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The 13 Best Experience Gifts for 2022

If you don’t want your gift to be re-gifted, the best present you can buy someone is an experience. Moms and Dads are always saying they don’t need anything, and how many times has your best friend said she was sick of getting candles? An experience gift is the perfect thing to brighten anyone’s day. You may be thinking “what is an experience gift?” It’s basically something for the person to do, rather than a thing to look at. They can range from the simple, like a kit to make something, or the extravagant, like a trip. 

Here are our picks for the best experience gift ideas for 2022. 

Tickets to a Concert 

Guitarist and singer on softly lit stage
ipopba | Adobe Stock

Concerts are back in full swing, and 2023 is bound to be a big year. Major artists like Adele, Bruce Springsteen, and the Taylor Swift have already announced their 2023 tour dates, with big names like Megan Thee Stallion and Harry Styles expected to announce their 2023 tours. 

Tickets to a Broadway Show

The holidays are the perfect time to snag tickets to old favorites like Hamilton, Wicked, or Come From Away. You can also treat the theater enthusiast on your gift list to new shows like Life of Pi and Back to the Future: The Musical, or grab a coveted ticket to The Phantom of the Opera before it ends its 35-year Broadway run.

Skydiving

If skydiving is on anyone’s bucket list, why not help them out and get them the gift of a dive? It will surely be a day they will never forget. 

Subscription Boxes

Subscription boxes are all the rage, and for good reason! They are super fun, and they truly are the gift that keeps on giving. Cratejoy has a huge variety of different boxes, from crafts, cocktails, music, sports, and even a great selection for kids and teens

Wine Tasting/Whiskey Tasting/Beer Tasting

Row of glasses of red and white wine
Africa Studio | Adobe Stock

You get the picture—whatever the receivers drink of choice, get them a tasting. Wineries are popping up all over the U.S, whiskey is becoming more popular than ever before, and breweries seem to be everywhere, from cities to small towns. You can also check your local liquor store for any events they may be holding. 

National Park Annual Pass

At $80, a National Park Annual Pass seems ridiculously cheap. Gift your favorite outdoors person the gift of the outdoors. You will be giving them free access to over two thousand federal recreation sites, national parks, wildlife refuges and forests. It covers entrance, vehicle and day use fees for up to four adults. 

House Cleaning

A lot of us have not had many guests in the last eighteen months, so our housekeeping has gotten a little slack. Treat someone to a break with a housecleaning so they can truly relax and enjoy the holidays. 

Masterclass

Everyone deserves to be taught by a master, but not everyone has the opportunity. Thanks to Masterclass, that has changed.  Starting at just $15 a month, they can take a class given by an expert in whatever field they are interested in. They’ll find big names like Alicia Keys, Gordon Ramsay, Serena Williams, Dr. Jane Goodall, and Neil deGrasse Tyson to choose from, among many, many more. 

A Night in a Luxury Hotel 

Woman looking out a bright window, having breakfast in bed at hotel
fotoinfot | Adobe Stock

It’s always nice to give someone something they would never treat themselves to. If you’ve got someone who has always wanted to stay at a five star hotel, but either can’t afford the luxury or won’t bite the bullet, treat them to a night away. 

A Stay at A Unique Vacation Rental

Usually when we are perusing VRBO, we are just looking for the most convenient location near our destination. Why not make their rental the destination with exciting spots like this fairy tale escape in Austin, a renovated church in Denver, a treehouse in Vermont, or geodesic domes in Minnesota. 

Massage

Women getting a massage
Peter Atkins | Adobe Stock

A lot of people just want time alone or time to relax. Treat them to a Spafinder gift card, and they can pick their favorite spa to get a massage at. It’s the perfect gift for anyone who needs a break. 

Cooking Class

Whether you’re looking for a gift idea for a seasoned cook looking to tweak their skills, or a not-so-great cook looking to learn, a class from Gold Belly will be happily received. When you order a meal kit with a GB Live! Cook-Along experience, they will receive the meal kit, plus instructions on when and how to join in on the live class to prepare the meal. 

Online Dance Classes

Dance classes are a great gift for anyone who has been wanting to learn. Steezy has a huge inventory of dance classes to suit any level and taste: including salsa, hip hop, jazz, and even ballet

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