Hi friend,

If you are staring at your cart thinking, My teen does not need more stuff, you are not alone.

When our kids get older, the gifts they remember most are the trips, the experiences, and the moments that feel different from every other day of the year. Not the sweater that went to the back of the closet on December 26.

So this year, consider swapping a few “things” for an experience gift that turns into a future trip together. And the best part. None of these ideas needs to be shipped or fully planned right now.

Here are a few experience ideas your teen will actually use:

​A National Park Annual Pass​

If your teen loves wide open spaces, road trips, or just wants more time outside, a national park pass is a perfect “open the envelope now, use it all year” gift.

You can:

• Wrap the physical pass so they have something to open
• Start a simple list together of parks you want to visit on spring break, long weekends, or summer break

You do not have to plan the whole trip this week. The pass is just your promise that outdoor adventures are coming.

Pro-tip: Buy it this month so you get this year's photo on the pass. You'll still get a full year out of it.

A State Park Pass (What My Son Is Getting This Year)

If national parks feel a little too far away or too big for this season, look closer to home.

Many states offer an annual state park pass that gets you into dozens of parks, trails, lakes, and campgrounds. That is what I am getting for my son this year.

Why I love this idea:

• It turns random free weekends into mini adventures
• It works for quick hikes, picnics, kayaking, or camping
• It is budget friendly and still feels special and grown up

Again, no detailed planning is required right now. You are simply giving your teen a year of “yes, let us go do something” instead of another afternoon on the couch.

An Experience Trip “Promise”

If you already know your teen lights up at the idea of a city trip, concert, or game, you can turn that into a gift without picking exact dates or flights yet.

A few ideas:

• A weekend in a nearby city with a show, museum, or food tour
• Tickets to a concert or game, plus a one night hotel stay to make it feel like a real getaway
• A future road trip that ties into something they love, like a filming location, favorite band, or college visit

You can put the details into a simple “trip certificate,” wrap a small related item, and decide the dates together after the holiday rush.

If you are overwhelmed by shipping deadlines, this is your permission slip to step off that treadmill. Experience gifts do not need to arrive in a box or be perfectly scheduled in a planner to be meaningful.

They just need to say, “I see you, I know what you care about, and I want to spend time with you before you launch into your own life.”

Hit reply and tell me:

Are you more of a national park pass family, a state park weekend crew, or a city adventure team right now?

Travel on!

Tonya

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