Skip the clutter. Gift an experience this holiday season

It is gift-giving time! If you’re stumped on what to buy, consider an experience. Instead of clutter, an experience creates a lasting memory.

Americans increasingly love experiential gifts. A new survey by GetYourGuide showed 92% of participants said they prefer receiving experiences over physical gifts, up from 62% in 2021. What do people want? Here are some of the top categories:

• Food (56%)
• Trips (51%)
• Concert or show (40%)
• Outdoor activity such as skiing or hiking (30%)
• Museum visit (27%)

With that in mind, let’s look at some experiences that make great gifts.

Yurt going to love this trendy getaway

Yurts have become spots for a trendy, unique getaway. If you want one with great views and a hot tub, head to Stonewind Retreat’s luxurious yurt cabins in Chester, Arkansas.

There are eight yurts on the property, each built on a 40-foot by 40-foot deck with its own outdoor hot tub. Some yurts have better views than others or are more private, and rates reflect that. The Vista Cabins have a good view and start at $169 a night. These are very popular getaways, so book quickly.

Take center stage with dancing or acting classes

Has your spouse always dreamed of taking tap dancing or acting classes, but thinks it’s too late? Springfield Little Theatre has adult classes in acting and dancing.

There is an adult beginning tap class on Monday evenings, just as an example ($155.50). Spring adult classes are Jan. 8-May 17. Springfield Little Theatre also has a huge variety of children’s classes from acting to dance and voice, too.

Do some hands-on learning in Springfield — and beyond

A good family gift is a one-year membership to the Discovery Center ($75 for a family of four). If you tend to travel as a family, this is particularly helpful because your membership gets you in for free at other ASTC reciprocal museums worldwide, if the museum or science center is more than 90 miles away. The Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville is one of those properties and so are Saint Louis Science Center and Science City at Union Station in Kansas City. The website has an extensive list of every property by state.

Membership also has other benefits, like discounted tickets for the HighWire Bike, discounts on birthday rentals, etc.

Brew up some fun

Enjoy a Celebration of Tastes

For 30 years, Big Cedar Lodge has held an annual wine lover’s extravaganza called Celebration of Tastes. This year’s Celebration of Tastes is scheduled for Feb. 9-10.

There’s a five-course dinner and pairing on Saturday night where you can interact with the winemaker, and a more casual wine reception on Friday. Each year, they bring in a different winemaker and 2024 will feature Dave Phinney, founder and winemaker at Orin Swift.

The wines are top-notch at these events. The kick-off event is $129 per person on Friday and $195 for the five-course Saturday dinner (prices are before fees and taxes). There’s also a wine seminar for $59, but the Friday and Saturday nights are the main events. You can buy a package for every event, which is $458.65 total per person.

Go climb a tree

Another fun, quick getaway is treehouses. Eureka Springs Treehouses, Caves, Castles & Hobbits has some fantastic spots. Depending on the accommodation, prices start at $199. There’s a two-night minimum, though some are three nights.

This place is incredibly popular and hard to get into, just FYI. Weekdays are more likely to be available. Be sure to read their cancelation policy. From a castle treehouse to a hobbit cave, they are so unique.

If you want something closer to Springfield, Branson Treehouse Adventures is a great option. They have treehouses for families (starting at $269) and couples (starting at $249), and they also require two nights. If you sign up for their newsletter, they will send you a $25 coupon on your first booking. You will have to call with the coupon code to book.

Get cooking — with some expert help

Wine not enjoy some vino?

Wine tastings and pairings are popular in Springfield. Vino Cellars offers multi-course monthly wine dinners as well as introductions to different wines at more casual events, such as wine and chocolate pairings or an intro to Spanish wines.

Prices range but are roughly $50 for the dinners and $30-ish for the tasting events. Vino Cellars also sells gift cards which you can cash in later for an event. Follow them on Facebook for announcements.

