EXPERIENCES: The 2024 Holiday Gift Guide
More than stuff, you can create a Minnesota Memory
Finding meaning in the season is hard and often full of sanctimoniousness. Sanctimoniosity? It can be annoying. As our kids get older - we treasure the moments we spend together. As we get older - we buy things when we need them, and gift experiences. Time together. Pampering time. Cool things you wouldn’t normally buy.
I’ve curated a ton of experiences anchored in our community. Special things you can gift each other or yourself. Hopefully you enjoyed my guide to volunteering:
And I’m not anti-stuff: I’ve got a guide to some of my favorite things!
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GET OUT THERE!
MINNESOTA ICE FESTIVAL: TCO Stadium in Eagan becomes a Minnesota Ice maze, slide and rink. 30% off tickets right now - they tried to do this last year but it was too warm. Should be epic! Fri. Jan 10, - Feb 16 https://fluence-media.co/3Zdzkkj
LUMINARY LOPPET TICKETS: Wouldn’t this be a fun gift? The candlelit Luminary Loppet on Saturday, February 8, is the Twin Cities’ most magical event of the season. https://fluence-media.co/40T67fD
EXTREME SANDBOX: Live the dream by driving excavators, bulldozers, construction equipment in Hastings. https://fluence-media.co/3CzxLUV
OWN A SHARE OF MN AURORA FC: I love going to TCO to support women’s soccer - now you can own or gift a share of the team! Community memberships start at just $100 https://fluence-media.co/3CzndoM
DATE NIGHT HELICOPTER RIDE: How Cool - A splurge but what a special memory with Dinner at Holman’s Table & a 15 or 30-minute helicopter flight from Minnesota Helicopters. Book: https://fluence-media.co/4fx8xoR
FAMILY FUN
MINI-GOLF: The only golf I excel in: Can Can Wonderland has a cool arcade, Puttshack at Southdale (sort of a Top Golf for mini golf - super fun), Puttery in North Loop is more adult.
ESCAPE ROOMS: We’ve done these as a family and as a team-builder at work. Great for my math and logic peeps. Puzzleworks, St. Paul; Escape The Room, Minneapolis; Zero Hour Escape Rooms
GAME SHOW: Same deal - we’ve done this as a family and loved it. Frustrated game show hosts, unite! Game Show Studios, Rosedale Center; Great Big Game Show, MOA; Game Show Battle Room, West End SLP
THEATRE TICKETS
Great gifts for the holiday season, but the links will also get you to the next batch of plays coming soon. New family tradition for you?!
STAGES THEATRE, Hopkins: Rudolph now, Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus in Jan.
SIDEKICK THEATRE, Bloomington: Hansel & Gretel
ORDWAY CENTER, St. Paul: The Little Mermaid
GUTHRIE THEATRE: A Christmas Carol through December
PARK SQUARE THEATRE, St. Paul: Best Christmas Pageant Ever
CHILDREN’S THEATRE COMPANY, Minneapolis: How The Grinch Stole Christmas
LOCAL COOKING LESSONS
I love gifting this kind of thing - best done in pairs or groups!
COOKING CLASSES: Cooks | Bellecour is the best. https://fluence-media.co/3URH1tB
PIZZA WITH PETE: Red Wagon Pizza’s Pete Campbell (legend!) does private pizza classes - redwagon-mpls.com/pizza-with-pete
CHARCUTERIE CLASS: From the Diner (she’s awesome) offers classes at venues all over the area https://fluence-media.co/48XFxnr
LIVE THE CRAFTING LIFE
Everybody’s so creative!
FLOWER ARRANGING WORKSHOPS: Sip ‘n’ Bloom does these all over town. https://fluence-media.co/3V0MnTx
WREATH / FLOWER ARRANGING CLASSES: Northerly Flora does wreath creating classes in December, flower arranging all year. https://fluence-media.co/3YTeDIX
ORNAMENTS / WREATHS / COOKIES: Fox and Pantry has classes for everyone on your list. FoxandPantry.com
LOCAL DRINKING CLASSES
Should I be teaching these? Honestly, I’ve learned so much from sitting down and sampling and talking to experts.
WINE / LIQUOR CLASSES: Surdyk’s has them on select Monday nights inside Sidebar. Super fun. https://fluence-media.co/4evXquY
IN-HOME WINE CLASS: One price and Krista will come do a class/tasting for you. minnesotawineschool.com
TWIN CITIES WINE EDUCATION: I’ve been to Jason Kallsen’s classes and had him in my home. TwinCitiesWine.com
DISTILLERY TOUR: Visit BROTHER JUSTUS ($35) on December 21 and January 18th - https://fluence-media.co/3YKNNny
TREAT YO’ SELF / GIVE A LITTLE PAMPERING
You deserve it, your family deserves it, here are some of my favorite pampering gifts.
SPA EXPERIENCE: Anda Spa at Hotel Ivy, Idlewild Spa at Omni Vikings Lakes, Watershed Spa in NE, Glacial Waters Spa at Grand View Lodge
SKIN CARE: How about a skin consultation? Tareen Dermatology | Skin Sisters
STYLIST: My friend Jodi Mayers is a stylist, you could give the gift of a closet clean-out! https://fluence-media.co/40SyQkQ
CANDLES: Perfect neutral gift for any host. Check out locally made Excelsior Candle Co, Illume, Koselig, Roseline’s Candles.
LOCAL GIFT MEMBERSHIPS
This is a no-brainer! Support terrific non-profits and share your love for them with friends.
MIA, Walker, Minnesota Zoo, Minnesota Children’s Museum, Science Museum of Minnesota , Arboretum, American Swedish Institute - we’ve given all of these as gifts.
I host DriveTime with DeRusha on 830 WCCO radio weekdays 3-6pm. You can find it wherever you get podcasts. I’m also is the food/drink editor at Minnesota Monthly- read my latest reviews at mnmo.com/Jason. Follow me on Instagram too! This effort is entirely reader-supported, if you enjoyed this guide - please share it with friends - my weekly newsletter is emailed for free!!
Jason, love this list! Just booked a consultation at Tareen, bought a cooking class at Bellecouer for a friend and a membership at MIA for another. Great ideas snd resources. 😇