Best Unique Christmas Gifts Past and Present

Through the years there have been some pretty awesome Christmas gifts. I definitely enjoy looking back at some of the best Christmas gifts past and present, and even some of those popular gifts of years gone by make great gifts today. Here's a look at some of the best Christmas gifts past and present that I came up with. I hope you'll leave some ideas and suggestions of your own that should be on this list as well.

The 1940s - The Slinky

Back in the 1940s, The Slinky happened to be one of the top Christmas gifts. It walked down stairs and made cool sounds, and it was requested by many kids during this time period. Although it was a big gift option back then, The Slinky is still a great Christmas gift idea today as well, since kids never seem to grow tired of playing with it.

The 1950s - American Flyer Electric Trains

Another of the best Christmas gifts past and present happens to be American Flyer electric trains, which were very popular back in the 1950s. The prices back then were from $15-70 for one of these train sets, and they were definitely on the list of many young boys during these years. Many boys today still love electric trains, and American Flyer is definitely one of the best names out there.

The 1960s - The Record Player

During the 1960s, another of the best gifts happened to be the record player. This was a popular option in many households, and kids and adults alike were thrilled with a record player on Christmas morning. Some of the best options would play various record sizes and you could stack 2, 4, or 6 records on the player at a time.

The 1970s - Star Wars Memorabilia and Barbie Dolls

Then you have the 1970s, and both Barbie dolls and Star Wars memorabilia were big during these years. All the girls wanted a new Barbie underneath the Christmas tree, and guys were looking for Star Wars gifts. These gifts haven't lost popularity over the years either, since they are still popular today.

The 1980s - Care Bears and Nintendo

The 1980s brought about some of the best Christmas gifts, and Care Bears were big during these years, especially for girls. The Nintendo was introduced as well, during the later half of the '80s, and it was one of the biggest hits during those years when it comes to Christmas gifts.

The 1990s - Tickle Me Elmo and Rollerblades

Tickle Me Elmo and rollerblades are both some of the best Christmas gifts past and present. It was during the '90s that the Tickle Me Elmo craze hit, all across the world. Everyone just had to have one of these toys. Instead of roller skates, rollerblades became the big thing that kids wanted during this time period.

2000 and Beyond - iPods and iPhones

Once you hit 2000 and beyond, the type of gifts changed a bit. Over the past few years and still today, iPods and iPhones happen to be some of the big gifts on everyone's list.

These are just a few of the best Christmas gifts past and present, and I've definitely enjoyed looking back at some of these unique and fun gifts of the past. Have other ideas you think fit on this list? Be sure to share them with the rest of us!