Unique, Memorable and Clutter-Free: Gifting Experiences

Some of the many experiences throughout the South to gift photos personal collection

Whether it's gift-giving for a holiday, birthday, or observance, we all have a relative or close friend (or it might even be you) who either has enough stuff or poses a challenge when choosing the right gift.

So, what does one do in these situations?

Simple - you gift them with an experience.

From animal encounters to creating something of your own, there are experiences for nearly every age and interest throughout the South.

For the Animal Lover

• Meet a penguin and learn more about the creature at Penguin Encounter in the Aquarium Pyramid at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas. As a bonus, watch as they create artwork for you.

• Among the tours at Columbia, S.C.'s Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens' Backstage, you can explore the rhino barns and meet the zoo's rhino residents.

• The Sloth Experience at Hattiesburg (Miss.) Zoo allows you to assist with feeding a sloth and possibly have an up-close encounter, depending on the sloth's temperament.

• Zoo Tampa offers various encounters, including the African Elephant Behind-the-Scenes tour, which features sitting in on a training session and more.

• Get "chimpy" with it at one of the events hosted by Chimp Haven in Keithville, La. The sanctuary also offers private tours scheduled throughout the year. Get personal with tigers with a private tour or enjoy a capybara encounter at Tigers for Tomorrow in Atalla, Ala. Join the pack at Seacrest Wolf Preserve in Wausau, Fla., on a VIP private tour. The preserve also offers a Saturday tour. At Myakka Elephant Ranch in Sarasota County, Fla., engage with gentle giants up close through encounters like the Rise and Shine Caretaker that includes feeding the elephant breakfast and more.

• Overnight in the Spekboom Lodge at the San Antonio Zoo, a Safari Suite at the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Ark., a cabin at Southland Safari in Yuma, Tenn., or the Giraffe Suite at the Georgia Safari Conservation Park in Madison.

• Opt for behind-the-scenes tours at facilities like the St. Louis (Mo.) Aquarium, the Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport, the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, and the Clearwater (Fla.) Aquarium.

• Spot dolphins in Panama City Beach, Fla., or whales in Virginia Beach, Va. Participate in a guided swim with manatees in the "Manatee Capital of the World ~" Crystal River, Florida.

• Go horseback riding with such groups as Wild Rose Equine Center in Dearborn, Mo., Shelby Farms Stables in Memphis, Tenn., Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and Red Fern Riding Center in Shelbyville, Ky. Kick up a little sand riding on the beach through Broke-A-Toe on Port St. Joe, Fla., C Ponies in Bradenton, Fla., Inlet Point Plantation in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., and along North Carolina's Crystal Coast.

• And regarding horses, there are various tours to select from at Keeneland in Lexington and the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville. Don't forget about the horse farm tours, either. Check out the Farm Tours of Ocala (Fla.) or the various operations throughout Kentucky.

• Take a walk or trek with a llama pal through Smoky Mountain Llama Treks in Cosby, Tenn., or Divine Llama Vineyards in East Bend, N.C.

For the Thrill Seeker

• Take a guided walking tour along the catwalk under the New River Gorge Bridge with Bridge Walk in Lansing, WVa.

• Zip on some of Texas's longest and fastest lines at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in Leander, or zoom over crocodiles and gators at St. Augustine (Fla.) Alligator Farm Zoological Park.

• Speaking of gators, get personal with them on the Adventure Tours or Gator Night Shine at Gatorland in Kissimmee, Fla.

• Up, up and away ... go skydiving with Skydive Galveston (Texas) or Skydive Alabama in Vinemont. Hang glide or paraglide with Lookout Mountain Flight Park in Rising Fawn, Ga. Want the rush but in a controlled area? Check out iFly Indoor that has locations in Texas, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia.

• Get a bird's-eye view of the Smokies with Scenic Helicopter Tours. They even offer unique, custom experiences.

• Experience Chattooga River's (located along the Georgia-South Carolina border) Class IV - V rapids on a guided ride with Nantahala Outdoor Center, putting in at the outpost near Clayton, Ga.

• Also, hit the rapids with either Montgomery (Ala.) Whitewater or Whitewater Express in Columbus, Ga.

• Go zip lining underground in Louisville (Ky.) Mega Cavern.

• Feel all the thrills when riding the Rail Runner Mountain Coaster at Anakeesta in Gatlinburg, Tenn. The single-rail mountain coaster is said to be the first of its kind in the country.

• Get down and dirty with a wild cave tour at Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio, Texas, Raccoon Mountain Caverns in Chattanooga, Tenn., Hidden River Cave in Horse Cave, Ky., and Lost World Caverns in Lewisburg, W.Va.

• Go Zorbing along one of the three tracks at the Outdoor Gravity Park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

• Take on rock climbing or learn the art of bouldering at High Point Climbing and Fitness in Memphis and Chattanooga, Tenn., Huntsville and Birmingham, Ala., and Orlando, Fla.

• Drive an exotic car with Xtreme Xperience, with locations in Missouri, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Get behind the wheel of a Porsche in Birmingham, Ala., or Atlanta, a BMW with the driving experience classes in Spartanburg, S.C., or a Corvette at NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Ky.

For the Outdoor Enthusiast

• Hike, bike, canoe, dark-sky gaze ... experience nearly everything outdoors at a state park. However, some offer unique experiences. For instance, dig for rocks, minerals and even diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Ark., or try archery at Panola Mountain State Park in Stonecrest, Ga. In South Carolina, SCUBA on Lake Jocassee at Devil Forks State Park in Salem, and Kentucky, spot the moonbow at Cumberland Falls State Park in Corbin.

