LA is a city filled with amazing things to see, do and eat. Its inherent Hollywood sheen is only usurped by the craggy natural beauty that surrounds it: from incredible nature trails, to botanical gardens and world-famous natural wonders, Los Angeles holds stardom, fame and glamour in one hand; nature, mindfulness and self-improvement in the other. It’s this duality that makes LA the perfect place to discover a new hobby, complete a challenge you never thought you’d even try, or discover food you didn’t know existed. If you are gift-hunting for someone who lives in LA and are at your wit’s end trying to find the perfect thing, look no further. We’ve rounded up our favorite Los Angeles gifts by personality type, so whether you’re shopping for a foodie, an artist or a busy mom who deserves a break, there’ll be something here to make them happy. You could do a Supermarket Sweep style panic shop through Walmart, resulting in their ‘gifts’ consisting of a non-stick frying pan, highlighter pens and a card with a turtle on it that says HAVE A TURTELY AWESOME DAY – but you don’t want to do that, do you? Not after last year. Instead of burdening them with more stuff they don’t really need, why not give them the gift of an experience, a memory that lasts for the rest of their life? You could say memories can’t be bought – but actually, they can. We know, because we sell them.

Read on to find out our favorite LA experience gifts by personality type….

For the wine connoisseur:

Wine Appreciation Class in Temecula – $50

For the uninitiated, wine connoisseurs can be difficult to buy for. If you yourself don’t necessarily know the difference between Chablis and Chardonnay (and you’re not alone, those were two random names I plucked out the air hoping they’d be wines… Did I win?) then how are you supposed to buy the perfect present for those in the know? Don’t burden them with another bottle of wine they have no interest in but have to pretend to like so as not to come across snobbish. This wine appreciation class in Temecula is the answer to your gift-buying quandary. Instead of guessing which wine they’ll like, let the experts take them on a tasting adventure through Temecula. This will be an experience they’ll remember for years to come, instead of a bottle that’ll be gone in the course of an evening. (or maybe even quicker than that, I’m not judging.)

Although this class is suitable for all levels of knowledge, the wine connoisseur in your life is sure to appreciate the new knowledge they’ll take from it. During the two-hour class, they’ll learn to taste wine using all their senses, how wine is produced, why the grape growing process is so important, and how to properly pair food and wine. After class is dismissed (that makes it sound boring, but I’m sure more kids would enjoy school if there was “Wine Class”) they’ll be free to explore the winery or enjoy the Pinnacle, the vineyard’s restaurant. The ideal day out for the wine connoisseur who has it all.

For the marine enthusiast:

Newport Bay Whale Watching Cruise – $45

…Yes, I know marine enthusiast is incredibly specific, but ‘mammal-lover’ didn’t sound quite right either. In any case, if you have a nature aficionado in your life who prefers their wildlife aquatic, you can’t go wrong with this whale watching cruise in Newport Beach.

This marine cruise will begin on Balboa Island, where your lucky giftee will meet their friendly and knowledgeable captain and crew to board the Ocean Explorer. From there, they’ll head out to Newport Bay, one of the closest natural harbors to LA. Once at the mouth of the harbor, they’ll be able to spot the array of marine life who congregate there to feed. With the opportunity to see dolphins, sea lions, porpoises, harbor seals and many others, this cruise really is any marine enthusiast’s dream!

During summer and fall, it’s common to see giant blue and finback whales, while multiple grey whales can often be seen during the winter and spring months. As no two trips are the same, your lucky giftee will never know what to expect – except for an unforgettable experience.

For the musician:

Los Angeles Private Music Lesson – $75

Help the music-lover in your life explore their talents with this Los Angeles music lesson voucher. Maybe their guitar has been sat in the corner of their room for years, gathering dust, and they just need some encouragement to pick it back up again. Or perhaps they’re a master of their chosen instrument who wants to learn some more tips and tricks. This lesson has something to offer anyone wanting to improve on their guitar, piano, drums, bass guitar, or the natural tool of their voice. Working one-on-one with their instructor, they’ll learn tips and tricks to help them get the most out of their instrument in a comfortable and collaborative environment.

For the one who deserves a night out:

Evening of Magic in Los Angeles – $75

We all have that friend, relative, teacher, mail man, et cetera, who works too hard and really deserves a night out. And not just an ordinary night out. Sure, happy hour cocktails, a 3am cab ride home and a delivery man stranded outside because you fell asleep straight after ordering pizza is all well and good (that’s not autobiographical and you can’t prove anything) but when someone has been punching the clock for days on end, what they really deserve is something a little bit special. Something a little bit… magic, even. Sorry, but we all knew that pun was coming, I don’t know what you expected.

On this spellbinding evening out, your deserving giftee will be treated to an incredible series of tricks and illusions from acclaimed magician Ivan Amodie. The dress code is formal, so it’s a great excuse for them to dust off their favorite dress, suit, dinosaur costume, or whatever people wear on nights out these days. (Please make sure they don’t actually wear a dinosaur costume, I’m pretty sure that doesn’t fit the dress code.)

Dressed up to the nines, they’ll start their evening of magic at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills: an opulent setting as special as they are. During the ninety-minute magic show, they’ll experience incredible enchantments from Ivan in a beautiful, private suite. Effects range from the dangerous to the lighthearted, and include Ivan disclosing the secrets to famous illusions, 5000 scrabble tiles that unveil personal information, and an unpredictable effect with stainless steel darts, to name just a few!

Anyone looking for an unusual night out on the town will be bowled over by this evening of magic and glamour, straight out of Los Angeles’ famous magic scene!

For the foodie:

Downtown Los Angeles Culinary Tour – $79

Ugh, foodies. They think they’re so great… with their delicious food and their extensive culinary knowledge and their great tips about where to eat. UGH.

