Instead of Stuff, Give an Experience

For the people on your holiday shopping list who already have too much stuff (and isn't that pretty much everyone?), why not give an experience instead? Tickets to a performance, gift certificates for classes, or passes to visit museums or parks are all possibilities for the person who has everything, and then some.

One gift that my husband buys me every year is the Sacramento County Park Pass, which allows me to visit county parks without having to remember to take exact change for the $5.00 parking fee. And I have the added satisfaction of knowing that money from the sale of the park pass helps to maintain and operate our local parks.

Tickets or gift certificates to buy tickets make great gifts too. Which lucky person on your shopping list would like tickets to:

A play at the B Street Theatre

A dance performance by the Sacramento Ballet

A concert performed by the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra

A movie at the Crest Theatre

And these are just a few of the wonderful groups offering quality entertainment and cultural experiences in Sacramento!

Or what about a gift certificate for lessons or a class? Someone on your gift list would probably love to learn:

Yoga at It's All Yoga

How to speak French at the Alliance Francaise de Sacramento or how to speak Italian at the Italian Cultural Society

How to make vegan curries or grow their own groceries at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op

How to tango at Tango by the River or how to belly dance at Jodette's Belly Dancing Academy

How to play guitar at Skip's Music

And if you're not sure about what class to choose for someone, buy an eGift card from the Learning Exchange and let your friend or loved one pick their own class. Golf, photography, glassblowing, zumba, and web design are just a few of the classes offered through Learning Exchange.

Who knows? Gifts of learning or interesting experiences might turn out to be everyone's favorite presents this year!