Bungalower Media’s annual gift guide is finally here with a whole lineup of options for Orlando lovers, longtime residents, and City Beautiful newbies alike. We hope this list helps you really connect with that special someone in your life.
And don’t forget to use our handy interactive retail map to find a new local shop to fall in love with.
BUNGALOWER BUDDY KEYCHAIN – CLICK HERE
Join our membership program to unlock amazing discounts and deals at participating businesses around the City Beautiful! The best part is, that your one-time $20 membership fee goes directly to supporting our mission of providing hyper-local news. You can also make it an annual donation too if you really like what we’re throwing down.
BURROW PRESS SUBSCRIPTION – CLICK HERE
Give your book-loving friends something to squee over with a subscription to local indie Orlando publisher, Burrow Press. Members get four books by Florida authors sent to their mailboxes each year and access to private book-loving events. Reading local is just as cool as shopping and eating local, y’all.
LOCALLY-SOURCED SWEETS
Orlando has no shortage of amazing dessert shops so you have no excuse to give someone a crappy box of chocolates from Five Below when you could instead give them some hand-poured delicacies from The Glass Knife, AJ Chocolate House, or Sampaguita. If you want to lean into a platter of cookies worthy of Santa, then breeze by our friends at Phat Ash Bakes, Gideon’s Bake House, Cloudhop Bakeshop, or Charlie’s Bakery and Creamery.
SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS
Store-bought art is the absolute worst thing you can be putting on your walls. That crap has no soul and you’re just putting money in the pockets of CEOs. CEOs who have real art on their walls like bananas with duct tape. You deserve better. Check out local art hubs like CityArts in downtown Orlando and see what’s available in their community galleries. Visit Mills Gallery, Park Avenue Contemporary Art Gallery in Winter Park, College Park Gallery in College Park is closing at the end of the month but you’ve still got time to see what’s on offer. Studios like FAVO and McRae Arts Studio would love nothing more if you reached out to one of their artists for a little private gallery visit too. So don’t be shy. Spread the wealth.
MEMBERSHIP TO ENZIAN – CLICK HERE
Become a member at Enzian Theater and enjoy a year’s worth of discounted admission to movies, one free popcorn per show, and discounted admission to select programming. The higher the membership level, the more the perks. And don’t sleep on their outdoor bar either. The Eden Bar features a revolving seasonal menu that’s incredibly creative and tasty, so you can make a whole event out of each of your visits.
FLORIDA STATE PARKS PASS – CLICK HERE
You can get an Annual Entrance Pass to all of Florida’s State Parks for just $60 and you can get friends into parks for just an additional $2 per person. Annual entrance passes can be purchased at all park ranger stations and museums during regular business hours, 365 days a year. Please call the park in advance to ensure availability.
KRAMPUS RYE FROM FORWARD/SLASH – CLICK HERE
Take a break from festivities and stop by the distillery for a taste – a slightly different blend than last year’s whiskey with all the same great Christmas spice. The boys at Forward/Slash Distillery in Winter Park blended a rye last year and finished it in a spiced rum barrel from Lugo Craft Distillery in Lakeland. The rest is history.
SUNCARDS FOR SUNRAIL – CLICK HERE
Sometimes people only try things because they can do them for free, so why not gift a friend or loved one with the gift of free transportation? SunRail has reloadable SunCards that can hold a prepaid value and let you tap on and tap off at your leisure. Be sure to let your friends know about the bike trails they can access via the SunRail too, like in DeBary – like we did HERE.
SOAK IN BEER, WITH A BEER – CLICK HERE
There’s a spa on International Drive where you can pour your own beer while soaking in a tub full of beer. Each private room will have self-serve beer taps with three choices of beer, and red and/or white wine. The spa rooms also have an infrared sauna, private rooms, and a cozy atmosphere. Go check them out!
AN OMAKASE/CHEF’S TABLE EXPERIENCE
Sometimes nothing says “I love you” more than spending a big chunk of change on a multi-course dinner. Orlando has a variety of amazing chef’s table experiences to choose from, but some of our favorites include Foreigner in Audubon Park, Kaya in Mills 50, Susuru Juju in Colonialtown, and Camille in Baldwin Park, Kadence in Audubon Park, and Soseki and Omo by Jont in Winter Park. Maybe bring a little tasteful jewelry or something to gift with dessert though too if you’re hoping to get lucky.
GO CATCH A SPORTSBALL GAME AND EAT ALL THE THINGS
Support a local sports team and become a season ticket holder. You have plenty to choose from too, including Orlando Magic, Orlando City Soccer and Orlando Pride, Orlando Solar Bears, Orlando Squeeze, and the Flowrida Goats.
YUMMY SMELLS FROM LA JETEE – CLICK HERE
The name of the shop was inspired by a film called La Jetee. It’s a 1962 French science fiction featurette by Chris Marker that later inspired Terry Gilliam to create 12 Monkeys in 1995. The shop is only the second perfumery in the state of Florida and carries some of the rarest and best-rated perfume houses. Say hi to Lulu the shop dog if you see her pressing her cute little nose against the window at you.
BONUS RANDOM GIFT IDEAS WE LOVE:
- A NIGHT AT THE BEAUTIFUL TOM AND DAN AIRTND – MORE INFO HERE
- CUSTOM 3-D CITY MICRO-SCAPES – MORE INFO HERE
- MYSTERY TACKLE BOX – MORE INFO HERE
- SPONSOR A SLOTH CROSSING – MORE INFO HERE
- JOIN THE “BUY NOTHING” MOVEMENT – MORE INFO HERE
