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It’s that time of year again. Twinkling lights, cozy fires, and the pressure of finding the “perfect gift.” Many of us end up searching through wish lists, comparing gadgets, and toys, or seasonal gear. We wrap, we guess, and we hope it lands well. But too often, those gifts end up gathering dust, shoved into drawers, or discreetly returned.
What if this year, instead of another object under the tree, you gave something more meaningful, something that doesn’t just sit on a shelf, but lives on forever in memory? What if you gifted an experience, and not just any experience, but an outdoor adventure that lights up hearts long after December 25th?
Table of Contents
- The Science Behind Experiences
- Experiences Offer What “Stuff” Can’t
- Why Outdoor/Adventure Gifts Truly Shine
- How to Gift the Outdoors (and Do it Well)
- To Wrap it Up - Beyond the Tree
The Science Behind Experiences
Turns out, there’s actual research showing what many of us already feel in our gut: experiences make better gifts than material things. A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that experiential gifts - events, and adventures, strengthen relationships more than material gifts do.
Why? It’s not about how much you like the gift when you open it; it’s about what you feel when you’re living it. A concert, a hike through snow-covered trails, a watersport trip, or a serene forest camping night evokes real emotion: awe, joy, connection, calm, or excitement. Those feelings root deeper than momentary excitement over a new gadget.
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Experiences Offer What “Stuff” Can’t
Let’s be honest, most holiday gifts end up forgotten, donated, or buried in a closet by February. Experiences? They become the stories people tell for years. A sunrise paddle, a zipline tour, a snowmobile adventure: these moments create connection and never clutter a single shelf. In an age where “less stuff, more meaning” has become a lifestyle, experience-based gifting is the upgrade the holidays desperately need.
Why Outdoor/Adventure Gifts Truly Shine
Not all experience gifts are created equal. But outdoor or adventure-based experiences have a unique edge. They tap into primal emotions: the thrill of adventure, the peace of open skies, the satisfaction of personal challenge, the shared laughter of a group.
When you give an outdoor gift, say a guided hiking trip, a multi-day camping + rafting adventure, a ski-season pass, or a wilderness photography tour, you’re giving more than a moment. You’re giving a story. Years from now, the memory of that sunset from a mountaintop, the smell of a campfire, or the rush of a river will still live vividly in the mind.
For many, these gifts become part of their identity, the kind of story they tell and retell.
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How to Gift the Outdoors (and Do it Well)
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Know your recipient. Are they a thrill-seeker, a nature lover, a couple looking for memorable experiences, or someone who needs a break from routine? Pick the adventure accordingly.
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Package it with thought. Instead of a store-bought bag, create a “gift voucher” packet: details of the experience, teaser images, and a personal note explaining why you chose it.
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Make logistics easy. Include possible dates, what to bring, any gear involved, and clear instructions; make it as easy as possible to say “yes.”
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Add a keepsake. Some people love a small physical reminder, maybe a disposable camera they take on the trip (snap a quick selfie as the first photo for a fun surprise when developed), a printed postcard, or a map of the route, something that ties the memory to a tangible memento.
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Frame the story right. Emphasize connection, adventure, and memories, not price or status. The value is emotional, not material.
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To Wrap it Up - Beyond the Tree
This holiday season (or any time you want to give something meaningful), consider gifting the outdoors: the adventure, the experience, and the memory. Instead of another item that may collect dust or clutter the closet, choose something that will spark joy, build connection, and leave a lasting impression.
Gifting experiences isn’t just trendy, it’s deeply human. Shared laughter around a campfire, fresh mountain air, the thrill of a new adventure, a sunrise over a wilderness lake; those moments become stories, friendships, and best of all - memories.
We love adventure, which is why we created Flybook. A software designed, maintained, and used by guides. Let us show you more.
