Cut the clutter and give a gift that will be useful and appreciated. The season of giving is such a wonderful time and seeing the look on your loved one’s face is a wonderful experience. But the aftermath of gifting can leave a chore of finding space for the gifts received, not that they aren’t appreciated, but we can skip this step with the gifts listed here.
Adventure Gifts
Memberships to the MN Wolf/Bear Center– Have a wolf or bear lover on your list? They’ll love being part of to the Wolf or Bear Center community in Ely, MN.
**Be Aware: The Bear Center is only open from the end of April to the end of October as the bears are taking their seasonal nap.
**Hours are limited during the winter months at the Wolf Center, but the wolves are most active during this time. Worth a visit!
MN State Parks Pass/Gift Card– The gift that gives all year-round! Endless adventure for the entire year at the 66 Minnesota State Parks.
National Parks Pass– Same goes for the Nationals Parks. A wonderful gift for those who travel far and wide, especially the snow-birds heading south.
Vertical Endeavors Rock Climbing Lessons/Pass– With 6 locations in Minnesota this pass can be the start of a new adventure or passion. Classes, gear, and memberships are available here.
Ziplining Tickets– For the thrill seeker, adventure awaits with locations across the state. Check height and weight restrictions prior to investing in this gift. Many parks in the state are closed during the winter, so this may be a gift redeemable in the spring.
- Kerfoot Canopy Tours in Henderson, MN (open year-round)
- High Ropes in Cloquet, MN
- Brainerd Zipline Tour in Brainerd, MN
- North Shore Adventure Park in Silver Bay, MN
Ski/Snowboard or Snowtubing Pass– Keep your outdoorsman busy all winter long with a pass to their favorite winter sports joint. For those who love winter but aren’t into flying down the hill on a board, try out snow tubing.
- Buck Hill in Burnsville, MN
- Coffee Mill Ski Area in Wabasha, MN
- Mount Ski Gull in Nisswa, MN
- Powder Ridge in Kimball, MN
- Spirit Mountain in Duluth, MN
Zoo Season Pass– There are several Zoo’s in Minnesota, some open all year long, some only part of the year.
- Hemker Zoo in Freeport, MN (seasonal)
- Safari North Wildlife Park in Brainerd, MN (seasonal)
- Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, MN (year-round)
- Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth, MN (year-round)
MN Arboretum Pass– For a more mellow crowd, a Minnesota Arboretum Pass is a great gift for those in the vicinity of the Twin Cities area. With each changing season, the arboretum if filled with a new beauty.
Knowledge Gaining Gifts
Outdoorsy Magazine Subscription– Yeah, yeah… I know, so much is read online. You’re reading this online right now… But your adventurer won’t always have wifi or cell service. Outdoors magazines are a great resource for learning new skills and about new adventures that you may not have thought of. Some examples of outdoors magazines include:
- Outside Magazine
- Minnesota Monthly
- Boundary Waters Journal (highly recommend for the canoeists)
Adventure Book– Have an outdoorsman so into adventures that they read about adventures while they are between adventures? Get them a new book! Here are some ideas:
- The Twenty-ninth Day by Alex Messenger (awesome!)
- Call of the Wild by Jack London (classic)
- Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
- Wild by Cheryl Strayed
- A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Guide Book– A guide book to their favorite area or an area they’ve mentioned they’d like to explore. Even better, a guide book and map of their dream trip!
- National Geographics Guide to the National Parks of the United States
- Hiking Minnesota: A Guide to the State Greatest Hiking Adventures
Road Atlas– For the Road-tripper, an Atlas is a rather practical gift. Relying on GPS alone is unrealistic and frankly, dangerous.
Consumable Gifts
Outfitter Gift Card– The list of Outfitters in Minnesota is endless, surely your adventurer has mentioned a favorite or a most frequented outfitter. A gift card to this location will ensure that they can acquire the gear they need for their next excursion.
- Cabela’s
- Runnings
- Sawtooth
- Piragis Northwoods Company
- … the list is endless.
Trail Snacks– Granola bars, power bars, trail mix, protein bites… find out your hikers favorite snacks for a trail snack basket.
Camp Desserts– There is a wide variety of freeze-dried or dehydrated food items on the market. Grab a couple of desserts for your favorite hiker. They’ll thank you later for a special treat after a strenuous hike. My daughters favorite so far has been a freeze-dried ice cream sandwich.
S’mores Basket– The s’more lover will be thrilled with a s’more basket! A variety of chocolates, grahams, and mallows with stylish roasting sticks… oh yes!
Hiking Socks– Lets face it, socks take a beating on the trail. I can’t tell you how many socks I’ve burned through while hiking. Holes, holes, and more holes. Quality boot socks is a gift that keeps the hiker on the trail.
Color Packets for the Campfire– This is a new discovery for our family. This past year we came upon color changing packets for campfires and a local outfitter sells pinecones that change the flame color as well. Great for older kids and adults!
First Aid Kit– Great for an accident prone outdoorsman or the one who ventures past cell service regions. A compact and stocked first aid kit complete with a First Aid Guide, is the gift of preparedness.
Whatever gift you choose for your adventurer they’ll be sure to appreciate it! Happy shopping!
