Experiences always win over things in our family and friends crew. 

We’re very fortunate to have a great home base full of fun toys, a full kitchen, clothes, and anything else we could possibly need. I’m working on being a minimalist as best I can around the holidays, too. We reuse our favorite decorations, avoid single-use plastics, and try to purchase things that will last a long time. When it comes to gifting, I much rather book my family a trip than use our funds on anything else. 

We try to inspire our loved ones to do the same, so we’re spending more time together and finding gifts that truly make a lasting impression. Alongside our traditional travel and foodie gift guides that I tirelessly research to find the best long-lasting, quality gifts for, I also want to include some intangible ideas this year. 

If you feel like you’re running out of ideas for gifts for loved ones, an experience (or accessory for an experience) is a great way to shake things up.

PS: Giveaways are happening alongside the guides this year to say THANK YOU to all our readers. So bookmark our giveaway page and follow us on Instagram for a chance at more than $600 worth of prizes!

Flytographer Gift Cards for vacation photoshoots

Do you know any newlyweds going on a honeymoon, a family taking a big vacation, or a friend embarking on a big solo trip soon? Gifting your loved ones a professional photoshoot abroad is an amazing gift of memories and fun that’s outside the box. Flytographer offers gift cards for a photo session in more than 350+ destinations worldwide. And this Black Friday season, there are 20% off gift cards available to offer a shoot as a holiday present for less. It’s the ultimate experience over things and a way to support a woman-owned business, too.

Retail: Starts at $385 for a 30-minute shoot, gift cards are currently 20% off

• Eileen

Overtone conditioning, semi-permanent hair dye (for the holidays!)

My stylist is wonderful. I appreciate a gift card to my salon every season from my spouse. But my curious preschooler is into hair lately and says she might want to add a color. I wanted to find something fun we could do at home together that wouldn’t be super permanent, would blend nice with our natural colors, and also keep our hair feeling healthy. The experience of playing with Overtone during the holidays is going to be so memorable for us: we might even try to get grandma in on the action!

Retail: Color treatment masks start at $32

• Eileen

Tours and experiences with Get Your Guide

I think tours sometimes can have a bad reputation. Many think they’re big crowds of people following a guy with a flag around overcrowded points of interest. But traveling “tour” experiences can include things like a homestay meal with a local family, an immersion into a colorful festival, a behind-the-scenes look at how artisans create master crafts, or a cooking class that incorporates the freshest, local ingredients. All these experiences can be booked through Get Your Guide, which offers bespoke tours and trips for all types of travelers. You’ll find gift cards available to give your favorite traveler this holiday season. And don’t worry, there are tours of the Eiffel Tower and State of Liberty, too.

Retail: Varies, gift cards start at $50

• Eileen

AllTrails+ membership

Our busy lives mean that we take every opportunity at hand to get out into the great outdoors. That can mean dog walks between video calls, or utilizing a business trip to squeeze in a longer hike. That’s where the AllTrails+ membership comes in.

Whether you’re a hiker, runner, or other—AllTrails+ has some handy features. First, you can find hikes and running routes near you, even searching and sorting for trails close to you by a specific distance (or distance from a point). This is super helpful when using public transport to find that perfect city run where you’ll get a great view of the city. Second, you can download maps offline. This means that if you’re in a foreign country or in the remote backcountry and won’t have phone service, you can still navigate without a worry. This adds a layer of security to exploring—but there’s also a great additional feature here—live sharing activities. This is pure piece of mind: it allows others to check on your progress.

On a recent conference trip to Las Vegas, I used this feature to let my wife know about a little side trip I’d made to Red Rock Canyon. I texted her beforehand to let her know which trail I was on, since I was alone in a place I hadn’t hiked before. The live stream allowed her to make sure I got back to the car safely—even without having mobile service to be able to call her. AllTrails+ is an invaluable tool for those who want to explore whilst traveling. I don’t leave home without it.

Retail: $35/year

• Christian

Catalina Quest AI trip planning

If you want to go all out gifting a trip for your family this holiday season, your partner, or even yourself, this is an ideal way to take care of all the details. Traveling can be a thrill, relaxing, or even transformative. But if booking flights, hotels, figuring out tours, restaurants, etc. all yourself, it can get daunting. A true experiential gift would be utilizing this innovative AI technology from Catalina Quest and its expert team to collaborate on an upcoming getaway. You can take the quiz to get a feel for what type of trip you’re looking for, including what time of year, budget, who’s going, and more. Then Taylor, the AI planner, will walk you through some exciting options before working on your dream trip officially.

Retail: Varies, take the Catalina Quest quiz for free

• Eileen

Cookbook by Sam Adams that gives back

The first gifts I ever gave others were jars of cookie mix they could use for baking. My mother and I would mix these, tie them up with ribbons, and offer them to friends and family, so I could be a part of the gifting. Food is always a gift of love. One fun idea is to pair a dish with a cookbook, such as this special one recently launched by Sam Adams. Sales support the “Brewing the American Dream” organization, which provides needed support and capital to small business owners in the food and hospitality industry. I’ve made a few creations from the Our American Dream Cookbook and everything was delicious.

Retail: On sale for $24

• Eileen

Horizn Studios carry-on

Obviously luggage for gifts is a tangible present, but this could be the first gift to yourself or a loved one to support a new travel experience in the near future.

And oh boy! This H5 RE carry-on case is a real treat. It’s sleek, stylish, efficient, and it moves like butter on a warm roll. It pivots with ease, which is great when you’re always on the go or running late to your gate (it’s me)! With a four-stage, bio-filled telescopic handle, a TSA-approved lock, and four high-end 360° Japanese spinner wheels, handling this carry-on bag is a breeze. Its compact size is great for carry-on travel, weekend road trips, and train or bus travel. The sleek design makes me feel polished and posh! The olive green color is a timeless classic and also stands out in the event you ever have to check your luggage in a pinch. 

What I love most about this posh piece is that this hard shell luggage is made from renewed high-performance polycarbonate, saving over 72% of CO2 emissions without compromising on performance. Its footprint has been reduced even more by 100% recycled interiors. Horizn Studios Carry-On is the perfect gift for the environmentally conscious traveler. 

Retail: $370

• Jeannine

Loveland Foundation and contributions to care

If you have done it all and seen it all, it’s time to donate. You should really donate at any point you’re feeling thankful, but making a contribution to an incredible organization in someone’s name is very special. The Loveland Foundation is one of my favorites. It offers free therapy to women of color who wouldn’t normally have access to care.

Every year, my family and I also sponsor kids through our local YMCA to make sure they have holiday gifts and clothes. We make this an experience with our kids too, so they understand the power in caring and supporting others. You can do this setup a regular monthly/quarterly donation, as I have with the Boys & Girls Club in Hawaii after an awesome time visiting Oahu this year.

• Eileen