Every year, friends and family ask me what I would like for Christmas, and every year I struggle to come up with an answer. I find as I get older I’m less and less in need of more “stuff”. Instead I’ve come to understand how much more valuable and memorable experiences can be. Experiences like a trip away, learning something new, time with my friends and family, or a once in a lifetime adventure to check off on my bucket list – these are the things that create memories of a life well lived.
A few years ago I strapped on a parachute and jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. I still vividly remember the incredible feeling of freefall and the rush of victory when I landed safely. When hubby and I first met, we went on a ziplining adventure together on top of Whistler Mountain. Two years later, we got engaged on a horse drawn carriage ride through downtown Victoria. My first visit to Disneyland. Flying through the Grand Canyon in a helicopter. My first time on snowshoes. My daughter’s face the first time she rode on a pony. These are the kinds of memories that will stay with me forever!
If you’re on the hunt for a unique and unforgettable gift, you need to check out Breakaway Experiences! What a wonderful idea for holiday gift giving or to kick off the New Year with an adventure. Make a resolution to do something new and exciting in 2017 – Breakaway Experiences can help!
Breakaway has gift experiences for individuals, couples and families all across Canada from Vancouver Island to Halifax. Whether you’re looking for something romantic or thrilling, challenging or relaxing, or a once in a lifetime experience, there’s something here for everyone!
Don’t fret if you’re a last minute shopper like me. You still have time to pick out an experience or purchase a gift certificate online. Print out the certificate and deliver it in a greeting card, or email it directly to your gift recipient instead. No need for a gift receipt – any experience can be exchanged for its full value toward another experience. Gift certificates can be used as currency towards anything on the website, and they never expire.
Here’s a small selection of the kinds of experiences you can find on the website, perfect for gift giving this holiday season!
Canada-Wide
Stock Car Racing Experience: Slide behind the wheel of a race primed stock car for a high octane, adrenaline fueled NASCAR style stock car racing experience. See for yourself the speed and power that these machines bring to the table. Strap in, buckle up, and hang on for the ride of your life! Available in Agassiz, Penticton, Medicine Hat, Delaware, Milgrove, Peterborough, Innisfil, Antigonish, and Halifax. From $65
Hot Air Balloon Ride: Take to the skies for an unforgettable ride and experience the magic of soaring over a changing landscape, suspended in a basket under a glorious hot air balloon. Available in Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, and Ottawa. $325
British Columbia
Monkido Classic Aerial Adventure in Maple Ridge, Victoria, Nanaimo, or Kelowna: Turn a casual nature day into an unforgettable outdoor experience. Discover the excitement of zip lines and suspended aerial obstacles! Navigate cargo nets, tight ropes, rope swings, swinging logs, wobbly bridges, and more aerial surprises that gradually become more challenging and higher. $35
Victoria Carriage Tour for Four: Relax and enjoy the luxury and style in this beautiful horse drawn carriage ride around Victoria. Whether you’re looking for the ultimate in romance or just wanting to treat that special someone to the experience of a lifetime nothing will come close to the romantic ambiance of a beautiful carriage ride. From $100
Vancouver Whale Watch Tour: Experience Killer Whales, Humpbacks and Gray Whales, porpoises, seals and more in their natural habitat on a 3 to 5 hour tour in an open or semi-covered Zodiac style boat. $75-$130
Alberta
Calgary Craft Beer Tour: Discover the masters of Calgary’s local craft beer scene. Spend a day immersed in the local brewing & distilling industry, surrounded by the care and dedication of the visionaries (and mad men) who make it all happen. Throughout the guided Calgary Craft Beer Tour you will learn about the passionate craft brewers that specialize in creating mouth-watering full flavored beers. $129
Dog Sledding Adventure, 2 Hour Tour: Feel the first-hand excitement of mushing the Canadian wilderness on a 2 hour dog sledding adventure in the Rockies just outside of Canmore, near Banff. Winter is a magical time and there is no better way to see the snow covered beauty than by dog sled tour. $169
Ontario
Mommy To Be Pregnancy Massage & Mani/Pedi at D Spa: Every mommy-to-be deserves an extra bit of pampering at a time when the body is dealing with a lot of change. D Spa’s pregnancy massage is a great way to relieve the various tensions, stresses and strains the body is put through during this precious time. $145
Boeing 737 Flight Simulator Experience in Toronto: If you’ve ever want to fly a plane, you can now experience the thrill and total adrenaline rush of learning to fly without even leaving the ground. The Boeing 737 Flight Simulator flying experience is ideal for anyone looking for their first taste of flying. You will feel like a pilot as you push the throttle, adjust the rudder and point your nose towards the sky before attaining optimal altitude. From $129
Toronto’s Ultimate Chocolate Tour: Discover the sweet side of the city on Toronto’s Ultimate Chocolate Tour. Join your expert guide on a stroll through the classy neighbourhoods of King West, Queen West and Dundas West and sample chocolaty sweets from 6 unique stores. $39
Niagara Falls Helicopter Tour: From the sensation of lifting off, to the thrill of soaring above the turbulent rapids and cascading waterfalls, a Niagara Falls Helicopter Tour is a unique and spectacular experience. You are guaranteed to love this unforgettable helicopter tour over the Niagara’s natural and man-made wonders. $125
Quebec
Maple Sugar Shack Stay and Play Experience: A visit to the sugar shack is the ultimate experience in capturing the Spring’s sweetness. Escape the city and enjoy an overnight Maple Sugar Shack Stay and Play experience at La Vallée des Rosiers in the Pontiac. You’ll get first hand maple sugar bush experience learning all that goes into making delicious maple syrup and maple treats. $399
Nova Scotia
Afternoon Escape Wine Tour: This is your chance to indulge in the best of Nova Scotia Wine Country while spending a day relaxing in the Annapolis Valley. Discover the best kept secrets of this wine region with a passionate, informed guide who will introduce you to the wines, the wineries and the local stories behind them. Enjoy an afternoon of sightseeing and wine tasting at 3 unique wineries completed with a picnic cheese tasting. $77-$85
Which experience do you dream of having? Don’t forget, Breakaway Experiences has a wishlist function, so go ahead and let your friends and family know what you’d really love to find under the tree too!
