Books, Beanies, and National Park Inspiration: What to Buy for the Armchair Explorer

Your friends and family can own a piece of Western history, and display it with pride at home. While moving offices, we discovered a cache of old, beautifully preserved posters highlighting Sunset covers from the past. Take a look at our other posters here.

Located in Colorado Springs, Casa Bella Portraits brings the excitement of adventure with watercolors. Loved ones can check off park by park as they explore all the beauty that the national parks have to offer. Casa Bella also offers customizable adventure maps if you want to narrow down a specific journey, like an engagement location or honeymoon road trip.

From Chatsworth, California, Venforth offers a variety of accessories and apparel to celebrate the West’s great outdoors. Unisex t-shirts are 100% cotton providing comfort on the trail and in the home. Plus, when you purchase from Venforth, you can choose which outdoor-related organization or group to donate 1% of your total purchase.

These ornaments from Small Crafty Things out of Long Beach, California, are laser-etched in plywood. They feature iconic sights from the national parks and are a great way to commemorate a climb or vacation. Shop the entire collection here.

Made right here on the West in Portland, Oregon, North Drinkware’s hand-blown glasses are the perfect way to sip down the mountain. Pick a favorite peak or lake, as the company has many geographical landmarks to offer including: Big Sky, Half Dome, Lake Tahoe, Maroon Bells, Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Baker, Mt. Hood, and Mt. Rainier. The store also sells pints that will keep beers as cold as glacial ice caps.

Jimmy Chin is an Academy Award-winning director, world-class mountaineer, and a National Geographic photographer. Now, the creative force has expanded into books and is bringing us There and Back: Photographs from the Edge. The book gives fans an intimate look at the world from Chin’s vantage point through stunning photographs and thoughtful passages.

Etsy shop Albion Mercantile Tile Co. brings honest reviews of our national parks through these hilarious posters. Each poster draws from Yelp’s most disappointing reviews to bring an ironic retelling to lucky recipients. To see them all, pick up a signed copy of Subpar Parks: America’s Most Extraordinary National Parks and Their Least Impressed Visitors.

Drive Coffee’s National Parks Collection highlights the sights and smells of each national park through specially selected and sourced coffee beans. The Yosemite brew takes its notes from one of nature’s forefathers, John Muir. It features a single-origin Ethiopian blend with notes of ginger, chocolate, and orange citrus. Its light blend is also suitable as an espresso.

Born in Seattle, Art Wolfe is a renowned wildlife photographer. But he keep readers in the dark with his new photography book, Night On Earth. Shot entirely at night, Wolfe traveled to every continent to explore and document the nocturnal world of animals, humans, and nature.

Art By Elaine’s art is inspired by nature. The artist’s shop, based in San Francisco, features prints, apparel, accessories, stickers, towels, mugs, and more. Support this small business while sharing your love for places on the West like Boulder, Colorado.

Located in Marina Del Rey, California, Parks Project created these beanies to explore the fun(gi) side of nature. The ribbed acrylic knit keeps the beanie secure, so it can be taken on a hike or keep the wearer warm while sliding down the couch for an afternoon snooze. They come in two colors, beige and purple. Every purchase made supports the National Parks Conservation Association and its mission to fight for the future of public lands so they are preserved for generations to come.

North Drinkware’s woven blankets feature the United States Geological Survey maps of Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier. Made exclusively by Pendleton Woolen Mills, the blanket is heavy enough to keep warm during a cool camping trip. Or it can be used to bring a piece of the outdoors home as a bedspread. Be on the look out for new releases, including a map of the Maroon Bells and the Mt. Rainier blanket in forest green.

Embrace the magic of the national parks with this art collection. Fifty-Nine Parks pays tribute to the history of America’s national parks with colorful illustrations, inspiring quotes, fun facts, and in-depth guides to each one’s unique features.

A great addition to any game night or the perfect on-the-go camping activity, these playing cards are made with paper approved by the Forest Stewardship Council, so you can shop sustainably this season. The FSC promotes responsible management of the world’s forests.

If you know an outdoor enthusiast who has reluctantly told you they don’t want anything this holiday season, surprise them by donating to the National Forest Foundation in their name. The foundation’s mission is to bring people together to restore and enhance our National Forests and Grasslands.