25 thoughtful gifting experiences for everyone on your list

Relationships

Dec 16

Written By Calm Editorial Team

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, MBA

Gifting experiences can make lifelong memories with the people you love. Learn what it means, why it matters, and 25 thoughtful experience gifts for everyone on your list.

Maybe you’ve had the experience where you’ve opened a gift that didn’t quite land… Another candle, another kitchen gadget, another book you probably won’t read.

When life can feel increasingly materialistic, receiving the gift of an experience can feel like an extra special treat. A coffee date, a class you could take together, or a simple invitation to step away from your routine for a few hours. Gifting experiences is becoming more common as people increasingly value things to do rather than things to have. Experiences create memories, prolonged joy, and ways to connect and bond with your loved ones.

Let’s explore why this trend is becoming a thoughtful option for many, and how to choose the right option for the people in your life.

What does it mean to gift an experience?

Gifting an experience means offering someone the chance to do or enjoy something, rather than giving them a physical item. It could be a short outing, a shared class, a small adventure, or even a moment of relaxation. The focus is on creating a meaningful interaction or memory.

At its core, an experience gift acknowledges who someone is and what matters to them — comfort, curiosity, connection, or rest. It’s a way of saying, I see what brings you joy or ease, and building a shared experience around that. This can feel especially supportive for people whose lives are busy or emotionally stretched.

Because these gifts are flexible, they work across relationships and budgets. They can be shared or solo, active or restful, planned or open-ended. They offer a moment that feels nourishing and special for someone you care about.

Why gift an experience instead of a physical gift?

While research on experience gifting is still growing, studies highlight how shared time and supportive interactions can strengthen relationships and help people feel more connected.

And for the giver, choosing an experience can relieve some of the pressure to pick the “perfect” item. Plus, you get to be a bit more creative since experiences can be catered to the person in question more accurately than a new sweater or scented bath salts.

These gifts also tend to linger in memory. A walk through a new neighborhood, a class where you learned something together, or an afternoon spent doing something familiar but intentional can shape how people feel long after the moment ends. The emotional takeaway is often stronger than anything wrapped.

What should you consider when choosing gift experiences?

Choosing an experience gift doesn’t need to feel complicated. A few gentle questions can help you find something that feels both thoughtful and doable:

What feels realistic for them right now?
What genuinely matches their interests?
How flexible is the timing?
Will this support connection in a way that feels natural?

These considerations keep the focus on care rather than wow-factor. The most memorable experience gifts are often the ones that feel easy to say yes to.

25 thoughtful experience gift ideas for everyone on your list

Experience gifts don’t have to be big, expensive, or Instagram-ready. The most meaningful ones usually feel simple, personal, and easy to follow through on. Below are ideas for different people in your life, with concrete examples and small tweaks to make each one feel low-pressure yet purposeful.

6 experience gifts for your partner or spouse

1. Slow morning together: Gift a “no-alarm morning” where you plan nothing except being together. This could look like making breakfast at home, wandering to a café, or staying in pajamas with a movie. You can write it as a simple coupon: “One slow morning: no chores, no plans, just us.” This works well for tired partners who crave rest more than busy plans.

2. A shared learning experience: Choose a class or workshop that feels fun. Cooking, pottery, a dance class, a cocktail-making session, or even a virtual class from home. The goal is to play, not create a new skill. Pick a time that fits your usual schedule, and make it clear there’s no pressure to be good at it. You’re just trying it out.

3. A “memory lane” date: Revisit places that matter to your relationship: where you met, a favorite early date spot, or a park you love. You can build a simple route and add tiny prompts, like sharing a favorite memory at each stop. This turns a regular outing into something personal without costing much.

4. At-home retreat night: Create a mini retreat without leaving the house. That might mean takeout, candles, phones off for a few hours, and a shared activity like a puzzle, show, or playlist swap. You can include options on a card so they can choose: a massage, a movie, a board game, or just some quiet time together.

5. Surprise “care afternoon”: Block off a few hours for them where you take on a task they’ve been dreading—organizing a small space, handling an errand, or taking something off their mental load—and then follow it with something relaxing, like a walk or coffee. The experience is both practical support and quality time.

