Gift Giving: Holiday Gift Ideas

Holiday Outpost

Ideas to Make Some Spirits Bright

Story by Lifestyle Staff

Think back on one of the most thoughtful gifts you’ve ever received. It likely wasn’t a thing— maybe it was a moment, a day, an experience. Giving gifts doesn’t have to be something that can be wrapped up (though bows and sparkles do look nice under the tree). This year, aim to find something beyond just “stuff”—something that will touch their heart and bring joy through a new lived experience.

Lessons

Get familiar with your recipient’s hopes, dreams, and spirit. You can give lessons for music, language, sports, cooking, or something more off the beaten path. Be sure to read reviews and research payment methods so your recipient isn’t stuck with lessons above their abilities or fewer lessons than they need to learn the basics.

Subscription

Finally, a set it and forget it-style gift. You can give almost anything, as long as they love it, because it will keep coming and coming (until you say when). Be sure to have their best address and tell them when the subscription runs out so they can renew it if they like.

Membership

Do you have a VIP in your life? Purchase a winery, golf course, or conservation group membership. Thinking locally is also a great choice—for families, look at children’s museum memberships, zoo memberships, or theme park memberships. Usually two trips will pay for the membership alone!

Feeling a Little More Adventurous?

White Water Rafting

Give the gift of the exhilarating power of nature—brave the white waters of the local Kaweah or Kings Rivers (depending on which rafting company you choose) or go farther afield to northern California rivers. With different length trips, there’s plenty to explore. These summer trips should be booked in advance.

raftcalifornia.com | kingsriver.com

Hot-Air, Hot-Date

The grandest of all grand gestures—you found it. Central coast-based company, Balloons over Paso offers beautiful (and early morning) sunrise trips over Central California vineyards. You might say your romantic plans are up in the air—in the best way possible. Trips are offered MayGifting ExperiencesNovember, so get a gift certificate now to book later!

balloonsoverpaso.com

Knife-Making Class

Sharpen up with a one-on-one knife-making class with a local ABS (American Bladesmith Society) Mastersmith. Classes are available on every aspect of knife making: construction, grinding, heat treating, and fit and finish. Construction can include fixed blades, slipjoints, liner or frame locks, and lockbacks.

Michael Vagnino | mvknives.com

Wilderness Ride

A Wilderness Collective motorcycle trip could be just the thing that gets them away from screens and feeling the need for speed. Offering different types of group trips through Iceland, Yosemite, Baja, and Utah (and many more locales) Wilderness Collective is focused on helping folks “disconnect and discover character through exploration.”

wildernesscollective.com