We'll be staying with some friends in North Dakota for 4 nights. The couple loves wine and we plan on taking a few special bottles from California. But they have a 5 year old son and I'd like to come up with some gift ideas for a family hostess gift. The budget would be around $50-$75.

Thanks

Assuming you can find out where they like to eat, I think a restaurant gift card is always good.

A gift certificate to a local attraction.

A family bus ticket OUT of North Dakota?

there was a very long thread not too long ago on houseguest gifts, can't remember if it was under US or Europe, maybe you can find it - many great ideas.

Personally, I don't like receiving gift certificates to area attractions where I live - the dinner gift certificates I love receiving, and they are something we always use. We have also received some lovely 'coffee table' type photography books from guests with beautiful photos from their area which we enjoy having.

I also like receiving (and giving) a holiday ornament from where my guests live or I often give them an ornament from where I live (new england area)
For the child, how about a nice children's book -and at that age, something he can play with like a small lego to make or art/craft type thing.

Good ideas, escargot! I especially like the holiday ornament idea.

Hey, sightseer- where are YOU from? CA? Kids love candy and bright trinkets, adults love salsa/specialty food/wine- put together a gift basket from your area for them. Something unique to your hometown...

I'd veto the gift certificates- unless you know there's somewher they really, really like but can't always afford. I just....don't eat out in my hometown, and if a guest were to give me a GC, I'd feel obligated to take them out to that place....

Oh- and I love the ornament idea, unless they're not big on Christmas trees- and I don't think I'd get people with a 5 yo. a table book.....

not a housegift per se but how about flowers to be delivered the day you leave for the grown ups. and perhaps a book for the 5 year old. my best friend is suggesting "wombat stew" by marcia vaughn & pamela lofts, a wonderfully illustrated book.

If I'm given one more gift certificate to Outback, my most hated restaurant, I think I'll go ballistic on the giver. I just have to smile and bite my tongue. Make sure you know the recipient's taste before giving a certificate.

I always enjoy when our house guests ask what is our favorite restaurant in our town/area and suggest to take us to dinner there. You may also offer to pay for a baby sitter that evening. Three of you may have plenty of California wine before dinner and desert after dinner at home to keep a cost of a dinner out lower. 4 nights of cooking dinner, serving, cleaning is a lots of work so it would be a nice break for your hosts. A few bottles of special California wine and, as suggested by escargot, a nice children book are really nice gifts. Personally, I wouldn't want to receive a gift certificate to local attractions, holiday ornament or salsa.

always give a generic dinner gift certifticate - like the amex ones, and then they can choose the restaurant, unless as someone said, you know of eitehr a favorite spot or a new 'hot' opened restaurant they might want to try.

IF you feel you want to give a gift, I think a gift card is the way to go...maybe to an electronics store, a supermarket, a department store or an AMEX gift card that can be used just about anywhere.

Personally, for me...just strip the bed and wash the sheets and towels; run the vaccuum in the guest room and clean the guest bathroom would put me in 7th heaven. Just IMHO....
Debi

Oh Debi, you are after my heart.

Leave the place exactly like you found it, strip and remake the bed the last day and clean the bathroom thoroughly. That is the best and most rare hostess gift you can gift. You will not be forgotten.

oooh- and be nice: for ex. offer to help wash/dry dishes.....that sends my grandmother into fits of almost frightening glee

Here's another...if you know that your host has a special cause that is near and dear to their heart...how about a donation made in their name?
Debi

Hi sightseer, do you have JellyBelly candy for sale near where you live? Most kids love them (adults do too!) Even though the JellyBelly factory is just south of me our local Safeway store sells them.