So you put/are putting your urban planner through college, you supported them as a companion or close friend when they studied and sacrificed fun with you for writing papers about gentrification, or maybe you continue to put up with their late nights and constant complaining about illegal signs and grandiose plans for everything under the sun. As if putting up with these things are not enough, this wannabe Hippodamus in your life at one point or another expects you to give them a gift. Well, the question most people ask is, "what do planners want (other than complete streets and an open space utopia)?"
Maps and other geographical representations
First and foremost, urban and regional planners have a rather peculiar affinity for geospatial representations. No, it doesn't need to be a world map (unless its pretty sweet), but perhaps a map of their college campuses, a cool map of the state they live in, or for the more Muir-esque planner in your life, a map of the national park system! Something cool for them to hang up in their office or cubicle.
City Prints is usually a go-to for these items. We guarantee City Prints has something that any urban planner or armchair urbanist will love! Desk gadgets
Many planners consider themselves to be serious professionals. Now we know their dark and dirty secrets, but they try to carry on a persona of "having it all together". Anyways, they like to look as if they are big boys and girls with nice desk gadgets. The days of the old desk globe are over, unless of course it is one that is solar powered! Grab your planner the desktop storm forecaster shown above, a Mova globe, or maybe some cool geeky stuff that they can show off to their coworkers!
City specific items
Planners are a unique bunch in that they get this strange pleasure feeling when seeing a big city skyline or maybe the grid pattern of a major city. There are many gifts out there that you could get for your planner if they really really like some of the bigger cities. Maybe cool artwork of a city skyline like this one of Chicago, or maybe any of the countless city-specific gifts found at Planetizen. If you're into pins, and we know you are, then check out these dank city-specific architecture pins (Chicago, D.C., and Boston). Also pick up a city-specific whiskey glass for happy hour!
Books...
Most people in general do not like getting books as gifts. That's one of the many ways urban planners are abnormal from the general population. We like to read and be knowledgeable about the ins and outs of issues and trends in urban affairs. Maybe you want to get your planner a classic urban planning title or maybe a career help guide. You could also get a cute little Coupon Book for Urban Planners for free! 
Gaming
Planners plan hard, and play harder. Millennial planners are by and large gamers and many were introduced to urban planning through the classic Sim City. Cities: Skylines is perhaps the most complete city sim around, is cross-platform, and puts out new DLCs and expansions that keeps the game alive. It now comes in a board game! It also has a player workshop that allows for customized modding and city design elements. The Political Process game is also fun if you are politically-minded.
Good luck... 
disclosure: this article included affiliate links
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