With Black Friday and the holiday season almost upon us, it's once again time to try to find gifts for families and friends. Many WPI students don't realize that there are awesome places to purchase gifts within walking distance or a short drive from campus. Instead of going on Amazon, why not buy something from the local stores and small businesses in Worcester!

1. Worcester Art Museum Shop

Literally right down the street from the WPI campus is the Worcester Art Museum and its shop. It offers an array of merchandise, many of which is based around exhibits in the art museum (when they had a cat exhibit, they had cute cat mugs!). They have everything from umbrellas to jewelry to even kids toys, there's no way you wouldn't be able to find something!

2. Grime Clothing

A short drive away is Grime Clothing right down Shrewsbury Street. Grime provides a curated thrift shopping experience that provides both discounted new clothes and used clothing. For anyone who enjoys the new and upcoming things in fashion, a gift card or some clothing from here would be a great choice!

3. Crompton Collective

Crompton Collective is down in the Canal District of Worcester, right in the middle of other local shops and eateries. Crompton Collective provides a marketplace of local independent makers and small businesses in the Central MA area. The marketplace houses small antique sellers all the way to local soap and accessory makers.

4. Hebert Candy Mansion

While I have never been to the Hebert Candy Mansion myself, I have passed it many times with the hope of eventually going in (maybe this year is my year!). While the furthest of the locations in the list (it's all the way in Shrewsbury), their holiday candy looks well worth the drive!

5. Trunk and Disorderly

Very much like Grime, Trunk and Disorderly is a bit closer for WPI students, it's right on Main Street! Trunk and Disorderly is a consignment shop with the coolest clothing for extremely reasonable prices!

6. Birch Alley

Birch Alley is perfect for those on your list who love to decorate their homes or even dorms! It's right next to Crompton Collective so you can get plenty of shopping done within a small area!

7. Seed to Stem

Seed to Stem actually just recently moved to the same plaza as Crompton Collective and Birch Alley! It provides perfect gifts for those who love plants! Seed to Stem has anything from decorations for your home all the way to terrarium plants that need minimal watering.

8. C.C. Lowell Art Supply Co.

C.C. Lowell is right down Park Ave and provides gifts for those creative people on your list. It's an independent art shop and also the very first art store in the United States. Take a walk down and pick you and you someone you love some art supplies to make something awesome together!

9. That's Entertainment

Right by C.C. Lowell is That's Entertainment, an amazing haven for the nerds in your life. They have everything from comic books to video games and even merchandise such as shirts and toys. Any fandom you can think of, they have it! It's a one stop shop for that nerd in your life!

10. Lincoln Stamp and Coin

And lastly, as a new coin collector myself, I have visited Lincoln Stamp and Coin. Lincoln Stamp and Coin is a one stop shop for coin and stamp collectors, of course, but is also an amazing place for history buffs. They have a silent auction wall in their store that allows you to bid on antique jewelry, books and even postcards.

Take a break from your computer shopping habits to enjoy the shops around Worcester to not only enjoy the area but to get everyone on your gift lists unique gifts too!