It’s hard to believe that Christmas is just two weeks away! It feels like it came up really quickly this year. Usually, I have a list of Christmas gift ideas ready and written in a blog post by early December, at the latest.
Every winter, I ask our ambassadors about the products they’re really enjoying. Then, I use their recommendations to put together a list of gift ideas.
Here are some of the ones I’ve shared in the past.
However, this year I thought I’d do things a little different. Instead of asking our ambassadors about products they love, I asked them what experiences they love as gifts.
Experiences > Things
Experiences make better gifts than things for a few reasons:
- The Gift That Keeps on Giving: Experiences create memories that stay with us for a long time, unlike stuff that can break or get old. According to Psychology Today, “Recalling happy experiences can help to disrupt negative thought patterns, alleviate anxiety, and even lower cortisol levels.”
- Emotional Bonds: Doing things together, like going on a trip or having a special dinner, can bring people closer. It’s a way to connect and feel closer to someone.
- Health and Happiness: Some experiences, like going hiking or taking a yoga class, can make you feel healthier and happier.
- Excitement: Sometimes, looking forward to an experience can be really exciting. The fun starts before the actual event!
If you don’t know what to get the hiker who has everything . . . or if you need ideas for when people ask you what you want, here are 6 experience-related gift ideas wine hikers are sure to love.
Tori: Self-Care Experiences
We women are great at taking care of everyone else, but we usually aren’t great at taking care of ourselves. Because of this, New Member Ambassador Tori Foote said she really appreciates self-care gifts. These can be things like gift cards for pampering experiences such as facials, pedicures, or acupuncture.
And for wine hikers who enjoy physical activities beyond hiking, Tori recommends something like a yoga class or a pass to a climbing gym, especially if you go with your friend.
Cynthia: Camping Trip
When asked what she wanted for a gift, Over 50 Ambassador Cynthia Lazzara asked each of her grown sons for an overnight camping trip. She wanted each camping trip to be one-on-one.
Cynthia said she asked for this gift because it’s hard to get quality time with adult children: “The overnight is a start. I hope to make it at least a few nights every year. It gives us time to relax. Plus, we’re building memories.”
As the saying goes, sometimes the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.
Angie: Photo Book
So, this one is technically a material item, but the focus is on creating lasting memories. Southern Utah Ambassador Angie Wheeler said she loves receiving photo books capturing moments she shared with the person gifting it.
In today’s digital age, printed photos have become rare. There’s no better way to relive a fun experience than by flipping through the pages of a photo book.
Chatbooks, Shutterfly, and Walgreens are a few places you can turn your digital memories into coffee table page-turners. (Enter code PHOTOBOOK60 at Walgreens Photo checkout and get 60% off a photo book through December 16.)
Karen: National Park Pass (America the Beautiful Pass)
Give the gift of exploration with the America the Beautiful Pass. As Salt Lake County Ambassador Karen Leonard points out, the America the Beautiful Pass isn’t just for national parks and national monuments.
It can also be used to cover the parking fee for trailheads within a national forest. If you’re in Utah, this pass will cover parking in American Fork Canyon and along Mirror Lake Highway.
You don’t need to make a trip to a national park visitor center to buy a pass. You can simply purchase one online! If you’re unsure whether someone already has a card, consider getting them a digital gift card. It’s a great choice for loved ones who might already have a pass since they can use it when they’re ready to renew!
Melissa: Wine Tasting
You’ve got the hiking covered with the America the Beautiful Pass. Don’t forget about the wine! Slow & Steady Ambassador Melissa West highly recommends wine tasting as a gift idea. She believes it’s a fun way to explore new wines while spending quality time with friends or loved ones.
If you’re in northern Utah and are looking for some ideas, you have a few options! (Surprised?)Â We love the wines and the ambiance of Old Town Cellars on Main Street in Park City. If you’re looking for something a little more casual that can be enjoyed on a patio in the summer, check out Tea Zaanti in Sugar House.
Angelique & Cindy: A Gift Card Toward a WHS Camping Trip, Backpacking Trip, or Weekend Getaway
Okay. We might be kind of partial toward experiences . . . But, we have some trips coming up in 2024 that we are just soooooo excited about!
- Beginner Backpack in Canyonlands National Park (April)
- Weekend Getaway to Bend, Oregon (June)
- Experienced Backpacking in Idaho (August)
- Experienced Backpacking in Wyoming (August)
- Weekend Getaway to Island Park, Idaho (September)
- Experienced Backpacking in Coyote Gulch (October)
And that’s not even everything we have planned! So, if someone asks you what you want for Christmas, add a Wine Hiking Society gift card to your list! Wine not?
I’d love to add onto this list. What experiences do you love to get as gifts? Tell me in the comments below.
