Yellowknife (July 12/06) - How about shiny key chains and Inuksuk socks, or maybe polar bear mugs and fruity candles with Canada written in bold?

Maybe authentic Northern beef jerky or mukluks?

Whatever it is, when tourists come knocking on Yellowknife's door, vendors have a huge variety of goodies for every member of the family back home.

"I'm doing some pre-shopping," said Barry Garagan from Nova Scotia.

Garagan is doing some contract work for a few months over the summer at Fitzgerald's Carpeting. His wife and three kids will be visiting soon, and he's on the prowl for Northern gifts.

"I'm going to get a coon hat for my 12-year-old son," he said.

A sweater with NWT or Yellowknife written on it is the plan for his wife, but he's still not sure about the rest of the family.

Elizabeth Hovdebo is visiting her family in Saskatchewan and is looking for something unique to bring back from Yellowknife.

"My sisters like the Ragged Ass Road souvenirs," she said. And so, Hovdebo will be picking up beer mugs, coffee cups, and a cooler bag for drinks with the store's signature name emblazoned across each. She'll also be picking up postcards with pictures of the Northern Lights.

Yellowknife Inn Smoke Shop employee Twin Guyan, said tourists will buy just about anything as long as it has Yellowknife, NWT or Canada written on it.

"There are too many things (people buy)," she said when asked about tourist favourites.

Of particular note are the handcrafted inuksuit and dreamcatchers on display.

Manager of the Northern Souvenirs and Gifts in the Panda II Mall, Tom Tram, said funny T-shirts are the preferred choice of shoppers. "Lots of people are buying T-shirts with polar bears or mosquitoes," said Tram. Each feature a joke you'd only get after visiting the city.