Gift It
With over 700 experiences to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for anyone on your list! Browse by activity type, province, occasion, or gift recipient. Connect on Facebook and Twitter.
Win a $100 Gift Card!
One of my readers will win a $100 gift certificate usable for any Breakaway experience! Enter in the giveaway widget below. This giveaway is open to residents of Canada 18+. All the winner’s entries will be verified.
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Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation. Nevertheless, all opinions expressed are completely honest and my own, based on my personal experience. Your experience may differ.
I would purchase the Self Guided Kayak Tour of the 1000 Islands. I love this area and have taken part in the Boat Cruises but, would love to get more closer to the islands and explore! I would have my husband join me!
I would give a hot air balloon ride to my wife!
I’d like to give the Niagara Falls helicopter tour to my husband.
I would like to give my daughter a helicopter tour of Niagara Falls.
I would pick Stock Car Racing Experience, Riverside International Speedway .
And I would give it to my husband!! 😀
I would gift the Niagara’s Twenty Valley Wine and Cheese Tour to my mom.
I would put it towards the Whistler PEAK 2 PEAK & Snowshoeing Combo! for my husband and I to experience together!
I would love to give away the Toronto’s Ultimate Chocolate Tour to my wife.
I would love to give the Stock Car Racing Experience, Agassiz Speedway to my husband. He would love it!
Stock car racing experience to my brother in law who like myself is a big NASCAR fan.
Whale watching would be amazing
Toronto’s Ultimate Chocolate Tour to my kids. This was my choice ever since I’ve heard about Breakaway Experiences. I know it would be something they’d remember.
I would love to take a helicopter ride over Mont-Tremblant.
I would love to do the Night Wine & Cheese Sail through the Toronto Islands
I would give a spa day to my daughter who works hard at a sometimes stressful job.
I’d want to give the stock car racing experience to my husband 🙂
I would gift a hot air balloon ride to my husband.
I’d love to give this to my oldest daughter: Archery Lesson (Private) – Caledon
I would gift the Paint Ball experience to my grandson.
I’d get my partner a hot air balloon experience
I know that my son would love the Halifax Food tour. That would be fun!
I’d like to gift my parents a horseback riding experience!
I’d do one of the local Toronto tours for my husband and I 🙂
I would like to give the Dark Table experience for my mom in law.
i wish i had family in banff because im really into the dogsledding idea right now. we want to go ourselves as well… but id say the helicopter tour in niagara. i actually won one via a charity walk a few years ago but wasn’t healthy enough so i sent my dad and his friend. they had an absolute blast. so i know its worthwhile! now i think id gift it to someone special like my friend allison.
I would love to gift the stock car racing experience in Victoria to my brother that or a gift certificate for him to choose. Very cool choices and soooo many of them to choose from!
I would do a local toronto tour with my husband
I would love to give a Hot Air Balloon ride to my husband (hopefully I’d accompany him!).
I would choose the Segway Tour Around Halifax for me and a friend.
I’d like to give a Granite Falls Zodiac Eco Tour to my daughter…she loves nature
I would like to give my fiancee the Calgary Craft Beer Tour. He loves beer and would really enjoy this activity!
I’d bring my mom to try the Dark Table in Vancouver.
When Pigs Fly Walking Tour would be perfect for sharing with my daughter and husband.
I would probably gift this to my best friend; she would love the Calgary Hot Air Balloon Ride or the Calgary Paintball Adventure.
I would love to do the Niagara-on-the-Lake Self Guided Bicycle and Wine Tour!
I’d like to give my Italian husband the Little Italy in Vancouver Food Tour.
I would love to give my husband and daughter a hot air balloon ride. My daughter has been asking to go on one after we drove through Quebec during the hot air balloon festival this summer. My husband has said he would love to be able to take her for one.
I live in Ottawa and would like to try the The Fish Market Restaurant – Dinner for 2 with Wine for a much needed Date Night.
Besos Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
So many great ideas there!!! I like the sounds of the Chilliwack River One Day Rafting Trip and the Dark Table Vancouver AND the Little Italy in Vancouver Food Tour and the….. so hard to choose just one!!!!
I’d love to try Dark Table in Vancouver with my husband.
I would love to give my husband the experience to go on a Dog Sledding Adventure in Banff, Alberta. Thanks for the chance to win.
I would give my husband the Halifax Food Tour, he loves to ear
so MANY to choose from…here there is the car racing in saskatoon…but my son and DIL live near grand prairie so they could do the hot air ride (I’d buy for both ) ..then my daughter would love to do anything in Ont…she has no fear… did Kayaking in New Zealand or Australia (not sure which one lol) …tried to get a tour of Niagra when she was there but it was closed…
My partner loves beer and history so the Beer Makes History Better Walking Tour is perfect.
I would love to gift the Afternoon Escape Wine Tour for my best friend because she would enjoy it.
I’d love to take my mom out for a day of relaxation and pampering at D Spa…2016 has been a tough year for her – she was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer earlier this year, went through surgery and a series of treatments, and is now cancer free (as of 10 days ago). I know she’d love the experience.
I’d love to give my mom and sister one of the spa experience packages! They deserve some pampering!