SMT Experiential Gift Guide
Unwrap memories, thanks to suggestions from our community.
Does anyone else feel like the holiday season is racing by? Time appears to be evaporating! We have made it through three end-of-the-year concerts at school, with three class parties yet to come this week.
As you wrap up your holiday shopping, I wanted to share a few more gift ideas. On Thanksgiving, I sent out my tried-and-true favorites; now we have YOUR thoughts in the SMT Experiential Gift Guide. This new twist come thanks to SMT contributor Ade Olayinka (read her pieces here + here). “If you solicit gift ideas this year, I would love ideas for experiential or consumable gifts,” she DM’d me. “I’m trying to move towards gifts that are meaningful/fun but are not permanent.”
Such a good idea! Over on Instagram, I asked your thoughts: What gifts do you like to give that are experiential, consumable, charitable, or virtual? Below, so many fun submissions, from a cold-water plunge to a tasting tour. Looking for more? You can find the full spreadsheet of ideas here.
To support small businesses, click through the gift guide below and scroll down to the comments. So many talented entrepreneurs shared their gift-able items. Check out Katie’s watercolors, Kelley’s headbands, Amanda’s book shop, and more here.
But first…
💭 May I make a suggestion of my own? The holiday season is a great time to ask for — or gift someone — a subscription to your favorite newsletter. Independent writers like myself rely on the support of readers like you.
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SMT Experiential Gift Guide
This was such fun to compile! As a family, we have started leaning more heavily into experiences in recent years. This summer, for all three of our kids’ birthdays, we agreed the “big” gift for all would be a trip to Disneyland. We have also asked grandparents for museum and garden memberships. I am always happiest with a trip to the beach or a hike, especially in a national park. Now I have some new ideas, thanks to you.
💦 Take the Plunge
Mallory suggests a cold water plunge: “It’s something they probably wouldn’t spend money on themselves but I think they would enjoy. I always like finding the gift the person doesn’t even know they wanted yet.”
🎫 Tailored Tickets
Museum passes are a favorite in my family. Hillary suggests going one step further and getting tickets to a specific exhibition of interest to the recipient: “My SIL loves Disney and there is an exhibition of costumes at an art museum an hour from their house. I think picking a specific museum exhibit shows a lot of thought and may send them to a museum they normally wouldn’t be interested in!”
🧑🧒 Solo Parent Time
For the parents of multiple kids among us, Lindsey suggests an outing with one child at a time: “It’s really a gift of quality time for my kids — an outing for just them with mom and dad. We normally gift the outing (ie sports tickets for our son, musical or art class tickets for our daughter) and couple it with lunch or dinner of their choice. So great to encourage their interests and spend rare quality time with each child alone!”
EH note: For his birthday, Matt asked to take each of our kids on their own to a restaurant of their choosing. It was so special!
🫶 Lend a Hand
Alisa suggests a one-year membership to mentorship nonprofit Step Up: “It supports free mentorship programming for teen girls while giving you access to powerful network of women supporting women. A charitable gift that invests in our next generation and helps guide girls to their success — especially important post-presidential election!”
🍨 Treat Time
A fun food delivery is always a good idea. Andrea suggests Jeni’s ice cream: “You can get people fun flavors that you know they’ll love.” Want a recurring bites? Alexandra suggests a subscription to AppyHour: “Beautiful monthly or one-off curated charcuterie with optional wine add-on. Artisanal cheese, meats, and accoutrements.”
📕 Book Bond
Emily suggests tickets to an author talk: “Dad is the one who taught me my love of reading and history. We go together and talk about the author afterwards!”
EH note: I love the idea of reading the book together ahead of time, too.
🛒 Supermarket Sweep
Yes, yes, yes to practical (and needed) gifts. Grace suggests a grocery store gift card: “Hear me out — it’s not sexy or glamorous, but as a grown-ass adult who pays her own bills, knowing that one grocery trip is paid for is awesome!”
🌮 Taco Tourist
Claire suggests a food tour, picking a food category— like tacos! — and trying that same dish at several restaurants in one afternoon: “Get a taco ornament and gift it with an explanation of the game plan. So fun to try different places in your hometown. I have done tacos because I’m in Chicago and there are so many good options, but could be done with sandwiches, pastries, pizzas, anything!”
EH note: I did this with my sister many moons ago. We took a list of the best grilled cheeses in New York and traveled around Manhattan tasting them. It was such fun!
🏎️ Buckle Up
Susan suggests driving school: “My husband is a car nut. So I gifted him and a friend two days at Porsche Driving School and picked the technical program. It simulates avoiding accidents at high speeds and other things.”
🏞️ Take a Hike
Sally suggests a lifetime senior pass to the national parks: “Older folks may not buy this for themselves but if they love outdoors they’ll get great use of it. Also valid for many wildlife refuges, national historic sites, etc.”
EH note: We love the annual family pass. It’s $80 and includes every park.
🧑🍳 Aprons On
Jessica suggests a cooking class: “Learn a new skill to then show off! And the skill can be used for years to come. Plus the shared experience is a wonderful memory. This is my most favorite and memorable gift from my husband many years ago. I think about it often, all the fun we had that night and how often we’ve made risottos in various ways since then. So special!!”
🚂 All Aboard
Jenni suggests a day trip through “a fun mode” of transportation: “We live in Colorado so the ski train is fun!” Along those same lines, Jessica suggested a ferry ride: “We just had the best day as a family taking the ferry from Beaufort, NC to Shackleford Banks where we saw dolphins, searched for (and found!) wild horses, and explored the island banks collecting shells.”
EH note: We took a train trip on our visit to the Oregon Coast this summer and it was delightful. Guides abound for this sort of thing. Here are suggestions for train trips from Los Angeles, Chicago, New York Washington, D.C., Georgia
Thank you to everyone who took the time to share. And check out the full spreadsheet of ideas here.
I think I’m gonna get my husband a Float Spa gift certificate - something he’d never buy for himself!
I love the idea of an experience! So fun!! Another idea, dinner and a show or movie!