Give the Gift of Shopping Local for Valentine’s Day
“Without Valentine’s Day, February would be…well, January.”
– Jim Gaffigan
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. While we may not be celebrating as we normally would, there are plenty of opportunities to spread joy to your loved ones while supporting local businesses. Here are some of our recommendations from all of us at Northwoods News.
Country Store of Eagle River:
If your loved ones have a sweet tooth, we highly recommend checking out the array of delicious sweets provided by the Country Store of Eagle River. The talented folks here have been making chocolates, buttercreme fudge, butter toffee and homestyle brittles for nearly 60 years.
Their candy is made with a historical confectionary process that involves heating ingredients up in a large copper kettle and letting them cool on marble tables. You can taste that this is candy that takes its time.
Wisconsin sweet cream and butter are used to further enhance the flavor profile. It seems very right that the County Store has won the Wisconsin State Fair award of Excellence for multiple products.
The storefront is open Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Sundays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Curbside pickup is available by placing an order online and calling (715) 479-9226 when you arrive.
Gift certificates are available, as well as sugar-free candy options. The store will even ship your gift throughout the 48 contiguous states. It’s no wonder that the Eagle River Country Store calls itself “The Sweetest Place in Town.”
Northwoods News pick: The peanut butter fudge is truly amazing! If you order the fudge, it will likely be gone in the blink of an eye.
Forth Floral:
Flowers are a Valentine’s Day staple, and there’s no better place to order yours locally than from one of Rhinelander’s oldest family-owned businesses. Forth Floral has been making beautiful things grow for over 120 years and throughout four generations of family members.
In addition to cut flower arrangements, Forth Floral has a wide range of botanical offerings, including orchids, succulents, cactus, bonsai, citrus, tropical plants, bulb and seeds for your 2021 garden. They also have everything you need to build your own terrarium—or you can order one to be delivered.
The store is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm and from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturdays. There is 7,000 square feet of greenhouse to explore for those looking for a change of scenery during the Northwoods winter.
Northwoods News pick: (for adults) Forth’s Little Hugs Bouquet is a pick-me up that you can send to friends or family.
For kids: Kid-Friendly Planting Design Kit – Succulent Plant. This is a great DIY project you can do at home as a family!
Mind Chimes Bookshop:
If you’re in need of a gift for the bookworm on your list, Mind Chimes Bookshop in Three Lakes has got you covered! Laura Lowry opened the store in the fall of 2019. Originally trained as a pediatrician, Laura was once an anatomy and physiology instructor at Nicolet College.
Laura realizes the importance of bookstores as a gateway as well as a gathering space for community: “Every small town needs a bookstore – it’s a portal to the rest of the country and even the world.”
Learn more about Laura’s journey at the Three Lakes Chamber of Commerce website.
Stop by the store Thursday-Saturday from 10:00 am-4:00 pm to pick out your books (and loose-leaf tea!) or order your selections online.
Need some recommendations of what to read? North in Focus compiled this list of 15 northern Wisconsin authors to inspire your reading selection.