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40 Unique Gift Experiences That Also Make Great Last-Minute Presents
Whether you’re gifting kids or need to level up a Christmas present, these options guarantee adventure.
We’ve all been there before: a special celebration is right around the corner and you still haven’t decided on a gift that appropriately signifies the moment. If that sounds like you right now, and you’re beginning to think that even the most popular items of the year will do the trick, then it just might be time to consider giving the gift of an unforgettable experience.
The best part is that whether you gift a trip, a subscription box or a luxurious day at the spa, these experience gifts also serve as sentimental presents, so you're really getting (and giving) the best of both words. Not only that, but because he or she won't likely take part in the gift experience the same day they receive it, these ideas also work as last-minute and instant presents. Just print out the information and place it in a card for them to open!
Whether you need the perfect present for him, her, couples or families, you can't go wrong with something that's filled of adventure and helps them learn a little more about themselves. And yes, we even included gift experiences for kids that will keep them off their phones and tuned into the world around them.
So what are you waiting for? The best experiential gifts await you...
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For the Adventure Seeker
Virgin Experience Gifts Choose Their Own Adventure eGift Card
1
For the Adventure Seeker
Virgin Experience Gifts Choose Their Own Adventure eGift Card
Like Airbnb experiences, Virgin Experience Gifts offers a wide range of adventures you can gift to loved ones at home and abroad. Take them skydiving, white water rafting, hot air ballooning and more with a specific experience gift — or try a gift card for them to plan their own excursion.
Let Happily spice things up with a box full of all the makings for a fun, out-of-the-ordinary date night. Each box comes with all the supplies for a new activity (cake pop decorating, for example), so they can retire their dinner and a movie combo ... for one night, at least.
You've heard of Cameo — but have you gifted a Cameo? Make your BFF a custom video from their favorite viral star or childhood hero for a moment they won't forget.
This site lets you plan the perfect weekend getaway anywhere in the United States. You can pick from two, three, four or six nights to spend with your loved one.
Just add your location, and REI will tell you all the dates in a month when you can go on a guided moonlight hike. It takes about three hours, but wow, the experience is incredible.
Their next wine and cheese night is on you. At the start of every month, a selection of three to four cheeses are shipped overnight, so they arrive fresh and ready to be enjoyed.
Okay, so you can't swing a full vacation for them. But, you can give them a gift of a local staycation, which can be just as relaxing. With Resort Pass, they'll have access to luxury hotel amenities (pools, spas, tennis courts) for a whole day.
If they're not scared of a little "literally flying through the air" action, you can set them up with a gift card for indoor skydiving through iFly. They have locations across the country that provide one-on-one flight instruction in their specialty wind tunnels. (This great if they've expressed interest in skydiving, but aren't ready to take that plunge.)
If you're looking for a gift for the foodie who already has all their favorite tools, consider a monthly Goldbelly subscription. You can choose from deliveries of pizza, barbecue, pies, cakes or city-specific foods from restaurants around the country, or gift them the "best of Goldbelly" and they'll have some fantastic new foods delivered each month.
They may have graduated years ago, but MasterClass can help them hone new skills any time. With an all-access subscription, they can learn skills like tennis, fiction writing and cooking from the best of the best like Serena Williams, Neil Gaiman, Thomas Keller and more.
Help them relax after a long year with a massage, facial or other spa treatment. Spa Finder's gift cards can be used at thousands of spas around the country.
Help them brighten their home and stop and smell the flowers with a monthly flower subscription service from Bouqs. You can choose the duration of the subscription, the kind of lowers they'll receive and which day they'll arrive.
If their Italian vacation is on hold, they can experience what Italy has to offer — pasta! — with this 90-minute online class, taught by Nonna herself. Pick a day (each day of the week follows a different pasta recipe), round up the ingredients, and follow along.
Send a shipment of 12 or 24 assorted beers straight to their door to turn their living room into a craft brewery of sorts. If they're down to share, they can even set up a small beer tasting of their own.
If their long-awaited vacation is finally happening, help them make their trip even more memorable with local experiences through Airbnb. There are a ton of experiences to choose from in cities all across the world, including food and wine tours, local classes, hiking and snorkeling and private photoshoots. (This is particularly easy to plan if you'll be traveling together!)
This bimonthly subscription gives them the thrill of breaking free from their four walls by turning their house into an escape room — they just have to solve family-friendly riddles and puzzles to make it possible.
It's time to embrace all that Mother Nature has to offer. With this annual pass, they can explore more than 2,000 beautiful sites across the United States, including the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and other national treasures.
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
Cameron (she/her) is a staff writer for Good Housekeeping, where she covers everything from holidays to food. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she received a B.A. in magazine journalism. In her spare-time she can be found scrolling TikTok for the latest cleaning hacks and restaurant openings, binge-watching seasons of Project Runway or online shopping.