Gift These Nashville Experiences (No Wrapping Required!)

Is that holiday shopping list starting to weigh on you? Instead of scouring the shelves last minute, consider a gift that will create lasting memories. Nashville is bursting with opportunities for sports fans, music lovers, adrenaline junkies, and those folks who just never seem to take a moment for themselves.

We’ve gathered 40+ fabulous experiences around town (and we’ve barely scratched the surface)!

And if you still need inspiration for those final few stocking stuffers, don’t miss our Nashville 50 Under $50 Gift Guide.

Gaming & Adventure

For the adventure enthusiasts and natural competitors on your list, consider some of these Nashville-area outdoor and gaming options! There’s a little something for everyone …

• Got a pickleball fanatic in your crew? Consider covering initiation fees and membership dues for a month (or more) at Music City Pickleball in Cool Springs. Sensa Padel is also up and running in Germantown’s Neuhoff District! (Padel is very similar to pickleball — courts can be reserved by the hour.)
• Nashville is now home to a variety of fun concepts that offer food, booze, and games all under one roof, so that you can choose your own adventure. For hobby competitors, consider a gift card to Pins Mechanical in The Gulch, which houses a variety of classic lawn games like cornhole, arcade games, and duck pin bowling (they don’t serve food, but you’re welcome to order delivery or bring your own. There are typically food trucks outside as well).
• Plan an excursion for your loved one to Tee Line in West Nashville, which offers curling, bowling, food, and drinks.
• Bowlers will love a few rounds at the delightfully retro Eastside Bowl or Brooklyn Bowl in Germantown — both of which double as music venues!
• Puttshack, an indoor tech-infused mini golf experience, is fun for pairs and small groups. The venue offers a comprehensive dinner and cocktail menu, allowing you to make a night of it.
• Climb Nashville has two locations in Nashville and one in Murfreesboro. They offer a wide variety of climbing options for all skill levels — and yoga and fitness classes to boot. You can purchase day passes, memberships, or gift cards.
• If you want to go BIG this holiday season, consider a helicopter tour! Helistar Aviation offers sky-high tours of Downtown Nashville and the surrounding area. (For an extra-special spin, consider the sunset tour.)
• The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is a gem for animal lovers, especially young ones. It offers a variety of events and experiences in addition to its fantastic range of ongoing exhibits. You can give a membership or gift certificate — check out all your options here.
• Treetop Adventure Park at Nashville Shores features adventure courses with adrenaline-pumping obstacles, including suspended bridges, cargo nets, Tarzan swings, and zip lines. Because these courses are especially fun for groups, they make a great gift for whole families to enjoy together.
• Finally — and we kinda still can’t believe this is a thing — but Nashville boasts a couple of fun axe-throwing experiences. Bad Axe is conveniently located in The Gulch and offers a full bar and restaurant.

Wine & Dine

As Nashville continues to establish itself as one of the South’s premier culinary destinations, there are an increasing number of remarkable food and drink experiences to be had, from tours and pairings to ultra-luxe tasting menus.

• Perfect for sushi lovers, Nashville has recently welcomed multiple very special omakase dining experiences: Sushi | Bar in The Gulch, kase x noko in East Nashville, and Sushi by Bou downtown.
• MICHELIN’s new American South Guide honored a variety of Nashville eateries, including Bastion, Locust, The Catbird Seat, and many more. For the serious foodies in your life, explore the guide to make reservations or snag gift cards!
• For beer and bourbon enthusiasts, Nashville is home to a diverse range of fun tours and tasting experiences. There are so many options, you could easily choose based on your taste or your preferred part of town. Favorites include Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery and Yazoo Brewing.
• For wine lovers, Sauced wine bar in Germantown and BUTTERLAMP in East Nashville make fabulous outings.
• Ideal for coffee and tea lovers, plan an excursion to Now and Then, which occupies the bar space at Audrey from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. It’s a high-brow, unhurried experience that urges you to take your time with their hard-to-find coffee and tea offerings. They don’t offer gift cards, but this is a great way to treat a friend you’ve been dying to catch up with.
• For tea drinkers, consider a visit to East Nashville’s new teahouse-meets-pottery studio, Potluck Teahouse. For an elevated experience, book a formal afternoon tea at Franklin’s Southall Farm & Inn, available September through January.
• And if your giftee loves a good theme, you can’t go wrong with treating them to a night out at one of Nashville’s 30+ holiday pop-up bars.

The Arts

This is Music City, but Nashville offers a diverse range of outlets for enjoying and supporting the arts.

