Blog Post Abbey Robertson, Vanessa Pius Nov 19, 2021

Your National Park Gift Guide for the Holidays … or Just Because

Are you shopping for the national park enthusiasts in your life? We’ve got you covered.

This list of park-themed gifts from NPCA, our partners and some smaller businesses we admire can help take the stress out of your holiday shopping, with great options for your friends, family, sweetheart and everyone in-between.

Gifts that Give Back

Searching for a thoughtful gift that makes an impact? Every item in this section supports NPCA through a giveback per purchase, furthering our mission to protect parks for future generations!

For the bourbon collector with a knack for history

Celebrate a beloved park with Limestone Branch Distillery’s Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon from seventh-generation master distiller Stephen Beam. The bourbon was originally created the same year that Yellowstone National Park was designated the world’s first national park. One dollar from every bottle sold (up to $30,000 per year!) supports NPCA’s national park protection efforts.

For the activist who Leaves No Trace

Set a positive example for fellow hikers with NPCA’s 5 Ways to be a Parks Advocate stainless-steel water bottle or make a statement in a Protect Your Public Lands T-shirt, both from NPCA’s digital store.

For the coffee table book collector

Equal parts fascinating and beautiful, our hardbound book celebrates 100 years of protecting and preserving America’s national parks. Armchair explorers will love this book full of history and striking photography.

For the smallest national park advocates

Holiday guide onesie

NPCA’s Parks Advocate Bear onesie

camera icon © NPCA

Start their love for parks young with our Parks Advocate Bear onesie or NPCA Avatar Icon baby cap.

For the hard-to-shop-for recipient

Stumped on what to get that person who seems to have everything? With an NPCA membership, they’ll get our member luggage cubes to welcome them to our NPCA family, plus four issues of our award-winning National Parks magazine.

 

Selected Items from Small and Sustainable Shops

These hand-picked gift choices support small businesses we admire.*

For the art aficionado

The “Art of the National Parks” book by Fifty-Nine Parks features vibrant illustrations and posters of 63 national parks, a detailed background of each park, and park facts, with a foreword from NPCA President and CEO Theresa Pierno.

For the aspiring wildlife photographer

Help them keep their camera safe with this handmade, vegan leather Zion Camera Strap from Meg Brown. It’s compatible with most major camera brands and — bonus! — can be used for binoculars, too!

For the Yosemite know-it-all

Shelton Johnson’s “Gloryland” is a novel about a buffalo soldier in Yosemite and his journey as a free Black man in the U.S. cavalry. Johnson, a national park ranger, has worked at Yosemite for over 22 years and is an expert on the history of buffalo soldiers.

For the aspiring cartographer

If you’re shopping for someone who’s map-obsessed, look no further than Freestyle Travel Shop’s National Park Subway Map. The map comes as a printable download so you can print it for them or let them choose the size and color.

For the coffee lover who’d rather be in Joshua Tree

If you can’t start the day in the park itself, receiving Joshua Tree Coffee’s Breakfast Bliss this holiday season might be the second-best option. The coffee is made locally in the town of Joshua Tree and is great for anyone who calls the park one of their favorites.

For the hiking buddy with the best ghost stories

Halloween might be over, but there’s no bad time of year for a ghost story. The National Park After Dark podcast’s Desert Skeleton Hiker Sticker is a great stocking stuffer for that person who likes their laptop, car or water bottle with an extra touch of the macabre.

For the pal who’s never prepared

Give a knife, nail file, scissors, tweezers and toothpick to that friend who never seems to have any of them on hand with Victorinox’s Classic SD US National Park pocket knife. With plenty of park designs to choose from, you’ll be able to gift them their favorite (and make sure they’re prepared the next time you’re camping). Plus, the company follows sustainable practices for all of their products, eliminating excess packaging and recycling scrap steel for knives.

 

*Please note, NPCA is not directly affiliated with any of the brands or products listed in this section — nor does NPCA receive any monetary proceeds from the sale or purchase of these products. For more details on NPCA’s cause marketing promotions, please view our disclosures here.

About the authors

  • Abbey Robertson Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships

    As the senior manager of corporate partnerships and cause marketing, Abbey strategizes, collaborates with and stewards partners from end to end to create compelling, engaging campaigns in support of NPCA’s mission.

  • Vanessa Pius Senior Manager, Social Media and Engagement

    As Senior Manager, Social Media and Engagement, Vanessa advances NPCA’s mission through creative storytelling and engaging the organization’s online community.