Last-minute shopping

• Finland Co-op

Featured product: Finland collage coffee mug. Drink your favorite beverage while enjoying the photos of Finland’s landmarks on this mug—for less than $10! Finland Co-op, 6648 Highway 1, Finland
• Great! Lakes Candy Kitchen

Featured product: Nibbler assorted candies, $9.90-36.60. Much of their inventory is available for purchase online and can be shipped to anywhere in the U.S. Holiday special hours: Open daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. until Christmas. Great! Lakes Candy Kitchen, 223 Scenic Drive, 834-2121, greatlakescandy.com
• Russ Kendall's Smokehouse

Featured product: Smoked herring, $7.50/pound. It’s caught in Lake Superior by Knife River fisherman Steve Dahl and smoked in-house at Kendall’s. Holiday specials: Kendall’s will ship most of their products to anywhere in the U.S. with a minimum order of 3 pounds. Stop by or call for more details. Russ Kendall’s Smokehouse, 149 Scenic Drive, 834-5995
• Playing With Yarn

Featured product: It’s not just about yarn—you can buy these linens at Playing with Yarn, too. They’re imported from Sweden and range in price from $10-60. Holiday specials: Open house Dec. 22-23. Enjoy cookies, coffee and demonstrations by local artists and knitters. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and 12-5 p.m. on Sunday. Playing With Yarn, 276 Scenic Drive, 834-5967

Talk about it

If any of our readers have put off their shopping until the absolute last minute, these local shops have you covered. Check out the last items in our month-long series of distinctive gift ideas which keep money in the local economy. From Knife River to Finland and the places in between, we've spent December featuring local establishments and their unique wares. Whether you supported your neighbors by purchasing an item or gift certificate or by donating to a local nonprofit, the community thanks you. We all benefit when money stays in the county. From all of us at the Lake County News-Chronicle, enjoy the holiday season.

Tags: gift guide, knife river, holidy shopping, life, finland