• Go off-roading on an ATV. Banning Mills in Whitesburg, Ga., offers the Extreme Eco-Spider ATV Adventure, where you can ride single or tandem. Over at Wilderness Rider Buffalo Ranch and Adventure Park in Kingston, Ark., rent a SxS and let the provided park map guide you.

• Rent an ATV and head out on one of the many distinctive trails that make up the Hatfield-McCoy Trails. As one of the nation's most extensive trail systems, it winds through multiple counties in southern West Virginia, where many famous feuds between the two families occurred.

• Ride the rails on a pedal-powered vehicle with Rail Explorers in Versailles, Ky., and Elk River, W.Va.

• Go mountain bike riding in Bentonville, Ark.

• Find an air, water or land adventure through Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head, N.C.

• Get on the water with Cajun Country Swamp Tours in Breaux Bridge, La., and explore Cypress Island/Lake Martin Swamp. Take an eco-cruise tour aboard the Lady Jane in Brunswick, Ga. Learn how shrimp goes from net to plate with Biloxi (Miss.) Cruise Company.

• Go on a bioluminescence paddle with GeoTrippin on South Ponte Vedra Beach or with B.K. Adventure in Titusville, Fla.

• Push off in Vicksburg, Miss., and paddle the lower Mississippi with day or multi-day trips with Quapaw Canoe Company. There are also extended excursion opportunities.

• Delve into the history and stories of all the blooms within Jackson County, N.C. and the Southern Appalachia region on a guided walk with Bigelow's Botanical Excursions.

• Paddle through the Gorge Underground (Rogers, Ky.) in a clear bottom kayak.

• Tuckaseegee Fly Shop in Jackson County, N.C., offers flying fishing lessons, fly tying lessons, and half- and full-day float or wade fly-fishing. They also have half-day

• Learn how to surf on Cocoa Beach, Fla., or on North Carolina's Brunswick Islands.

• Go scalloping on Florida's Sports Coast.

• Exploring Wassaw Island National Wildlife Refuge or a salt marsh are just a few of the eco trips offered by WiSE—Wilderness Southeast, based in Savannah, Georgia.

• Take a snow skiing class in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

For the Cultural Lover

• Take the historic tour of Shepard of the Hills in Branson, Mo.

• Treat a music lover to one of the Austin (Texas) City Limits Live tours or a concert inside The Caverns in Pelham, Tenn., or delve into Macon, Ga.'s role in Soul music and Southern Rock through Rock Candy Tours.

• Enhance a Dollywood visit with an add-on special experience, or be Presley for a Day at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn.

• From The Walking Dead and Stranger Things to films such as The Hunger Games, The Blind Side, Forrest Gump, and Remember the Titans, Senoia, Ga., has had a starring role. Water Tower Tours offers The Walking Dead tour, a "Superheroes" tour, highlighting film spots seen in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War & Endgame, Spiderman: Homecoming and specialized private tours.

For the History Buff

• Learn the history and folklore of Arkansas' most fascinating city on Eureka Springs' Downtown-N-Underground tour.

• Enhance a visit to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans with an exclusive guided tour.

• Reserve a licensed battlefield guide for an in-depth tour of Vicksburg (Miss.) National Military Park.

• Discover hidden gems and more through a personalized private tour of Natchez, Miss., with Little Easy Tours. The company also offers mansion tours.

• Take a behind-the-scenes tour at Jefferson's Monticello in Charlottesville, Va., or Washington's Mount Vernon (Va.)

For the Foodie

• Make sausage in Hermann, Mo., taste cheese in Austin, mix a cocktail in New Orleans or Baton Rouge, sip coffee in Atlanta, bake biscuits in Charleston, S.C., and create sweets in Charlotte, N.C.,or a candy bar in Nashville, Tenn.

• Find the perfect cooking class in places such as the Viking Cooking School in Greenwood, Miss., The Cooking School at Saint Bibiana in Savannah, Ga., Bodacious in Pensacola, Fla., The Cook's Station in Greenville, S.C. or Cooking at the Cottage in Louisville, Ky.

• The bourbon lover will appreciate participating in the classes and events along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

• And for those who prefer to eat than cook, check out the Cajun Food Tours in Lafayette, La., Bienville Bites Food Tour in Mobile, Ala., Wilmington (N.C.) Downtown Tasting Tour by Taste Carolina, and Scott's Addition Booze and Bites Tour/Discover Richmond (Va.) Tours.

• For something different that combines education, sustainability and culinary discovery, check out Wild Blessings' Foraging Adventures or Foraging and Feasting in Boone, N.C.

For the Hobbyist

• Create a glass piece at Mohawk Steel and Glass in Hattiesburg, Miss., or blow a glass ornament or paperweight at iGNiS Glass Studio in Chattanooga, Tenn.

• Blow a beer, wine or whiskey glass at Pretentious Glass in Knoxville, Tenn., or shape a glass piece at Tamarack in Beckley, WVa.

• Take a fiber art class with Lasso The Moon Alpaca Farm in Blairsville, Ga.

• Create a personalized, hand-poured candle at the veteran-owned Scented Wicks' Candle Bar Experience in Fayetteville, N.C. Learn the fundamentals of candle crafting, from selecting the right wax and wicks to exploring fragrance combinations.

• Ignite creativity with a class or workshop at Lowe Mill Arts or Burritt on the Mountain Folk School in Huntsville, Ala., John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, N.C., or Penland (N.C.) School of Craft.

• Alabama Chanin in Florence offers makers' experiences, DIY Kits and more.