12 Holiday Gifts That Don't Come in a Box

Get up close and personal with the friendly residents of Mystic Aquarium. You can book an encounter with penguins, rays, and even paint with sea lions!

Treat a foodie or wine lover on your list to a tour of Mohegan Sun's 42 dining options! Give a gift card and their dream foodie outing will be on you — not to mention it can be used for shopping and entertainment too!

A car lover on your list will love a chance to drive around the track at Thompson Speedway or race at Lime Rock in Lakeville. Get access to instructors and a private club offering special track access and more.

When the weather warms up, everyone wants to be out on the water. Give a gift certificate for the Mystic Argia. Discover islands, lighthouses and the beauty of sailing as you bask in the sun and salt air aboard a 19th century schooner.

Taste of New Haven Tours offer a variety of experiences for food lovers, including a range of foodie tours, pizza-making lessons or even a chef’s cooking class.

If you know someone with a particular passion for excitement, Skydive Danielson offers gift certificates for a tandem jump!

A gift card to The Fig Cooking School will allow your recipient to explore their culinary creativity and try hands-on cooking classes geared toward bringing people together through tasty food.

The Essex Clipper Dinner Train delights diners and train lovers alike with a four-course meal and ride through the scenic Connecticut River Valley. 

Book your favorite nature lover a tour from Connecticut Bike and Boat Tours! Choose from several tours — some leisurely, others more challenging — along the Connecticut shoreline. Bring a bike or rent one, the tour may even come with a boat ride!

What's better than the gift of culture and beauty? Buy a few CT Art Trail Passports and give friends or family members a whole year of visits to 21 art museums and historic sites in Connecticut.

For a really unique gift, and an unforgettable experience, consider booking a class at Brookfield Craft Center. You (or your gift recipient) can learn to make anything from jewelry to clay and glass creations. Gift the class or gift the art — either way, it'll be a present to remember!

Find more great “made in Connecticut” gift giving ideas here.