19 Gifts For People Who Value Experiences More Than Products
Show 'em there's still plenty to experience, even if their trip to the Amalfi Coast this summer got postponed.
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1. A bucket list journal for couples so they can figure out which trip of a lifetime they're going to go on first. Something tells me that a road trip out west is going to be on the top of their list.
Pages within have sections for why they want to do something, then all the details involved with it.
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
2. A 15-in-1 camera lens kit that'll help 'em document all the exciting stuff they do without lugging around a giant camera. Plus, it comes with a tripod to help 'em steady the perfect shot.
This is a universal kit, so you won't have to find out which kind of phone they have before gifting it!
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
3. And a pair of binoculars to help them get eyes on sights during adventures, plus some wonderful photo ops that'll help them take advantage of that lens kit!
Get them from Amazon for $22.99.
4. An escape room board game because remember when you went to that one last summer? It was so fun! With this, you can join in on the fun of escaping from a mad scientist who, for some odd reason, wants everyone to be a werewolf? OK!
So here's how it works: 2–8 players work together to "escape" said room before the scientist turns them into werewolves. (Can you even imagine the fleas? Yikes.) It has two locked boxes, a locked jar, puzzles, and lil' hint books. Overall, there are 19 puzzles to play through. Ages 13+.
Get it from Amazon for $20.99.
5. A world map that's a chic piece of decor as is, but will help them keep track of their past travels while mulling over which part of the world to scratch off next.
My friend Courtney gave me a similar map a few years ago for Christmas and I keep it at my parents' house. It looks so nice on the wall and I am itching to scratch off more parts!
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes).
6. Or a stateside scratch-off map they can really knock some stuff out on with some road trips. I own this and as you can see, it's a beauty! It's also a constant reminder about other places I've gotta explore!
Get it from KristinDouglasART on Etsy for $29.70+ (available with or without a frame).
7. A ticket stub collector box they can mount on their wall or put on their mantel to hold stubs from that Broadway show where they were in the room where it happened or the rock show you drove waaaaay too far to attend but it was 1,000% worth it.
There's a slot in the top so they won't even have to move this beauty to drop in a ticket! But! When they *do* want to access what's inside, there's a hinged back for easy contents removal.
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
8. Or a ticket notebook that'll let them write down notes like set lists, their friend's best moves in a moshpit, or the band that played the song they never play live.
Get it from Amazon for $10.45+ (available in spiral-bound or hardcover).
9. A pair of Vibes concert earplugs to tote along to the next show. They come in a tiny container they can slip in their pocket, are super comfortable to wear, and reduce noise by up to 22 decibels without affecting the sound!
Plus, they come with three earbud sizes so they get the perfect fit. I got these about a year ago but wish I had them in high school when I started going to a bunch of loud rock shows! I wore them to a VERY loud EDM show back in January that was about five hours long. When I mean loud, I mean that the bass was so loud I could see my arm hair vibrating. They work so well! I was able to clearly hear the music and easily yell-chat with my friends (as you do at such shows). Plus I had zero ear ringing or buzzing afterward.
Get them from Amazon for $23.98.
10. A snack box subscription filled with snacks from around the world because they're always so great at bringing back weird snacks from their travels. It's time to return the favor!
Get it from MunchPak for $13.95+/monthly delivery (available with 5, 10, or 20 items per box on a 1-, 3-, 6-, or 12-month subscription basis).
11. A cocktail recipes book that — yes, though they're not super concerned with things — will look mighty fine on their bookshelf when they're not using it for whipping up some delish at-home drinks.
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
12. And while we're on the subject, a Cuban cocktail–making class through Airbnb Experiences you can join in on from separate places for some group fun without the travel.
I took this class with Grace and a few friends who live in different states. It was so fun. Grace was so welcoming, funny, friendly, and wonderful. Yes, I had to go out and buy a few ingredients, but it made me feel like I was out having fun with friends. Now, would you like me to make you a Cuba Libre?
Book this class for $15/person, check out more online experiences you can do together, and see Airbnb gift card options.
13. A cheese-making kit so they'll put their very tasty creation where their mouth is next time they talk about the grocery store's lackluster cheese selection.
Makes 10 different cheeses across 40 batches, including mozzarella, ricotta, mascarpone, Cypriot-style cheese, Greek-style cheese, Scottish crowdie, Labner, goat’s cheese, queso blanco, and paneer. They'll just add milk!
Get it from Amazon for $44.
14. A write-in menu book to help them collect all sorts of wonderful recipes. Cooking is an experience that pays off very quickly, because then you eat!
15. An educational constellation project for curious kids ages 5+ who love to tinker and ask questions. With this, they'll build a model system of the sun, earth, and moon.
16. A crochet beanie kit because they've been meaning to pick up some crafting skills in 2020 but haven't quite figured out their niche! Well, this kit (a collab between Jonah Larson and We Are Knitters) is their chance! Plus, 20% of the sales from this beanie go to the charity Roots Ethiopia.
Jonah Larson of Jonah's Hands learned how to crochet at age 5 and has been documenting his creations on the Internet since! This kit includes everything you need to make the beanie, including two skeins of wool, a crochet hook, a pattern, a sewing needle, and the embroidered label to attach to your finished project.
Get it from We Are Knitters for $53.50.
17. A LifeStraw, which is really just fancy talk for a personal water filter they can use to drink *directly* from a stream without worrying about water quality. If they spend more time in the great outdoors than indoors, this'll come in handy and help lighten their load.
This beauty filters up to 1,000 gallons (4,000 liters) of contaminated water without iodine, chlorine, or other chemicals; it does not require batteries and has no moving parts. It removes minimum 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria, 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites, and filters to 0.2 microns; it surpasses EPA filter standards. So yeah, it's legit!
Get it from Amazon for $17.47.
18. Plus an ENO double nest hammock that'll give them the perfect spot to pause and take in that fantastic view they hiked to access.
Reviewers recommend also getting the ENO Atlas straps for simple setup!
Get it from Amazon for $41.66+ (available in 54 colors).
19. And a guide to starting a podcast in case they've been mulling over that grand idea that they think they could pull of. You'll be the cohost, right?
