One thing I’ve learned living in an RV or maybe I knew it all along is just how much consumerism is shoved in your face on a daily basis. When I lived in a house I was numb to it. Since I literally can’t succumb to any kind of retail therapy, entirely due to lack of space, it’s so much more painfully obvious to me. Because of this, I’ve had to rethink holiday and birthday gifts completely and I’ve been investigating experience gift ideas.
To be honest with you it has been refreshing. I feel like we get to enjoy them more because of how much simpler and natural they have become. This Christmas we will be doing homemade decorations on our tiny and humble fresh tree. Presents will be simple at best and we will be trading the typical plastic coated toy for real-life experiences.
Ok, I’ll be real. The kids are going to get a few toys but it will most definitely be a scaled down compared to Christmases of yesteryear.
At first, the kids were not super excited with this idea. Experiences aren’t as fun to open as the big boxes tied up with string. As time grew on they started to enjoy these gifts even more than the toys that were played with and quickly forgotten. This new lifestyle has produced some of our favorite memories. We hope that this list will be helpful for you as you start to think outside the box on some toys you can trade for experiences.
Experience Gift Ideas
Here are our top ideas of experience gift ideas for him, her and them at Christmas time, the ultimate Holiday gift guide:
- Horseback Riding Lessons or Trail Ride
- Art classes
- Cooking Classes
- Homemade Coupon Book
- Mommy Daughter Manicures/Pedicures
- Movie Tickets
- Zoo Pass
- Rock Climbing
- Indoor Skydiving
- Ballet Tickets
- Concerts
- Disney on Ice
- Sporting Event Tickets
- Comedy Show Tickets
- Airplane Tickets
- Cruise
- International trip
- Student Educational Travel Tour
- Waterpark Passes (indoor ones are great for Christmas break)
- Music Lessons (piano, guitar, voice, whatever)
- Parent Date Cards
- Science Museum
- Art Museum
- Children Museum
- Fair Tickets
- Amusement Park
- Disneyland Trip
- Disneyworld Trip
- Restaurant Gift Certificates
- Ice Skating
- Laser Tag
- Summer Camp
- Hotel Stay Near a Close City
- Pottery Classes
- Food Tour of Your City
- Swimming Lessons
- Ski Lift Tickets
- Massages
- Theater Passes
- Trampoline Park Passes
- Sporting Event Tickets
- Subscription Box for Something of Interest (we love Little Passports boxes)
- Language Lessons (we love Lingo Bus)
- Photography Lessons
- Audible Subscription
- A New Movie and a Box of Popcorn
- Membership to a Community Pool
- Crayola Experience (if in your area)
- Lego Experiences (if in your area)
- Local Factory Tours
- Local Day Trips
- Voluntourism Trip
- Charity donation in their name
- Addition to College Fund
- Fishing Boat Charter
- Whale Watching Tour
- Aquarium Yearly Pass
- Tutoring
- Space Camp
- Out School Classes for Extracurriculars and Homeschooled Children
I love this list. It is so versatile and you can find a gift for everyone on your list. Grandparents, kids, parents, teens, singles… it doesn’t matter because everyone can benefit from making memories instead of collecting things.
Have you ever been gifted an experience before? Which was your favorite?
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