An almost-too-spicy bowl of Penang curry in Thailand, a fresh slice of serrano ham in Spain, a sip of the coldest Belgian beer in Bruges, or barbecued alligator legs (!) in Louisiana: these are some of my strongest travel memories.
I love how food ties all of us together. These types of gifts are some of my favorite things to offer during the holidays: something freshly baked, an indulgent subscription box, some fancy kitchen tool, or libations that bring me right back to my most memorable trips.
Cheers to you and your loved ones during the holidays! As always, our lists are personally curated and reviewed so you can make some fun picks for your favorite people this year.
Quick picks
- Under $30: Cocktail Box Kits ($22.99) and a Drizzilicious variety pack ($26.99)
- For the road-trip snacker: Aloha Protein Bars (box of 12 is $34.99 at Aloha)
- For the hydration lover: Owala FreeSip bottle ($34.99) or PATH reusable bottled water ($29.23 for a 4-pack)
- For the home cook: Tramontina All in One Pan ($79.95) or a ButcherBox gift box (from $99)
- For the bread lover: a Wildgrain box (from $69)
- For the cranberry lover: Hilliard’s Dark Chocolate Cranberries (from $10)
- Splurge for the wine lover: Vinarmour Travel Wine Carrier ($299.95)
Jump to
- Snacks and Sweet Treats
- Coffee, Drinks and Spirits
- Hydration
- Drinkware and Bar Tools
- Kitchen Tools and Appliances
- Subscription Boxes and Kits
- Food Tours and Experiences
- Travel and Family Extras
Snacks and Sweet Treats
Aloha Protein Bars
Price: $34.99 for a box of 12 at Aloha
Literally in my travel bag for thousands of miles: Massachusetts, Colorado, and to its roots in Hawai’i! I took some of Aloha’s newest flavors on my trips this year to make sure I always have something satisfying and tasty in hand. My favorite is still the classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, which tastes like a treat but keeps me going through a long travel day.
My kids love the mini bars too: it’s nice to know they got some protein between the vacation treats.
- The full-size Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough bar has 14 grams of plant-based protein, from a brown rice and pumpkin seed blend.
- They’re USDA Organic, vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free and soy-free.
- Aloha is a certified B Corp.
- You can find them almost everywhere these days, including Costco, Target and all over the Hawaiian islands.
- Aloha is also employee-owned, and its special edition Kona and Pa’akai bars give back to Kupu, a Hawai’i youth environmental nonprofit, per the brand.
Where to buy: Thrive Market online, Aloha, Costco, Target -Eileen
Drizzilicious Mini Rice Cakes
Price: $26.99 for the Ultimate Variety Pack (six 4 oz bags)
The snack of choice in our house and on the road is anything with a little drizzle. My preschooler is finally old enough to join the snack train my spouse and I are fully onboard all year round. I’m definitely filling their stockings (and plane snack boxes) with Drizzilicious mini rice cakes. There are super fun flavors like Birthday Cake, S’mores and Cookies & Cream, plus seasonal picks like Pumpkin Spice, Peppermint and Gingerbread for the holidays.
- 90 calories per 21 pieces.
- Certified gluten-free, Non-GMO Project Verified and vegan.
- Made in a peanut- and tree-nut-free facility.
Where to buy: Amazon -Eileen
Hilliard’s Cranberry Chocolates
Price: Dark Chocolate Cranberries from $10, Cranberry Bark from $19.95, MassaCHEWsetts Basket $27.95
Hilliard’s is a Massachusetts chocolate shop that makes its chocolate and candy by hand, and one of their shops is just down the street from me. It’s our favorite stop when we want an upscale, handmade sweet to celebrate, and their cranberry chocolate tops my list of cranberry gifts this season: the dark chocolate cranberries for snacking, the cranberry bark for sharing, or the MassaCHEWsetts Basket for a little taste of New England. They ship anywhere in the lower 48, so it’s easy to send some Massachusetts sweetness to the cranberry lovers on your list.
