GREAT GIFTS!

Searching for that special gift to take back with you? Whistler is a shopper's paradise, with 200+ retailers in the Village and Creekside. We have a few ideas to start you off, and for some, you only have to go as far as the local grocery store! Don't forget to spoil yourself while you're at it.

IGA MARKETPLACE is a great place to find Whistler-made treats. Whistler Chocolate, made from the finest organic chocolate, won't take up much room in your suitcase. Try the dark chili with 72 per cent cocoa. Another edible is Nonna Pia's line of balsamic reductions made right here in Whistler. The strawberry fig goes wonderfully on arugula or any greens. You can also find locally roasted coffee from the Whistler Roasting Company. Their unique blends are achieved by roasting each coffee origin separately and then post-blending by hand. A new line to hit the store is Whistler Naturals, a skin-care line that's 100 per cent made in B.C. All products are vegan and free from harsh preservatives. Look for the white chocolate hand and body lotion. It may not be edible but smells like it should be!

The perfect gift is a personal gift! Enchantment and tradition is illustrated in PANDORA'S holiday collection which sparkles with seasonal charm and luxurious materials. Like a living journal, treasure special moments with sparkling gemstones and two-tone sterling silver with 14-karat gold. Available from the Pandora Store, Whistler Village Centre

The Okanagan may be British Columbia's best-known wine area, but the Fort Berens Estate Winery, just 130 kilometres away in Lillooet, in the scenic Fraser river canyon, is producing award-winning vintages from their 20-acre estate. Their 2010 Chardonnay won gold and best Canadian Chardonnay at the 2012 New World International Wine Competition.

If you can't make the two-hour drive, don't worry, NESTER'S LIQUOR STORE can fix you up with current vintages. They will even deliver it to your hotel.

BLACK GOAT CASHMERE always uses natural fibres of the best possible quality, selecting their cashmere in far-off regions like Mongolia. There, where the winters are extremely cold, goats protect themselves using their soft and warm fleece: cashmere was called the "Fiber of Kings" according to historical records. The men's 12 gauge, 100 per cent cashmere V-Neck sweater with ribbed collar cuffs and hem will stay the course as a versatile, supple and soft investment. The colour selection is so good you may need more than one! Add a 100 per cent cashmere English rib two-tone scarf to complete the look.

For a gift that gives a big impression, but won't put you over your baggage limit, you can't go wrong with jewelry! Check out the Ross Haynes designs at KEIR FINE JEWELLERY on the Village Stroll. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Haynes' designs are hand-constructed and hand-forged and reflect the beauty of the natural West Coast.