Gift Guide: For the sports fan

Tickets. There are plenty of sporting events in the area for all types of fans. Grab a pair of tickets for a Duke, UNC or NC State basketball games or even head to Charlotte to take in a Bobcats game. Not shopping for a basketball fan? They are still playing hockey out there, just not in Raleigh, check out the Charlotte Checkers or the Fayetteville FireAntz.

Give them some play time. Rounds of golf never get old and you can spend as much or little as you'd like. There are a lot of golf courses in the Triangle area or you can indulge them with a weekend at Pinehurst.

Buy a collegiate or team embellished ornament. One of my favorite places for great Tar Heel, NC State or App State ornaments is Charlottes in Cameron Village. They also have a lot of decorated wine glasses and plates. Or you could get crafty and decorate one yourself!

Sports photos are always a good choice. From their favorite college team's stadium to NFL or baseball, they all make great show pieces. Replay Photos offers a lot of different options and they are quick, plus they're running specials for the holidays. I'm banking on a panorama under my tree this year, if not I'll be buying one for myself.

The three-hour NASCAR racing experience is a big hit for those with the need for speed. Let your special someone push the pedal without consequence. It's available at a few racetracks and conveniently here in NC at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The NC State football team went before their bowl game last year and said it was a blast.

If you want to get really crazy, try flight lessons. FlightGest based out of the Raleigh-Durham airport is offering an introductory flight lesson for half off and if you want to fly too it's just an additional $10.