Where to buy: Dark Chocolate Cranberries, Cranberry Bark, MassaCHEWsetts Basket -Eileen
Drinks and Spirits
Shipyard Pumpkinhead and Cinnamon Sugar Rimmer
Price: $8
Anyone who knows me knows I’m a sucker for seasonal drinks. If I’m on a beach in Florida, I want something fruity with an umbrella in it. If I’m pursuing a Christmas market in Europe, I’m craving something mulled, hot and steamy. But when I’m home in New England and it’s the autumn/winter season, I’m going after all things pumpkin.
Shipyard Brewing, based in Portland, Maine, has a great variety of ales, IPAs and even Pilsners in their lineup. But once a year I grab a pack of their signature Shipyard Pumpkinhead and have it all to myself. You can visit their home base in Portland, or order some fun gifts online. This year, I realized I could snag another tradition, which is a sugar and cinnamon rimmer that goes perfectly with Pumpkinhead. I’m now well stocked for the whole season.
Where to buy: Shipyard Brewing -Eileen
Hydration
PATH Water
Price: $29.23 for a 4-pack of 25 oz bottles on Amazon
Kids (and adults!) need to stay hydrated, especially when they spend long hours on a plane. Sometimes it’s a slog to get little humans to sip on water while we’re traveling. I don’t want to buy single-use bottles of water at the airport for the cost and the environment, so we’ve started to use PATH water. It comes in reusable aluminum bottles and features some fun characters in special editions, like Spongebob and Ninja Turtles. For the adults, they have a variety of flavors of sparkling water.
PATH bottles can be customizable too, which would be a really fun addition to a destination bachelorette or family reunion. They’re our new go-to on the road for a great alternative to plastics.
Where to buy: Amazon -Eileen
Owala FreeSip Bottle
Price: $34.99 (24 oz)
As an avid hiker, I can tell you that staying hydrated is the single most important element of a successful trip, especially on a long flight or a dry, high-altitude trail. That’s why I’m always looking for a quality water bottle, and the Owala FreeSip is easily one of the trendiest and most functional options available for both adults and kids right now.
The insulated stainless steel design is leak proof and keeps drinks colder longer, which is a huge win for long days on the move. I like the 2-in-1 design that allows you to either sip through the straw or chug directly from the wider opening, making it simple to get your water intake up, which is critical for staving off plane sickness and muscle cramps.
We especially love Owala’s Great American Road Trip series, with designs inspired by national parks like the Great Smoky Mountains. It’s a perfect reminder of the places we love and hope to bring our daughters to very soon. Owala keeps the new colorways coming, too, like this fall’s Plaid and Simple and Woodland Boho.
Where to buy: Amazon -Christian
Drinkware and Bar Tools
Vinarmour Travel Wine Carrier
Price: $299.95
My discerning palate has definitely evolved over the years. Especially now when I’m fortunate enough to travel to iconic wine destinations like France, Australia, and Italy, I’m able to indulge in so many wonderful sips of smooth, robust, and fresh wines. When I find the perfect bottle and want to take it home, I certainly don’t want to worry about it being damaged or broken at any point.
This luxe wine carrier is a beautiful splurge gift for the wine lover in your life from Vinarmour. Besides its incredible leak-proof, puncture-proof design that also folds up compactly, it’s absolutely beautiful on the outside.
- Vinarmour utilized materials such as Kevlar (!) and Dyneema, the world’s strongest fabric.
- The carrier has a lifetime guarantee, eliminating the need to buy disposable bubble carriers that aren’t great for the environment.
- Vinarmour donates a portion of each sale to Napa Green, a program that supports Napa Valley winegrowers and wineries in sustainable practices.
Where to buy: Amazon -Eileen
Kitchen Tools and Appliances
Tramontina All in One Pan
Price: $79.95
If preserved well, a good pan can last for many years. It also can change the way you cook into something even more delicious. I like a pan that can go from stovetop to oven, be used in many different ways, and cleans really easily. So far this 5 quart non-stick pan has held up beautifully.