6. Future adventure fund: If money is tight or schedules are messy, create a “future adventure” envelope. Add a small amount of money, a short list of possible outings (day trip, concert, special restaurant), and a promise to choose an option together when life settles a bit. The gift is the intention and shared planning, not just the event itself.

💙 Explore 5 Steps to Stronger Relationships with Jay Shetty on the Calm app.

6 experience gifts for family

1. Family game or movie night: Plan a night with a few easy games or a movie everyone can enjoy. Add snacks, cozy blankets, and a pause on chores for a few hours. You can give the night a “ticket” and let family members vote on the game or film. Keep it simple so no one has to host a perfect event.

2. Seasonal outing: Choose something tied to the time of year: apple picking, a beach afternoon, a holiday light walk, or a picnic in the park. The key is to keep expectations reasonable. Pick something close by, flexible with the weather, and not too long. Add a warm drink stop or simple treat to make it feel special.

3. Family photo walk: Go for a walk through a neighborhood, park, or favorite spot and take casual photos of each other and everyday moments. This isn’t about staged portraits. It’s about capturing small, real pieces of your life together. Later, you can print a few favorites as a follow-up surprise.

4. Shared creative project: Start something you can all contribute to: a family recipe book, a small garden, a scrapbook, or a shared playlist for car rides. The “gift” is the first session to begin the project, plus a plan to keep it going at a relaxed pace.

5. Story or memory night: For older family members, gift a relaxed evening where you ask about their stories — childhood, early jobs, favorite memories. You can record audio or write things down if they’re comfortable. This can feel especially meaningful for grandparents or relatives who don’t often get to share their history.

6. Chore-free experience swap: Offer to trade time: you handle childcare, yard work, or a big errand so another family member can enjoy their own experience like a class, a nap, a solo walk, or quiet time at a café. The experience you’re gifting is space and freedom, which many busy adults crave more than objects.

💙 Family life feel overwhelming? Check out the Ease Parenting Stress series with Jeff Warren on the Calm app.

6 experience gifts for friends

1. Friendship field trip: Pick a spot you’ve both wanted to visit, maybe a new café, nearby town, market, bookstore, or trail. Make it simple: transportation, one planned stop, and room to wander. You can name it something fun on the card, like “Field Trip Day: You + Me + Snacks.”

2. Theme night at home: Instead of going out, bring the theme to your living room. Taco night, cozy soup night, DIY spa night, or favorite childhood snacks night. The gift is that you plan the details so your friend just shows up and relaxes. This works well for introverts or friends on a budget.

3. Shared creative time: Gift a “creative hang” where you both bring whatever you want to work on like, drawing, writing, knitting, music, or even organizing photos. Add music, snacks, and low-pressure conversation. For friends who feel guilty about not making time for hobbies, this can feel like a gentle permission slip.

4. Local class or workshop together: Check out low-stakes options like pottery, candle making, painting, or a casual fitness class. Pick something that doesn’t require special gear or skills and frame it as an experiment, not a performance: “We’ll probably be bad at this, and that’s half the fun.”

5. Walk-and-talk ritual: Offer a series of scheduled or flexible walk-and-talks. Maybe once a month, every other week, or whenever you both can manage. The experience is regular emotional check-ins built into movement and fresh air. If walking isn’t accessible, this can be a sit-and-sip ritual at a park or café.

6. Volunteer outing: Choose a cause you both care about and sign up for a shift together. Serving food, helping at an event, or supporting a community project. It can create a shared sense of meaning and connection beyond your usual routine, and it doesn’t need to be a big time commitment.

💙 Learn more about Meaningful Practice for Meaningful Friendship on the Calm app.

7 experience gifts for kids

1. One-on-one “date” with you: Plan a simple outing centered around their interests like ice cream, a playground, a comic shop, the library, or a favorite café. The important part is your undivided attention — no multitasking, no rushing. You can make a small “VIP pass” with their name and the activity.

