THINK OUTSIDE THE GIFT BOX
Unique experiences are the presents recipients may remember most of all
Finding just the right gift for someone can be tricky, especially someone who’s really hard to buy for during the holidays. This year, take a look at a different kind of present — a unique experience gift that won’t end up tucked away in a cupboard when the shine wears off.
Fun for couples: Sometimes it’s nice to be able to share a gift with someone — and get a little romance into your life at the same time. Life Experiences offers a huge variety of gifts for every twosome — from couples’ massages and cooking classes to wine tours and Maritime lobster parties. Life Experiences; $39 and up; lifeexperiences.ca
Mush, mush! The best way to treat lovers of the winters we get to enjoy in Canada is to send them . . . wait for it . . . dogsledding! Participants can dogsled for an hour, a day or even overnight, depending on the location. Destination Canada’ s Keep Exploring ;$100 and up; keep exploring. canada. travel Or, get cosy at the ski lodge: Take a friend, your mom or your partner for some fun and R&R at a resort. You can take your pick — ski resorts offer everything from helicopter skiing and snowboarding to soul-soothing superluxe spas with hot tubs. And don’t forget the cosy fireside cocktails for, well, just about everyone. Canadian Ski Council; price varies with package; skicanada.org
Ride the train: What better way to appreciate the beauty of nature across our country than with a train ride? No one has to worry about driving and you can customize trips according to your schedule and preferences. For a wild ride and some truly spectacular sights, check out Via Rail’s regional train routes. Via Rail; price varies according to destination; viarail.ca Movie tix: It’s true, you can watch a
movie on a smartwatch or on a tablet, or just about anywhere. But, really, there’s nothing like watching one in a movie theatre and digging into a giant bucket of popcorn — especially with all the great movies that come out during the holidays. Cineplex; gift cards available in any denomination; cineplex.com You’ve gotta eat: Who has time to come up with healthy meals, especially during those crazy busy weeks when you’re working late and trying to fit in a workout? Check out meal kits from Chefs Plate, which feature new weekly recipes with locally sourced specialty ingredients delivered right to your bestie’s door in a refrigerated box. And she or he will love you forever. Chefs Plate; $25 and up; chefsplate.com
A gift of learning: We all know someone who’s always talking about taking a course. This year, make it easy for them to follow up — and give them an easy start with LinkedIn Learning, where they can take courses on everything from design to information technology. LinkedIn Learning; starting at $26/month; linkedin.com/learning
Take a walk: Give a gift and fit in a little exercise, too. Perfect Day offers guided walking tours of specific districts, so you get to roam around an area of your city that you might not get to otherwise, and you get to pick up a little history, too! Perfect Day; $21 and up; perfectday.ca
For a drinking buddy: Craft breweries are popping up all across the country — and a fun way to celebrate the holidays is with a beer and brewery tour. Give the gift of a brewery visit, where your recipient can also sample beer and/or cider. Bonus: Some breweries also offer regional snacks to go along with the libations. Viator; starting at $16; viator.com