It’s cap-and-gown season, which means it’s time to hunt down the perfect congratulatory gift for the soon-to-be graduate in your life. Sending them out into the world with an experience-based present — a class, a museum membership, or even a skydiving lesson — is a great place to start, but handing over a flat envelope containing a gift certificate (or even a pricey plane ticket) can feel a bit anticlimactic. When you’re gifting an experience, try bundling it with one of these charming goodies to make a more lasting impact — because after all, isn’t that the point?
The Experience: An International Trip

The Extras: Oh, the places they’ll go. But before they jet off to see the world, give them a personalized passport cover ($45) and an ultra-chic denim travel bag ($180) to ensure they travel in style. A coffee-centric city guide ($4.50) will assist them in staying well-caffeinated while seeing the sights, and a travel journal ($12) will help them document their far-flung discoveries.
The Experience: Cooking Classes

The Extras: Everything tastes better with truffles, so why not treat an aspiring gourmand to a sea salt sampler ($30) that includes truffle seasoning? This adorable oven mitt ($21) will win over Anglophiles, while an ultra-simple linen apron ($44) means they’ll look sharp even while they’re honing their knife skills. This cutting board and utensil set ($58) comes in a kaleidoscope of colors to make prep work more palatable.
The Experience: A Museum Membership

The Extras: What could be more mind-expanding than a membership to a venerated cultural institution? A pop-up card ($9) will whet their appetite for history, while a library-scented candle ($18) is sure to win over bookworms. With a marbleized journal ($10), they’ll be able to record their thoughts and inspirations for posterity, and a pocket-sized watercolor palette ($117) will help them make some masterpieces of their own.
The Experience: Theater Tickets

The Extras: A classic Folies Bergere poster ($10) will suit those who believe they were born in the wrong decade; sheet music earrings ($20) appeal to those who’ve always got a song in their hearts (and love to sing it in the shower). Pencils ($9) printed with the Bard’s most famous lines are just the thing for would-be playwrights, and a doll ($51) modeled after one of America’s most celebrated scribes wordlessly signals quirky — yet highbrow — taste.
The Experience: Skydiving Lessons

The Extras: When they’re ready to take the leap, a lucky four-leaf clover necklace ($48) and some anti-anxiety roll-on perfume ($12) will give them a bit of much-needed courage. This organic-cotton T-shirt ($75) is required wearing for anyone planning to spend some time among the clouds, and a fluffy eye mask ($15) will help even adrenaline junkies get some calming sleep the night before the big jump.
The Experience: City Walking Tour

The Extras: Help them see their city in a whole new light: An inspiring mug ($20) will make sure they start the day on the right foot, and a leather fanny pack ($75) facilitates hands-free wandering (and is far more modern than the neon nylon options from a few decades back). A custom camera strap ($44) and handmade walking shoes ($123) elevate the urban-explorer experience.
The Experience: A Spa Day

The Extras: After making it through finals, a day of pampering is exactly what a grad needs. Up the luxury factor with hand-crafted leather slippers ($40), a rosemary-orange shampoo bar ($4) that’s full of indulgent oils, and Turkish cotton towels ($15) that are as fresh-looking as they are functional. Back home, this soy candle‘s ($19) hints of lemongrass and black currant will revive the relaxing vibes for weeks to come.
The Experience: Yoga Passes

The Extras: Looking good starts with feeling good, and a pair of flattering, well-fitting yoga pants ($45) gets them closer to both. Mats go mobile in a gorgeously simple canvas bag ($55), while bangs stay out of the fray with the aid of a cute elastic headband ($12). A set of reclaimed wood blocks ($45) will help them get into proper position.
The Experience: Cocktail-Making Classes

The Extras: Learning how to make a killer mojito is much easier with the right tools, like a snazzy wooden muddler ($30) that can be personalized for free. A set of small-batch bitters ($27) adds some nuance to their drinks — which they may prefer to pour on the sly from a vintage-style teapot ($84). Since presentation is everything, monogrammed linen napkins ($32) will make those first top-shelf tipples feel extra-fancy.
The Experience: Dance Lessons

