Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

Listen
Donate
An illustration of an ice skate and an "Admit One" ticket are at the center of a pale blue backround accented with stars, wrapped presents and strands of holiday ribbon.
(
Olivia Hughes for LAist
)
Explore LA
9 Great LA Experiences For People Who Don't Want More Clutter
Many of us don't want more stuff — and neither do our friends and relatives. This is a gift list dedicated to those who seek out great experiences with loved ones and close friends. No decluttering needed.
By  Christine N. Ziemba
Published Nov 18, 2023 5:00 AM

Share This
This story features Beeline Reader for enhanced readability. Click to turn the feature on or off. Learn more about this technology here.

The gifts on this list mean you don't have to worry about choosing the right color or, worse, the right size. Or fret that your gift will be shoved directly into a Goodwill box, tags still on it. The gifts on this list are all about having a great "Only In LA" experience, something that will last long after all the holiday decor has been safety stowed away for another year.

1. Candlelight concerts

A photograph of a hundreds upon hundreds of candles lighting up a concert area in row after row. It is nighttime, and the candles lend a warm, comforting glow to the space. In the distant bankground, a piano sits in near darkness, except for a light focused on the notes to be played. The image is set against a festive pale blue background accented with images of stars, gift boxes and ribbons.
(
Courtesy of Candlelight Concerts via Facebook
)
Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor

These concerts are perfect for date night. Classical, standards, jazz and pop concerts are held by candlelight in varied locations throughout the Los Angeles area. Professional musicians and ensembles are selected to best fit the program, from solo piano to string quartet, brass band, guitar and vocals, or other combos. Keep watching their constantly updated website for new performances.

Upcoming concerts include tributes to Taylor Swift, Adele, Queen and Coldplay at various locations, 100 Years of Warner Bros. at Warner Brothers Studio SJR Theater in Burbank and holiday jazz and soul classics in Santa Monca. Starting ticket prices vary, but typically range from $10 to $44, depending on the concert.

More Info

2. Membership to a film club

A photograph of the interior of a movie theater: The rows of red cushioned seats are about half filled, and all eyes are focused on the screen ahead. The image is set against a festive pale blue background accented with images of stars, gift boxes and ribbons.
(
Krists Luhaers on Unsplash
)

Got a film lover in your life? Consider supporting local film communities with your gift. We love the new Vidiots in Eagle Rock, both in-person screenings and its attached video rental store.

Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor

Their starting-level Superfan annual membership ($100) includes discounted screenings, members-only events, a free movie rental on your birthday, no late fees at the video store and other perks. If it’s in your budget, higher membership levels are also available.

Other film communities include the American Cinematheque, which just reopened the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Its starting Film Club membership is $85. The Frida Cinema in Santa Ana is Orange County’s only nonprofit, independent art house cinema. Joining the Frida’s Film Club starts at $95 annually.

More Info

3. Kayaking the coast

An aerial photograph of two kayakers paddling out on the water, the kayak on the left is yellow, the one on the right is green. The image is set against a festive pale blue background accented with images of stars, gift boxes and ribbons.
(
Devon Divine on Unsplash
)

A kayaking tour of our coast is a gift that involves adventure, activity and exploration.

Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor

REI offers a Pacific Coast Kayak Tour (from $125) that begins and ends in Redondo Beach, offering great views of the Channel Islands and sealife. And speaking of the islands, the Channel Islands Adventure Company offers the popular Adventure Sea Caves Kayak Tour (from $186 for adults) from Santa Cruz Island. Participants must get to the island via ferry, which is an extra cost. If you feel really splurgy, the Adventure Company also books private tours.

More Info

4. L.A. history tours

A photograph of a sheet of paper, with letters that have been clippedout of other sources forming the uneven words that spill over three lines: "Dahlia's killer cracking, wants terms." The image is set against a festive pale blue background accented with images of stars, gift boxes and ribbons.
(
Herald Examiner Collection
/
Los Angeles Public Library
)

Get the history buff in your life a tour of the lesser-known histories and nooks and crannies of L.A. Esotouric’s sightseeing excursions explore true crime, California history and culture. A sampling includes "Human Sacrifice: The Black Dahlia, Elisa Lam, Heidi Planck & Skid Row Slasher Cases Walking Tour"; "Highland Park Arroyo Time Travel Trip Walking Tour"; and "Downtown Los Angeles is for Book Lovers."

