As we approach the holiday season, we remind ourselves that people may have enough sweaters, kitchen appliances, and gadgets. But what they might like to receive this holiday season, especially in the time of COVID and social distancing, is the gift of the outdoors.
The Sporting Shoppe in Richmond, R.I., sells thousands of items for the outdoor sporting enthusiast – from Yeti coolers and LaCrosse boots to hunting rifles as well as Sitka camouflage gloves and outerwear. Supplies for archery, fishing, hiking, kayaking, hunting, target shooting and gun collecting are available at this 50,000-square-foot store located at The Preserve Sporting Club and Residences at 87 Kingstown Road.
With a dedicated and educated staff, the shop has a hometown feel and service of a local boutique, with the inventory of a big box store.
For the sporting enthusiast in your family, The Preserve Sporting Shoppe will have everything they need and then some. However, it might still help to have some insight into what to have in mind for certain outdoor adventurers.The perfect gift for the kayaker in the family might not also be the best gift for the hiker. To break it down, we’ve got examples of the best gift options depending on the outdoor activity and season, making it easy to find the best gift for your family.
For the Adventurers:
For those who love getting outside, hiking, and exploring nature, outdoor apparel is a perfect option. Camouflage is the color of the day in the apparel section. Additionally, Sitka gear including gaiters, gloves, jackets, and vests are great choices to help keep hands, feet and head warm in any outdoor conditions.
Beyond just apparel, The Shoppe also has lots of options for hearty snacks during outdoor adventures such as freeze-dried and dehydrated meal packs. A popular addition to the inventory is a line of delicious Preserve Farm Stand foods, such as jars of Granny’s Hot Sweet Pickles, Pickled Eggs and Jalapeno or Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives.
There is also an indoor shooting range, which is the longest automated indoor range in North America.
For The Shooters:
For those who are already into the sport of shooting, or for those just getting into it, The Shoppe has a ton of great options for this holiday season. The first-floor display includes a variety of firearms — shotguns, rifles, pistols, and muzzleloaders that range in price from $200 to more than $200,000. Because the Shoppe has multiple models in storage, customers can see in person different firearms they’ve seen online and compare the virtual with the actual.
For serious collectors, there is also a fine gun room with overstuffed chairs and carved wood details. Display cases feature Bespoke hand etched custom knives, beautiful women’s jewelry and accessories, and a modern green safe with a throw-back vibe. Several of the rifles and shotguns standing at attention along the walls are hand carved from Turkish walnut and the metal is hand engraved.
The offerings for shooters at The Preserve don’t stop at just the guns themselves. The Preserve also offers extensive lessons and instruction from certified experts at The Preserve’s famous range. The Preserve Academy offers gun classes for beginners and experienced shooters. Certified instructors teach classes such as basic pistol, home firearms safety and tactical training.
The range has no caliber restriction, and with 19 bays it has bays as deep at 150 yards – the equivalent of one and a half football fields. That is the longest automated indoor shooting range in North America, according to Mihailides.
In addition to the indoor facility, The Preserve is home to one of the best clay shooting facilities in the country to accommodate this stylish and fast-growing sport which can be enjoyed all year long. An outing to these clay shooting facilities makes for an excellent excursion as a holiday gift.
For Those Who Need Stocking Stuffers:
After all the big gifts are taken care of, there’s still great stocking stuffer options for the fans of the outdoors.
Gift Cards are available for those who want the flexibility of picking out their own gear, or even learning a new skill like rifle or pistol shooting.
Upstairs, there’s smaller pieces of gear for inshore New England fishing and all freshwater and fly fishing. A special case holds cigars and accessories from brands like Alec Bradley, Olivia, Camacho, Nub and Rocky Patel. Other displays feature specialty gifts for the sportsman, like Brackish bow ties creatively made from game bird feathers, fishing lure cufflinks, bullet-shaped “ice cubes” and even gifts for your favorite dog.
At the end of the day, The Shoppe has everything you need no matter what the outdoor occasion is.
The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and until 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Membership Options:
Another great gift for the outdoor enthusiast is a membership.
The Preserve has a wonderful new membership for Spa, Dining and The Range that is $750 per person, or $1,000 per couple. It includes daily access to the shooting range (based on availability), access to the new OH! Spa scheduled to open in the coming months, and the Double Barrel Kitchen, the Preserve’s new dining room located in the main lodge on the property. Members can enjoy seasonal game specials, like Pheasant Scarpariello, along with traditional dishes featuring handmade pasta, chicken, steak, trout and pork chops. Additional memberships are available, depending on the number of exclusive privileges an individual or family prefers.
Residents and travelers can enjoy the Preserve in a variety of ways – through the Preserve Sporting Shoppe, private or group instruction at The Preserve Academy, a beautiful venue for a luxurious wedding, overnight stays at the several beautifully appointed accommodations, through memberships and/or homeownership.
The most recent addition to the Preserve Sporting Club is the Maker’s Mark Hobbit House, where people can enjoy a private dining and bourbon tasting experience. The Hobbit House serves an upscale grilled menu and Maker’s Mark Bourbon. Lunch or dinner starts outside with bourbon-infused cocktails by a fire, and then into the house for Maker’s Mark infused entrees and dessert. It’s been called the most unique private dining experience of the year.
For information on the Preserve Sporting Shoppe or Gift Cards, individuals can call (insert trackable number) or visit www.thesportingshoppe.com. For information on The Preserve Sporting Club and the Maker’s Mark Hobbit House, visit thePreserveRI.com.
By Charles Drago
