Local Experiences That Make Awesome Gifts
Instead of purchasing a physical gift this year, why not give your loved one a fun experience?
Whether you send your stressed-out friend to smash cars or throw axes, take your family on a food tour or to a terrarium-building workshop, or opt for any of the other entertaining activities in this roundup, your thoughtful gesture is sure to be appreciated — and purchasing it will support a local business! Talk about a win-win.
— by the RVAx team
RVATukTuk
Have you seen three-wheeled, 100% electric, open-air limos roaming around Richmond? Well, they're called tuk tuks — and an RVATukTuk tour makes a fantastic gift!
RVATukTuk offers brewery tours, city tours, scavenger hunts, private bookings for special occasions, and more. Personally, we think that one of their Tacky Light Tours would make an incredible gift for the holiday season, but you can’t go wrong with a City Lights Tour or a Bar Hop, either!
Wick & Sip Candle Lounge
In case you missed it on our TikTok and Reels, we had a blast on our visit to Wick & Sip for our first candlemaking and cocktails workshop. And one of our first thoughts was, “This would make a great gift idea!”
Book a reservation here for a 90-minute workshop, during which you'll be guided by a Scent Consultant through the entire candle-making process. You'll choose your candle vessel, up to two fragrances to mix for your own perfect scent, and optional dried herbs or flowers to top off your masterpiece. And of course, complimentary drinks are included with your workshop (that's the "sip" part of Wick & Sip Candle Lounge).
Rage RVA
It might sound strange to say, “Hey, I got you a gift card that you can redeem to go smash some cars, dishes, and electronics at Richmond’s first rage room,” but trust us, the recipient of this gift is going to be grateful for the chance to channel their frustrations out in this fun, safe, thrilling environment!
Rage RVA offers a judgment-free zone for folks to demolish dishes, copiers, computers, vehicles, and more with their choice of a baseball bat, golf club, or other weapons from their expansive arsenal. They supply the weapons and safety gear, and they handle set-up and clean-up — so all your gift recipient has to do is show up ready to smash something into pieces.
AR Workshop Richmond
Looking for a gift for a friend who loves crafting custom creations? Consider getting them a gift certificate that can be used for an in-studio or at-home class with this boutique DIY studio that offers hands-on classes to create charming home decor from raw materials!
They’ll have the chance to join an instructor-led workshop where they can make custom wood plank signs, framed signs, canvas pillows, round signs, lazy susans, centerpiece boxes, canvas tote bags, and more.
You can take a peek at their upcoming workshops and take-home kits here to see if this artsy option would be a good fit for your gifting needs!
Shield N Sheath
Another one for the thrill-seekers! Shield N Sheath offers precision axe and knife throwing in Scott’s Addition, along with lunch and dinner options (like pizza and sandwiches) as well as a menu of craft beverages (including beer and wine).
You can snag a gift card online here, or you can go ahead and book a reservation for yourself and your gift recipient(s) of choice to go chuck some steel at a wall together over a couple of cold ones. Oh, what fun!
Hotel Greene
Upscale yet playful, Hotel Greene offers “high-falutin’ mini-golf” in a gorgeous indoor space that looks like something straight out of a Wes Anderson movie. While it’s not actually a hotel, Hotel Greene does offer a whole host of delicious snacks and libations in the Lobby Bar to enjoy before, during, or after your round(s) of mini-golf.
You can purchase gift cards here for your gift recipient(s), or you can make a reservation for your party here.
Discover Richmond Tours
Give your foodie friends and family the chance to taste the best of Richmond's unique neighborhoods with the city's top-rated, most delicious walking food tour company!
Discover Richmond Tours offers food tours in the Arts District, Carytown, Church Hill, and Scott's Addition.
PS: Members of The Richmond Experience can use code RVAxMEMBER for 10% off all tours!
Hand / Thrown
Fun fact: Two years ago, one of our team member’s friends bought three spots at a Give It A Shot! Wheel Throwing class at this Northside ceramics studio, and as she put things, it was easily her favorite gift she received that year!
Hand / Thrown has plenty of other classes to choose from, whether you’re purchasing a spot for a total beginner or a ceramics pro. You can buy a spot for yourself as well so you can tag along, or give them the chance to play with clay on their own (or with their SO) — either way, they’re sure to have a blast.
Plant House RVA
If you’re shopping for a loved one who has a green thumb (or even one who simply aspires to have a green thumb), then a workshop at Plant House RVA might be just what you’re looking for!
Check out their upcoming workshop schedule here and make an online reservation for your gift recipient (and yourself!) to craft your own air plant ornaments, holiday air plant hoops, terrariums, succulent planters, or whatever else strikes your fancy — all while enjoying complimentary beverages.
Mise En Place or Kitchen Classroom
You know what they say: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. So, why not give your loved one the gift of learning to cook, so they can gain a skill set (or at least a recipe or two!) that will last them a lifetime?
When you purchase an online class gift card from local cooking school and “culinary experience” Mise En Place or book a class with Kitchen Classroom, you can either send the recipient off to a class of their choice. For brainstorming starters, think options like: A New Year Dinner at Home or Holiday Inspired Winter Cocktails — we’d love either!
PS: Members of The Richmond Experience can use code RVAX for 10% off at checkout at Mise En Place, and members of The Richmond Experience get three knives sharpened for the price of two at drop-off at Kitchen Classroom!
Basket & Bike
Have a friend who loves the great outdoors? BASKET & BIKE and RVA on Wheels have teamed up to provide Richmond with a variety of tour experiences and rentals on wheels (including tours on comfortable Priority bicycles with BASKET & BIKE, or on e-bike, Segway, trolley, or gem car tours with RVA on Wheels).
And while all of these tour options sound like fun ways to spend time with friends safely out in the fresh air, BASKET & BIKE’s Signature Ride option is a fan favorite! It includes a leisurely, 14-mile, guided bicycle tour along the Virginia Capital Trail ending with a glass of wine and a picnic at Upper Shirley Vineyards.
RVA Brew Crew
Eat, drink, and be merry (without having to worry about who’s going to drive) with a trip on Lola, the refurbished school bus behind RVA Brew Crew! You can book a private tour for groups of up to 14 passengers and Lola will take you wherever you'd like to go — whether it's a brewery tour through Richmond, out to Charlottesville for a day of winery hopping, or anywhere else in the area!
You'll work with RVA Brew Crew to set up the pick-up and drop-off locations of your choice and determine your itinerary. You're welcome to bring snacks and alcohol aboard for your trip to enjoy between stops, too. Book here!
Thank you to RVATukTuk for powering this City Guide!