17 Thoughtful Experience Gifts in Cleveland for 2025
Cleveland is a city marked by rich history as well as beautiful surrounding landscapes, from the shores of the Great Lakes to the scenic Cuyahoga Valley. This means there are plenty of unique Cleveland experiences to be found that make awesome gifts for all ages, from fun things to do in Cleveland for adults to more family-friendly adventures great for all ages.
These unique Cleveland experience gifts range from educational and creative experiences to visiting some of the world’s most famous cultural institutions. They are available at various price points for a variety of gift-giving needs, most involving anywhere from a few hours to an entire day.
In addition to gifts, they also make great date ideas in Cleveland or team building activities in Cleveland. Many are also available through experience gift cards you can buy for easy gift giving.
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- Unique Experience Gifts in Cleveland
- Best Experience Gifts in Cleveland
- Experience Gifts in Cleveland for Adults
- Experience Gifts in Cleveland FAQs
Unique Experience Gifts in Cleveland
1. Cooking Classes
A unique experience gift in Cleveland is enrollment in one of the great number of culinary classroom experiences available in the city. Cooking classes in Cleveland include expert pasta-making and recreating Thai street food favorites. You can also take an online cooking class to enjoy the learning experience from the comfort of your home.
2. Art or Craft Classes
If your giftee is creative, try giving them the gift of learning with fun art or craft classes. Many community centers, craft stores and colleges offer classes in everything from traditional and painting to glassblowing and ceramics. You can also find photography classes in Cleveland that will help you out even if you are just an amateur photographer who only takes shots for Instagram.
3. Perfumery Class
Cleveland-local Indigo Perfumery offers classes in perfume making, allowing you to mix scents like a professional to create a custom perfume you can take home to use. This makes for a unique experience gift in Cleveland for the scent lover in your life or for yourself to find your signature scent. They also host monthly gatherings for scent-lovers.
4. Troll Museum
This unique museum is home to a Guinness World Record-holding collection of Troll dolls and related memorabilia that numbers over 25,000 items. It charts the history of trolls from the ancient world and mythology to today’s pop culture popularity. The museum offers tours, a coffee shop and a gift shop.
5. Candle Workshop
Give the gift of a candle workshop at The Cleveland Candle Company, which offers both classes and private party hosting, as well as a chance for all visitors to design custom-scented candles during any visit. Learn to blend scents, oils and waxes to create the perfect candle for your home.
6. Ride the Rails
See the gorgeously scenic Cuyahoga Valley National Park from the view of a historic locomotive. Numerous rides are offered daily, with an emphasis on both natural preservation and the technological legacy of railway culture in America.
Best Experience Gifts in Cleveland
7. Zoos and Nature Centers
One of the best experience gifts in Cleveland is passes or membership to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, which allows you to explore the globe through the creatures that inhabit it, along with a host of special events and learning experiences. Or gift visits to the Rocky River Nature Center or the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes with abundant hiking trails and scenic views.
8. Trolley Tour
For one of the best experience gifts in Cleveland, especially for visitors, hitch a ride on Lolly the Trolley, which offers tours of the city’s many neighborhoods and attractions in both shorter narrated tours around an hour and longer 2.5-hour tours that include more stops around the city at historic locations, famous eateries and bars, and other sites that are must-see in Cleveland.
9. Theater Tickets
Wondering where you can go on a Saturday night in Cleveland? Theater passes or subscriptions make a great experience gift in Cleveland, including the famous Playhouse Square, host to numerous Broadway touring shows every year. Other great options include the Cleveland Play House, Connor Palace and the Cleveland Public Theatre.
10. Improv Classes
Improv classes are a great experience gift in Cleveland, whether you are interested in the performing arts or just looking to up your communication skills in your life and work. Take a class at the Funny Bone Comedy Club or take improvisation, performance and comedy writing classes from Imposters Theater.
11. Art Museum Visit
The Cleveland Museum of Art boasts free admission, making it a great low-budget experience gift for a fun afternoon. It’s known for its large collection of Asian and Egyptian artifacts and is considered one of the most visited art museums in the world. For more contemporary and modern art, visit MOCA Cleveland, which also offers free daily admission.
12. Sports Tickets
For a fun experience in Cleveland, take in a game with the world-famous Cleveland Browns or Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as a number of smaller league franchises that represent the city in hockey, soccer and baseball.
Experience Gifts in Cleveland for Adults
13. Paint and Sip
Paint and sips offer an excellent chance to get creative and learn in a casual atmosphere with drinks and conversation. You can find great paint and sips in Cleveland that make a great experience for adults. They also make great date nights or girls' nights out.
14. Haunted History Tour
Looking for an experience gift in Cleveland for adults that is both adventurous and kind of spooky? Look no further than visiting one of the city’s most famous haunts, including haunted train rides and Saturday Night Caravan Tours and downtown walking tours that take you into all dark corners of the city with a few stops at local bars and restaurants.
15. Mystery Dinner Theater
For a fun and interactive experience gift in Cleveland, check out murder mystery dinner shows at the Dinner Detective or Pickwick & Frolic, which allow you to enjoy a delicious meal while murder and mayhem is afoot.
16. Brewery Tours
Visit one of the many Cleveland Breweries that make excellent experience gifts, including Great Lakes Brewing Company or Bookhouse Brewing. You can also take city-wide brewery tours through City Brew Tours or hop aboard the Cleveland Brew Bus.
17. Spa Day
A spa day can make the perfect relaxing experience gift. In Cleveland for him or her, you can give the gift of days or individual sessions at Woodhouse Spa, Marengo Luxury Spa or The Spa At Ascend, most of which offer services like massages, nails, hair treatments, facials, waxing, as well as sessions in yoga and meditation for wellness.
Experience Gifts in Cleveland FAQs
What Is Unique to Cleveland?
One of the best experience gifts in Cleveland is a ride on the city’s famous rail lines, which offer daily tours of the surrounding natural sights like Cuyahoga Valley National Park, as well as more specific tours related to local landscape and history.
What Experience Can I Gift?
Experience gifts in Cleveland are many, with options for lovers of fine food, culture, nature or creative pursuits. For a full day of fun, combine some of them together for a uniquely Cleveland experience. Consider leaving the choice to them with an experience gift card.
These amazing experience gifts in Cleveland will be perfect for your next gift-giving occasion. For even more fun gift ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
