The Best Experience Gift Ideas For Any Occasion

Some people prefer experiences to things. Gifting them for the Holidays or their birthday can be more difficult than for most other people.

When you ask them “What would you like as a gift?”, their usual answer is… “I don’t know,” or perhaps a cheeky answer like, “A trip to Hawaii.” So this is why I developed this brief experience gift ideas list for inspiration.

I want to give you enough ideas that may help you pinpoint the right Christmas gift or birthday gift for the minimalist, experience-seeker in your life. Meanwhile, keeping you from breaking the bank!

Experience Gift Ideas For Everybody

The best experience gifts are those that tap into the recipient’s interests and hobbies. So, your first job is to figure out what they like to do.

God gave us the gift of life: it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.

Voltaire

Experience gift ideas can be anything from a private chef cooking a special meal at your home, skydiving lessons, or a spa getaway.

In other words, these types of gifts can be quite expensive – the sky is the limit! And the good thing is that in most cases they are a whole lot less than an expensive travel ticket.

For those who are watching their pocketbook this year, this list will keep you on budget.

Experience Gifts For Her

These experiential gift ideas for her list are something that most women will enjoy, especially busy moms. 

Also, some of the gifts for him might appeal to women! And so, don’t just stop at this list.

Classes she might love:

• How to planting, gardening, flower arranging at a Gardening centre
• Cooking classes at your local grocery store or with a private chef
• Photography classes
• Glass blowing
• Sculpture/pottery classes
• Jewelry-making
• Sushi classes
• Art classes

• High Tea with her mom, sister or friend
• Chocolate tasting
• Cheese and wine tasting
• Create your own fragrance
• Session at a reputable nail salon for a manicure/pedicure.
• Gift certificate to a hair salon
• Make-up session with a professional
• Cocktails and painting evening
• Getaway package for overnight spa and hotel

Experience Gifts For Him

This list of experience gifts for him can be easily transformed into a gift for a couple. However, it depends on whether she likes to do some of these things too!

• Guided fishing excursion (can even be ice-fishing experience)
• Winter camping guided experience
• Axe-throwing session
• Indoor skydiving or outdoor skydiving 
• Whisky tasting
• Brewery tour and private tasting
• Tickets to sports events
• Indoor wall climbing lessons
• Flight in a vintage airplane
• Do a museum tour of cool museums such as aviation, sports etc.
• Forest foraging with an expert (e.g. mushroom, edible wild berries and vegetables)
• Wilderness survival lessons
• Shooting range with training session
• Cigar rolling lesson
• Beer-making lessons
• Metalsmithing lesson
• Cocktail-making session with a mixologist
• Coffee-making with a barista
• Car racing experience and guided lesson at a race track

Experience Gift Ideas For Couples

These PG experience gift ideas for couples are those that can be easily received in front of the whole family. Classy and fun!

• Wine-tasting with sommelier
• Cocktail experience at a top bar
• Bowling night out
• Opera or musical theatre tickets
• Comedy show tickets
• Museum and dinner package
• Overnight getaway with bed & breakfast
• Helicopter ride
• Wine tour
• Getaway packages on a theme: foodie, adventure etc.
• Dance classes

Experience Gifts for Families

Because family experiences together will be what kids remember 10, 20 or 30-plus years later, experiential gifts for the whole family are always a good thing.

• Gift certificates to favourite restaurants
• A day trip for the whole family: head to a fun attraction in a different city or town
• Family museum outing: if you have kids check out any kids’ museums
• Explore a town together: pop into bakeries for coffee/hot chocolate, do window shopping
• Visit a regional museum to learn about the history of an area; explore a historical village and learn how
• Do winter activities together: skating, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, hiking, camping in a yurt or igloo
• Take in a festival (e.g. Winterlude in Ottawa, Winter Carnival in Quebec City)
• Guided hikes
• Snowshoeing lessons
• Sleigh ride at conservation areas and parks in the winter

• Horseback riding
• Archery experience
• Cooking and baking classes for the family
• Mermaid swimming classes
• Paintball or Nerfball battle at an indoor arena
• Ghost tour

Want to treat them to a special day at home and need some ideas? Check out this list of things to do on a rainy day for inspiration.

Also, check out the tips for things to do with kids at home.

QUESTION: Are there any other experience gift ideas to add to this list? What is an unusual experiential gift you received that you loved? 

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