Holiday Gift Ideas | Be creative and gift an experience
Think outside the traditional gift box and give an experience this holiday season.
Moms, raise your hand if you are in charge of all the gifts for the holidays.
If you are like me, not only do you have the kids and spouse to buy for but you also have to think about the in-laws, nieces and nephews and parents, friends and so on. The list can feel endless and let’s be honest, It’s a lot for one person.
Not to mention, year after year, it gets harder and harder to come up with new ideas for people that likely have everything they already need.
If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that time with loved ones is something we often take for granted and never get enough of.
So instead of racing all around town, consider gifting an experience or donation instead of wrapping items that may likely end up in the bottom of a closet.
Here are some of my best reasons to gift an experience instead of a physical item:
Reduces waste and clutter
Can be bought last minute
Helps support local and small businesses
Can be purchased online (save gas and time!)
Creates memories with or for those you love
Is often something people won’t do for themselves but are happy to partake in
Before we get started, I just want to be clear….
If you have been following along for a while you know that supporting small business is a huge priority for me. None of the ideas listed in this blog are sponsored or affiliate links.
I love gifting experiences because they are almost all offered by small businesses and it is a win-win situation. By gifting an experience, we support small business and we help our loved ones create a new, loving memory.
For all of the ideas below, if a particular company or organization is not familiar to you, I recommend using your favorite search engine to search for ideas near the recipient. Be sure to read reviews or if you have specific questions reach out to the company. Small businesses are always willing to help ensure you are confident with your purchasing decision.
For the Creative person in your life, consider gifting a class such as:
Painting
Photography
Pottery
Glass Blowing
Music lessons
Knitting or sewing
For those that love to learn:
There is an abundance of courses and masterclasses online to take. All of these can be taken at the student’s pace and with the first two suggestions, the recipient can choose the class they would like to take which alleviates any guessing for you. In fact, they can take many different classes throughout the year thanks you to your gift!
Purchase an online course for a small-business creator.
For those who love to revisit favorite places.
Have a membership to a local spot can help those you love find something to do on the weekend or create an activity for guests that visit without having to spend extra money. Some classic ideas are memberships to a local:
Museum (art, history, children’s or science)
Botanical Garden
Zoo
Aquarium
For those that love the arts:
Tickets to a concert or show
Theater tickets
Tickets to a local art exhibit or upcoming fair or market
For those that love to travel:
Gift card to AirBnb, I love VRBO, Vacasa or Find Your Yonder too but they don’t offer gift cards yet.
An Airbnb experience gift card
Gift a local walking tour
Gift a food tour to a place they are visiting
A gift card to their favorite airline
A night’s stay at a local Inn or B&B
For those that love food:
A cooking class
An in-home chef for a special dinner
A baking class to make a favorite or special desert
Make reservations at a favorite restaurant for a special meal out together.
A cake decorating class
For those that love the outdoors:
Annual pass for the local State Park System
Annual pass to the National Park System
Get them an REI Membership and sign them up for a class.
Give them a membership to an outdoor community like She’s Wanderful or The Nomadic Network so they can travel and meet new people.
Do something fun like paddle board lessons, zip-lining adventure or a kayak tour.
For those that love to give back:
Considering making a donation to support they favorite cause or charity.
In our family, we are going on fifth year of donating to charities instead of buying gifts for each other. We each pick a cause or charity that is close to our hearts and donate an amount that we choose (minimum of $50). At the holiday dinner, we go around the table sharing why we donated to that cause and what it means to us.
It’s been a great way to pay it forward and focus on the real meaning behind the season. We all walk away from the table with full hearts and happy tears.
Final thoughts to share…
My hope is that this list sparks an idea to help your gifting be a little less stressful. There are so many amazing opportunities to explore areas and interests around us. Once you’ve narrowed down your list, google places near you to research further.
Yelp, Google or industry-related platforms are a great way to read read reviews on experiences offered.
If you have an idea or experience you’ve given that was a big hit, share it below. The more ideas, the merrier!
Celebrate loved ones, Explore new gift ideas!
These gift ideas can be used year round Save this pin for later when you are stuck on what to get!