Epic Virginia Experiences to Gift This Holiday Season

If you want to think beyond big boxes and wrapping paper this holiday season, consider giving someone on your list the gift of time with a Virginia experience they’ll always remember. 

We’ve rounded up a list of Virginia excursions perfect for all kinds of travelers. Read on to discover experiences you'll on find in Virginia that your friends and family will remember forever. Our picks vary in terms of price level, so you can pick the gift that's right for you. 
 

FIND EXPERIENCES FOR: Wine Lovers | Nature Enthusiasts | Families with Kids | Adrenaline Lovers | Foodies | Relaxation Seekers | Music Lovers
 

FOR WINE LOVERS

Sip and Stay

Take the planning off your plate and stay at a winery with with overnight accommodations. One of our favorites is The Farmhouse at Veritas, located on the property of Veritas Vineyards in Afton, west of Charlottesville. The Farmhouse is known for its four-course dinner and wine pairing, which requires reservations. A chef-prepared breakfast, wine hour, and complimentary bottle of wine are included in every stay.

Estimated Price: $$$

Find more wineries where you can stay on site.
 

Plan a Leisurely Lunch Outing

Venture to Madison for a delicious wine pairing lunch at Early Mountain Vineyards. Make reservations to enjoy a menu featuring regional and seasonal ingredients created by critically-acclaimed Executive Chef Tim Moore. Bonus: The stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains that surround this incredible winery.

Estimated Price: $$-$$$

Discover more giftable Virginia wine experiences with our guide to Virginia Wine Country. 
 

FOR NATURE ENTHUSIASTS

Paddle along Protected Barrier Islands — or to a Vineyard

On Virginia’s Eastern Shore, join Burnham Guides for paddling on the Seaside Water Trail. Day trips include kayaks, gear, guide service, and lunch, and can be booked online. Also on the Eastern Shore, Chatham Vineyards and Southeast Expeditions offer a seasonal “Paddle Your Glass Off” experience that’s perfect for any paddler who loves Virginia wine. Keep an eye out for 2026 dates.

Estimated Price: $$$
 

Cast a Line on a Guided Fishing Excursion

If someone you know loves being out on the water, consider gifting them a guided fishing excursion. In Meadows of Dan, guests at The Lodge at Primland, Auberge Collection can take advantage of half and full-day excursions. Fshing is available year-round, but we'd suggest aiming for April through November to hit the prime season. At Rose River Farm in Madison County, guests can enjoy guide services, private instruction, and luxury cabin rentals.

Estimated Price: $$$
 

Support Others with a Gift for a Good Cause

Virginia’s Department of Wildlife Resources has an online store with a wide selection of items, including clothing, guides, gear, and collectibles. Proceeds from this store are used to fund grant initiatives connecting youth to the outdoors. Available items, like this DWR logo hat, would be the perfect addition to any Virginia outdoor adventure!

Estimated Price: $$
 

FOR FAMILIES WITH KIDS

Snuggle Some Baby Goats

Yes, you read that correctly. In Esmont, Caromont Farms offers goat snuggling each spring. Information for 2026 hasn’t been announced yet, but keep an eye out for more information on upcoming snuggle sessions. The farm also offers cheese-making classes for adults, if you want to bundle up the goat gifts.

Estimated Price: $$
 

Splash Through Winter at an Indoor Water Park

Do your kids get cabin fever after the holidays? Head to Massanutten to take advantage of the Indoor WaterPark. Filled with slides, pools, and floats, this massive water park has something to offer for kids of all ages.

Estimated Price: $$

Find more Virginia amusement and water park adventures perfect for gifting. 
 

Learn Year-Round with a Museum Membership

Want to give something that will allow for memory-making the whole year through? Consider giving a membership to the Richmond-based Science Museum of Virginia, which includes a year of free admission, members-only programming, and exclusive discounts. Other Richmond memberships to consider for families include Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and the Children’s Museum of Richmond.

Estimated Price: $$-$$$

Explore dozens of museums you can only find in Virginia. 
 

FOR ADRENALINE LOVERS

Fly Over the Grand Canyon of the South

Zip lining, anyone? At Breaks Interstate Park, adventure seekers can zip through over 2,300 feet of lines with the assistance of highly trained guides. Give an IOU for when booking reopens in the spring and start planning your Southwest Virginia getaway. 

