5 First-Rate Experiential Gifts for the Holiday Season

“Find life experiences and swallow them whole. Travel. Meet many people. Exhaust yourself in the glorious pursuit of life.”

Lawrence Fish

If you’ve been a Natty Gal reader for a while, you know I’m all about experiences over things; less stuff, more substance. Why not give your family/friends a really memorable holiday this year by gifting them an experience tailored to their tastes and interests? Today I’m sharing 5 first-rate experiential gifts to inspire you!

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For the Wanderlust-er

When thinking about experiential gifts, the wanderlust-er comes top of mind. After all, that’s what travel is…a series of experiences. Give them something new to get excited about! For instance a:

• US National Park Pass – Grants the recipient access to America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for 1 year from the month of purchase.
• Tinggly Travel Experience – With Tinggly, you select a gift box and when your recipient receives it, they can choose one experience, from hundreds of options in 100+ countries.
• AmazingCo. Mystery Picnic or Overnight Stay – AmazingCo. treats their recipients to a mystery picnic or overnight stay in major cities throughout the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

We enjoyed a fall color Mystery Picnic this last weekend in our local Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The night before your picnic, you’ll receive a series of clues that will send you to destinations where you pick up the makings of your picnic.

They point out sights of interest and there is time to roam along the way. I found a couple of cute venues that we’ll be going back to. At the end, enjoy your picnic in a lovely location suggested by AmazingCo. We had so much food, it was enough for two meals as well as some snacking.

Fill your life with experiences. Not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.

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For the Show/Event Junkie

Does someone you know love live sporting events? Going to concerts, the theatre, or seeing comedians or other entertainers? Then, by all means, gift them with event tickets!

If you’re not sure precisely what game, concert, or play they might want to see or if you’re not sure what dates work best for them, order a gift card for StubHub. If you know someone who enjoys Broadway-style theatre but doesn’t live in an area that gets these types of shows, check out a gift subscription to Broadway HD.

For the Diva

This idea is great for the fashionista teen daughter or niece or the sister or mom that would love to audition for a Housewives show on BRAVO! Lean into her vanity and make her day with a shopping spree at her favorite boutique or a day of pampering at her favorite salon.

Not sure what her favorites are? Check out SpaFinder, Rent the Runway, Bag Borrow or Steal. All three have lots of options within their catalogs to suit even the fussiest trendsetters!

For the Personal Development Addict

Who do you know that just loves learning? You know the friend…always signed up for a new class or reading a personal development book. An experience that this person would love would be the gift of education. Check out a subscription to Master Class, with courses in everything under the sun! I loved learning to bake focaccia this summer with Annie’s Signature Sweets – 100 5-star Google reviews can’t be wrong!

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

For the Foodie

Got a foodie friend? Gift them with a food experience. A chef’s table dinner or a gift card to the hot new place in town. Alternately, try an “of the month” club highlighting one of their favorite foods. They’ve got specific clubs for nearly everything – bacon, cheese, pasta, charcuterie, chocolates, and more.

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Do you prefer experiential gifts, tangible goods or do you enjoy both? If you enjoy this post, share it on your social media or send it to a friend using the sharing buttons at the very bottom of the post. You can even use it as a subtle hint if there’s a gift in here that you’d like to receive. Thanks for stopping by today and have a great weekend!