Paddle boarding at Beaches Negril Resort & Spa.
Part of me wants to be a grinch every time the holidays roll around. While I love, love, love cozying up to spend time with friends and family, I really hate that the holidays are usually a time for lots of excess. There are so many activities centered around “stuff” during this time, I thought I’d take a moment to share some of my favorite “experience” gifts instead.
1. America the Beautiful Pass $80
Gives access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. A pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees and day use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted free.
2. Cloud 9 Living $50+
Local experiences ranging from flying a plane to sunset cruises available in 51 regions across the United States. I’ve still got my fingers crossed for a driving course (on a race track, ha!) or coastal cruise.
3. Zeel Massage on Demand $25+
Zeel is a massage on demand service that is currently available in 43 cities. You simply book with an app, and receive a same-day 5-star massage. I’m totally down for this one!
4. Travel and Tours
One experience I know that I’d absolutely love is travel or tours. There are plenty of airlines that offer gift certificates, and plenty of tour operators that are happy to facilitate a gift as well. For our honeymoon we received a generous giftcard that was meant to be enjoyed “on our honeymoon”, so we used it to book an aerial helicopter tour and go horseback riding. When my cousin got married, part of their registry was that you could purchase experiences for them to enjoy while on their honeymoon. I really loved the idea that I wasn’t gifting an item that will sit and collect dust or be donated later on.
5. Local Aquariums, Museums, Activities, and classes.
These will vary according to where you live, and you might have to do a little searching, but I feel like they’re one of the best gifts. We love the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and Søren takes classes at The Little Gym. There is a place in San Francisco called The Butterfly Joint that hosts woodworking classes or has open studio time.
Do you have any favorite “experiences” that you love to gift?
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