Toss the tie - give memorable experiences instead
You want to give your loved ones something memorable for the holidays, but what you don't want is to saddle them with things they can't use, don't want or will simply add to their clutter quotient.
That's when you give them the gift of a cherished experience.
There are any number of options - a prepaid massage package, tickets to an upcoming concert, a gift card for a favorite restaurant. But if you're looking for other ideas, check these out:
• Take them up, up and away.
Gift certificates are available for Total Immersion Flight Packages at Chicago Executive Flight School, 1005 S. Wolf Road in Wheeling. The $169 Northern Experience provides a 1½-hour flight lesson and the chance to do a number of flight maneuvers, while pricier packages take fliers downtown or to Lake Geneva for lunch. Call (800) 901-0730 or go to chicagoexecutiveflightschool.com.
• Satisfy a need for speed.
Got any wannabe NASCAR drivers on your gift list? Put them in the pit - or behind the wheel - at Chicagoland Speedway, 500 Speedway Blvd., Joliet. A pre-race hospitality package at the speedway is $169 per person. Putting the pedal to the metal yourself can be a lot more. The eight-lap "Rookie" experience in a Richard Petty package, for example, runs $449. Visit chicagolandspeedway.com.
• Let them eat chocolate.
Treat your favorite chocoholic to a spot on the Chocolate Tour of Chicago. The two-hour walking tour takes guests to the West Town Bakery, Vosges (a designer chocolatier), L'Appetito (Swiss chocolates), Glazed and Infused, and More Cupcakes. Six tastings are offered along the tours, which run noon and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $50 per person. Visit greatfoodtours.com.
• Offer a backstage peek.
Give a Lyric Opera fan a look behind the scenes with a backstage tour at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Tours give an up-close look at makeup, props, scenery, wardrobe and more. Upcoming tours for 2015 are set for Saturday, Jan. 31, Sunday, Feb. 15, and Sunday, March 22. Call (312) 827-5626, or visit lyricopera.org.
• Bring them the universe.
Give a one-year membership to Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, and the recipient gets to enjoy exhibits from around the globe. Annual membership allows for free and discounted member parking, a 10 percent discount in stores and restaurants, free Omnimax tickets and more. Individual memberships range from $90 to $118. Household memberships are $155 to $215. The Museum of Science and Industry is at 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (773) 684-1414 or msichicago.org. Explore other membership options at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium (sheddaquarium.org) and Field Museum of Natural History (fieldmuseum.org).
• Cook up a class.
Give an aspiring chef or Food Network fan a certificate for a cooking class. Marcel's Culinary Experience at 490 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn, is among the local spots offering classes of all kinds, from holiday cooking to desserts. Call (630) 790-8500 or visit marcelsculinaryexperience.com.
• Treat them to theater.
There's no end to options for the theater buffs on your list; subscriptions to suburban and Chicago theaters make great gifts. You can go one step further with a package that combines tickets for a Fox Valley Repertory production and a stay at the Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. Packages start at $209 for a Friday night stay, tickets, dinner and breakfast - or go big with a $519 overnight that includes a couples massage, champagne and strawberries. FVR's "Christmas on Broadway" runs through Dec. 28, with a special New Year's Eve performance. The comedy thriller "No Way to Treat a Lady" begins previews Jan. 15, 2015. (630) 584-6342 or foxvalleyrep.org.
• Thrill them all summer long.
It's cold now, but you can give thrill-ride lovers the chance to spend warmer days riding coasters and slipping down water slides at Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor, 1 Great America Parkway, Gurnee. Purchase four or more 2015 season passes - which include unlimited admission, park discounts, free admission for friends on select days and admission to Fright Fest - at the holiday sale rate and pay $66.99 each (not including tax and processing fees). Purchase three or more season passes at the regular rate and pay $76.99 each. (847) 249-1776 or sixflags.com/greatamerica.
• Send them sky diving - without the pesky possibility of plunging to the earth.
iFLY Chicago has two locations in suburban Chicago - one in Rosemont and one in Naperville - that allow adventure-seekers to experience the thrill of sky diving in a controlled environment. The company offers simulated free fall conditions without jumping out of an airplane. Using four 1,600-horsepower fans, iFLY's vertical wind tunnel creates an air cushion to float on for as little as $69.95 for two "flights." Multiple individual and group options are also available. (779) 368-4359 or chicago.iflyworld.com.
• Book them a balloon ride.
A hot-air balloon ride - reaching heights of up to 1,500 feet above the Fox River - is available through Chicago Balloon Rides. Exclusive hourlong rides for just two people start at $1,099, lifting off from Crystal Lake. A group of eight will run $269 per person or $2,152 total. (312) 702-1917 or balloonrideschicago.com.
• Visit the Friendly Confines.
The Chicago Cubs offer daily tours of Wrigley Field, one of the oldest and most storied sporting venues in the country. On the 75-minute tour you'll learn about the history of the iconic baseball field, hear about the various vantage points available in the seating bowl, visit the bleachers - once they are rebuilt - and hang out in the press box, clubhouses, Cubs dugout and the outfield warning track. Tickets start at $25 per person, but VIP packages are available as well, including a guided tour by a former Cubs player for $3,000 for up to 10 people. (773) 388-8270 or chicago.cubs.mlb.com.