When we were kids, it was easy to come up with a Christmas wish list. A Cabbage Patch doll, roller skates, a new bike, maybe a pony… Nowadays though, I find I just don’t want or need more stuff. Especially since the kids came along, I’ve been much more about collecting experiences and sharing memories with my family and friends. Spending time together on a family vacation, challenging myself to try something new, going on a bucket list adventure – these are the memories that last a lifetime!
We all have those hard-to-shop-for people on our list (yep, like me)! If you’re on the hunt for a unique and unforgettable gift this Christmas, check out the gift experiences at Breakaway Experiences! Since 2014, Breakaway Experiences has been offering once-in-a-lifetime and bucket list experiences, from pampering spa packages and craft beer tours, to outdoor adventures like rock climbing and flying lessons. Did you leave your shopping until the last minute again? Not that I would know anything about that, but with Breakaway Experiences you can buy your gift any time – even in your pyjamas! – and they’ll never know.
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, you can find it here! I’ve put together a small selection of just a few of the 900+ experiences you can find at Breakaway Experiences!
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, Medicine Hat, Saskatoon, Delaware, Millgrove, Peterborough, Fredericton, 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
Brentwood Bay Kayak Tour and Butchart Gardens Visit: Enjoy a guided kayak tour of beautiful Brentwood Bay with a professional guide, followed by a self-guided tour of the historic Butchart Gardens! You’ll paddle along the shores of Butchart Gardens in Gowlland Tod Provincial Marine Park, and then stroll through the renowned gardens on foot, admiring the beautifully manicured landscapes on your own. $97
Food Tour of Vancouver’s Gastown: Discover the mouth-watering flavors of some of the best places to eat in Vancouver’s Gastown and become immersed in an exciting cultural Vancouver food tour unlike any other. Experience the savory tastes, sounds, and sights of Gastown’s many superb eateries, pubs, and shops. $69
Introductory Flying Experience: Give them a flying lesson over the spectacular Coast Mountains and Squamish area plus they can take someone along with them when you buy this flying lesson as a gift this Christmas. $224
Marble Canyon Snowshoeing Tour: Escape into the serene beauty of a natural winter playground with an easy afternoon introductory snowshoeing tour in Kootenay National Park’s Marble Canyon on the BC-Alberta border,just outside Banff. $74
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. Enjoy commentary delivered by professional wildlife guides as you travel through the spectacular Gulf and San Juan Islands. On board hydrophones allow you to hear first-hand the wild calls of the Orcas. $80-$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
Johnston Canyon Icewalk, Banff: Experience spectacular views as your guide leads you through a maze of colossal pillars of ice and surreal sculptures along a series of catwalks to breathtaking frozen waterfalls. It is no surprise the Canadian Tourism Commission has awarded this Johnston Canyon Icewalk as a Canadian Signature Experience. $74
Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary: With the playfulness of a dog but the wily intelligence of a wolf, wolfdogs are fascinating creatures. Meet them close up at Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary in the Cochrane foothills. Learn about the importance of wolves in the ecosystem, and why it’s so important to preserve them in a natural environment. From $24
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. Available in Etobicoke or Oakville. $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
Niagara-on-the-Lake Wineries Tour: Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to some of the most beautiful vineyards in the world. Join an intimate guided tour through the wonderful world of Niagara wines with visits and tasting at four wineries. $89
Toronto’s Original Pizza Tour: Discover the best pizza in town on Toronto’s Original Pizza Tour. Your pizza-crazed guide will show you the sights and sounds of the city as you eat your way through four different neighborhoods & six pizzerias, while giving you the skinny on crusts, sauce, cheese and toppings. Along the way, savour a slice of the pie that was voted best pizza in Toronto. $79
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
Halifax Craft Beer, Wine and Cocktails Tour: Discover the mouth-watering world of Halifax’s beer, wine and cocktails. Learn about Halifax’s rich history from its founding, through prohibition and into the present day with visits to 5 popular Halifax venues on this tasty walking tour. $49
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
Gift It
With over 900 experiences to choose from, your gift recipient is sure to find something to pique their interest! Browse by activity type, province, occasion, or gift recipient. Connect on Facebook and Twitter.
