The 5 Best Travel Gift Ideas in New England

When shopping for your loved ones this holiday season, think outside the box -- literally. Rather than giving objects as presents, consider giving experiences. Travel gifts create memories for a lifetime, and open doors into the world in a way a Christmas sweater simply doesn't (though we do love a nice Christmas sweater). These travel gift ideas in New England will grant your friends and family the opportunity to explore a new town, taste a new local dish, or try their hand at a new sport or activity. So hold off on the wrapping paper this season, and instead give travel gifts that send your loved ones out into the adventure and majesty of New England. Trust us, they’ll thank you for it. Our five travel gift ideas should help you get the ball rolling. Cooking Classes - Send the culinary-minded in your clan up north for some relaxation paired with a side of cooking classes.  King Arthur Flour, in Norwich, Vermont, schools their pupils in the art of baking for the home baker, the professional, and for kids and their Baking Education Center. After classes put your loved ones up at The Norwich Inn, located just down the road from King Arthur Flour. If baked goods aren't on the menu, try cooking classes at Essex Resort’s Dining & Cook Academy in Burlington, Vermont. Enjoy a hands-on lesson with some of the area’s most renowned chefs.  Other New England resorts whose cooking classes make for great travel gift ideas are the Bernerhof Inn in Glen, New Hampshire and the Inn at Weathersfield in Perkinsville, Vermont.

Ice Climbing Lessons - Dare your more adventurous friends with an extreme (yet extremely safe) adventure ice climbing in New England. This travel gift idea is best for those who enjoy getting outside, pushing their limits, and trying new things. We recommend exploring the Madonna Ice Canyon with the guidance and expertise of Peak Expeditions in Vermont, and then resting your weary bones in a cabin at nearby Sterling Ridge Resort. More great ice climbing awaits in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, particularly with Mooney Mountain Guides in New Hampton, NH. Nearby Glynn House Inn in Ashland makes for a great night’s sleep after climbing. New England Beer Tours - If you know someone who loves good brews, you know someone who will love this travel gift idea. Send them to Vacationland on our Maine beer tour, or better yet, design a tour that connects their favorite breweries in New England! The presentation for this one is key. Wrap a gift card around a bottle of beer from each New England brewery on the itinerary. Make it a two, three, or even a six pack! To really win some points, give the gift of safety by offering to be the designated driver on your New England beer adventure.

The Spa Treatment - A New England weekend away and spa treatment is a great travel gift idea for the ones in your life who need pampering but wouldn't treat themselves. Send them off to a relaxing and restorative Eden for one of these wonderful New England spa packages. Lest you think this travel gift applies only to the ladies and couples out there, check out the Common Man Inn & Spa in Plymouth, New Hampshire, and then consider yourself corrected. New England spa treatment knows no gender. New England Inns and Resorts Gift Card - If you’re looking to offer flexibility in your New England travel gift, the New England Inns and Resorts Gift Card is the way to go. Let the recipients choose between over 270 members across CT, RI, MA, NH, and VT. Whether they’re looking for a rustic mountain chalet, a coastal resort, or a downtown hotel, they’ll be covered and you’ll be the loving friend or family member who opened the door for them. This travel gift idea can be applied to any of the  gift ideas above, giving your friends or family members a gentle nudge in the direction of a wonderful New England getaway. Whatever form your New England travel gift takes, you can be sure it will enrich the recipient in ways a wrapped present won’t. Give the gift of travel, adventure, expertise, and relaxation this holiday season.

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