…Just kidding, we obviously love foodies. Despite the word ‘foodie’ having warped into code for ‘pretentious person who eats Asian food with their bare hands as a “sign of respect to the culture” but has never travelled outside of Ohio’, we know the true meaning of the word. Foodies know what they like and what’s good. They’re discerning, and that’s why they only deserve the best.

If you’re looking to buy for one such discerning foodie and are worried about getting them the wrong thing, don’t fret. Cater to their superior tastes with this Downtown Los Angeles food tour. It’s no secret that LA is home to some of the best innovations in contemporary cuisine, so where better for a foodie to explore? This three-hour tour will take them on a delicious journey through the best eateries around. They’ll meet their guide and the rest of the guests downtown, and once everyone has arrived the group will begin their food-filled adventure!

Exploring LA’s finest and most inventive cuisine, they’ll enjoy 2 appetizers, an entrée and a dessert. This tour will not only serve their bellies, but their minds too, as they meet and chat with local chefs, restaurant owners, and industry experts to really get the inside scoop on what makes LA foodie heaven. You could say it’s a “Michelin star day out” – if you wanted to. I’m not going to do that, obviously, because it’s a bad pun, and I’d never subject you to such horrors. (Am I a good liar?)

For the water baby:

Los Angeles Paddleboarding Lesson – $80

Water babies are those who have correctly surmised that the sea is better than land, swimming is better than running, and falling out of a kayak is better than never getting in one at all. They’re adventurous risk-takers who will give anything a go as long as there’s a wave to ride. Treat the water baby in your life to an experience that appeals to their adventurous nature: Paddleboarding!

Paddleboarding is fast becoming one of the most popular water sports out there, and it’s easy to see why. During this 90-minute SUP lesson, your water-loving giftee will discover their new favorite way to experience the sea.

Just 25 minutes from Downtown LA, the glittering beaches of Palos Verdes Peninsula await your lucky recipient, begging to be paddled on. No prior experience is required, so whether this is their first time trying their hand at this particular water sport or they’re a complete expert, they’ll be catered for. Their instructor will guide them from the beach to the waves, showing them everything they need to get the most from their Paddleboarding experience. Before they know it, they’ll be standing up on the board and navigating the water like a total pro!

For the adrenaline junkie:

Bridge To Nowhere Bungee Jump – $99

You know the kind of people I’m talking about; they’ve been high on the head-rush of their first roller coaster since they were ten years old and have been chasing that dragon ever since. They think nothing of jumping out of a plane harnessed to a random stranger, abseiling a cliff face, or indeed, bungee jumping! Life is too comfortable for these thrill-seekers and they want to shake things up. Basically, they have zero chill – but that’s what we love about them. What would life be like without the risk-takers who genuinely enjoy jumping off a cliff, something you’d usually only do by accident, just for fun?!

We love adrenaline junkies. They’re our bread and butter, and in this Bridge to Nowhere Bungee Jump, they’ll get the most heart-racing, adrenaline-pumping, breath-taking thrill of their life. They’ll start by meeting their guide and group at the trailhead in Azusa. From there, they’ll take a clarifying 5 mile hike to the Bridge to Nowhere in the Angeles National Forest. Now that their heart-rates are up, it’s time to get them beating even faster. The Bridge to Nowhere stretches over the San Gabriel river, the most beautiful place to take your life in your hands. (just kidding!) Once everyone has arrived, they’ll take turns strapping into the harness and jumping off the bridge. When it gets to your daring giftee’s turn, they can choose to jump backwards or superman-dive face forwards. They’ll never forget the explosion of air in their face – or on the back of their neck – as they plummet from the bridge with a magnificent view of the river below. Talk about a head rush!

After they’ve completed their jump, dizzy with the adrenaline of what they’ve just achieved, they’ll take another 5 mile hike back to the trailhead, bonding with their new friends over the crazy experience they’ve shared together.

For the petrol head:

Super Speedway Racecar Ride Along – $149

If you have a petrol head you need to buy for, this Super Speedway Race-car Ride Along experience is the perfect gift. They’ll begin their experience at the Fontana, California Auto Club Speedway, where they’ll meet their professional driver. After an overview of safety procedures, they’ll feel fully prepared for their race-car adventure. Next, they’ll strap in and get ready for the driver to put the pedal to the metal! When the thumbs-up is given to the driver, they will start the V8 engine and pull out of pit lane and onto the track for 3 heart-pounding laps. Any petrol head will be thrilled to receive this experience.

For the artistic type

Los Angeles Intro to Pottery Class Series – $180

If you’ve got a sensitive, artistic type to buy for, then look no further than this Los Angeles Intro To Pottery Series voucher. Anyone interested in creative pursuits is sure to revel at the chance to make works of art from clay, and in the relaxed, friendly environment these classes provide, they’ll come away with pieces that they’re really proud of.

Meeting their tutor and the rest of their class at the art studio on Venice Boulevard, your artistic recipient will then embark on the first of a hugely enjoyable series of pottery classes. During these classes, they’ll learn to work with clay and the pottery wheel, adopting wheel-throwing techniques from their experienced instructor. Techniques taught are how to center, cone, pull, shape, trim and glaze their own pottery. By the end of the series, they’ll have their own ceramic masterpieces to show off or give as gifts.

Thank you for reading!

… And that concludes our L.A. Gift Guide! We hope you’ve found something spectacular for your friend, relative, or mailman, no matter what their hobbies or interests are. LA is a fantastic place to experience something new, whether it’s climbing up and then subsequently jumping off a mountain (gulp), throwing pottery or learning an instrument. If you’re still looking, check out our full range of experience gifts in LA here.