Walton Gas employees suggest gift ideas for everyone on your list
The holidays are coming— whether you’re ready or not. If you find gift-giving a challenge, the employees of Walton Gas are here to help.
We polled our team to come up with some out-of-the-box ideas — all with a Georgia twist — that are sure to please those on your gift list. Check out our guide below for ideas, many with easy online shopping options, sure to elicit a heartfelt “thank you” when opened.
FAMILY
Take the entire family on an adventure they won’t forget, suggests grandfather Jeff Paul, community and member services director. He recommends checking out Historic Banning Mills in Whitesburg. Among the adventure options multiple generations can enjoy together are zip lining, aerial adventures, kayaking, ATV tours, hiking trails and horseback riding. The center offers the largest, continuous zip line canopy tour in the world.
PARENTS
Stuck for a great gift idea for your parents? Community and Public Relations Director Greg Brooks and his wife Robin enjoy exploring Georgia’s historic cities. He suggests giving parents tickets for a Savannah Riverboat Cruise aboard the Georgia Queen, said to be the largest and grandest riverboat in the United States. The boat docks at Savannah’s historic riverfront.
KIDS
Skip the toys and go for a great experience instead, advises Kerie Garrett, the mother of two. The senior natural gas specialist suggests buying tickets for a performance and create-a-puppet workshop at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. One admission covers access for the museum, performance and workshop. Through the end of December, the featured performance is “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
WORKING MOM
Communications Coordinator Savannah Chandler, who is the mother of two, suggests giving dinner as a gift. Purchase a gift certificate for a meal kit service, such as Atlanta-based Instead of Flowers. The company offers a slate of meal plans, including vegetarian, gluten-free and kids’ meals. All metro Atlanta orders are delivered to your door. The company also ships frozen meals overnight via UPS.
PARTY HOST
Need a host gift for a party? Make it a Georgia Grown product. Share a bottle of pecan oil from Oliver Farm in Pitts. The oil is great for making vinaigrettes and grilling, says Vanessa Birruete, senior customer care representative. Or, present a jar of Emily G’s peach marmalade, made in Dunwoody from locally harvested fruit, suggests Lunenette Edens, customer care supervisor.
OUTDOORS ENTHUSIAST
Share the gift of the great outdoors by purchasing a Georgia State Parks gift card, suggests Donna Brooks, a Walton Gas accountant who enjoys camping. The gift card can be used at the system’s 60 state parks and affiliated sites, which span a variety of landscapes from mountains to coast to marsh. Gift cards are perfect for golfers, hikers, anglers, campers, history buffs or anyone who enjoys being outdoors. Cards may be bought in any denomination starting at $5 each. Purchase a card online or at any participating park.
DIYer
Marketing Specialist Sara Hodge, a newlywed and new homeowner, hopes someone will give her a gift certificate to attend a hands-on workshop to learn tips and tricks for arranging flowers. She suggests the floral arranging classes in Atlanta offered by xperiencedays.com.
GARDENER
Ashlie Franklin, commercial sales representative, recommends a gift certificate to attend a class at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens. Experts present short classes on topics covering a range of topics of interest to the avid gardener.
FOODIE
Jim Bottone, vice president of Walton Energy, says a Taste of Thomasville food tour is perfect for the family foodie. The culinary tour includes a walk through Thomasville, voted one of the nation’s best small towns, with stops to taste state and national award-winning foods, wine, beer and cocktails.
GOLFER
Philip Peters hopes to spend more time on the golf course after he retires from Walton Gas next month. He suggests giving the golfer on your list a round of play at the University of Georgia Golf Course, which GolfingGeorgia.com lists as one of the state’s most popular courses.
TENNIS PLAYER
Atlanta claims to have more tennis players than any other city in the country, so competition is keen for tickets to the annual Truist Atlanta Open each summer. Avid tennis player Phil Weatherly, business development director, suggests any tennis fan would love to open a gift of courtside seats for this event that serves as a warm-up to the U.S. Open.
BASEBALL FAN
Love the Braves but can’t justify the cost of a season ticket for your favorite fan? Pete Ervin, senior customer care representative, suggests checking out the club’s A-List Partial Season Ticket Membership, which consists of 27 games, primarily on weekend days.
UGA FAN
Whether it’s game day gear or a memento of the 2021 national championship, find everything a fan needs to show their love for the Dawgs at the UGA Bookstore. Shop in person at the store on the university’s main campus in Athens or online advises Connie Bentley, financial analyst and resident Dawg football expert.
DAY TRIPPER
Schedule a day trip with your bestie to the North Georgia Mountains, recommends Tassie Kirven, data processing supervisor. Make a Saturday visit to Yonah Mountain Vineyards and buy an advance ticket for a one-hour tour, which includes touring the winery and barrel-aging wine caves, wine tastings and a souvenir of the trip.
DOG LOVER
Georgia is full of pet-friendly spots where dog lovers can enjoy a date with the entire family, including the four-legged furbaby, advises Sherry Horvieth, consumer services director. Give a gift certificate to one of the places on Explore Georgia’s list of dog-friendly restaurants and breweries, such as Creature Comforts Brewing Co. in Athens.
FAMILY HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE
Get the entire family in the holiday spirit with a trip to the 12th annual Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden, suggests Evette Jones, finance and accounting administrative assistant. The lights shine nightly through Jan. 14, 2023. Dress warmly and wear walking shoes to explore the garden. Allow about two hours to walk through the lighting exhibition.