The Extras: A colorful circle skirt ($40) will spin satisfyingly as they twirl, while a leather hair tie ($14) becomes a bracelet once she moves from the barre to the bar. With a simple yet chic art print ($9) or a pair of vintage cufflinks ($95) inspired by Fred Astaire, they’ll have a constant reminder to keep moving — onward and upward.
(Header image by Wendy Gold.)
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57 comments
Andrii from OakKitchenBoards said 4 years ago
Cool gifts :)
Megan from MegansMenagerie said 4 years ago
Love these gift choices!
Sue from SuesAkornShop said 4 years ago
What great gifts!
Pavel Chernykh from tagilcity said 4 years ago
Nice pop-up card!!!
TropicalGarden from TropicalGarden said 4 years ago
Wonderful selections! Thanks for sharing:)
Teresa Stone from GypsyGardener said 4 years ago
Love the cooking class idea!
benna and hanna from bennaandhanna said 4 years ago
Love all the ideas!
Francine from HomespunHeartofMine said 4 years ago
What an amazing list of ideas, Molly! Well done! :D
Niki from JandEdoodles said 4 years ago
Love that globe at the top! Great choices Molly!
Deb Vasbinder from BabyCuteBaby said 4 years ago
These are all such great ideas. Great job--Thanks for sharing.
Patti Trostle from PattiTrostle said 4 years ago
Great ideas!
Relly from RelsFindsNapaValley said 4 years ago
Some great gift ideas here for the new grads by Molly Simms. I like the idea of bundling a gift of experience with a special, wonderful item to make a lasting impression... a remembrance.
Sally from SallysVintageKitchen said 4 years ago
Great gift ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Helen Harwood from FatBerry said 4 years ago
Brilliant ideas! Thank you for sharing
Aga from AgasJourney said 4 years ago
Fab selection. Inspiring!
LivingVintage from LivingVintage said 4 years ago
Great picks!
Chen Xiaojun from SamgharamaStudio said 4 years ago
Love these gift choices!
Theres from MoonyWool said 4 years ago
Awesome ideas!
ACR from IntoTheBluePaintShop said 4 years ago
So many great finds !
Priscilla from Gardenmis said 4 years ago
Love this selection of great gift ideas! Thank you for sharing :)
Valentina . from Exclusive72 said 4 years ago
Great ideas!
accentonvintage from accentonvintage said 4 years ago
Wonderful gifts for graduates!
Madeleine Keller from ThoseGoodVibrations said 4 years ago
these are great ideas! out of all of them I'd probably take yoga or the international trip. love the gifts you selected :)
Square Squirrel Studio from SquareSquirrelStudio said 4 years ago
Graduation is such a significant milestone choosing the right gift makes all the difference.
Georgia from JewelMeShop said 4 years ago
Great gift ideas!
Susan Wagner from beachbabyblues said 4 years ago
So many clever choices !!
Niki from CaramelAppleBooks said 4 years ago
These are so cool!
Kashuen Collectibles from Kashuen said 4 years ago
I think the traveling gift will be the best for new grads. Go see the world!
bluepalette from BluePalette said 4 years ago
Great advices! And I like your gift ideas!
Katie Anne from MiddleCoast said 4 years ago
So totally started looking at this for ideas for my sister-in-law who's graduating college at the end of May but totally ended up finding something for myself too... That fanny pack!!! <3
M B from BeachStudio7 said 4 years ago
Very creative.
Renee from RandMhandmade said 4 years ago
So many great idea's!!
Jagoda from yanyula said 4 years ago
nice selection! oh, being right after graduation it's amazing!
a casa con Manu from Acasaconmanu said 4 years ago
Bellissime idee!!! grazie tante!!!
Cristy Ramos from ArtisanBathandBody said 4 years ago
These are so cool! Thank you for sharing these amazing gift ideas <3
NeatoKeen from NeatoKeen said 4 years ago
Such creative ideas for grads and wonderful coordinating gifts! Well done!
aressa from OriginalBridalHanger said 4 years ago
I can't believe it is that time again already! Nice picks...
candicewatkinsrobinson from CanGoods said 4 years ago
what a great list! love the museum membership idea!!
Jakub Chmielniak from MrGuguMissGo said 4 years ago
Great ideas Thanks for that :)
VT from HandmadeTrend said 4 years ago
Great variety of gift ideas! Love them.
Dorothy from JewelrybyDorothy said 4 years ago
Love the variety!
Amy from NaturalVintage said 4 years ago
Creativity at it's best ! Great feature and congrats to all !
Mountain-Artisans.com from MtnArtisans said 4 years ago
Love it
Sujata from TreasuredMemoryLane said 4 years ago
What a good variety of ideas! Thanks for sharing.
Denise Elliott Jones from DeniseElliottJones said 4 years ago
nice!
YOUNG from IONstudio said 4 years ago
Awesome!
Rasa Rabaciene from PRINTDECOstudio said 4 years ago
Beautiful things!
Janin from WoollalaWool said 4 years ago
So many wonderful ideas! I'm look and inspirational))!
Snazzy Living from Snazzyliving said 4 years ago
Great Gift Idea
Arty By Romy from ArtyByRomy said 4 years ago
nice choice!
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Ronald bell said 4 years ago
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mj gm from artprintscanada said 4 years ago
Great ideas
FabulousMind from DesignYouNeed said 4 years ago
great ideas
Valentina . from Exclusive72 said 4 years ago
Beautiful gift ideas! Thank you for sharing
RoseyGVintage from RoseyGVintage said 4 years ago
Awesome choices~ Love!!!
Autumn Rose from ArtbyAutumnRose said 4 years ago
love these ideas...