Black Santa Monica Tours explore the Black experience and history of the former seaside resort for African American families. For architecture fans, there are tours of the famed Stahl House (Arts & Architecture magazine’s Case Study House #22) in the Hollywood Hills. Prices vary by experience.

Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
More Info

5. Malibu wine hike

A photograph of a group of people forming a single line as they hike through a vineyard in Malibu on a bright sunny day. The image is set against a festive pale blue background accented with images of stars, gift boxes and ribbons.
(
@malibuwinehikes on Instagram
)

Take a leisurely 2.5-mile guided hike around Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu.

The easy-to-moderate loop hike in and around the vineyard features views for days, including natural rock formation and Chumash Native American cave paintings. You also might be able to spot the llamas, miniature donkeys, miniature horses, alpacas and cows that call the ranch home. While the hiking tour is open for all ages, strollers or wagons are not permitted on the trail. Tickets are $49 per person. There are other options for 4x4 and VW bus tours.

More Info

6. The Magnetic Fields: 25th anniversary of 69 Love Songs

A photograph of a darkened concert scene: A man at the far right is at a microphone, another person is playing a guitar, off to the left someone is at a keyboard and at center, another person also sits at a microphone. The image is set against a festive pale blue background accented with images of stars, gift boxes and ribbons.
(
Tim Mosenfelder
/
Getty Images
)

This hot ticket is a great gift for fans of music from the early aughts. The Magnetic Fields, founded and led by Stephin Merritt, released 69 Love Songs — a three-volume concept album about love songs — in September 1999. To celebrate the album’s 25th anniversary, The Magnetic Fields play the 69 Love Songs in its entirety over the course of two nights. The tour features all the players from the 1999 release, including Claudia Gonson, John Woo, Sam Davol, Shirley Simms and composer Merritt.

The limited-run tour stops at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on April 23 (part 1) and April 24 (part 2). Tickets, which start at $145, need to be purchased separately for each night.

More Info

7. Horseback riding with a view

A photograph of three people on horseback, sauntering along the sandy shore of the Pacific ocean, leaning behind a trail of hooves in the wet, compacted sand. The image is set against a festive pale blue background accented with images of stars, gift boxes and ribbons.
(
Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash
)

Traverse trails on horseback and take in views of the ocean and mountains from the Santa Monica Mountains Backbone Trail.

Los Angeles Horseback Riding, based in Topanga, takes guests out in small groups of six to eight people. (Private group rides can accommodate up to 12 riders.) They have horses for all levels of experience, and participants must be 9 years or older to ride. While excursions start at $100 per person for a 60-minute ride, there are sunset and moonlight rides, and other packages available.

More Info

8. Pickleball lessons

A photograph of a pickleball court in the middle of a doubles match: A referee stands off to the left, closely watching the action. There is another match going on in the background. And there are over a hundred people sitting courtside, also taking in the action. The image is set against a festive pale blue background accented with images of stars, gift boxes and ribbons.
(
Emma McIntyre
/
Getty Images for The Colton Underwood Legacy Foundation
)

Give that special someone lessons on how to dink and how to stay out of the kitchen.

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S., and our SoCal weather allows for outdoor play all year round. Westchester Pickleball offers intro clinics, open play, tournaments and memberships. Other lesson options around SoCal include: Pickleball at Arroyo Seco Racquet Club in South Pasadena, Santa Monica Pickleball Center and South Bay Tennis Center.

More Info

9. Chado: The Way Of Tea

A close up image of a wooden whisk that has just prepared a cup of hot matcha tea, foamy bubbles of all sizes on the surface of the liquid in a cup. The image is set against a festive pale blue background accented with images of stars, gift boxes and ribbons.
(
Payoon Gerinto on Unsplash
)

Yusuian is a traditional Japanese tea room in Malibu that offers weekly classes on chado — the way of tea. Students can learn the fundamental principles of traditional Japanese matcha-making.

Bonus for this gift: The recipient is in Malibu with great views and a tranquil environment. The basic implements for making the tea include a “sensu” (fan), “fukusa” (silk cloth) and “kaishi” (paper), which are also available for purchase at registration. Cost for classes varies, but registration fees are $100 and classes start at $20 - $30.

More Info
More Lists!
Credits

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist
Best of LAist