SPANISH FORT, Ala.—With only 44 shopping days left until Christmas, nature lovers — and those who love them — might want to consider a recently renovated retail destination when making their lists and checking them twice.

5 Rivers Delta Resource Center unveiled the overhauled Cypress Gift Shop in its new — larger — location Oct. 23.

“People really are stunned when they walk through the doors, and just go on and on about how much more selection we have now,” said Hank Burch, manager of the environmental education hotspot overlooking the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.

From delta-inspired educational toys and traditional souvenirs to an array of birding paraphernalia and artwork by local artists, Burch said nature enthusiasts would be hard-pressed to find a better selection.

Burch said shifting the gift shop from the main cluster of buildings a half-mile from the park’s entrance to the former Shellbank Visitor Center visible from the Causeway hasn’t actually added new items, but it does allow them to display a wider array of items that were once relegated to storage.

Boasting about 3,000 square feet, the new space allows staff to display more holiday-specific items for longer periods than the former 1,100-square-foot space afforded, Burch said.

In addition, the center of the spacious shop has been transformed into a cozy lounge area in hopes visitors will feel free to enjoy a little down time with a good book while red-slider turtles watch from a 250-gallon aquarium.

“We still want it to be the welcoming space for people coming in, but now we have the room to spread out a little more,” said Burch.

Although he remained tight-lipped about what visitors can expect from the vacated space adjacent to the center’s Tensaw Theater, Burch did say the staff is considering a Black Friday grand opening event for the new gift shop, but plans have not been finalized.