The Blackburn’s Ultimate 2025 Gift Guide
Your 2025 holiday gift guide is here! Read more to get fresh ideas on special gifts for your loved ones this holiday season.
The Blackburn has always been more of a feeling than a place — the slow mornings, the winter light in the hallways, the way time moves a little softer on the property. December is basically its Super Bowl. So here’s a gift guide built around that energy: calm luxury, local gems, and experiences that don’t end up in a donation bin by February.
1. A Winter Stay That Feels Like a Reset
Give someone a night or two where their phone magically stops mattering and the only decision they have to make is whether to read in the soaking tub or wander the grounds.
A stay at The Blackburn hits different in December — quiet lawns, crisp air, and that warm-glow ambiance you literally cannot fake.
Perfect for: the overworked friend, your partner who needs a vacation from the group chat, or your parents who insist they “don’t need anything.”
2. A Spa Voucher for Their Nervous System
Not all heroes wear capes, some just give 60 minutes of pure tension-melting peace. The Spa at The Blackburn in winter feels like a small, well-whispered secret. Give a massage gift certificate and instantly become someone’s favorite person.
Perfect for: anyone currently powered by caffeine and stress.
3. Local Art From Our Third-Floor Gallery
The gallery has become one of the quietest, most underrated places to find meaningful gifts. Original pieces, prints, and locally made works tell a way better story than mass-produced wall décor. It’s a gift that feels intentional because it is.
Perfect for: the friend who says they want to “support local more.”
4. A Downtown Staunton Foodie Bundle
You can’t go wrong with a curated mix from local spots. Think:
- A gift card to Zynodoa or The Shack
- Coffee beans from Crucible Coffee
- A sweet treat from Giancarlo Fine European Pastries
Bundle them up with a handwritten note and boom — you’ve done holiday magic.
Perfect for: the friend who plans their entire day around their next meal.
5. A Cozy-Night-In Kit From Staunton Makers
A few standout picks:
- A luxury candle or room spray from Essentially Zen or Redwood + Co
- Bath salts or skincare from Latitudes Fair Trade Store
- A handcrafted mug from local potters
Pair it with a Blackburn stay or spa voucher for an overachiever-level gift.
Perfect for: homebodies, aesthetes, people who hoard blankets.
6. A “History Nerd but Make It Cute” Experience
Staunton’s historic district is basically a museum you can walk through — the perfect setting for a personalized itinerary. Build one around:
- A private tour of historic sites — bonus if it includes The Blackburn’s Echoes of the Past tour
- A stop at the Camera Heritage Museum
- A slow, cozy dinner downtown
Wrap the itinerary up as a “Choose Your Own Staunton Story” experience.
Perfect for: the friend who reads every placard in a museum.
7. A Year-Round Memory: Blackburn Gift Certificate
In the world of “I have no idea what to get them,” this one never misses. It’s flexible, elevated, and lets the person choose their own adventure — winter stay, spring getaway, spa day, dinner downtown, you name it.
But here’s the upgrade: our on-site Blackburn Gift Shop is packed with locally made goodies and curated pieces that scream “I actually put thought into this.” Loved ones can pick up a Staunton-made keepsake, such as hand-drawn postcards or locally roasted coffee beans, or grab something charming to remember their stay by.
Perfect for: literally anyone.