Gifting is hard. Some people really don’t want anything, and if they do want something, they just buy it. Gifts can take a toll on the environment and take up space in your home. If you fall into this category (and a lot of adults-gifting-to-adults do) consider gifting an experience this season. Experience gifts are thoughtful, environmentally friendly, and easy to get together at the last minute! They are also clutter free and can create long lasting memories.
Christmas can be so overwhelming and gifts can get overlooked or, honestly, tossed aside. An experience gift will be remembered after the holidays when the recipient actually “cashes it in”!
We have written about this topic before, but wanted to refresh the list with some new ideas! Here are 50 of our absolute favorite experience gift ideas:
(Last Minute) Experience Gift Ideas
Wellness
- Gym membership
- Specialty classes (like barre or yoga classes)
- Credit with a personal trainer
- Dance classes
- Spa services like a massage or facial
*Note on all fitness ideas – don’t use them as a hint to someone to lose weight – intentional or not, it can be hurtful. Only give exercised themed gifts to people who already love exercise!
Sports & Entertainment
- Sporting event tickets
- Movie theater tickets (or a movie pass)
- Theater tickets
- Symphony or other music concert tickets
- Painting or art classes (like Wine & Design)
- Sign up for an extreme race, like Tough Mudder
- Bike rental certificate
Home & Garden
- Housekeeper services
- Flower arranging class
- Landscaping services
- Glassblowing classes
- One-night babysitter
- House powerwashing gift certificate
Eating
- Restaurant gift certificate
- Cooking class (again – best not used as a hint but for someone who loves to cook!)
- Wine tasting class
- Brewery tours
- Food or drink festival passes
- Plan a romantic date night out
- CSA membership at a local farm
- Dinner cruise tickets
- Cook them a meal
Adventure
- Skydiving
- Theme park tickets
- Kayak or canoe rental gift certificate
- Boat tour or fishing charter
- Entrance to a cat cafe
- Putt-Putt tickets
- Air BnB gift card (yup, that’s a thing!)
- Take them on a trip – travel is the ultimate adventure!
- Year pass to the local or state park system
- Paintball passes
- Ninja Warrior course passes
- Fortune telling or palm reading certificate
- Car racing experience – I did this with my dad a few years ago and it was the most excited I’ve ever seen him
- Flight lessons
- Hot air balloon ride
- Surfing lessons
Learning
- Museum passes or membership
- Aquarium passes or membership
- Language learning software
- Offer to teach a skill
- Walking or other tour of their own city – historical, ghost tours, themed tours
- Musical instrument lessons
- Photography classes
What’s your favorite experience to gift?
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Hello, I’m Morgan, half of the creative force behind CharlestonCrafted.com! With a passion for DIY that dates back to 2012, I’ve transformed three homes and now I’m dedicated to helping others craft their dream spaces. Let’s turn your house into a home together!