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Who’s the minimalist in your life? Maybe it’s your friend, your parents, or even yourself! Rather than giving a gift that may be left in a drawer forgotten over time, the gift of experience is one of the best gifts you can give. When shopping for loved ones who prefer experiences over “stuff,” small, unique, and thoughtful gifts come to mind. Giving an experience shows you truly understand what they love, offering them something that lasts far longer than any physical item — and that is memories that will be cherished for life.
A recent survey found that 92% of Americans would rather receive experiences than gifts this past holiday season. And studies show that experiential gifts cultivate stronger social relationships than material gifts. People are looking to create memories with friends and family, and there’s no shortage of meaningful ideas to choose from. From creative workshops and museum memberships to immersive artwork and practical (yes, practical!) home goods, these are experiential gifts that any minimalist will love.
Looking for more ethically made and sustainable gifts for the holiday season? Check out our guide to the best sustainable gifts (and best gifts for him, too). Happy giving! ✨
1. Explore
For a gift that can be used all year long, The North American Reciprocal Museum Association has a nationwide museum membership that works with over 1,000 institutions in the U.S., Bermuda, Canada, and Mexico. Members receive free visits, museum coupons, and discounts on tours and lectures for weekends filled with art and culture.
If traveling and nature are both favorite pastimes, a Postcard Cabins Gift Card may be just what your giftee is in need of. Their tiny cabins are the perfect getaway retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.
If your loved one lives in a metro area, consider gifting a membership to local botanical gardens, like these in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, or Denver. Annual memberships for individual botanical gardens usually start at around $100, and many include unlimited visits, discounts, and free year-round parking.
Finally — a team favorite — consider the America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) which is great for nature-loving minimalists who want to spend the upcoming year exploring national parks and forests.
2. Experiment in the kitchen
Whether your loved one is an aspiring chef or a professional in the kitchen, new cookware invites them to try new flavors and recreate their favorite recipes. Tried and trusted cookware from Great Jones ($20+) will last for many years and meals to come. It doesn’t hurt that every single pot, pan, and baking sheet from this brand is gorgeous. I mean just look at this Dutch oven. Minimalists everywhere are swooning.
Flamingo Estate is one of our favorite local garden-to-home shops — their Heritage Extra Virgin Olive Oil ($48) is absolutely divine, made with hand-picked California olives from centuries-old trees. (You can even order a bottle with a personalized, handwritten label!) For those who enjoy their time in the kitchen, this curated cookbook ($78) will inspire new life in the kitchen, with recipes straight from the Estate. And for those who have a love of gardening, fresh and local produce, and home and body products from the earth, a Flamingo Estate Membership ($96/year) will give them exclusive access to their favorite products alongside complimentary gifts.
Flamingo Estate is a partner of The Good Trade
3. De-stress
For anyone who needs to unwind and sharpen their focus, Sens.ai is the perfect gift. It’s an at-home brain training system that combines cutting-edge technology like neurofeedback and light therapy to help you feel calmer, think clearer, and boost resilience. This handy headset is editor-approved and is the perfect thoughtful gift for someone seeking more mental clarity and improving mindfulness in their daily life.
For daily relaxation and a quick rejuvenating break, you can’t go wrong with gifting a massage to a local spa or wellness center!
Or show your loved one you care about their well-being and gift them a subscription to the Headspace App ($70/year) or Calm App ($70/year). A subscription features meditations and breath work for sleep, stress, mindfulness, focus, and more.
If sleep is a priority, you can invest in their well-being with one of these gifts for folks who need better sleep.
4. Focus on wellness
Wellness gifts aren’t only helpful, but they let our loved ones know we care for their wellbeing and want them to thrive! General supplements like natural multivitamins and magnesium offer nutrients that most of us are deficient in, and can provide that extra reminder to give our bodies some love everyday!
Being active is also essential to wellness, and there’s no better way to gift the experience of movement than through a Classpass gift card. It’s our favorite way to try new fitness studios and gyms, plus classes we’ve never tried before (think barre, reformer pilates, boxing, and spin!). Credits can also be used on select beauty salons and spas, and across many major cities globally.
