State parks are treasure trove of gift ideas

Old time toys, California Poppy china, commemorative medications, fine Russian porcelain, mission-era handicrafts and everything butterflies are just some of the unique gifts shoppers can find this holiday season and year-round when visiting your nearest California State Park or on line at www.parks.ca.gov. Here's more of what you can find:Ario Nuevo State Reserve bookstore, 27 miles south of Half Moon Bay on Highway 1, features a large hand-made elephant seal puppet with teeth for $25 plus shipping and tax, or a small hand-made elephant seal puppet for $37 plus shipping and tax. For more information, contact Fay Levinson, bookstore manager, at (650) 879-2041.Calaveras Big Trees State Park, four miles northeast of Arnold on Highway 4, has a number of gift ideas, such as: "The enduring Giants, the Story of Calaveras Big Trees," a book written by Joseph H. Engbeck Jr. ($11.75); prints of oil paintings depicting the four seasons at Calaveras Big Trees State Park - 8 x10 prints ($14) or boxed note cards ($12); Giant Sequoia seedlings ($8) Giant Sequoia and Pacific Dogwood seed kits ($7); and historic color images of Calaveras Big Trees (89 x10 prints, $14.50). There is a wide range of bear gifts, including books, socks, puppets, patches, tote bags, CDs and tapes. For more information, call (209) 795-3840 or e-mail cbtvc@goldrush.com. California State Railroad Museum Store in Old Sacramento features California Poppy china produced exclusively for the California State Railroad Museum Foundation. This exclusive dinnerware is an important fundraiser for the foundation. For decades, diners aboard Santa Fe passenger trains got their first taste of California on the railway's famed California Poppy china. Introduced in 1892 for its Chicago-Los Angeles "California Limited" passenger trains, the pattern was used until 1971. Long sought-after by collectors, the historic line is now available in museum-quality reproductions. This bright floral pattern is suitable for household use, microwavable and dishwasher safe. The 11 pieces are available separately or in sets from the California State Railroad Museum Store and through the Museum's web site: www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org. The museum phone number is (800) 417-7245.Donner Memorial State Park, outside of Truckee off Highway 80 at 12593 Donner Pass Road, offers many items unique to the park, including camp mug ($9.95); solid silver commemorative medallion ($30); souvenir medallion ($3.50); hooded sweatshirt ($26.50); crew neck sweatshirt ($19.50); and ball cap $14) all with the emblem "Donner Memorial State Park." Many other Donner-related gift items and books are available at the bookstore in the Emigrant Trail Museum or by calling (530) 582-7892.El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park, 123 East Canon Perdido in Santa Barbara, has a great selection of books on the history of California in the Spanish Colonial period and many books on the Chumash Indians, including the new release "The Chumash and the Presidio of Santa Barbara: Evolution of a Relationship, 1782 - 1823; by Marie Christine Duggan, Ph.D., priced at $10 in paperback. The shop features the unique pine needle basketry of the Tarahumara as well as Spanish fans and castanets. For more information call (805) 965-0093 or contact joan@sbthp.org. Empire Mine State Historic Park, in Grass Valley, has a gift shop with a unique and extensive selection of mineral samples from around the world. The shop also has a nice selection of gold in quartz samples from various California mines, gold and mineral-oriented jewelry, and a book selection that covers the park and the local area. The sales phone number is (530) 268-8578.