Estimated Price: $$

Don't Stop Now: There's more zip lining fun to be had around Virginia. 
 

Go on an ATV Adventure 

In Southwest Virginia, Spearhead Trails offers miles of ATV trails surrounded by the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains. Gift a trail permit or day pass so someone you love can check out these trails for themselves.

Estimated Price: $$
 

Take Flight 

Get their heart pumping with a gift they'll never forget. Give them a new perspective on Virginia with a flight on a hot air balloon with Balloons Over Virginia in Ashland. If you'd rather focus on adrenaline, give a session of indoor skydiving at iFLY Virginia Beach, where kids and adults can feel the rush of flying.  

Estimated Price: $$-$$$
 

FOR FOODIES

Discover Richmond Food Tours

A gift certificate for a food tour is sure to hit the spot with any food lovers in your life. You can choose to give a specific tour, like a pizza and ice cream tour (sign us up!) or a specific monetary amount, but you really can’t go wrong when it comes to food tours! Other options include a Scott’s Addition Booze & Bites tour or a Carytown food tour.

Estimated Price: $$
 

Paddling with Blue Pete’s Kayaking Adventure 

Blue Pete’s Dinner Tour — a kayaking excursion that leads to dinner — is one of two destination tours offered by Ocean Rentals in Sandbridge. Participants can take in the Back Bay’s wildlife and serene views before enjoying dinner at Blue Pete’s in Pungo. 

Estimated Price: $$
 

Savor a Once-in-a-Lifetime Memorable Meal

For a truly unique and luxurious dining experience, treat someone you love to dinner at the two Michelin-starred The Inn at Little Washington.  Across the street, the sister restaurant Patty O’s provides a more casual option for the food lovers you know that are more low-key, but would still be interested in a menu developed by Chef Patrick O’ Connell.

Estimated Price: $$$-$$$$
 

Get Hands-On with an Aquatic Culinary Experience

Take your food lover for a weekend getaway to the Tides Inn, a waterfront retreat on the Chesapeake Bay, and book a spring or summer Chesapeake Gold Tour to head out on the water and learn all about the oyster population found within the Bay. After a brief class where you’ll hear about the history of Virginia’s oyster populations, you’ll take to the water to harvest the bivalves straight from the Bay, then return to the inn where the chef will roast the oysters for you to enjoy with a glass of wine. 

Estimated Price: $$$
 

FOR RELAXATION SEEKERS

Soak in the Warm Springs Pools

Gift a getaway to the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs and take advantage of the Warm Springs Pools by making a reservation for a 50-minute soak. Located five miles away from the resort, the Warm Springs Pools are filled with history. The original stone basin that held the water for bathing was built in 1761, establishing it as the first spa structure in America.

Estimated Price: $$
 

Gift a Day Pass to Balian Springs

A day pass to Balian Springs near Alexandria will grant your loved one access to saunas, indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy pools, plunge pools, steam rooms, lounge areas, an aqua lounge, and a fitness center and wellness workshops. For a someone who values self-care, this is a gift they'll never forget. 

Estimated Price: $$$
 

Surprise Them with a Spa Package

You'll find a spa destination worth the trip at Salamander Middleburg. Open daily, the luxury spa offers a variety of massage, facial, and body treatments by reservation.

Estimated Price: $$$
 

FOR MUSIC LOVERS

Feel the Vibes at a Festival

Let the music lover in your life discover new artists or see all their favorites when you gift a ticket or two to a classic Virginia music festival. If they're a fan of roots music, we recommend the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion. For a little bit of every genre, check out FloydFest. 

Estimated Price: $$$
 

Seasons Passes to Jam

A pair of concert tickets is a great idea for a gift — and Virginia has plenty of venues that host artists of all levels, from local indie acts to international names. But did you know you can get season tickets at select venues as well? If you want to go all-out for a gift, check out season ticket information at venues like Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront in Richmond, Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach, and Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow. 

Estimated Price: $$$-$$$$

We hope these gift ideas provide some fun inspiration for one or more people on your list — and that maybe you’ll get to join them for the fun!