So you’ve done it again. You still haven’t found that perfect gift, and now it’s Christmas Eve, and you’re stumped.
Well, fear not. We’ve got you covered, you lucky procrastinator, you.
While most of us are endlessly searching this season for that perfect thing to give tomorrow, truth be told it’s the experiences in life that can make the best memories. So why not give the gift that will be remembered long past Christmas Day? The one that can’t be exchanged, regifted or returned for store credit (you know who you are).
We’ve rounded up for you some of the most unique experiences Chattanooga has to offer.
✅ Pro-tip: Print off your confirmation email + put in a fancy card to physically gift it tomorrow.
😱 For the adrenaline junky | A Lookout Mountain Hang Gliding experience | The nearby business and flight park offers gift certificates for specific flights, gear or dollar amounts. There are different options, including a tandem flight — during which an airplane pulls you up, then lets you glide back down — or training opportunities that allows participants to practice running off small hills. | Tandem flights start at $149.
🔐 For a group | Escape Experience Chattanooga | NOOGAtoday’s staff has done this and we can vouch for the fun. You go into a room or rooms with your team and have to follow the clues to make it out in time. Will you bond with your team and overcome or fall apart under the pressure? That’s all part of the fun. | Four-player gift cards start at $114, but you can also buy them for individuals.
🍳For the aspiring chef | The Sweet & Savory Classroom experience | From kid’s camps to cooking clubs and individual classes, during which attendees can learn about creating either sweet or savory foods — there’s something for all kinds of tastes. Gift certificates are available and some class prices start as low as $50.
🎭 For the performer at heart | The Improv Chattanooga experience | A Forbes columnist has outlined reasons why improv is beneficial, so why not encourage the performers — or aspiring performers — in your life to actually go for it? How fulfilling would that be for them? Classes cost $125.
📚 For the endless learner | The Chattery experience | The Chattery is a nonprofit that aims to engage both sides of the brain with an array of activities and classes, including training in Excel, homebrewing classes, beginner macramé and goal-setting. What is it they say about giving the gift of learning? I think they say to do it. Classes range in cost.
🍺 For the beer-lover | The ChattaBrew Tour experience | Give the gift of local beer. On this tour, you’ll get to stop at four breweries for tastings. Get a group together and it will be even better. Guided tours are $40 per person.
👻 For the history, supernatural-lover | The Chattanooga Ghost Tour experience | With this, you’ll get history + tales of the supernatural. You can choose from several tours, such as a cemetery ghost hunt with equipment or a tour with pub stops. Experiences start at about $15 and gift certificates are available for a range of prices.
For the self-defense, gun enthusiast | ZirkOps Self Defense | Whether your loved one is already into firearms or may benefit from learning self-defense, ZirkOps has a range of offerings, from handgun permit classes to martial arts training. Classes range in cost.
⁉️ For the person who has everything | The Adventure Sports Innovation experience | This new-ish downtown company provide hands-on access to the latest tech innovations in adventure sports and outdoor experiences on land and water. If a person is difficult to buy for, maybe they’d enjoy designing their own roller coaster and taking a virtual ride. Or maybe they’d be into going off-roading in an electric ATV. These are just a few options from ASI. Experiences range in cost but some are as low as $35.
👌 For anyone who’s had a tough year | The Civil Axe Throwing experience | Doesn’t throwing an ax just sound like it’d be cathartic? Sometimes you might just want/need to throw an ax. One-hour sessions for one start at $20.