For the people who love to cook healthy food from home but don’t have time, or don’t necessarily love to cook but still want to eat clean, Purple Carrot ($80+/month) is a plant-based meal-delivery service that offers both make-yourself meal kits and prepared meals. Another favorite of ours, Saara ($237/week), delivers nutritious and organic ready-to-enjoy meals and supplements.
Lastly, a daily fitness tracker is essential to optimizing daily health, and the Oura Ring ($399+) is our favorite wearable for tracking everything from basal body temperature to sleep duration, heart health and more. For more inspo on wellness gifts, check out our gift guide to the best wellness tech and gear.
5. Learn something new
For the minimalist longing to get back in the classroom (even if it’s a virtual one), you can support their endeavor by gifting a membership to an online educational platform. MasterClass ($120/year) offers courses in writing, cooking, photography, and more — we particularly enjoy Dr. Jane Goodall’s class on conservation and Ron Finley’s class on gardening.
And if your loved one is up for getting creative and reigniting their childlike imagination, they can learn the art of illusion through Uncommon Goods Magic 101 Show & Class ($25+). For a more mellow option, gifting a Book of the Month membership ($60+) is the perfect way to whisk your significant other away on a new journey through a novel. And for a more affordable option, a Substack subscription is a great way to deliver newsletters of interest, straight to their inbox. Here is a list of our favorite ones!
6. Play games
The best gift is one that you can share with others, which is why we love these games from some of our favorite small businesses and sustainable brands. For example, this Green Thumb Puzzle ($34) is one of our favorite unique gifts for minimalists young and old who love everything nature related. Printed on high quality art paper and packaged in a recycled paper box, the completed puzzle will dazzle anyone
For a gift that you and your close ones can play in different group settings, both Where Should We Begin ($40) and We’re Not Really Strangers ($25) card games are great for strengthening bonds and learning something new about one another, in a safe and intimate setting!
7. Make it personalized
A personalized gift is perfect for the minimalist in your life as it can tie into their love for experiences, giving them something one-of-a-kind that feels both intentional and memorable. A great choice is a customized photo album, photo frame, or a calendar from premium photo printing company Artifact Uprising ($19+). Featuring old memories and pastimes is a sentimental way to create new traditions that capture experiences to be remembered forever.
If your giftee loves to write, journal, or use planners on the daily, personalized stationery from Papier ($8+) is a surefire way to have your loved one remember your thoughtfulness everyday! And for someone who is always traveling for work or for fun, Paravel ($35+) luggage offers personalized luggage, bags, and tags that are chic, high quality, and made with upcycled materials. Our editor reports smooth travels with these bags!
8. Get crafty
What better gift for someone who loves new experiences than delving into arts and crafts?! Check out this gorgeous Japanese Watercolor Set ($34) that’ll have you in awe of how many combinations one can mix and match into crafting a masterpiece.
For more hands-on crafts lovers, a pair of water- and rust-resistant garden scissors ($35) might just be what they’ve been needing to harvest and care for their garden with more ease. Or perhaps this refillable candle set from Fill Mill ($105) is just what they’ve been looking for to help them unleash their love for fragrance (especially when they can’t decide on just one scent!).
9. Giving is better than receiving
Giving to a charitable or social cause in honor of someone you care about is one of the most meaningful ways to celebrate the season. There is no shortage of impactful organizations. Some of our favorites include IFundWomen, a crowdfunding platform dedicated to women entrepreneurs; the Sierra Club to defend wild places; She Should Run, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to increase the number of women running for public office; and the Loveland Foundation, which provides therapy to Black women and girls.
With two devastating hurricanes that have impacted the U.S. coast, Charity Navigator provides resources on which charities we can donate to to help those impacted by Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene. And with election season underway, supporting nonprofits like Democracy Works helps provide accurate and nonpartisan election data to the public, as well as new technologies that help increase voter participation.
We highly suggest looking into local organizations as well, or asking your loved one which local organization they prefer you donate to. Remember: If a monetary donation isn’t possible, you can also volunteer your time in someone’s
