99 Experience-Based Gift Ideas

Experience-based gifts can be more memorable and satisfying than physical items. They range from simple, low-cost activities to extravagant adventures, and can be enjoyed by kids, teens, and adults alike.

Here’s a list of 99 experience-based gifts, organized by cost, to inspire your holiday season:

Free or Low-Cost Experiences:

Spend an afternoon fishing. Host a movie marathon with homemade popcorn. Plan a picnic in the park. Go hiking on a local trail. Have a beach day. Visit a free museum or art exhibit. Stargaze in your backyard. Organize a family game night. Have a home cooking or baking day. Volunteer together at a local charity. Create a DIY spa day at home. Go for a bike ride around your neighborhood. Build a fort and tell stories. Host a themed dinner night. Take a sunrise or sunset walk. Have a karaoke night with favorite songs. Teach a skill you’re proficient in, like knitting or woodworking. Plan a scavenger hunt. Go bird watching. Explore a new neighborhood or city on foot.

Moderately Priced Experiences:

Attend a local concert or theater production. Take a cooking class together. Buy tickets to a movie premiere. Visit a botanical garden or zoo. Go fruit picking at a nearby orchard. Have a day out at a theme park. Attend a sports event. Go bowling or mini-golfing. Visit an Escape Room. Have a paintball or laser tag adventure. Go to a trampoline park. Take a dance lesson. Visit a local historical site or landmark. Take a pottery or art class. Rent kayaks or paddleboards for a day. Go to a local fair or festival. Take a day trip to a nearby city. Go horseback riding. Visit an aquarium. Go to a comedy club.

Higher-End Experiences:

Plan a weekend getaway. Book a hot air balloon ride. Go on a guided city tour. Take a helicopter tour. Book a spa day. Attend a high-end cooking workshop. Go on a winery or brewery tour. Book a day at an adventure park. Take a scenic train ride. Attend a major concert or festival. Go on a guided fishing trip. Rent a cabin in the mountains. Take a sailing lesson. Go skiing or snowboarding. Book a yoga or wellness retreat. Go on a gourmet food tasting tour. Take a photography class. Book a weekend at a beach resort. Go scuba diving or snorkeling. Rent a luxury car for a day.

Extravagant Experiences:

Plan an international vacation. Book a stay at a luxury hotel. Go on a safari adventure. Take a private flight lesson. Rent a yacht for a day. Book a private chef experience. Go on a high-end shopping spree (with a set budget). Attend a celebrity meet-and-greet or VIP event. Book a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, like climbing a famous mountain. Plan a private vineyard tour. Go on an exotic animal encounter. Book a luxury spa and wellness weekend. Attend a high-profile sporting event, like the Super Bowl. Take a luxury cruise. Rent a villa in a foreign country.

Family-Focused Experiences:

Take a family cooking class. Go on a family camping trip. Book a family portrait session with a professional photographer. Have a family board game marathon with prizes. Plan a ‘yes day’ where kids choose the activities (within reason). Go on a guided nature walk. Visit a family-friendly resort. Have a DIY pizza night with homemade dough. Take a family bicycle tour. Plan a family movie night with a projector outdoors.

Romantic Experiences:

Book a couples massage. Have a romantic dinner cruise. Plan a surprise date night. Book a night at a boutique hotel. Take a couples cooking class. Go on a sunset sail. Plan a weekend road trip. Have a gourmet picnic in a scenic spot. Visit a couples’ retreat. Go stargazing in a remote location.

Adventurous Experiences:

Go skydiving or bungee jumping. Take an off-road vehicle tour. Go white-water rafting. Try out paragliding or hang gliding.

Remember, the best gift is not always something physical. It’s about creating memories, spending time together, and experiencing life in new and exciting ways. These ideas cater to all ages and interests, offering ways to make this holiday season unforgettable.