Give the Gift of Experience This Holiday Season

While physical gifts are nice, gifting someone with an experience is a great way to create lasting memories. It could be an annual pass to their favorite theme park, tickets to their favorite show, or a culinary adventure. And this holiday gift guide covers it all.

No matter what you’re into, the Tampa area has a multitude of places to help pique any interest. Our experience-focused holiday gift guide will help you create unforgettable memories this holiday season.

Date Night: Living Room Dancing for Couples

Give the gift of laughter and love this holiday season! Date Night Dancing is an easy to follow program that will have any couple laughing, loving and most importantly dancing together in no time. All from the comfort of your own home!
**NO dance experience needed
**Perfect for anyone with “two left feet”
**Fun & entertaining lessons
**Universal moves taught: dance to any music
**Instant streaming access

For the Beer Lover

My Beer Spa – Orlando
The perfect gift for the beer lover in your life! Beer Spa is a fun, unconventional spa experience centered around beer. Featuring spacious hot tubs filled with a unique “beer treatment”; a foamy, moisturizing, aromatic hop infusion full of antioxidants and minerals. Relax and sip local brews from the unlimited self-serve taps located right next to the tub.

Tampa Bay Ale Trail

The Tampa Bay area has one of the largest craft beer scenes in the country. The Tampa Bay Ale Trail is a “passport” that gives you the opportunity to make your way around some of the best breweries in the state and earn incentives as you go. It’s a fun way to experience new breweries on a day date or an evening out.

Purchase one for the beer lover in your life and then visit the breweries together throughout the year.

For the Foodie

Book a Hands-On Cooking Class

Located in Hyde Park, Sur La Table offers an array of cooking classes. Attend a themed date night class and learn how to create cuisine such as lobster ravioli, Thai food, and Italian specialties. You can also satisfy your sweet tooth by learning how to create doughnuts and French pastries.

For those who want to learn basic kitchen skills, they also offer classes such as knife skills and cast-iron cooking. Other cooking class options include Cozymeal and AJ’s Kitchen Drawer.

Holiday Gift Guide – For the Theatregoer

Straz Center and Ruth Eckerd Hall

Broadway is back! The Straz Center has an exciting lineup of shows for the 2023-2024 season including The Choir of Man, Funny Girl, Company, Mouin Rouge! The Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Book of Mormon, Les Miserables, and morel. At Ruth Eckerd, you can catch Annie, Come from Away, Little Women, Shrek the Musical and travelling shows like Dancing with the Stars Live.

Other shows at both venues include off-Broadway musicals, plays, stand-up comedy, and The Florida Orchestra. Individual tickets and season tickets are available.

Improv and Side Splitters

The Tampa Improv and Side Splitters are two of the Tampa area’s premier comedy clubs. Located in Ybor, the Improv has a calendar of upcoming shows that include stand-up by TV and movie personalities, as well as open mic nights. Side Splitters, which has locations in Carrollwood and Wesley Chapel, also has a lineup of shows for 2024 including comedians from America’s Got Talent, late night TV and traveling comedy troupes.

All three locations also have a full food and drink menu.

For the Theme Park Fan

Busch Gardens and Adventure Island

There’s something for everyone at Busch Gardens! The park is home to some of the best roller coasters in the world, as well as over 200 species of animals and live entertainment. There are also tons of special events throughout the year that are included in with admission such as the Real Music Series, Mardi Gras, Food and Wine Festival, Howl-O-Scream, and Christmas Town.

Adventure Island has an array of thrilling waterslides. The Hang Ten Tiki Bar is a great place to hang out after splashing around and checking out the new virtual reality snorkeling experience. Both parks offer single day tickets, Fun Cards, and annual passes.

SeaWorld Orlando

Thrilling coasters, live entertainment, and aquatic animal encounters can be found at SeaWorld Orlando. There is also a multitude of events throughout the year such as the Seven Seas Food Festival, St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, Cinco de Mayo, the Craft Beer Festival, and Christmas Celebration. The park offers single day tickets, Fun Cards, and annual passes.

Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay

Whether you’re into movie magic or roller coasters, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure has got you covered. Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, experience the thrill of the Hulk roller coaster, escape through New York with Jimmy Fallon, and come face to face with dinosaurs in Jurassic Park.

If water parks are your thing, you can make waves at Universal’s Volcano Bay. You can slide down thrilling water slides, relax in the lazy river, or splash around in the wave pool. All parks offer single day tickets, annual passes, and Florida resident specials.