Hoop it up at one of the country’s best high school basketball tournaments

For the basketball enthusiast, consider tickets to the 39th Annual Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions, slated for Jan. 11-13, 2024. The basketball extravaganza will be held at Great Southern Bank Arena, and you can score three-day passes now for $50. Single-day tickets don’t go on sale until Dec. 26.

Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, New York), Edmond North (Oklahoma), McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia), St. John Bosco (Bellflower, California), St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Virginia) and Vashon (St. Louis) are all traveling to Springfield to take part in the T of C. The field also includes hometown teams Central and Glendale.

Catch a touring act

For the person who loves live music or theater or a family gift, consider tickets to a show at Juanita K. Hammons Hall.

There are a variety of shows this season, including “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! King for a Day” (Jan. 24) and “Baby Sharks Big Broadway Tour” (March 23-24) for the little ones. “Shrek the Musical” runs March 19-21, while John Mellencamp performs April 9 and Chicago is in town May 20. Ticket prices vary depending on the show.

Take them out to the ol’ ballgame

Know a Springfield Cardinals fan? There are a variety of experiences or membership options, like RED Access Membership.

The Base Hit Plan starts at $95. With this plan, you can attend one to two games per month (10 games total) in your own reserved stadium seat. You also get general admission access to every regular season Cardinals home game through the member bypass gate. You can view the different Base Hit Plan schedules on the Cardinals’ website.

Maybe your loved one is a Saint Louis Cardinals fan? Well, consider attending Winter Warm-Up Jan. 13-15 at Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village. The unofficial kick-off to the 2024 baseball season has family-friendly activities including tours of the Cardinals Clubhouse, which only happen during the Winter Warm-Up weekend, and admission to the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum. There’s also entertainment, live auctions, presentations, autograph stations, an exhibit hall with sports memorabilia and more.

A three-day general admission pass is $50 for fans 16 years and older; $25 for ages 4-15. Kids 3 and younger get in free.

Bird(watching) is the word

Buy the bird enthusiast an Eagle Watching Tour at Dogwood Canyon in January. Bring your own binoculars and hike around the canyon in search of eagles. The website says this tour is also an excellent opportunity for nature and wildlife photographers.

Pro tips: Dress for the weather and wear good sturdy walking shoes. Eagle Watching Tours are scheduled for Jan. 5-8, 12-15 and 19-22. The cost is $25 for adults and $15 for children. Each experience lasts up to two hours.

Come sail away, or go fishing

For someone who is always wanting to learn something new, explore nature or try sailing, consider some of the lessons available at Fellows Lake. They call them Enviro Experiences and they offer a variety.

• First Sail experience, two hours ($120) for you and up to three guests
• Intro to sailing basics, half-day ($200)
• Fly fishing instruction, two hours ($100)
• Membership to the Springfield Sailing Club ($50), includes participation in three regattas in 2024
• Muskie fishing training, two hours ($100)
• Individual sail coaching, $50 per hour with a two-hour minimum.
• Canoe, kayak, standup paddleboard rental for a day ($25-$35).
• Rent a motorboat, starting at $50 an hour with a two-hour minimum.
• You can also buy e-gift cards if you’re not sure what your loved one would want

Feel like a real Big Shot

Have your own “Night at the Museum”

Did you know you can spend the night at Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium? They used to offer a “camping” trip but have changed the format so now it’s an overnight private experience. The challenge is it’s a 15-person minimum, so you’d have to be a large family or friend group, or several families. This would be a great idea for a group of parents with kids in the Scouts.

The cost is $75 per person (children must be at least 5) and requires a $200 non-refundable deposit at the time of booking. Bring your own sleeping bag and they provide pizza, lemonade, popcorn, a moonlight tour, a scavenger hunt and a movie. You get to pitch your sleeping bag and doze off with the glow of the aquariums around you. They also provide a continental breakfast in the morning. That is a unique experience and gift!

As you can see, there is no shortage of experiences in the Ozarks!