Muskegon area.

• Hage's Christian Supplies - Hage's is a great place to shop for the Bible Enthusiast or Educator on your list. This store specializes in church/ministry supplies as well as supplies for teachers and home schooling. Here you will find practical gift options such as Study/Devotional Bibles or reference books for school teachers, as well as unique keepsakes such as a Baby's First Christmas ornament and the Psalm 16:11 Teapot and Teacup. Prices are quite reasonable and it is just one of the most comfortable places to shop. It is set up similar to a Barnes & Noble just on a much smaller scale. There is a sitting area by a cozy fireplace where you can sit and peruse through the book collection. You can also sample the music of Christian artists, or admire the beautiful and spiritually moving work of many Christian painters and sculptors. You are sure to find many gift options here. This store is near the Lakes Mall and is located at 4949 Harvey Street in Norton Shores.

• Heart-N-Hand Gift Shop is the largest country shop in West Michigan. Located at 1437 Holton Rd. (M-120) in Muskegon, Heart-N-Hand surely has something for the "country at heart". Country furniture, handmade quilts/doilies, table cloths and other home accessories are just a few of your gift options. This is a great place to shop for the lady on your list whose house has a country décor. Be prepared to stay a while as there is a lot to see.

• Coastline Delicatessen - Now I know it sounds strange that I would list a deli as a place to shop, but really, you can get nice, unique gifts in this place. Here you can get all kinds of specialty teas, Michigan honey, cranberry mustard (it is delicious) and fruit/vegetable preserves. Be sure to call in advance because they are usually only open from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Monday - Friday. They also have wonderful gift baskets such as their "cookie making" basket. This comes with the cookie mix and everything needed to make a batch of cookies. They have many cute, unique but simple edible ideas for gifts. This deli is located in the heart of downtown Muskegon just across the street from the Walker Arena.

• Your Plate or Mine is the only store on my list that is located in the Lakes Mall. It is such a cool place! Bring your own pottery or use one of theirs to paint your own custom pottery. This is an excellent gift idea for mom or grandma. The kids can paint and design a custom plate for grandma's curio cabinet. She'll be sure to show it off to all of her friends. Other ideas include platters, cups/saucers, bowls, vases and more. Pottery starts and about $8 per piece and goes up to $20-$30, adult studio time is $6 for the first hr. and $3 for each addition hr., for children the cost is a little less.