• Consider tickets or gift cards to any of the fabulous music venues around town, including (but, of course, not limited to) Brooklyn Bowl, The Grand Ole Opry, The Ryman, The Pinnacle, and Marathon Music Works. The Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) hosts musical performances, along with a wide variety of theater and dance productions, stand-up comedy, lectures, and more.
• The Nashville Symphony is the way to go for classical productions and symphonic renditions of contemporary favorites. Their 2026 calendar is already packed with fabulous options.
• The ultimate “festive” gift? Festival tickets! You can currently purchase passes for both CMA Fest, which takes place in downtown Nashville (June 4-7, 2026), and Bonnaroo Music Festival, which takes place in Manchester, TN (June 11-14, 2026).
• Consider the gift of exhibition tickets, membership, or a donation on behalf of your loved one to the Frist Art Museum. This is an excellent pick for lovers of the visual arts.
• Nashville Ballet’s rendition of The Nutcracker runs through December 28, and Swan Lake is up next, running February 27 through March 1. Explore ticket options here.
• For music history buffs, consider purchasing tickets or a membership to Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame or the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM).
• OZ Arts Nashville hosts a wide variety of performances and visual arts, ranging from instrumental and dance performances to aerial acts and more. You can purchase individual event tickets, ticket packages, or gift cards.
• Yes, movie theaters are STILL recovering from the pandemic — especially small, independently owned ones. A gift card or membership to The Belcourt would make an ideal gift for the film buff in your life … and also a gift to the Nashville arts community as a whole.
• Gift your crafty loved ones a glass-blowing class at Glasshaüs Nashville or explore pottery classes at Slip Ceramics, Ceramic Souls, or Nashville Pottery.
• Candle-making is an art, too. Book a candle-pouring experience at one of Paddywax Candle Bar‘s two locations — one in The Gulch and one in Berry Hill — or at The Golden Slipper in Germantown.

Rest & Relaxation

For friends and family members who take on so much without taking time for themselves, a nudge toward rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation can go a long way.

• If it’s old-fashioned R&R your loved one needs, take a look at our favorite places around town for facials and body treatments. You can’t miss with a gift card to any of these spots — each is vetted and known to provide the best experiences in town.
• Any time of year, but especially around the holidays, there’s nothing quite like a detoxifying sweat. Here’s our guide on where to soak, sauna, and plunge in Nashville.
• For an impossibly cozy bathhouse experience, check out the private booking options at Holiday Salon & Bathhouse in East Nashville. (For a seriously indulgent day, consider booking them a shampoo and blowout at the salon afterward!)
• Another relatively new addition to the Nashville spa scene is the “Head Spa” experience, a trendy treatment that includes a neck and facial massage, shampoo, a customized scalp treatment, a deep conditioning hair mask, and a steam treatment. (SB staff writer Zoe Yarborough recommends Andalia!)
• A staycation is always a welcome gift. These are our favorite luxe downtown Nashville hotels, all of which offer unique experiences of their own.

Fanfare

For sports fans, does it get any better than game-day tickets? Consider gifting your loved one with tickets or even season passes!

• For hockey fans, Predators tickets are a must.
• Season passes for the Nashville Soccer Club’s 2025 season are already on sale.
• Tennessee Titans 2026 season passes are not yet on sale, but you can cover the deposit for the TT fan in your life.
• For baseball fans, check out Nashville Sounds ticket options here.
• Iroquois Steeplechase ticket sales are now open for the 2026 event, scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2026.

Comedy

For friends and fam who love a good punchline — or could use a good laugh — give the gift of comedy! Nashville is rife with opportunities to sit a spell, enjoy a drink or two, and laugh. Couldn’t we all use a little more of that?

• Zanies has long played host to talented comedians, both local and touring. Purchase tickets from their calendar for a particular event or opt for a gift card.
• Keep your eye on the lineup of big-name comedic performances coming through Nashville early next year, including Kevin Hart, Nikki Glaser, and many more still to be announced for the Nashville Comedy Fest (taking place at multiple venues around town).
• For a more intimate setting, Third Coast Comedy Club, located in the historic Marathon Village, regularly hosts a variety of comedy performances, from stand-up and improv nights to interactive audience drinking games.
• You can also treat friends to a round of drinks at weekly open mic comedy nights around town, like Friday nights at Grandpa Bar.

History

There are plenty of spots around Nashville to delight a history buff. These are a few of our favorites for gifting!

• Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is an iconic Nashville property steeped in history and beauty, with over 50 acres of stunning grounds. Visit anytime to spend some quality time outdoors or keep an eye on their events calendar for upcoming fun. Consider a single set of tickets or a membership for maximum impact.
• A visit to Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is an excellent gesture for history buffs. With admission, guests can tour the mansion and grounds, dine at the restaurant, and even enjoy a wine tasting.
• While admission to the Tennessee State Museum is free, its convenient location beside the Nashville Farmers’ Market (and all of the fabulous dining options in Germantown) makes it an ideal outing for treating the history buff in your life!

Cheers to new experiences!

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For even more local gift ideas, be sure to check out this month’s Luxe Nashville FINDS.