31 Best Gift Experiences They'll Ever Receive
Classes, kits and travel excursions that are so much better than a pair of socks.
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Sometimes, the best gift you can give can't be wrapped up in a box. We’re talking real-life, hands-on experience gifts that will allow your recipient not only to do something they love, but to also create great memories while they do it.
We’ve rounded up several unique ideas, including gift cards for adventurous activities, like ziplining and hiking, as well as prepaid passes for more relaxed pastimes. We looked at what our readers were interested in — people love the Adventure Challenge book for couples — and we added a bunch of ideas that our experts and editors say are some of the best gifts they've ever gotten (a coffee subscription that matches their favorite flavor profile perfectly, for example).
Hiring a private chef might seem out of budget, but Cozy Meal actually has a lot of options, starting at less than $100 per person. The chef will come to them and cook any style of meal you choose, from an Italian feast to a lobster dinner.
Instead of heading out to a sculpture class, they can bond and create something special right at home. A popular choice for GH readers, this kit comes with all the tools they need to make a holding hands sculpture, including a sculpting bucket, gloves and paint. It even has a practice kit for them to try.
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. Prices vary, depending on the person (Chuck Norris is $450, for example), but there is a section called 50 Under $50 that features reality stars and influencers.
A bit pricey, but wow — what a gift. You can prepay to have three beautiful bouquets sent to them throughout the year (or, you can do one a month up to 12 months). When our experts tested the brand in our Labs, they found the bouquet lasted for a solid week, and the presentation of the flowers was beautiful.
This seasonal subscription will treat them to six or 12 bottles (your choice) of wines, which can be delivered twice, four or six times a year. Recipients will receive a list of suggested blends before they ship out, and they have the option to swap out based on their preference. Our editors are huge fans of McBride Sisters wine, so you can trust that they will get great bottles every time.
The Adventure Challenge Couples Edition
Spice up things with your honey thanks to this book. It comes with 50 scratches-off date ideas, so you can try one nearly every weekend of the year. Once you go on the date, there's room in the book to put photos and write down your favorite moment so you can always remember it.
The couples version of this book is the top gift in this roundup, but if they have a whole brood, they'll appreciate all the fun ideas — over 60 — they can do as a family. Each time the kids say they're bored, all they have to do is scratch to reveal something fun to do together as a family, like baking.
Eating is an experience. And while chocolate covered strawberries aren't exactly a bold gift choice, people love them. And we mean, people love these specific strawberries (there are pages and pages of 5-star reviews). You can pick from 24, 12 or six strawberries, which are covered in bits of toffee and chocolate chips, to be shipped right to their house.
Our associate editor Alyssa Gautieri said this coffee subscription is one of the best gifts ever. She noted that it's really unique because the coffee is "nothing like you can get from the store" since each batch comes from a different region around the world. Each box includes coffee (whole bean, grounds or pods)., along with a postcard. You can gift them 3, 6 or 12 months worth of coffee.
With Tinggly, you can purchase a show or performance of any kind for them to see literally anywhere in the world. Stay local and find something in their hometown, or if they have a trip planned, go that route.
Get a ticket for everyone in the family to enjoy some zip-lining. Through Giftory, you can choose from a bunch of adventures and locations, depending on where your giftee is, but we love the zip-line idea for a crew that loves the great outdoors.
With this kit, they will get two framed photos (seen here), plus paint and brushes to complete them. It's a really great way to help someone unwind, and also feel proud of what they've created. If flowers aren't their thing, there's also a lemon and pineapple option.
If they want to learn a new skill, knitting is a great option. Oftentimes, the patterns are repetitive, so once they learn how to do it, they can easily work on multiple projects. This kit, which includes four yarn colors and multiple needles also has instructions and patterns for them to follow to create washcloths.
During the first part of the 60-minute virtual show, they will experience an actual magic show. Afterward, they will uncover the secrets of what they just saw with a private lesson from magician Ming Da. You pick the time and date, but it's totally possible to reschedule 48 hours before the show.
It can be hard to find a good mixology class for mocktails, so this one from mixologist Erika Mauro will be a treat. The 90-minute class will walk them through what ingredients to use and how to actually mix the drinks the right way. The class doesn't come with ingredients but does include a list of what they'll need if you also want to gift them that.
Sure, a regular piece of jewelry is fine, but if you really want to wow her, go with the permanent kind. She can DIY a clasp-free bracelet or ankle (both available in silver and gold options), from the comfort of her own home. While it usually requires welding, this kit doesn't. It's pricey, but the idea is that it will last forever (or at least many, many years!)
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Choose Their Own Adventure eGift Card
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. If you're doing a gift card option, you can pick any amount.
RELATED: The Best Gift Cards to Give Everyone on Your Holiday List
Floral arranging, cocktail mixing, pasta making, Alice's Table offers so many workshops. But what we really like is that, whatever they decided to do, the company will also send a long a box of materials. So they will be all set up for the virtual class. You can either gift them an experience, or give them a gift card.
If you know a kid who is obsessed with those Starbucks cake pops (and who doesn't?), they'll get a kick out of making their own. Ideal for ages 4+ with adult supervision, kids can make around 12 pops. And because it comes with all the ingredients pre-measured, it should be relatively easy to do.
RELATED: Our Ultimate List of the Best Gifts for Kids of All Ages
A gift that encourages their love of reading is a true sign of love.
You can gift them credit as little as $10 or go for a higher price point, and they can use it towards any title on the site. It's a great idea for teens who have just discovered the incredible world of YA novels.
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.
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