The season of gifting is upon us! If you are anything like me, there is always someone on your list who has everything. Or maybe you have just been leaning into the idea that you want fewer things and more experiences. If so, this article is for you!
For babies up to grandparents, there is a little something on this list for everyone. No matter the person you are looking for, you will hopefully be able to find a fun and unique local experience to gift this holiday season!
An added bonus to giving an experience-based gift is that all the ideas here are local, and what better time than now to put our money back into our communities!
1. For the Amateur Docent
Gifting a local membership has always been a go-to gift in my household. Every year for my son’s birthday, I ask his grandparents to get him a membership to a local museum, zoo, or attraction, and we enjoy it all year round!
New Mexico BioPark Society
The BioPark is the perfect place to take the family. Memberships get you into the zoo, botanical gardens, and the aquarium.
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
If you have a dinosaur-obsessed little one like mine, what better place to get a membership? This membership is also part of the Association of Science and Technology Center Passport Program, so this membership gets you into many other museums around the country. You can find out more here.
Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum
A fun and hands-on experience for kids of all ages! Gift a membership and get to come back over and over.
For more info on memberships around ABQ, check out our guide here.
2. For the Outdoor Enthusiast
We have beautiful nature here in New Mexico, and you can only gift someone so much camping gear. Here are some other fun ideas for those who love the great outdoors.
New Mexico State Park Pass
Gift someone access to all the state parks for an entire year!
Check out our guide to State Parks here so you can get ideas on where to use this pass.
A Local Camping Trip
When it’s the dead of winter, plan and look forward to a summer camping trip for the whole family. I wrote about one of my favorite camping locations in Northern New Mexico here.
Ski Tickets
A truly great winter experience would be the gift of a lift ticket to your favorite New Mexico ski resort. There are quite a few resorts in New Mexico, but I would recommend this one.
3. For a Truly New Mexican Experience
We live in such a beautiful and unique state. Why not give a gift that has true New Mexican flair?
A Hot Air Balloon Ride
When you think of New Mexico and ABQ specifically, one of the major attractions is hot air ballooning. So why not give the gift of seeing a beautiful morning or evening from the basket of a hot air balloon?
Sandia Peak Tramway
For a breathtaking and unique view of the mountains, give the gift of a Sandia Peak Tramway Ticket. Get your tickets here.
Visit the U.S. Southwest Soaring Museum
Located in Moriarty, NM, this museum focuses on the history of airplane gliders. Moriarty boasts some of the finest year-round soaring conditions in the United States, and this museum would be perfect for any aviation fan in your life.
4. For the Road Tripper
These ideas would be perfect for the weekend warrior in your life who likes to travel but wants to stay local-ish.
Carlsbad Caverns
There is something so awe-inducing about being inside a naturally formed cave. Give a trip to see a labyrinth of more than 300 limestone caves, carved over 250 million years ago. Find out more here.
White Sands
Visit the world’s largest gypsum dunefield located right here in our state. Whether you go hiking, camping, or simply sledding on the dunes, it will be a truly unique New Mexican experience.
Roswell
Another draw to New Mexico is our association with aliens. Get out of this world and visit the site of an alleged 1947 UFO crash, as well as the International UFO Museum and Research Center.
For more ideas, check out our guide to road trips around New Mexico here.
5. For Those in Need of Relaxation
One of the many ways you can give the gift of self-care is by giving a spa experience. Many amazing local places would fit this idea. Use the suggestions below or ask the giftee if they have a preferred spa.
A Massage
Whether this is a gift for a mom who is constantly carrying a toddler or someone who is sitting at a desk all day, a massage can be such a relaxing experience gift. A great little local spa is Sacred Healing just off Lomas Blvd. Find out more about appointments here.
Nail Salons
Even in the winter, it is nice to spend some time getting your toenails (or fingernails) done. There are many great locally-owned salons around, but my favorite place up in Rio Rancho is this one.
A Head Spa
I started seeing head spas on Instagram a while back, and the idea really intrigued me. It’s basically a combination of a facial and a head massage, plus having your hair washed and played with for an hour. I was gifted a head spa treatment for Mother’s Day at this location, and it was such a relaxing experience.
6. For the Foodie
I am a self-proclaimed foodie. These unique food experiences would be something I would love to be gifted as I am sure anyone who loves food would.
