At a party on Saturday, I heard about
this amazing sale that National Geographic holds each November to unload discontinued items and stuff like that. One of my friends ends up buying hundreds of dollars worth of stuff at this sale every year, and uses them throughout the year for various birthday presents. I actually end up buying one or two things from the National Geographic store anyway each Christmas for my father-in-law and others who are difficult to shop for.
With 90% discounts on much of their stuff, I think I'm going to check out the sale. National Geographic sells nice stuff. Not just maps and books, but crafts from around the world, educational toys, and clothes.
I'll go to the one in the DC Armory, but they have them in other cities around the country too. Maybe near you.