The Best Experiences in San Diego Gift Guide
Do you live in Southern California and plan to go in to enjoy the local ongoing festivities & fun? Consider an experience gift for one of your family and friends.
This year, the most memorable gift of the holiday season is one you can experience today. Years from now, you’ll cherish the memories you made together. Instead of purchasing a physical item, consider something they enjoy doing and book it in the city.
If they like food, select a cooking class. If they love fun and adventure, spend the day exploring the city in a new and exciting way. If they need a day off, plan a spa day to show how much you care. We’ve got the best gift guide for experiences in San Diego for everyone in your life.
Gift Experiences in San Diego for the Adrenaline Junkie
When you go on vacation, having fun and unique experiences are often at the top of everyone’s list. San Diego offers plenty of opportunities to get out of your comfort zone and embrace your inner adrenaline junkie. If you’re dying to feel your heart beating out of your check, the wind in your area, and your mind bursting with excitement, consider putting one of the following on your holiday gift list.
Gift them Zooming through San Diego on an E-Bike
There are famous areas of San Diego that can be hard to reach by car or foot alone. If you want to cruise along the coastline of La Jolla or Coronado, an e-bike can be your best friend. Gift your favorite local a San Diego e-bike rental that they can use to break free of their typical neighborhood and play tourist for a bit.
GoCar Tour Gift Experiences in San Diego
Gift the chance to see the city! Driving yourself in San Diego throughout the city in a GoCar is an exhilarating experience. You can see everything from the beach to the world-famous zoo.
While you may be tempted to book a tour bus, a GoCar can stop where all the buses can’t. Your sightseeing adventures can last hours and stop for as many detours as you want. Need lunch? No problem! Want to take a selfie? Go for it! See an awesome spot for an Instagram pic or TikTok? You have all the time in the world! It’s all about exploring at your own pace.
Let them explore Coronado Island, or give them a night out like never before – and cruise the Historic Gaslamp Quarter after dark. We have two main departure locations: Old Town San Diego and Gaslamp Quarter.
Learn more about San Diego GoCar Gift Vouchers, and gift this experience today.
Gift the Rush of Indoor Skydiving
Are you looking for a fun family activity that can get everyone feeling alive? Indoor skydiving allows you to feel what it’s like to be in full-body flight. When else do you get that opportunity? Plus, while you’ll feel a huge rush, it’s safer than most high-impact or contact sports as injuries are rare. Even if you have young children, you can participate as a family.
Check out iFly at their San Diego location. Book a flight here.
Gift Experiences in San Diego for the Foodie
There’s a lot to enjoy for the San Diego food. The backbone of the city’s culinary scene is food trucks, which means there’s a lot of experimentation going on. From tacos to BBQ, food truck owners are constantly playing around and learning what foods they can create and do best.
That said, locals who know this can find it a bit more challenging to find that special upscale dining experience when they want it, and visitors may not know exactly how to plan for their upcoming trip either. Regardless of the demographic you are gifting for, you can make it easy by selecting one of the following experiences. This range of San Diego gift experiences can appeal to any foodie in your life.
Food or Wine Tasting Tour Gift Experiences in San Diego
Does someone in your life love food and beverages? Could they spend their entire afternoon highlighting the tasting notes in a single class or tasting different snacks and treats? Consider gifting them one of the following:
*Temecula is a beautiful wine destination just an hour outside of San Diego!
Dinner Cruise
Perhaps the person you have in mind has always wanted to eat a fancy dinner on the water. Dining cruises combine a delicious meal with a scenic view. Pair your meal with a tour of San Diego Bay on this Harbor Dinner Cruise. Over three hours, you can board a yacht, eat a three-course meal, and enjoy cocktails and dancing. See San Diego from a whole new perspective!
Cooking Class
Some foodies want a more hands-on experience. If that sounds like you or the person you’re hoping to gift an experience, then a cooking class can be a great solution. Cooking classes can be a fun activity on a night out while also helping you learn to use food, food products, and food equipment correctly. It helps you get out of your normal box and experience something new in the area as well.
Find a cooking class in San Diego for practically any palette today.
Gift Experiences in San Diego for Mom
What can you give the woman who gave you life? Gifts for moms can be tough. You want her to have something she enjoys, but it never feels like enough. The following experiences in San Diego say, “Mom, I recognize all you do, and I want you to put your feet up and relax.”
Spa Package at Hotel del Coronado Gift Experiences
Do you want to spoil Mom? Send her to the Spa & Salon at The Del. She can get the full head-to-toe treatment, including:
- Full Body Massage
- Facial Massage
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Restorative Facial
- Anti-Aging Facial
- Seaweed Body Treatment
After her treatment, she can enjoy walking the grounds of the hotel, which are a top attraction in San Diego! See more information here.
Mani/Pedi San Diego Gift Guide
This is a classic experience gift for any mom! You can’t go wrong with a trip to the nail salon. If you’re local to San Diego, make sure you find out if she has a favorite nail salon of her own. A gift certificate to any salon is appreciated but going the extra mile to find out which nail tech she loves shows you put in the effort.
If she doesn’t often treat herself to nails or you’re visiting the area, here are a few top names in the San Diego area.
Bed and Breakfast Weekend Gift Experiences in San Diego
Does Mom struggle to get a full night’s sleep in your house? Send her on a two-night bed and breakfast weekend away at the Hillcrest House Bed & Breakfast. It’s just 10 minutes to San Diego beaches and the Gaslamp Quarter. A refreshed mom is a happy mom, and a happy mom brings life to her family. Book her stay here.
Gift Experiences in San Diego for Men
Are you dating or married to a man who is difficult to buy presents for? Sometimes the people we love most and spend the most time with are the hardest people to show affection to via gift-giving. San Diego gift experience can help you break through this block and think outside the block. Here’s what we recommend for men in the San Diego area.
Massage or spa services
Gift your man some relaxation as well! The Spa at Rancho Valencia has a variety of spa services for both men and women, including:
- Signature Facial
- Gentleman’s Facial
- Marine Mineral Wrap
- Citrus Body Polish
- Balancing Gemstone Massage
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Hand and Foot Massage
- Aroma Reflex Therapy
This is just a taste of what’s on the spa menu at this 5-star-rated facility. Send him off to recharge and get a whole new man in return. Visit here to learn more and book your services.
Cutwater Spirits tasting
Cutwater Spirits Tasting Room & Kitchen opened in 2017 as one of San Diego’s top bars and restaurants. Today, it offers full restaurant dining for lunch, dinner, and brunch. This a fun option for anyone who loves spirits, especially canned varieties. Cutwater Spirits created America’s Most Awarded Canned Cocktails — go taste them in person!
Visit here to book a table at the tasting room.
Golf Outing
San Diego is a beautiful area to golf. Many championships are played at the lavish resorts in the area. Gift your man a round of golf on you. Here are some courses you can look at:
- South Course or North Course at Torrey Pines
- Maderas Golf Club
- Aviara Golf Club
Experiences in San Diego Make the Perfect Gift
The holidays are a perfect time to visit San Diego and its gorgeous 70-degree weather. If you’re thinking about heading to Southern California during December, you’ve got the holiday gifts covered with this gift guide! Go for experiences in San Diego — your family and friends will thank you.