Shopping for a traveler is rarely simple. People who are always on the go are rarely asking for more stuff. They still have last year’s gadget sitting in its box. What they want is more trips. Their favorite stories are the meals, the views and the “wait, we did that?” moments, not anything that came home in a bag.
That’s why we think the best gift for a traveler is an experience. The tricky part is that we don’t always know where our travel lover will be next or what they’ll want to do. Picking one for them is a guess.
That’s where Tinggly comes in. A Tinggly box lets them choose their own experience from thousands of options in more than 100 countries, from a ravioli cooking class down the street to a helicopter tour on the other side of the world. It never expires, so they can use it whenever the trip happens.
Boxes come in themes like Fun Together, Bucketlist, Once in a Lifetime and Just Married, each with thousands of experiences to pick from. There are also regional boxes for California, New York, Florida and Texas. And if you already know exactly what they’d love, you can gift a single experience too.
We dug through the US options and found ten worth gifting. Give one outright, or hand over a box and let them take their pick.
1. Eat Dinner on a Glass-Roof Bus
New York City, New York
New York is overwhelming, to say the least. Curated experiences mean no time is wasted. This one puts you on a luxury double-decker with a glass roof, zooming through the city while you work through six courses and watch it all go by. Unique, beautiful and easy.
2. Learn to Hang Glide on a Sand Dune
Outer Banks, North Carolina
Learning to fly on a sand dune sounds made up, but it’s real. At Jockey’s Ridge State Park, a few miles from where the Wright Brothers made their first flights, you get a quick ground school and five training flights. Beginner-friendly and a big thrill.
3. Fly a Plane Over the French Quarter
New Orleans, Louisiana
Most people see New Orleans from the street. This one puts you in the pilot’s seat. After a short lesson you take the controls of a small plane over the Mississippi with a certified pilot next to you. No license or experience needed.
4. Paddle a Clear Kayak Over the Springs
Crystal River, Florida
Florida has plenty of water, but not much of it looks like this. In a clear kayak, you paddle across the springs at Crystal River and look straight down at the fish and, with some luck, manatees. Calm, clear and very Florida.
5. Spray Paint a Wall in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin has a serious street art scene, and this workshop lets you be part of it. A local graffiti artist walks you through the culture and the technique, then you spray paint a wall of your own. You even leave with a custom T-shirt or tote. Creative and a little rebellious.
6. Ride a Vespa Sidecar Past the Alamo
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio packs a lot of history into a small area, and a Vespa sidecar is a fun way through it. You cruise past the Alamo, Market Square and the King William district, with a Tex-Mex taco and a drink along the way. Playful, tasty and easy.
7. Molokini Crater Snorkel & Whale Watch
Maui, Hawaii
Snorkel Molokini Crater, a crescent reef out in the middle of the ocean, then head out to look for humpbacks with hydrophones dropped in the water so you can hear them singing. Dolphins tend to show up too. Two hours and a half of open ocean, reef fish, and whale song. Hard to beat.
8. Ride Along in a Drift Car
Las Vegas, Nevada
This one is for anyone who’s watched a drift and wanted in. A pro driver takes you for two laps at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, sliding through the corners while you hold on. You don’t drive. You just get the thrill. Loud, fast and full of tire smoke.
9. Play Mad Scientist with Cocktails
Seattle, Washington
There are no recipes here. You put on a lab coat, get hundreds of ingredients to play with and invent your own drinks, with or without alcohol. A host called the head scientist keeps things on track. Creative, a bit nerdy and a lot of fun.
10. Go Dog Sledding in the Snow
Fairbanks, Alaska
Winter in Alaska means snow, so you might as well ride through it behind a team of huskies. You head out on trails used by local mushers, then warm up in a yurt with something hot to drink. Cold outside, cozy in the yurt.
Tinggly’s gift boxes include more than 28,000 experiences in over 100 countries. Learn more here.
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