The best L.A. experiences to give as gifts

You probably know someone who’s always thought about renting one of these adorable pedal boats but never actually done it—which makes it a perfect (and affordable) gift. $13 per hour

Easily the most beautiful horseback riding trail near L.A., Malibu Riders operates guided rides across Malibu and Agoura Hills, including hour-long rides through Zuma Canyon and near Paramount Ranch. $100–$200

Treat a cinephile to a membership from this beloved local film organization, which nabs you members-only access and $5 off screenings at the Aero, Los Feliz and Egyptian Theatres. $85

There’s no formal gifting option for these tours, but we think their on-foot sightseeing adventures through Downtown L.A. are perfect for architecture and history buffs. $25

Hollywood wine shop Domaine L.A. hosts a monthly wine club available for pickup or delivery; you can choose between two traditional or avant-garde selections per month. $50

Even if you’ve never seen it in person, you’ll undoubtedly recognize the Stahl House and its twinkly vista. Pay a little extra for a sought-after sunset tour for particularly magical views. $60–$90, $35–$50 per person for multi-guest tickets

Want to feed a porcupine or hang out with a sloth? This charming (but sometimes very kid-populated) Sylmar animal sanctuary offers private group encounters with some of its most adorable residents. $40–$200

You’ll only need to visit the stunning gardens and museum three times for this good-for-two-people membership to be worth it—and we’d easily visit three times a week if we had the time. $175

Reward yourself for a two-and-a-half-mile hike through scenic Saddlerock Gardens with a personal-sized bottle of wine on this guided vineyard tour. $49

Whale watching is an absolutely awe-inspiring experience (assuming you can tolerate a few waves). You’ll find boat tours up and down the coast; we think the Orange County spots tend to be the most spectacular, and we’ve had particulalry phenomenal experiences with Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari ($77). Prices vary by cruise.

Like its borderline overwhelming assortment of Italian food, the Century City complex offers a packed slate of cooking classes, mostly centered around pizza and pasta making. $95–$125

Know someone who typically attends a few shows at the Bowl each summer? Give them a first crack at tickets with two-to-four-concert packages across a range of genres, from classical to jazz to indie. Prices vary by package and seats.

The most expensive part of a trip to Catalina Island? Getting there—especially since the retirement of the Catalina Express’s free birthday fares. If you’re gifting someone a round trip, opt for the commodore lounge upgrade for a comfier, quieter ride. $92 round trip; commodore lounge upgrade $40

You can’t go wrong with just about any show at Dynasty Typewriter, which makes a gift card to the Westlake theater perfect for comedy fans. Tickets to most shows cost about $20 in advance. $25–$150

Treat someone to a playground of lounge pools, mud baths, saunas and spa treatments at this resort on the southern edge of Corona. Prices vary by experience.

Know an avid hiker? Then consider paying for their parking. You’ll find a bunch of different passes throughout the county: The National Forest Adventure Pass ($30) is one of the most affordable and practical, and grants access to recreation sites in Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino National Forests. Consider a state parks pass ($195) for beachy destinations or a pricey MRCA pass ($300–$450) for trails mostly in the Santa Monica Mountains. Prices vary by park organization.

Alright, this one requires a little bit of an explanation: The North American Reciprocal Museum Association lets you use your membership at participating museums to get into some other institutions for free all over the contintent. Here in L.A., that means you can get a membership to the Japanese American National Museum, the Grammy Museum, MOCA, Craft Contemporary, the Autry, the USC Pacific Asia Museum, the Skirball Cultural Center or the Museum of Latin American Art and use it to get into all of the others. The only catch: Not all membership levels at each museum come with NARM benefits, so we suggest going with whichever home base museum would provide the most benefits for your gift recipient. Prices vary by museum.

Similar to the NARM scenario, the American Horticultural Society’s reciprocal admissions program lets you use a membership from one botanical garden at dozens of others. But there’s a catch: You can’t use it at some institutions within 90 miles of your home base. So while a membership to either Descanso Gardens, South Coast Botanic Garden or the L.A. County Arboretum won’t get you into the other two, it will grant you access to other gardens in San Diego, the Central Coast and beyond.