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Community Corner

Holiday Guide 2012: Gift Ideas to Help Unplug, Recharge

Books, spa dates, board games. There are plenty of gift options out there to help your loved one escape the daily hustle.

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In this increasingly digitalized world, we can’t go anywhere without packing the chargers, the battery packs, the DVDs and the game systems. But what happens when the power goes out? How do we escape from it all? Yes, there truly is life and entertainment outside of the electrically-charged world. Here are a few gift ideas to help friends and family unplug and recharge.

Books

Check out your Eagan bookstores, like Barnes & Noble Booksellers or Mind's Eye Comics for the newest bestsellers or tried-and-true classics. Bookstores’ shelves are stocked with adventures waiting beyond the front cover. Have a traveler in your posse? Check out the travelogues. So your mother-in-law is hooked on reality TV shows? You’ll find plenty of drama in the fiction section. Nothing beats cozying up in front of the fireplace with a book.

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Board Games

Classics like Monopoly, Clue, Scrabble and Uno are always great choices, and the perfect way to spend quality family time. Local gift shops like Kids Carousel or Target might even have board games specific to your region. Hasbro has licensed many versions of its Monopoly games for university and other regions. Check local university bookstores or online at Amazon.com to find them. Got a card shark in the family? Find or print out a list of new card games to try, tuck them in with a new deck of playing cards, and watch what happens.

Concert Tickets

For the music lover in your life, it might be hard to part with the MP3 player or iPod, but they’d easily hand them over for the chance to hear their favorite musicians live. Whether their music listening tends towards rock ‘n’ roll or opera, the options are limitless. Check out (your local concert venue) schedule for upcoming acts or peruse Ticketmaster.com.

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Dinner Out

Mom might be a great cook, but even great cooks want a night away from the kitchen. A gift certificate to her favorite restaurant might be a perfect addition to the menu. Try local favorites or appeal to her adventurous side. To check out a complete listing of Eagan restaurants, head to Eagan Patch's business directory.

Education

Maybe you’ve got someone in your family who loves the History or Discovery channels. What better way from them to unplug and recharge than through fun educational classes? Local community colleges and school districts often offer adult continuing education classes, everything from guitar lessons to photography classes. Got a Dancing with the Stars fan? Dance lessons at the local dance studio Raddatz Dance Studio or Turning Pointe Dance Studio might be just the ticket. Cooking classes are another option.

Exercise Pass

For some, the perfect way to recharge is through exercise. If you’ve got a fitness buff in the family, a pass to try the latest exercise class might be just what they would love to recharge. Check the local YMCA, Renegade Personal Training & Fitness, or Lady Katherine: Women's Fitness with a Touch of Sass for class passes and other deals.

Maid to Order

There’s never time to unwind and recharge when the house is a mess. Help unplug that vacuum by giving the gift of a house cleaner for the day. Many local companies like ServiceMaster Clean and Perfect Touch Cleaning offer one-time house-cleaning services based on hourly fees. Check with friends or neighbors for suggestions.

Spa Gift Certificates

The ultimate in an unplugged excursion. No cell phone, no computer, just relaxation. Visit Solace Salon & Spa or Solimar Wellness Spa to find out what kind of packages they offer. Manicure and pedicures at one of the many local nail salons are another great idea.

Weekend Getaway

Give your loved ones a chance to get away from it all. With tickets in hand or a hotel room booked, it’s a lot harder to give excuses as to why they can’t unplug. You might not be able to confiscate the cell phone, but you can give them the chance to find relaxation away from the daily routine.

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