7 Experience Christmas Gift Ideas for Adventurous People

Know someone who treats every weekend like a side quest? This year, give them one of our Christmas gift experiences and let the adventure come to them! Each hands-on workshop sends your favorite explorer home with a new skill, a great story, and something they made from scratch. These adventure gifts for Christmas are made for the people who’d rather collect memories than more stuff.

Maybe you have a friend who always seems to be traveling, or maybe your recently retired dad is ready to take on a fun new hobby. Regardless, we have gift ideas for those who are not afraid to try out a new creative adventure. Adventure looks different for everyone, so we’ve rounded up seven options, from sparks-flying thrills to slower, creative crafts. With workshops in major cities across the US, such as LA, New York City, San Francisco, and more, you're sure to find something for everyone on your list. 

1. Find thrill in a knife smithing workshop

If you have friends who love spending time outdoors, in the kitchen, or get excited by the sight of sparks flying, a knife smithing class is our top pick for them! Knives are the perfect tool for many adventures, whether you’re camping in a remote location or crafting a 5-star meal in the kitchen.

They’ll cut, shape, and polish their handmade knife into a reliable blade. Then they can personalize the handle to fit their style -– from rugged to sleek. Every time they use their custom knife, they’ll think of the wonderful Christmas gift experience that brought them their trusty tool. 

Forge a custom knife with this knife smithing class in Brooklyn! This Sunset Park class is perfect for your edgy loved one.

2. Get messy with pottery classes

If you’re looking for adventure gifts for Christmas for the friends and family who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, a pottery workshop is the perfect creative gift idea! From learning how to throw on a pottery wheel to colorful pottery painting classes that will show off their vibrant personalities, there’s a pottery class for every interest and experience level. 

If your adventurous friends or family members are always on the go, pottery will also grant them the opportunity to slow down a bit. Even though they are learning an exciting new craft, they’ll shift their focus entirely to the clay in their hands. 

Want to get spinning? Explore this wheel throwing class in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood and leave with a handmade greenware bowl to take home!

3. Let loose in a painting class for beginners

At first glance, painting might not seem all that adventurous. But what’s more adventurous than getting in touch with your artistic abilities! In an art class, you have to let your imagination take the lead. Need a little bit of a push? Don’t worry, we have friendly and supportive instructors to guide you through every step of the way to help you embrace the adventure. So if you’re looking for gifts for adventurous people, a painting class will ignite that creative spark! 

On the hunt for cool art classes? Try a unique painting medium with a textured art class in Bellevue, about a 20-minute drive outside Seattle.

4. Get cozy with a tufting workshop

Have a loved one who is equally down for a day-in as they are for an adventure? Gift the adventurous homebody a cozy rug tufting workshop! Using a tufting gun, they’ll punch yarn into fabric to create a plush rug or wall hanging in their own colors and patterns. It’s playful and super satisfying. 

Curious how it works? Make a charming rug with this Downtown San Jose rug tufting workshop!

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5. Make your mark in a graffiti workshop

For the rebel with a creative streak, a graffiti workshop is one of our most unique Christmas gift activity ideas where they can learn how this often misunderstood medium is a beautiful form of self-expression and culture! They’ll learn lettering, color blending, and spray techniques from working artists in a welcoming space. At the end, they can walk away with their own tag and a new appreciation for the graffiti local artists in the city have created. 

Admire the art in South Park with this LA graffiti workshop where students learn graffiti from a local artist and create a collaborative art project!

6. Build something real in a woodworking class

For the person who’s always building, fixing, or really enjoys a stroll around IKEA, a woodworking class is a great hands-on challenge. They’ll learn to measure, cut, and join wood to make something like a longboard or small cabinet, guided by an expert instructor. Christmas gifts that are experiences like this tend to be remembered. When they look over to the new nightstand they built, they’ll think of the most personal present they’ve ever received. It’s one of our favorite gifts for adventurous people who love to work with their hands.

Are they shopping around for a new side table for their living room? Gift them a wedge table woodworking class in SF’s Theater District!

7. Roll out fresh pasta in a pasta making class

Adventure doesn’t always mean adrenaline. For the foodie who loves exploring new cuisines and cultures, a pasta making class is a delicious journey with no plane ticket to Rome required. They’ll learn to mix, knead, roll, and shape fresh pasta from scratch, then enjoy it with a sauce made to match. From fettuccine to gnocchi, of all the experiences to gift for Christmas, this one tastes the best, and it’s perfect for couples, friends, or anyone who loves a long, lively table.

Book a spot for your well-traveled loved one in this Greenwich Village pasta making class! This Manhattan workshop is perfect for the foodie in your life.

All of these workshops can make great experience Christmas gift ideas for your fun and daring bestie, parent, or even grandparent! We offer these workshops all across the US, so even if you have far-away friends, you can find them something in their neighborhood. Whether you’re shopping for thrill-seekers or experimental foodies, these gifts for adventurous people prove that the best presents are the ones they experience themselves.