Give The Gift of Experiences

One thing we can credit the pandemic with is creating new ways to armchair travel, keep up exercise, create art, or appreciate it more, learn new skills or brush up on old ones, via the internet. And while in past posts about gifting experiences, I've suggested balloon rides, or race car driving, this year, the experiences are all things that can expand the walls as we hunker down at home. 

This was a BIG find! Airbnb Discover Programs offers a wide choice of classes and experiences. Find them all HERE, but below is a sampling:  

Live Virtual Wildlife Safari in South Africa

This is a live experience, not pre-recorded, where you will be taken on a journey in the South African bush through a 240-acre wildlife sanctuary. You'll be looking for anything from elephants to cheetahs and leopards, rhinos, birds and even some tortoise. All of this with what are called riveting stories about the area, and wildlife. Fun to do with your recipient! For only $24 per person. Choose a class on the schedule or the guide is open to scheduling something that works for you if not on her calendar. 

Buenos Aires Street Art & Sketch  

While a trip to Buenos Aires might not be possible for many, you can still learn about the bustling art scene from a local guide in this Airbnb virtual experience. When you gift this to the artist in your life, you’ll give them an interactive experience, traveling through four dynamic neighborhoods: Banfield, Puerto Madero, La Boca and Palermo. As a bonus, the last 15 minutes present the opportunity to test their street art experience with a drawing of their own. Choose from their calendar, $17 per person.  PS: you can also book for a group experience! 

Worlds Top Coffee Masterclass

Touting over 2000 FIVE STAR rave reviews, at only $9-11 a class? Yes please.  There are so many coffees and roasts wouldn't it be great to really know what you might want to try?  What ARE beans all about? How do you know what roast is what?  The course walks through what makes a great cup of coffee, how to find your own brew, and includes a barista handbook. Then, when it’s time to explore the world again, you'll know how to order what you crave abroad. 

Explore Kenyan Food and Culture

You can make this food at home with your own ingredients, taught by a women directly from her home in Kenya! She promises to teach you all the secrets of the cuisine from her family recipes. 

Meditation with a Japanese Buddhist Monk

This sounds like it's good for someone who has already done a little meditation, and is interested in new ways to meditate. And it also sounds like it would be a good one to work for groups as well. It is set for him to speak to you a bit about his journey in meditation, then you do two together, followed by a session discussing your experience or asking questions. He can also do other meditations, ie: with a candle or mirror, Qigong, Sutra copying, and counting meditation, one of the basic Zen practices. From $31 pp.

National Park Pass 

This pass covers entry for two people for a year into any of the 2,000 federal recreation sites — including the 58 national parks. That’s access to more than 84 million acres, for TWELVE WHOLE MONTHS. (If you know someone who is in the military, they are able to receive a pass for free. If you are giving this as a gift to someone over 62, it is $80 for a lifetime pass. 

MASTERCLASS Subscription

This really makes a fabulous gift to be enjoyed all year. They have full access to a great deal of master classes by many of the best in their field. You can learn to direct from Scorsese or Spike Lee, play tennis from Serena, write from Stephen King to , understand conservation from Jane Goodall, meditate mindfully with Jon Kabat Zinn, werk it with Ru Paul, garden, sing, write, build a business, explore space, do hostage negotiation -you name it.

And right now they are offering a buy one get one free years subscription for $180 So you can get it yourself and give another for free! Or, if you already have Master Class subscription, you've likely been getting emails offering a way to gift for $30 off the usual price.  

Sur la Table Online Cooking Classes 

Their lists look GREAT! They have a really wide mix of classes that would please just about any level of experience and every tastes, from traditional foods to global dishes and baked desserts. As it says below, classes start at $29 ea.

TIP: They also offer a series for teens! 

King Arthur Baking School Classes

While we're on cooking classes, I'm repeating the baking classes I mentioned last week on this year's Gifts For Her post. Baking is a genderless art however, and a fantastic gift hands down.  And one you can award last minute. They have live classes in Washington State and Vermont, but they offer a wide array of popular online classes as well. 

Check out the link to learn more. They offer so much for bakers of all levels it's too hard to capsulize. They do have a calendar for virtual or in person classes and you can arrange for a one on one or personal lesson with a group, with a plethora of instructors. 

TIP: They have kids classes too!

AMAZON LIVE STREAMING EXPERIENCES

Yep, Amazon has gotten into the game of being a hub for various companies taking you places through your screen... And right now they're 30% off (applied at check out)! It's interactive in that you can speak to locals and even take photos... Pretty cool! Bu there are also classes in mixology, tours of skateboard parks with a current star of the trade, and everything in between. Click the link and check it all out. Saw prices as low as $11 and upwards of around $200. 

For more ideas, check out my past posts in the Give An Experience Category! 

Does this post make you want to give a few to yourself too?  Then my work is done!