2. Activity day pass: Gift a trip to a kid-friendly place: zoo, aquarium, children’s museum, climbing gym, trampoline park, or mini golf. To keep expectations realistic, include what’s covered (entry, one snack) and how long you’ll stay. That clarity helps avoid meltdowns.

3. At-home “baking and making” day: Set aside time to bake something simple like cookies, cupcakes, or pizza, and let them help with safe tasks. Add a craft or building activity afterward using supplies you already have. The gift is a full chunk of time where mess is allowed, and fun is the goal.

4. Backyard or park adventure: Create a small “explorer kit” experience. Maybe that’s a printed map, a simple scavenger hunt, or nature bingo. Then take them to a nearby park or backyard to complete it together. The kit can be as simple as a folded paper with things to look for: birds, leaves, colors, shapes.

5. Choose-your-own-activity coupon book: Instead of one big outing, make a few small coupons they can redeem over time: “Stay up 30 minutes late,” “Pick tonight’s dinner,” “Board game together,” “Extra story at bedtime.” This spreads the experience out and gives them a sense of choice.

6. Screen-time with purpose: If screens are part of your life (for most families, they are), turn it into an intentional experience. A planned movie night with popcorn and cozy blankets, or a co-op video game session where you play alongside them. The shift is from “background screen” to “shared screen time.”

7. Skill-building mini lesson: Offer to teach them something they’ve shown interest in, like basic cooking, drawing, sewing, photography, or music. Keep it short and fun — 30 to 60 minutes with lots of breaks. The experience is meant to help them feel capable and supported, not pushed to master something.

Gifting experiences FAQs

What are some good experiences to give as gifts?

Good experience gifts feel easy to enjoy and don’t add pressure. Simple outings like a coffee date, museum visit, or nature walk work well, as do classes or small day trips.

If you’re unsure, think about what the person already loves—quiet spaces, creativity, movement, or social time—and choose something that gently supports those interests.

What are thoughtful experience gifts if I’m on a budget?

Budget-friendly experience gifts often center on time or support rather than cost. A homemade coupon for help with errands, a movie night at home, or a walk together can feel more meaningful than anything store-bought.

You can also offer a few options, like a baked treat, a playlist walk, or a shared hour of connection, so the gift feels personal without being expensive.

What are the benefits of gifting an experience?

Experience gifts ease the pressure of traditional gifting and help strengthen connections. They don’t create clutter and often require less guesswork than choosing an item.

Because they create memories, they can feel more lasting and emotionally meaningful. Early research also suggests shared time and supportive interactions may help people feel more connected.

What are some examples of experience gifts?

Examples include classes, tours, local events, shared meals, creative workshops, or simple nature outings. They can also be quieter moments like helping with a task or planning a cozy night in.

Even small gestures—like sharing a playlist—count. The impact comes from the feeling the experience creates, not the size of the activity.

What if I don’t know which experience to gift?

If you’re unsure, offer a few choices rather than picking one activity. Options like a coffee outing, nature walk, or game night let the person choose what fits their energy. A flexible gift card to a café, movie theater, or class platform also works. Choice keeps the gift from feeling like an obligation.

What are some good experience gifts for the family?

Families often enjoy simple, low-pressure activities that include everyone. Seasonal outings, game nights, and local events work well because they’re easy to plan.

Shared projects—like cooking or gardening—or gifts of time, such as taking on chores so someone can rest, can also be meaningful. The best family gifts support connection without adding stress.

What are some good experience gifts for friends?

Friends tend to appreciate experiences that feel connecting and relaxed. This might be a field trip to a new café, a creative class, a cozy night in, or a shared walk.

Some friends enjoy active outings, while others prefer crafting or volunteering together. The goal is to match their energy and make time together feel restorative.

Why is gifting experiences better than gifting physical gifts?

Experience gifts can feel better for some people because they avoid clutter, reduce pressure, and often feel more meaningful. They shift the focus toward presence and memory-making rather than buying things.

While not everyone prefers experiences, they offer a gentle alternative for people who value connection or feel overwhelmed by physical items.

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Calm Editorial Team