Not sure which experience to get? You can buy a gift certificate online then print it out and slip in a greeting card, or schedule it to be emailed to your gift recipient at the time and date you choose. There’s 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.
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. Prize delivery is not guaranteed by Christmas, so please plan accordingly.
Click here to check out my other open giveaways and be sure to follow me on Facebook!
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’d love to go on the Niagara-on-the-Lake Wine and Culinary Adventure Tour
I like to do one of the Food Tours that are listed.
I would pick Riverside and Leslieville Food Tour, Toronto
I would love to go on one of the spa experiences at the Upkeep Shoppe (Ottawa & Eastern Ontario), a pottery class, or a visit to a sugar shack with the family! Thank you so very much for this chance! 🙂
I would love the Niagara Falls Helicopter Tour.
I’d do the ziplining in Whistler – I’ve always wanted to try it!
I would love to go Ziplining in Whistler!
I love food tours! King and Queen West Sunday Brunch Tour looks perfect.
I would like the hot air balloon ride it has always been a dream.
It’s hard to choose but I think I’d like the hot air balloon ride
I would most love to experience the Whistler Backcountry Air Safari.
I would take my dad on one of the beer-related tours 😀
I’d love to go whale watching
I have always wanted to go whale watching!
I would love to go on the hot air balloon ride
I would love to do the white water rafting
I’d love to try the Dark Table experience, or dogsledding!
I would love to take the family on the Hot Air Balloon Ride adventure.
I would pick the Niagara Falls Wine, Dine & Fly Tour. It sounds like a once in a lifetime experience!
I would love to take my kids to the aerial park in Maple Ridge!
I would like to experience the Craft Beer Tour in Calgary.
I’d love to go on the awesome foursome adventure package in whistler. What an adventure that would be!!!
I would like to do the fine dining tour in Whistler.
They do a Calgary Hot Air Balloon Ride, that would be fun to do.
I would most like to go on the Superfly Ziplines, Whistler experience.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also really appreciated spending money on experiences rather than toys! Memories mean so much more (at least to me). I’d love to try the Boeing 737 Flight Simulator in Toronto! Thanks for the awesome post and giveaway! 🙂
I’d choose the snowshoeing excursion in Collingwood. Thanks for the opportunity.
I’d love to try the Distillery District Segway Tour
I would like to experience the Food Tour of Vancouver’s Gastown.
I would absolutely love to take my husband on the Ottawa Biplane Flight Over Parliament Hill.
I’d love to take the Vancouver Food Tour of Gastown when we’re out there next time. breakawayexperiences.com/en/vancouver-food-tour-of-gastown Thank you.
I would love to take a helicopter ride over Niagara Falls. What an experience!
I would love to go on the dog sledding adventure with the cookout.
i would love to go on the Niagara Falls Food Tour, love finding new spots to eat at
I would like to gift my husband the flight simulator in Toronto. What an awesome experience~
I’d want to try the Brentwood Bay kayak tour and Butchart Gardens visit!
i would really like to try the dark table for 2 in Calgary, it would be fun.
I would pick Helicopter Flight Over Ottawa & The Gatineau Hills – For up to 3
I would choose the Boeing 737 Flight Simulator
I would like to try going on the Whistler Desserts and Drinks Tour.
I would love to go on the Hummer and Snowshoe experience.
Helicopter Tour Over Toronto (I have never been in a helicopter)
Beer Makes History Better Toronto Walking Tour or the Riverside and Leslieville Food Tour. We live in Leslieville so that would be awesome!
The baby monkey fingerling!!
I would like to go on an Afternoon Escape Wine Tour.
I would love to do the Hummer Snowshoe Adventure
I’d take my son on a helicopter ride over Niagara Falls. We have watched the helicopters take off when staying at Great Wolf Lodge and I’d love to surprise him next time we go by taking him up in the sky!
I would like to go on the Whistler’s Hidden Gems Dinner Tour
I’d like to do a Horseback Ride in Pemberton.
I will try the Little Italy in Vancouver Food Tour!