Holiday Gift Guide – For the Animal Lover

ZooTampa

This award-winning zoo is a must-visit for any animal lover. The wildlife habits are spread out into Africa, Asia, Australia, and Florida. Visit the elephants, feed the giraffes, and watch the manatees swim. There are also exhibits and live entertainment. ZooTampa also hosts several annual events such as Creatures of the Night and Christmas in the Wild. They also have several fundraising events such as their annual Zoo Brews and Karamu Gala. ZooTampa offers singe day tickets and annual passes. An animal encounter is a great add-on, too!

Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA)

CMA is best known for the rescue and rehab of the late Winter the dolphin (we miss her!), who received a prosthetic tail after she was rescued in 2005. The recently expanded aquarium houses rescued marine animals such as dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, otters, pelicans, and stingrays. Guests can participate in animal encounters and enjoy live presentations. Single day tickets and memberships are available.

In The Breeze Ranch

Treat your partner to a horseback ride down a nature trail or, for more seasoned riders, there is an advanced trail. For a more romantic setting, you can take an evening ride after 6pm. They also offer opportunities to swim with the horses in their spring-fed creek as well as hayrides and bonfire parties.

For the Relaxation Enthusiast

StarLite Cruises

StarLite Cruises certificates make for a perfect gift for everyone on your list! StarLite Cruises has been serving locals and visitors in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area a unique experience for the best value for over 35 years. Gift a day or evening on the water for two, inclusive of cruise & meal service, entertainment, taxes & gratuities! Special holiday pricing will be available through Christmas Day and certificates are immediately emailed for quick & easy gift giving.

ResortPass Day Passes

ResortPass allows you to visit local hotels and resorts for a day to enjoy all that they have to offer without booking an overnight stay. It’s the perfect way to plan a daycation that’s not too far from home. Visit the website, search your location, and browse through all of the participating hotels. Some hotels also offer passes available as monthly memberships so you can make daytime relaxation a regular part of your monthly routine.

A few of our favorite options:

• Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa: Pool and beach access, plus 10% discount on bike rentals and spa services, and more
• The Don CeSar: Pool and beach access, discount on water sports rentals
• Tampa Marriott Water Street: Rooftop pool access, poolside service, discounted parking and more

Spa Experience

Give your partner the gift of relaxation by booking a spa day! Splurge on a romantic couples treatment or plan an epic day of relaxation for your partner to enjoy solo.

Check out our post on the best Tampa Bay Spas – Perfect for Couples for more ideas.

Holiday Gift Guide – For the Adventure Seeker

Empower Adventures

This is the perfect experience for thrill seekers. Guests can take a two-hour ziplining adventure that sends them over 3,000 feet of water and land preserves. Travel across a 200-foot wooden suspension bridge and partake in an aerial obstacle course, all while taking in the panoramic views of Tampa Bay. The sunset zip-lining tour is the perfect gift for a little added romance.

RVshare

This RV rental site gives you the opportunity to rent a camper to trail or have it delivered and set up at your campsite. Whether you want something large enough to travel in with the family, or something small and cozy for two, it’s a great way to experience campsites across the country, and it’s especially convenient for those who want the feel of camping without having to “rough it.”

Freedom Boat Club

This membership-based boat rental club gives you access to boat rentals in over 300 locations in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. With a plethora of locations in the Tampa Bay area, it’s perfect for a weekend boat day with friends or a romantic sunset cruise. Check out membership options here.

Holiday Gift Guide – For the Crafter

Painting with A Twist and Pinot’s Palette

You don’t have to be a professional artist to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece! Painting with A Twist and Pinot’s Palette are instructor-led classes that give you the chance to create a painting on canvas. Paintings can be chosen online and booked ahead of time. Guests can also bring food and drinks to enjoy while they paint. Painting with A Twist also has designated date night events and Pinot’s Palette has options to paint wine glasses, vases, and cookie jars too. Both places have multiple locations in the Tampa Bay area.

Color me Mine

Located in the heart of Hyde Park, Color Me Mine is a pottery studio where guests can paint their own ceramic pieces from ring dishes to sculptures. After painting, the pieces are glazed to lock in the paint and can be picked up for guests to keep and display. It’s a great option for date nights, girls’ nights out, or to make and give as gifts.

The Candle Pour

Create your perfect scent at The Candle Pour in Hyde Park. Guests can choose from over 100 different fragrance oils to create their own custom candle to take home. After they’re created, they need to set for about two hours which creates the perfect opportunity to enjoy the plethora of food, drinks and shopping around Hyde Park.

BONUS IDEA – Although this Holiday Gift Guide is all about the experiences, we can’t resist the ornaments from Oxford Exchange featuring some beloved Tampa landmarks.

Feature image credit: Empower Adventures Tampa Bay