After cooking, I can serve my dish right in the pan too, which comes in many trendy colors. I plan to whip up some Spanish paella in the near future for our next dinner party.
- Comes with a lid, spoon, steamer insert and bamboo trivet.
Where to buy: Tramontina
Subscription Boxes and Kits
ButcherBox
Price: Gift boxes from $99; subscription boxes start at $179 for 6 items
At first glance, a meat delivery service might seem like an odd choice for a gift guide, but I’ve been relying on ButcherBox for my family’s protein for almost two years now and I can’t say enough great things about the company.
Consumable gifts are always fantastic because they are usually used right away instead of collecting dust in a closet. Beyond the sustainability of receiving ethically sourced proteins, the convenience factor is huge for a busy traveler like myself. It means less time spent worrying about grocery store quality and more time planning the next adventure.
ButcherBox, a certified B-Corp, has expanded beyond just high-quality cuts of meat. They now offer fantastic prepared items, such as carnitas, meatballs, pulled pork and ravioli. These are huge lifesavers after getting home from a long trip when cooking a full meal feels impossible. They also offer special gifting boxes specifically for the foodies on your list, making it easy to share the quality without committing someone to a subscription.
- Certified B-Corp with ethically sourced proteins.
- Prepared items like carnitas, meatballs and ravioli.
- One-time gift boxes from $99, with no subscription required.
You can even use my referral link for a new-member offer on your first box.
Where to buy: ButcherBox -Eileen
Wildgrain Bread Subscription Box
Price: From $69
Over the winter, many of us like to hibernate. That can mean extra cozy blankets, or just some extra carbs to keep us warm. When I spend my bread tokens, I want to make sure to indulge in the best of the best. Wildgrain offers the chance to have monthly frozen baked good deliveries, all made by the pros.
A typical box includes everything from artisan sourdough loaves, fresh pasta, croissants and sweet treats. We love supporting a local Boston, MA company too, who also donates two meals to a food security nonprofit of your choice for every order.
Where to buy: Wildgrain
Cocktail Box Kits
Price: $22.99
Something that fuses together a love of flying, traveling and imbibing is perfect in our book. The small and compact cocktail kits are so fun and classy to whip out at any party for a little extra pizazz when creating homemade concoctions. I plan to put one of the mini cocktail box kits in everyone’s stocking this year.
- Most come with bartender-quality instruments, flavoring, sugars and even a stitched coaster for the final touch.
- You can purchase sets of kits for multiple people too in all of their varieties, including gin and tonics, Moscow mules and old fashioned drinks.
Where to buy: Amazon -Eileen
Food Tours and Experiences
Foodie Tours and Experiences
Price: Varies by tour
We all have that person on our list who says they don’t need any more stuff. I completely agree with the sentiment that experiences always trump clutter, which is why a gifted food tour or cooking class is one of the best ideas for the traveling foodie in your life. I’ve used Viator many times myself, and having a local expert guide made each visit infinitely richer than going on our own.
What makes Viator a great gift choice is the security and convenience they offer. They feature reviewed and vetted tours across the world, giving the recipient the freedom to choose an activity that perfectly fits their upcoming trip. I appreciate the free cancellation policies and reliable customer support, which are essential when travel plans can change unexpectedly.
Where to buy: Viator -Eileen
Travel and Family Extras
Chunky Deli Board Books and Onesies
Price: $42.99
Reading colorful, engaging books is something we love to do as a family to prep for exciting trips together. I’m obsessed with the dynamic and mouth-watering range of books and gifts from Chunky Deli, which brings food and travel together. The Pasta Baby Gift Bundle is especially fun for little foodies, with the Little Book of Pasta, high-contrast Pasta for Baby cards and an adorable Al Dente baby bodysuit.
The women behind Chunky Deli created the brand to inspire little ones to explore food, creativity and early learning. We have fun talking about all the different pasta shapes in the book, and I love that the bundle gives babies and toddlers something to look at, wear and interact with. After diving into this one and our other favorite foodie finds, we might have to book a trip to Italy sooner rather than later.
Where to buy: Amazon -Eileen
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