Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet
Holiday Gift Ideas From the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet
FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet has some gift ideas for shoppers during this holiday season.
They all have “Kentucky” themes because they all come from agencies within the cabinet.
“If you’re looking for a gift that says Kentucky, we have some wonderful ideas ranging from state park gift cards to artwork and history,” said Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Marcheta Sparrow.
Here is a listing of agencies and gift ideas for the holiday season:
Kentucky Historical Society
Is there a history lover on your gift list? If so, make plans to visit the Kentucky Historical Society’s 1792 Store, located in the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in downtown Frankfort. The 1792 Store has a wide selection of books, Kentucky crafts and other specialty items. You also may want to consider giving a gift membership to the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS). Members receive free publications, special prices on research services and members-only discounts on special events. From now through the end of December, KHS is offering $5 off its regular membership price. Contact KHS Membership Coordinator Leslie Miller at 502-564-1792 or see www.history.ky.gov for details.
Kentucky Unbridled Spirit Gift Card
The Kentucky Unbridled Spirit Gift Card is good at all Kentucky State Parks, the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, the Kentucky Horse Park and the Kentucky Historical Society museum and gift shop in Frankfort. Unbridled Spirit Gift Cards can be purchased at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea, the Kentucky Horse Park, the Kentucky Historical Society museum and gift shop as well as at Kentucky State Parks. Cards also may be purchased by calling 1-800-255-PARK (select option 5) or online at http://www.parks.ky.gov/gift-cards/.
Kentucky State Parks
Kentucky State Parks are a great place to visit during the winter months with lodge room rates starting at $49.95 a night. Special events such as holiday gatherings, light displays, New Year’s Eve parties and wildlife viewing weekends are among the favorites. State parks have lodge rooms, cottages and even a few campgrounds open for those who enjoy winter camping. Visit www.parks.ky.gov for information and reservations.
All 18 Kentucky State Park golf courses will continue to be open during the winter, weather permitting. Daily winter rate greens fees range from $11 to $17 weekdays and $11 to $22 weekends (golf cart not included) through March 31, 2012. Another great gift idea for golfers is the Kentucky State Park Golf Discount Card for $20-$25 that provides four discounted rounds of golf and a fifth round for free. Annual golf passes are also available. For more information on gift cards, annual passes, daily rates and golf packages visit http://www.parks.ky.gov/golf/
Kentucky Horse Park
The Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop Open House is Dec. 2-3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy free parking, refreshments and samples, door prizes, storewide discounts, and discounts on park admission as well as park tickets and memberships for stocking stuffers. Discounts are available to customers who show their gift shop receipts. The gift shop carries a unique selection of equine gifts and Kentucky-made products from crafts to Kentucky Proud, and enough holiday decorations to decorate the North Pole. The gift shop is also open during the Southern Lights display Nov. 18-Dec. 31 from 6 to10 p.m. Tickets for the new blockbuster exhibition, “The Horse,” will also make great Christmas gifts. This exhibit at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington runs through April 6. Call 859-259-4200 for more information.
Fish and Wildlife Resources
If you want to give someone who loves the outdoors a gift that he or she will use, then log on to fw.ky.gov – the website of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources – and click on the “Purchase License Here” tab.
The resident Sportsman’s License is the perfect gift for the outdoors enthusiast who does everything. This license includes the combination hunting and fishing license, a trout permit, spring and fall turkey permits, statewide deer permit and the state waterfowl permit (which also covers dove and other migratory bird hunting). This saves the purchaser $50 over buying each of these permits and licenses separately.
A unique stocking stuffer that will surprise the big game hunter in your family is an elk hunt lottery application. Each application costs $10, and may be purchased as a gift. Elk hunt lottery applications go on sale Dec. 1. Applications are available online only at www.fw.ky.gov.
Arts Council
The Kentucky Arts Council has partnered with organizations across the state to promote Kentucky artists and support local businesses. Subscribers to Kentucky Monthly magazine will receive a special Holiday Gift Guide featuring items produced by artists who have been selected for Kentucky Arts Council programs. Work by these artists can also be reviewed from the agency’s artist directories at http://bit.ly/KACartistdirectories.
The arts council is promoting “Small Business Saturday” on Nov. 26. A listing of shops recommended by Kentucky Crafted artists is available on the arts council’s website at http://artscouncil.ky.gov. The arts council has also launched a Twitter campaign to promote gift ideas, holiday open house and open studio events, and retailers carrying merchandise made by Kentucky artists. Search #giveagiftfromky for daily tweets through Dec. 22.
A Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts Gift Certificate
Give the gift of the arts! From Broadway to ballet, to the masterpieces of orchestra or the hottest pop stars performing today, The Kentucky Center brings it all to Kentucky. And a Kentucky Center Gift Certificate is the perfect way to thrill the arts lover on your list. Available in any amount and good for any performance! Call the Kentucky Center Box Office at 584-7777 or (800) 775-7777, or visit www.kentuckycenter.org.
Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
Holiday giving is especially enjoyable when you are able to find the perfect gift, and there is no better place to discover that than at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea. Shoppers will find an amazing array of distinctive Kentucky handmade treasures created by over 650 artisans.
The center has amazing ornaments, paintings, prints and photographs; sculpture; furniture and quilts; handcrafted glass; beautifully designed scarves, hats and shawls; as well as an array of lotions, candles and jewelry. For the cooks on your list, there are wonderful cookbooks, specialty Kentucky Proud foods for the holidays and a wide array of pottery and wooden items for presenting your holiday feast. Great books for children and adults abound, along with great musical selections – all by Kentucky artisans.
The “Unbridled Spirit Gift Card” is also available, if you’re shopping for those “hard to buy for” people on your list. Visit the Kentucky Artisan Center any time of year to “Give a Gift Made in Kentucky!”
The center’s exhibits, shopping and travel information areas are open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the cafe is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information call 859-985-5448 or visit the Center’s website at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov
Kentucky Heritage Council
Main Streets across Kentucky feature some of the most unique shopping experiences to be found anywhere, from clothing boutiques to restaurants, gift shops, bookstores and inns – located in charming historic buildings that have been rehabilitated to serve new uses. With more than 5,600 small businesses located in 71 participating Kentucky Main Street Program communities, downtowns offer the perfect destinations for holiday shopping, dining and visiting. Once again this year, Kentucky Main Street communities are partners with the national Small Business Saturday observance Nov. 26, a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. The Kentucky Heritage Council encourages everyone to take the pledge and Shop Downtown This Holiday Season! For more, visit www.heritage.ky.gov/mainstreet.
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