Sourdough Class
A hands-on class that not only teaches you the basics of sourdough baking but has you leaving with a baked loaf, a loaf to bake the next day, and a starter to keep baking all year long. Check out classes given by a local baker here.
Cooking Class or Workshop at Big Jim Farms
You may know Big Jim Farms from their fall and winter activities or their self-pick green chile. But did you know they host different workshops and cooking classes all year? Check out their website here for the details. They do everything from salsa making to tamales classes to pickling workshops.
Prairie Stars Wine and Dine Prix-Fixe
Off Highway 550, you will find the Prairie Star Restaurant and Wine Bar. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, Chef Myles does a three-course menu including a bottle of wine for two people priced at $89. The menu changes weekly, so check their Facebook for the weekly menu.
7. For the Sport Enthusiast
It’s always fun to take the family to a sporting event, and we actually have some really great options here in ABQ. The different teams and venues have a way of feeling intimate while still having some of the best fans and vibes.
Tickets to the Albuquerque Isotopes
The first live sporting event I attended in New Mexico was an Isotopes game, and I had the best time. We try and make it out to at least one game a season. Get tickets here and have a hot dog for me!
Want to know what to expect from an Isotopes game with your kids? Check out our guide here.
Tickets to a NM United Game
The energy at a soccer game is unmatched. Experience it in person by getting tickets here.
We also have a nice guide about bringing your family to a NM United game that you can read here.
Tickets to a New Mexico Ice Wolves Game
Another super fun sporting event you could take your family to would be a New Mexico Ice Wolves hockey game. You can find out more about tickets here.
8. For Those Who Want to be Put Together
You know that one person in your life who always looks amazing and put together? Or that person who really wants to? These ideas are for them!
Color Analysis
Color analysis is a method in which a professional uses your natural skin tone, general undertone coloring, eye color, and hair color to help determine what colors would look best on you. I gave this gift to my sister as her 40th birthday present, and we had the best time! Find out more about the method and look into booking here.
Hire an Interior Designer
If you have been wanting to change things up in your house and don’t know where to start, hiring a professional interior designer can be a game-changer. This team has combined decades of experience and amazing reviews.
A Personal Organizer
Being a parent can be overwhelming at the best times, and sometimes all we want is help making our spaces feel calmer. A personal organizer can help you declutter your space and experience less stress in your day-to-day life. Check out this one here that services ABQ and the surrounding areas.
9. For Those Wanting Family Time
For those whose love language is quality time, give them an experience they can do with the whole family.
Gift Cards to a Movie
I love seeing a good movie, whether it is with my husband, our kid, or even just by myself. There are plenty of great local theatres around but my top place to catch a film has always been Flix.
An Escape Room
A great idea for those with older kiddos or for anyone super into games and puzzles. Bring your whole crew and work together to break out in time. There are a few locations around town, but Bust Out Escape Room is locally and family owned.
A Trampoline Park
Another idea that would be great for those families with active kiddos. An outing to a trampoline park might be just what your kids need on a day off school over winter break to get their wiggles out. There is likely a location near whatever part of town you are in, but my family likes this one.
10. For the Environmentalist
Part of the appeal of experience gifts is cutting down on the amount of stuff you are giving and getting. Here are some ideas for the environmentalist in your life.
Composting Service with Little Green Bucket
This service takes the hassle out of home composting by giving you a bucket to collect your food scraps in and then coming and collecting it from your house. They then take it to compost at a general facility. Find out more about this awesome work and the different plans they offer here.
Rail Yards Market Veggie Box
I love spending my Sundays in the summer at the Rail Yards Market! One of the amazing things they offer is a weekly veggie box. You will get an assortment of seasonal local veggies and fruits that change weekly. You are supporting local farmers as well as a local non-profit. They offer different subscriptions from one week, multiple weeks, or even the entire summer (May-October). Check out more about it here.
A Wild Walk with Dryland Wilds
Ever want to learn about foraging and edible plants in the New Mexico high desert? You can book a Wild Walk with Dryland Wilds, a local bioregional perfumery. They upcycle unwanted high desert plants to create perfume and skincare that smell like the wilds of New Mexico and also host classes and workshops. To learn more about the workshops, check out their website here or email them at [email protected].
There are so many amazing and unique experiences all throughout New Mexico that would be perfect to give as a gift. This list is long, and in no way scratches the surface of all the options out there, but hopefully, it gives you ideas to add to your list. Which one of these experiences do you want to receive this holiday season? Let us know in the comments!
